The best things to do with kids in Singapore in 2026 range from free art play to zoo tickets of up to S$49. Our picks are Singapore Zoo, KidsSTOP at Science Centre Singapore, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, the Keppel Centre for Art Education, Curiosity Cove, River Wonders and Skyline Luge Sentosa, chosen for age fit, clear published details and value.
Which places for kids did we pick?
We picked seven places that cover animals, science, nature, art and an active ride, with a mix of indoor and outdoor options. Each one is listed with the facts its operator publishes, and anything we could not confirm has been left out.
At a glance
| # | Business | Best known for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore Zoo | Over 4,200 animals, giraffe feeding, KidzWorld water play and a daily Pack Walk | S$25 |
| 2 | KidsSTOP, Science Centre Singapore | Hands-on science play for children aged 8 and under, in timed morning and afternoon sessions | On enquiry |
| 3 | Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden | Nature play across eight zones for children up to 14, with water play | On enquiry |
| 4 | Keppel Centre for Art Education, National Gallery Singapore | Art-through-play space with seven learning zones on the theme Art & Wonder | On enquiry |
| 5 | Curiosity Cove | Indoor playscape at Mandai sold in two-hour sessions, open until 6:30pm at weekends | On enquiry |
| 6 | River Wonders | Mandai park with the Amazon River Quest boat ride and Keeper Trails | On enquiry |
| 7 | Skyline Luge Sentosa | Self-steered gravity carts on outdoor tracks, with the Skyride chairlift back up | On enquiry |
Best known for: Over 4,200 animals, giraffe feeding, KidzWorld water play and a daily Pack Walk
Mandai's Singapore Zoo says it is home to over 4,200 animals, and its draws for children include KidzWorld, water play, animal encounters and the chance to feed a giraffe. A daily Pack Walk starts at 4:15pm at the KidzWorld entrance, and the tram is included in the ticket.
Mandai suggests three to four hours. Resident tickets run from S$27 for a child on a weekday to S$44 for an adult at weekends, including GST, and under-3s go free with a ticketed adult over 21. Reptile-loving older children can look at the Reptopia and Reptile Kingdom programme, from S$148 a person, Friday to Sunday.
- Services
- Zoo, KidzWorld, water play, animal encounters, giraffe feeding, daily Pack Walk, tram
- Address
- 80 Mandai Lake Road, Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Singapore 729826
- Price
- S$25 to S$49 Per person, incl. 9% GST. Resident child S$27 to S$30, resident adult S$39 to S$44, resident senior S$25, non-resident adult S$49, non-resident child S$34. Resident rates linked to free WildPass membership. Under-3s free with a ticketed adult over 21. Tram included. Source
Best known for: Hands-on science play for children aged 8 and under, in timed morning and afternoon sessions
KidsSTOP is Science Centre Singapore's children's science centre, a 3,000m² gallery for children aged 8 and under, open since 5 June 2014. Visits run in two sessions, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, with a one-hour break between them for cleaning. It opens Tuesday to Sunday and is closed on Mondays, except public holidays and gazetted school holidays.
Families who visit often can buy the annual pass, for children aged 18 months to 8 years, which gives 15% off admission and discounted Snow City tickets. Single-visit price on enquiry.
- Services
- Children's science gallery for ages 8 and under, timed play sessions, annual pass
- Address
- 21 Jurong Town Hall Road, Singapore 609433
- Founded
- 2014
Visit website: KidsSTOP, Science Centre SingaporeFull profile: KidsSTOP, Science Centre Singapore
Best known for: Nature play across eight zones for children up to 14, with water play
Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, listed on the Singapore Botanic Gardens site run by NParks, is a nature-learning garden with eight zones for children up to 14. There is water play with a changing area, so pack swimwear and a towel. It opens 8am to 7pm, with last admission at 6:30pm.
NParks notes that the Tree House is temporarily closed because of termite damage. The garden suits families wanting an outdoor morning with toddlers or primary-school children without committing to a long day out. Check the NParks page for opening days before you go.
- Services
- Nature-learning garden with eight zones, water play with changing area
- Address
- 1H Cluny Road, Singapore 259604
Visit website: Jacob Ballas Children’s GardenFull profile: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
Best known for: Art-through-play space with seven learning zones on the theme Art & Wonder
The Keppel Centre for Art Education is National Gallery Singapore's space for children to learn about art through play. It first opened in 2015 and won the 2018 Children in Museums Award, given by the European Museum Academy and Hands On! After a refresh, it reopened on 16 December 2023 with seven learning zones themed Art & Wonder.
At that reopening the Gallery said entry was free for all visitors. Check the National Gallery website for current hours and entry before you go. Being indoors, it works well on a wet day in the city.
