Visit: Children’s Museum Singapore

For: Story-driven and tactile exhibits built at a child’s scale.

Pro-tip: Take advantage of the free exhibitions such as the ‘play+make’ arena where your little ones can dress mannequins, act out stories, play with all kinds of materials and fabrics and make their own creations.

Location: 23-B Coleman Street

Visit: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

For: Asia’s first garden, located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens, is dedicated entirely to children, featuring everything from water play areas and treehouses to mini farms.

Pro-tip: Near the entrance in the sand play area, kids can find a mechanical digger where they sit in an operator's seat and use levers to move sand. There’s also the Musical Garden with stainless steel percussion instruments and metal cajons (beat boxes) where kids can stage an impromptu jam session. Unwind later at Small Batch, located within the garden, which serves a variety of kid-friendly options.

Location: 481 Bukit Timah Road

Visit: Chinatown, Little India & Arab Street

For: Three neighbourhoods, three cultures, one very walkable lesson for children in how Singapore’s diversity shows up in everyday life.

Pro-tip: Pick one anchor stop in each neighbourhood (interactive history at Singapore City Gallery in Chinatown, Tekka Centre in Little India, Sultan Mosque in Arab Street). Short walks, frequent pauses and street food stops keep kids engaged.

Visit: MacRitchie Reservoir Park

Expect: A haven for wildlife enthusiasts and bird-watchers, with over 80 species recorded, including the blue-throated bee-eater and white-bellied sea eagle.

Experience: Take the day to explore the many activities here. Don’t miss the TreeTop Walk: an 820-foot-long (250-metre) suspension bridge that links Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang and offers panoramic views of the canopy.

Wind-down: Post-hike, indulge in hearty burgers and milkshakes at Fatboy’s The Burger Bar (Upper Thomson).

Location: 181 Lornie Road, Central Water Catchment (the nearest MRT is Marymount MRT, about a 20-minute walk away)

What: Island Escape Challenge

Why: Navigating open grasslands, abandoned colonial structures and coastal trails under the sun. Expect physical challenges, timed decoding missions and situational puzzles.

Where: St John’s Island, Southern Islands

What: High-Speed RIB Powerboat

Why: Slice through open water at speed, hit bouncing swells, carve aggressive turns around the Southern Islands and feel the thrill.

Where: Lazarus & Kusu Islands, Southern Islands

What: Lazarus Island

Why: With minimal light pollution compared to mainland Singapore, Lazarus offers surprisingly clear night skies and calm lagoon views after sunset for you to stargaze.

Where: Lazarus Island lagoon

Visit: Battlebox, 2 Cox Terrace, Fort Canning Park

Why: Hidden beneath Fort Canning, this underground bunker is where the British decided to surrender Singapore in 1942.

Don’t miss: The guided tour. Stay for private events, immersive dinners and cultural performances, if available.

Relax: Head to Killiney Kopitiam (67 Killiney Road), Singapore’s oldest Hainanese kopitiam founded in 1919, for thick kaya, crisp toast, and coffee.

Visit: Reflections at Bukit Chandu, 31-K Pepys Road

Why: The museum tells the story of the Malay Regiment’s last stand during WWII and offers a powerful perspective on the Battle of Pasir Panjang through immersive exhibits and personal narratives.

Don’t miss: The real intrigue lies in the Second Floor Gallery which houses personal artifacts, weapons used by both the Japanese and the defenders, and moving testimonies from survivors of the battle.

Relax: Head to Refuel II in Bukit Merah for a hearty meal. Enjoy the signature double chilli crab pasta and truffle fries.

Visit: Labrador Nature Reserve, 91 Labrador Villa Road

Why: Found here are intact WWII coastal batteries, tunnels and gun emplacements that reveal how the island prepared for invasion from the sea.

Don’t miss: Walk the Berlayer Creek–Alexandra Battery trail, where you can still see artillery positions aimed at the sea.

Relax: Enjoy Thai and Burmese dishes in a colonial building at Tamarind Hill, located within the reserve.

Visit: Old Hill Street Police Station, 140 Hill St

For: 927 windows painted in graduating colour blocks, turning a former colonial police building into one of the most photographed civic structures in the city.

Pro-tip: Get photos from across Hill Street in the late afternoon for saturated colour. Then walk five minutes to National Gallery Singapore (1 St Andrew's Road) and explore the world's largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian art.

Visit: National Design Centre, 111 Middle Rd

For: A living hub for creative practice where design is debated, tested and prototyped. Here, rotating exhibitions, workshops and speaker programmes showcase how Singapore is thinking about the future of design, from material innovation and product craft to cultural narratives and local challenges.

Pro-tip: Browse installation spaces, sketch in the quiet corners, and combine your visit with Objectifs (155 Middle Rd) nearby, to check out contemporary photography exhibitions.

Visit: Knuckles & Notch, Waterloo Centre, 261 Waterloo St

For: Bespoke risograph (a semi-analogue, eco-friendly printing technique known for its vibrant, soy-based inks and textured results) and experimental printmaking workshops. You’ll learn about layering, colour registration and independent press techniques rarely accessible to visitors.

Pro-tip: Pair this with a stop at Basheer Graphic Books (Bras Basah Complex) to browse independent magazines and art books. Chill with craft beers and pick your play from over 300 board games at King and the Pawn (17 Purvis St).