Singapore family-friendly travel guide

Singapore boasts the never-ending summer of your fantasies, with average temperatures of 26 to 27 degrees Celsius year-round.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months in order to avoid risking being refused boarding your flight to Singapore.

A visa is not required to visit Singapore for less than 90 days. If staying longer, you will need to apply. You may be required to present the credit card used to purchase your flight at the airport check-in counter.

Modern and hi-tech Changi Airport has been voted the best airport in the world several times. It’s an extremely busy airport and there’s plenty to see and do if you get stuck here for any length of time. There are restaurants, cafes, bars, delis and fast-food outlets offering Asian and Western food. There’s also plenty of excellent duty-free shopping available and you can get reasonably good deals on electronics, jewellery, perfume and alcohol. There’s also a supermarket, pharmacy, countless public phones and ATMs, and currency exchange is available 24 hours a day.

The island-wide MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is the easiest way to explore this constantly evolving and captivatingly creative city. Reliable,  convenient and affordable, trains run from early in the morning until late at night and offer air-conditioned cabins, clean stations, and frequent service.

The MRT system also integrates with the bus network and the Light Rail Transit (LRT), making it easy to travel to even more destinations.

The MRT fare is determined by the distance traveled and can be paid using an EZ-Link card, which can be purchased at any MRT station. Alternatively, passengers can use the Singapore Tourist Pass, a special card designed for tourists that provides unlimited travel on public transportation for a set number of days.

Taxis are one of the easiest ways to get around Singapore and are very affordable. 

Singapore’s public buses are very well-connected, reaching most of the island. Most are air-conditioned and all are a great way of leaving your attention free to appreciate the island’s charming streets.

Undoubtedly one of the highlights of Singapore is it’s fantastic cuisine. Singaporean food is a mixture of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Indonesian and Western foods – so you’re guaranteed to find some special dishes that everyone will love. Spend a day in Singapore sampling its enormous variety of unique and exotic foods and you’ll see why Singaporeans love eating so much.

Try local favourites like luscious laksas, chilli crab and kiddy favourites, including chicken rice, satay and roti, at the city’s many Hawker Markets.

Laksa is a rich and spicy noodle soup with coconut milk. Hainanese chicken rice is a simple but tasty dish of boiled or roasted chicken over rice with a chilli, garlic and soy sauce dressing. Dosai is a fermented crepe made from rice batter and black lentils. Rendang is a spicy sauce with coconut milk, chilli and ginger served with beef, lamb or goat.

While Singapore enjoys a reputation for being a five-star city, it can also be a bargain-lover’s paradise – you just need to know where to look!

Shopping is one of Singapore’s biggest attractions and it offers an excellent choice of electronics, jewellery, clothing, cosmetics, sporting goods and Asian artefacts.

Most stores and shopping centres are open from 10am to 10pm. Bargaining should be reserved only for smaller stores and market stalls.

Click here to read more about Singapore’s shopping malls

Tipping is appreciated in Singapore when you receive good service in high-end restaurants and hotels, but not in Changi Airport or in food courts. You may see a standard 10% gratuity to your bill in some restaurants and hotels.

Singapore is hot and humid, so light, loose-fitting clothing should be worn. Most Singaporeans dress fairly conservatively. Be sure to have hats and sunscreen on hand to protect your family from the hot, tropical sun. Insect repellent to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses is a must.

The head is seen as a sacred body part. You should not touch another person’s head.

Being the lowest and least respected parts of the body, feet are considered unclean. Never use your foot to point or show the bottoms of your feet to others. Fidgeting or tapping your feet can signal a lack of interest.

If you want to get somebody’s attention, raise your hand; signalling with the forefinger is considered rude. It can be offensive to pound your fist on an open palm or jerk the forearm.

Electricity is 220-240 AC voltage. It is not the same socket as in Australia, so don’t forget to bring an adapter for three-square prongs.

The Zika virus is a consideration in Singapore, especially for pregnant women. There are no vaccinations for the Zika virus, but it is a mosquito-borne illness, so we recommend ensuring accommodation in mosquito-proof and packing insect repellent.

As always, it’s best to consult a doctor before travelling and to always take out insurance.

A police permit is required for public gatherings of more than four people in Singapore, so if you are travelling in groups larger than this be careful not to obstruct others or prevent their right of way.

Otherwise, crime and violence in Singapore is not a key factor of concern, although you should always be wary of petty crime such as pickpocketing in tourist areas or on public transport.

English is widely spoken in Singapore, however, these Mandarin phrases might also be fun for the kids to practice:

Hello – Ni hao (Nee how)
How are you? – Ni hao ma? (Nee how ma)
Very good – Hen hao (hun hao)
My name is… – Wo jiao… (Wuo jow…)
Please – Qing (ching)
Excuse me – Duì bú qi (dweì bú chi)
Thank you – Xiè xiè (shièh shièh)
Do you speak English? – Ni huì shuo Yingyu ma? (Nee huei shwaw Ying you ma)
I don’t understand – Wo ting bù dong
Danger – Weí xiàn (way shien)
Friends – Péngyou (pung yo)
Good-bye – Zaìjiàn (dsaì jiàn)

Home to two of the most historic landmarks in Singapore, the National Gallery Singapore comprises the former Supreme Court and City Hall. With its unique infrastructure and state-of-the-art buildings, you don’t even have to enter the galleries to get a shot worth posting to your Insta.

A building adorned in 927 rainbow shutters? An Instagrammer’s dream. The building currently houses MCI, but it used to be a police station. Either way, it’s colourful, cheerful and great to pose in front of for that happy snap.

Located right next to Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands, you will the ArtScience Museum. Besides having some very Instagrammable exhibitions and spaces inside, it is also a fun and educational way to spend half a day with the kids.

Singapore is famous for its stunning skyline and the now iconic Marina Bay Sands gives you an unimpeded view, which is arguably the best in the city. From the top, you can enjoy a cocktail at the bay and watch the sunset or if you are lucky enough to be a guest you can take a swim in the Instagram favourite infinity pool. 

On your way to Marina Bay Sands, you’ll cross the Helix Bridge – the longest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. Modelled after the helical structure of DNA, the bridge provides great views of the bay area and makes for some cool angles for your photos.