- Services
- Children's art education space with seven learning zones on the theme Art & Wonder
- Credentials
- 2018 Children in Museums Award (European Museum Academy and Hands On!)
- Founded
- 2015
Visit website: Keppel Centre for Art Education, National Gallery SingaporeFull profile: Keppel Centre for Art Education, National Gallery Singapore
Best known for: Indoor playscape at Mandai sold in two-hour sessions, open until 6:30pm at weekends
Curiosity Cove is an indoor playscape for children in Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which Mandai describes as Singapore's largest. Tickets are sold as two-hour sessions. It opens on weekdays from 10am to 5:30pm (last admission 4:30pm), and at weekends and on public holidays from 10am to 6:30pm (last admission 5:30pm).
Because it is indoors, it pairs well with a morning at Singapore Zoo if the weather turns, or works as a stand-alone outing for younger children. Price on enquiry: check Mandai's single attractions page for the current session price.
- Services
- Indoor playscape for children, sold in two-hour sessions
Best known for: Mandai park with the Amazon River Quest boat ride and Keeper Trails
River Wonders is one of the parks in Mandai Wildlife Reserve and shares its address with Singapore Zoo. Mandai's family guide highlights the Amazon River Quest boat ride and Keeper Trails, and suggests about two hours for a visit. It opens 9am to 6pm, with last admission at 5pm.
The shorter suggested visit makes it a reasonable add-on to a zoo day for families with energy to spare, or a half-day on its own with younger children. Price on enquiry: check Mandai's ticket pages, and compare with the 6 Attractions Destination Pass if you are visiting from overseas.
- Services
- Wildlife park with Amazon River Quest boat ride and Keeper Trails
- Address
- 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Best known for: Self-steered gravity carts on outdoor tracks, with the Skyride chairlift back up
Skyline Luge on Sentosa has gravity-powered carts that riders steer themselves down outdoor tracks, before the Skyride chairlift carries them back up. It suits families with school-age children who want something more active than a gallery or garden.
To ride alone, children must be 6 or over and at least 110cm tall. Younger or shorter children can ride with an adult, so mixed-age families can still go together. Price on enquiry: Sentosa's attraction page is the place to check current tickets and opening times.
- Services
- Gravity-powered luge carts on outdoor tracks, Skyride chairlift
Visit website: Skyline Luge SentosaFull profile: Skyline Luge Sentosa
How did we choose these places?
We ordered the list on four criteria: how well a place suits children, how clearly the operator publishes its hours, age limits and prices, value for money, and variety across the list. Popularity, advertising and paid placement played no part in the order.
- Built for children: dedicated children’s zones, sessions or rules, not just a general attraction that allows kids in.
- Clear published information: hours, age or height limits and prices stated by the operator or a government body.
- Value: free entry, free entry for toddlers or resident rates count in a place’s favour.
- Variety: a spread of indoor and outdoor options and of age ranges, from toddlers to young teens.
We only use facts from an operator’s own website or a government site such as NParks. Where those pages do not show a price, we say “Price on enquiry” rather than guess. Three of the seven picks are inside Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which makes them easy to combine in one trip. Details were checked on 8 October 2026, and opening times and prices change, so confirm before you set off.
How do opening hours and prices compare?
Hours vary widely: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden opens from 8am, KidsSTOP runs two three-hour sessions, and Curiosity Cove stays open until 6:30pm at weekends. Singapore Zoo is the only pick here with a full published price list on the pages we checked.
| Place | Ages | Published hours | Price (checked 8 Oct 2026) | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Zoo | All ages, under-3s free with a ticketed adult over 21 | Closes 6pm, last entry 5pm | S$25 to S$49, incl. 9% GST | 3 to 4 hours (Mandai) |
| KidsSTOP | 8 and under | Tue to Sun, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm | Price on enquiry | One 3-hour session |
| Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden | Up to 14 | 8am to 7pm, last admission 6:30pm | Check NParks | Not stated |
| Keppel Centre for Art Education | Children | Check National Gallery | Free at its Dec 2023 reopening | Not stated |
| Curiosity Cove | Children | Weekdays 10am to 5:30pm, weekends and PH 10am to 6:30pm | Price on enquiry | 2-hour sessions |
| River Wonders | All ages | 9am to 6pm, last admission 5pm | Price on enquiry | About 2 hours (Mandai) |
| Skyline Luge Sentosa | 6+ and 110cm to ride alone | Check Sentosa | Price on enquiry | Not stated |
How much does Singapore Zoo cost in 2026?
