Enjoy lush green spaces outside, or take a break from the heat with comfortable indoor spaces in Southeast Asia
A tropical nation that has glaring sun and hot temperatures, all year round… yet also has some of the world’s best green spaces? That’s right. Not only is nearly half of Singapore green space. The island nation also has fun indoor attractions when you want to get out of the heat, sun, or rain.
Easy booking: Cloud Forest & Flower tickets, Singapore tours and activities, where to stay
As of this guide, our family of four has visited Singapore twice over the years. We’ve been there amid rainy days that scuppered our outdoor plans and had us pulling out our indoor contingencies. We’ve also learned that timing activities for the evening can be a best bet, especially for families—and when you want not only some fresh air, but a lit-up cityscape that brings magic to the nighttime.
Indoors
Singapore’s tropical climate means that it’s hot all year. The sun can be intense, and when rain comes, the downpours hit hard. Fortunately, Singaporeans have excellent indoor activities to give you plenty of things to do in Singapore when it’s too hot, too wet, or you just want a break from the outside.
Food stalls at hawker centers
Our personal favorite. Over a hundred hawker centers serve up millions of meals a day in Singapore. Some centers have a handful of stalls, and others are home to dozens. All have regular, and tough, hygiene and food safety inspections. Hawker centers provide an unbeatable combo of budget friendly food, diverse options, and a chance to share a communal table with regular, everyday Singaporeans.
Shopping centers
Like Malaysia or Thailand, Singapore’s shopping centers are grand, elegant, and fun just to wander around. Naturally, there’s shopping, including from global brands. Many shopping centers tie in with train stations too. We find that going through a shopping center can be a way to snag some treats and a meal, then head to our train to our next activity, all while getting out of the weather.
Indian Heritage Center
The immigrant experience in our home country of the USA features regularly in our homeschooling with the kids. Singapore is another country where immigration has drawn in people from around the world. Many people have immigrated to Singapore from India, especially southern India. When visiting Little India, an hour or two at this interactive, engaging museum brings the families, stories, experiences, and history of Singapore’s Indian immigrant community to life.
Cloud Forest and Flower Dome
Located in the free Gardens by the Bay urban park area, Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are paid indoor attractions purchased under one combo ticket. It can be a splurge, especially for a family, but it’s a worthwhile one. When we visit, the expansive domed space gives a sense of being in a futuristic habitat on another world. Cloud Forest ties in nature with interactive exhibits, and Flower Dome’s regional habitats are like wandering through rich plantscapes from all over the world.
Outdoors
Singapore is about the same size as the USA’s Los Angeles metro area, but nearly half of the island nation is green space devoted to parks and gardens. Many of these spaces are also free to the public. One of the joys of visiting Singapore is how easy it is to include time in nature, even when you are in the heart of one of the world’s densest cities.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The train station is right next to the main entrance of this massive, multi-zoned garden. If you’re a morning person, head here first thing for the coolest temperatures of the day. Evening brings a calm of its own though. Paths weave throughout the garden, and map stations orient you to different themed garden areas. It’s also a great place to visit with kids or to get in a walk or jog.
Gardens by the Bay
This waterfront park is one of Singapore’s most iconic, must-visit areas. It’s also home to Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, and the Supertree Grove. Easily reached by train throughout the island, Gardens by the Bay is where people come to get outside while taking in views of the skyline.
Free nightly light and sound show at the Supertrees Grove
One of Singapore’s most iconic destinations is free and happens twice a night. The 18 human-made trees of the Supertree Grove light up with a lights and music show. The Supertrees are also easy to photograph and video, even in the dark. Heading here for an evening adds magic to your time in Singapore, and it’s a signature way to finish out an evening.
Sentosa Island’s SensoryScape
Sentosa Island is Singapore’s playground. Home to resorts, a Universal Studios theme park, and more, Sentosa is also where to go for a delightful, immersive wander around multiple themed sensory zones. With plants, design, aromatics, sound, light, and more, SensoryScape sparks the imagination, conversation, and a deep joy at the beauty of each exhibit.
Walking tours of Chinatown or Little India
When visiting Singapore, you owe it to yourself to spend some time wandering neighborhoods such as Chinatown and Little India. Whether street stalls, restaurants, shops, or curious bits of architecture or intriguing artifacts tucked here and there, each neighborhood is vibrant with the deep culture and history of the people who call these areas home. We especially enjoy pairing time here with a walking tour. It adds depth and perspective, and guides often know where to get the best treats.
Singapore has so much to do inside and outside, for everyone
When you visit Singapore, you can take advantage of so many activities, free or paid, and indoor and outdoor spaces. There are activities for any budget and any age. And whether you want to be outside or the rain or heat have you ready to go indoors, you’ll have plenty of things to do in Singapore.
