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Singapore may be a tiny island, yet there seems to be no shortage of activities for family outings — from scenic spots and brunch cafes to hidden trails and local farms that are off the beaten track. Clearly, there are still many more kid-friendly places for us to explore.
If you’re a thrill-seeking bunch on the lookout for more family activities in Singapore (or simply hoping to get your teens out of the house and away from their devices), here’s a handy list of places to visit during the weekends or school holidays!
1. Outdoor murder mystery puzzle hunt
If you are looking for thrilling things to do with your kids, put on your detective hats and solve puzzles on mystery puzzle hunt. Photo credit: Klook
Picture this: A scene in Chinatown where a serial killer is on the loose (gasp!). The whole nation is gripped with fear, and participants are roped in to figure out who the murderer is by solving a series of puzzles.
This outdoor mystery is pretty much like the board game Cluedo, except that it’s translated into an engaging, real-life format instead. Suitable for older children aged seven and above, this game tour commences with a minimum of four pax, making it a great activity for families.
As a team, participants get to determine which route to take and the choice of items to pick. There will also be a game master to guide teams through the tour. Aside from solving the mysteries, you’ll also get to meet characters along the way whilst learning more about the history of Chinatown — including Samsui woman Auntie Geok, a provision shop owner Ah Kee, among others!
Address: 151 New Bridge Road 91 Upper Cross Street Singapore 059443
Tour Schedule: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00am — 12:00pm
Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours
2. Intertidal walk
Go on an educational intertidal exploration at Pasir Ris Park for a fun family activity this weekend. Photo credit: Seek Sophie
Located within the Eastern part of Singapore, Pasir Ris beach is one of the many interesting destinations to visit within Changi Precinct for some family fun. You’ll be surprised to find an extensive range of marine life along the shores of Pasir Ris — starfish, for instance, that come in both large and small sizes. Some might be brightly coloured; others camouflaged.
Ideally, it’s best to visit with an experienced and trained guide. Nature walk tours are readily available — these are educational intertidal explorations where you’ll get your feet wet while learning fascinating facts about creatures that exist alongside us. You’ll also get to hone observational skills to identify animals such as hermit crabs and sea cucumbers! Remember to pack your water bottles, mosquito repellent, and always wear comfy and loose clothing to embark on the coastal adventures without restraints.
That said, refrain from digging up these marine creatures and bringing them home. Harvesting could cause harm to biodiversity — to protect our shores, it’s best to experience them as they are.
Address: Along, Pasir Ris Central, Opposite MRT Station, 519639
Opening hours: Open 24 Hours
3. NERF Action Xperience
Remember the energetic Hasbro advertisements of NERF from the ‘90s to 2000s? To this day, the iconic jingle rings loud: “It’s NERF or Nothin!”. NERF Action Xperience is essentially a fun-filled arena packed with multiple-themed activity zones perfect for the entire family to spend the weekends away.
The Zombie City allows players to gather their squad in a team-based battle. Could this be an exciting game of children versus parents? Possibly. Either way, the goal is to blast as many zombies as possible (both physical target boards and digital) within a set amount of time. The team that scores the most points wins.
At the Camp Dune Zone, players get to compete against each other using NERF blasters. The goal here is to collect the team’s flag and bring them to their respective home bases. Here, it’s all about speed, accuracy, and teamwork. Apart from these, budding teen adventurers can even conquer terrains in an indoor obstacle course — race up an ice cliff, or defy gravity down an almost vertical slide.
Address: 6 Raffles Blvd, #01-208 Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Opening hours: Monday to Friday — 12:00pm to 8:00pm; Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays & MOE school holidays — 10:00am to 8:00pm
4. Forest Adventure
Forest Adventure, like its name suggests, boasts a variety of exhilarating treetop obstacle courses. Don’t worry — all participants will go through a mandatory 20min safety briefing first before they’re even allowed to go up among the trees.
Forest Adventure offers different loops with varying difficulty levels. For beginners, start with The Green Loop, a slow and steady route at only 6.3m-high. Get acclimated to the height as you move on to higher loops that come with octagonal planks and plenty of ropes. Courses gradually get more challenging for older thrill-seeking teens and adults to have their fun too.
At the end of the day, it’s all about outdoorsy family fun here — perfect for getting teens out of the house for an eye break away from the screens and video games. The best moment, of course, is when you get to channel your inner Tarzan and zoom down that satisfying 300m zipline over the clear waters of Bedok Reservoir.