On Mandai’s zoo ticket page, resident tickets cost S$27 to S$30 for a child aged 3 to 12 and S$39 to S$44 for an adult, depending on the day. Non-residents pay S$49 per adult and S$34 per child. All prices include 9% GST.
| Ticket | Mon to Fri (not public holidays) | Sat, Sun and public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Resident adult (usual price S$49) | S$39 | S$44 |
| Resident child, 3 to 12 (usual price S$34) | S$27 | S$30 |
| Resident senior, 60 and over | S$25 | S$25 |
| Non-resident adult | S$49 | S$49 |
| Non-resident child | S$34 | S$34 |
Source: Mandai’s Singapore Zoo ticket page, checked 8 October 2026. The tram is included in the ticket. Mandai links resident rates to its free WildPass membership, so sign up before you buy. Children under 3 go free when an adult over 21 with a ticket goes with them. For visitors from overseas, Mandai’s 1-day 6 Attractions Destination Pass costs S$118 per adult and S$90 per child.
What can you do with kids for free?
Of our picks, the Keppel Centre for Art Education was free for all visitors when it reopened in December 2023, and under-3s go free at Singapore Zoo with a ticketed adult over 21. Entry terms can change, so check the operator’s site before you go.
The Keppel Centre has seven learning zones on the theme “Art & Wonder” and won the 2018 Children in Museums Award. For an outdoor option, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden has water play and eight zones for children up to 14. Check the NParks page for entry details and opening days, and note that the Tree House is temporarily closed because of termite damage.
Where can kids play indoors on a rainy day?
KidsSTOP, Curiosity Cove and the Keppel Centre for Art Education are all indoor, so they work when an afternoon storm arrives. KidsSTOP runs in timed sessions, Curiosity Cove sells two-hour sessions, and the Keppel Centre is inside National Gallery Singapore.
KidsSTOP is a 3,000m² gallery at Science Centre Singapore, and Curiosity Cove is an indoor playscape in Mandai Wildlife Reserve. That makes Curiosity Cove a useful backup on a zoo day: if the weather turns, you can move indoors without leaving Mandai. Remember that KidsSTOP is closed on Mondays, except public holidays and gazetted school holidays.
Which activity suits which age?
KidsSTOP is built for children aged 8 and under, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden for children up to 14, and Skyline Luge needs riders to be 6 or over and 110cm tall to ride alone. Younger children can ride the Luge with an adult.
- Toddlers: Singapore Zoo is free for under-3s with a ticketed adult over 21, and the KidsSTOP annual pass starts from 18 months.
- Ages 3 to 8: KidsSTOP, Curiosity Cove and the zoo’s KidzWorld and water play.
- Ages 6 to 14: Skyline Luge, the eight zones at Jacob Ballas, and River Wonders’ Amazon River Quest boat ride.
How long should you plan for each visit?
Mandai suggests three to four hours for Singapore Zoo and about two hours for River Wonders. KidsSTOP sessions last three hours, and Curiosity Cove tickets cover two-hour sessions. Leave time for travel, as the picks are spread across Mandai, Jurong, the city centre and Sentosa.
For a full Mandai day, start at the zoo, join the daily Pack Walk at 4:15pm at the KidzWorld entrance, and keep Curiosity Cove in reserve for rain. At KidsSTOP, last entry is 12:15pm for the morning session and 4:15pm for the afternoon one, with the gallery closed from 1pm to 2pm for cleaning. Pick one or two places per day rather than trying to fit in more.
Frequently asked questions
Do toddlers need a ticket for Singapore Zoo?
No. Mandai says children under 3 go free when an adult over 21 with a ticket goes with them. Children aged 3 to 12 need a child ticket, from S$27 on a weekday at resident rates.
What age is KidsSTOP for?
KidsSTOP is Science Centre Singapore’s gallery for children aged 8 and under. Its annual pass covers children from 18 months to 8 years and gives 15% off admission and discounted Snow City tickets.
Can young children ride the Skyline Luge on Sentosa?
Yes, with an adult. To ride alone, a child must be 6 or over and at least 110cm tall. Younger or shorter children ride with an adult, according to Sentosa.
Is the Keppel Centre for Art Education free?
When National Gallery Singapore reopened it on 16 December 2023, entry was free for all visitors. Check the Gallery’s website for current entry and opening hours before you visit.
Is KidsSTOP open on Mondays?
Usually not. KidsSTOP opens Tuesday to Sunday and is closed on Mondays, except public holidays and gazetted school holidays.
Is there a pass for several Mandai parks?
For tourists, Mandai sells a 1-day 6 Attractions Destination Pass at S$118 per adult and S$90 per child (checked 8 October 2026). Residents can get lower single-park rates through the free WildPass membership.