Address: Bedok Reservoir Park, Singapore 479244
Opening hours: Saturday to Sunday — 9:30am to 6:30pm; Monday — 9:30am to 2:00pm; Tuesday, Wednesday Friday — 9:30am to 6:00pm
5. Splat Paint House
No rules should apply during family activities in Singapore. Release your inner Jackson Pollock at Splat Paint House where there are no limits on what you can do with art! Photo credit: Splat Pain House
Painting has always been a calming affair, so that explains the trend of art jamming in recent years. But when was the last time you painted with no rules just for the sake of it? Toss aside the traditional idea of painting — Splat Paint House is dedicated to messiness, expression and play.
With offerings like glow-in-the-dark UV paint and water guns, it’s exactly the place to go to release that pent-up stress away from work and from school. For one, you’ll be greeted with EDM and pop music (just like the way teens like it), along with luminescent splatters and paint buckets. There are literally no rules — tempted to paint on the tables, chairs, walls and floor? No problem, go buck wild.
The real fun begins when you let loose and forgo careful strokes of the brush. Get your hands filled with neon colours (maybe even your faces too). Needless to say, this is a family and kid-friendly space that’s fun for all ages.
Address: 207a Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574346
Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday — 3:00pm to 9:00pm, Saturday — 11:00am to 9:00pm, Sunday — 11:00am to 7:00pm
6. Changi Jurassic Mile
We all love a good bargain and Singapore has a range of free family activity options too! A must-visit for families, the Changi Jurassic Mile boasts of colourful life-size dinosaur displays — and even if you’re not a fan of these giant reptile replicas, they still make for an interesting sight while cycling. Consider hopping out for an exciting day out on bikes; that’s certainly one way to get teens off their screens for just a bit.
Make your way to the accessible Changi Airport Park connector, which leads you directly to East Coast Park! While on the move, keep a lookout for a variety of dinosaur displays along the way — from baby Stegosauruses to baby (or gigantic) T-Rexes, pink Diplodocuses to Pterodactyls. These make for great photo opportunities on your handphones and digital cameras.
Pro tip: While taking photos of the displays, do remember to watch out for other oncoming cyclists and scooterists that may be travelling along the narrow path. Even better, bring along a selfie stick if you hope to capture the humungous dinosaurs in your shot. To get the full experience, take some time to read up on fun dino-facts located on nearby signs!
Address: Airport Blvd, entrance next to Changi Airport Terminal 4 Car Park 4A
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
7. Jewel Changi Airport’s Canopy Park
We’ve always sung praises of Changi Airport being family-friendly, but there are even more reasons to swing by now with the Canopy Park that’s located within Jewel.
Situated on level five is a 14,000sqm recreational park; one that’s packed with nine exciting attractions for both children, teens, and the young-at-heart. Families can choose to either experience them individually or as a bundled package.
To name a few, there’s the Hedge Maze, where you can immerse yourself in foliage and have a field day with the kids. The Mirror Maze is where you get to lose yourself in a kaleidoscopic escapade to figure out what’s real and what’s a reflection. The Discovery Slides are where you get to hop on for quick descent. And lest we forget — there are the Manulife Sky Nets for brave souls willing to be suspended 25m above the ground on a giant net.
For what it is worth, Jewel is a one-stop destination for family fun. After a day full of exciting activities, you’ll even get to grab a scrumptious meal within the building itself or catch the awesome light and sound show at the HSBC Rain Vortex in the evening.
Address: 78 Airport Blvd., Level 5, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday — 10:00am to 10:00pm; Friday to Sunday, Eve and Public Holiday — 10:00am to 11:00pm
8. Mud Krank
Located at Gallop Kranji farm is Singapore’s first and only all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding facility: Mud Krank. What was previously designed for kids is now cranked up for teens and adults in January 2022 too! Perfect for adventurous families, Mud Krank lets you experience an exciting but safe off-road experience. It’s the activity to get those engines revving and spirits pumping.
What’s more, ATV riding is an all-weather event here — you’ll get a chance to ride around dusty and muddy conditions, be it rain or shine. Fret not, older teens aged 13 and above up to 90kg (at least 150cm-tall) are still allowed to ride these vehicles. It’s where they can finally let loose from all that pent up stress from school and puberty woes. Plus, where else in the city can you feel like a skilled mud racer?
This activity is also opened to younger kiddos aged 4-12.
Address: 10 Neo Tiew Lane 2 Gallop Kranji Farm Resort, Farm H, 718813
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday — 2:00pm to 10:00pm. Note that slots start from 15-20min intervals. Check out the availability here.
There’s no perfect time to explore and create some fond family memories! Few things can match the importance of quality bonding time, and thankfully for us, Singapore has tons in store given the variety of attractions available and things to do with the kids. Sure, teenhood can be tough at times, but your kids need not be bored or moping around at home all the time. There’s much to do and no time to waste — so let’s get cracking with some high-octane fun!
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