After most of a week on Sentosa, we moved into the city for the last part of our April 2023 trip. Our boys were 7 and 9. We had two days for Singapore itself: Marina Bay, Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay, with one tropical downpour in the middle.
This 2-day Singapore itinerary follows those two days, in an order that works with kids. It also shows what the same two days cost a family of four in 2026, split into the things you pay for and the surprising number of things you don’t. If you’re still planning the rest of the trip, this page links to everything else we wrote about Singapore.
2 days in Singapore with kids: the short version
- Day 1: Merlion Park, the Esplanade and Marina Bay Sands, ending with the free Spectra light and water show (20:00 and 21:00).
- Day 2: Chinatown and Thian Hock Keng Temple in the morning, then Gardens by the Bay until the free Garden Rhapsody show (19:45 and 20:45).
- What it costs: about S$144–208 (€98–142) for a family of four if you stick to the free sights and hawker food, or about S$410–490 (€279–334) with the two Gardens by the Bay domes and the SkyPark. Hotels and flights are not included.
- Getting around: MRT and buses. Pay by tapping a contactless bank card.
Flying out early? Crowne Plaza Changi Airport is connected to Terminal 3. These are affiliate links: we earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.
Is 2 days enough for Singapore with kids?
For the city centre, yes. Singapore is compact, and Marina Bay, Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay are all a few MRT stops apart. What two days doesn’t cover is Sentosa, which needs its own days. That’s why we split the trip: Sentosa first, the city at the end. Our Sentosa Island guide covers the island half.
With younger kids, plan for heat and rain. Keep the middle of the day for indoor or shaded places, and save the walking for the morning and the evening.
Day 1: Merlion Park, the Esplanade and Marina Bay Sands
We came over from Sentosa, checked into our hotel at midday, and started walking in the afternoon, when it was a little cooler.
Merlion Park
The half-lion, half-fish Merlion is Singapore’s symbol, and the park gives you the classic photo across the water to Marina Bay Sands. It’s free and open all the time. Nearest MRT: Raffles Place.
The Esplanade
The waterfront arts centre with the spiky “durian” roof is a short walk around the bay. It’s free to walk around, and it has shade and air-conditioning when the kids need a break.
Marina Bay Sands and the SkyPark
We walked across to Marina Bay Sands through big office buildings. By evening the whole bay was lit up, with music and lights, and it felt like a fairytale for the boys.
If you want the view from the top, the SkyPark Observation Deck is on Level 56 of Tower 3:
| Ticket | Non-peak (9:30–16:30) | Peak (17:00–22:00) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | S$35 | S$39 |
| Child | S$31 | S$35 |
| Family package (2 adults + 2 children) | S$110 | S$126 |
Children under 2 go free. My advice for families: go non-peak and save S$16 on the family package, then watch the free show from the ground.
Spectra: the free light and water show
Spectra runs at the Event Plaza at Marina Bay Sands at 20:00 and 21:00 from Sunday to Thursday, with an extra 22:00 show on Friday and Saturday. Each show lasts about 15 minutes, with fountains, projections, lasers and music. It’s free, and it’s the best way to end day one with kids.
For dinner, Singapore’s hawker centres are where you eat well without spending much.
Day 2: Chinatown, Thian Hock Keng and Gardens by the Bay
Morning: Chinatown
We took a local bus to Chinatown, and on the way it rained so hard we couldn’t see out of the windows. By the time we got off, it had stopped. That’s April in Singapore: carry a light rain jacket and don’t cancel plans because of a storm.
Chinatown is where you’ll find hawker stalls with Chinese dishes, plus sit-down restaurants if the kids want air-conditioning. The Maxwell Food Centre hawker centre is right next to Chinatown.
Thian Hock Keng Temple
One of Singapore’s oldest and most important Hokkien temples, at 158 Telok Ayer Street, a short walk from Chinatown. The carved and painted details are what make it worth the stop. Entry is free, and it’s open from 7:30 to 17:00, so do it in the morning. Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer.
The rest of the day: Gardens by the Bay
We had lunch inside Gardens by the Bay and then stayed the whole day. The boys enjoyed every moment. The outdoor gardens are free and cover 101 hectares next to Marina Bay Sands. Nearest MRT: Bayfront.
| Gardens by the Bay | Adult | Child (3–12) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower Dome + Cloud Forest | S$46 | S$32 | 9:00–21:00, last entry 20:00 (Cloud Forest) |
| Cloud Forest only | S$26 | S$22 | Home to the indoor waterfall |
| OCBC Skyway (walkway between the Supertrees) | S$14 | S$10 | Optional |
| Supertree Grove, outdoor gardens | Free | Free | Outdoor gardens 5:00–2:00 |
| Far East Organization Children’s Garden | Free | Free | Thursday to Sunday only (Tuesday to Sunday in school holidays), 9:00–19:00; water play for ages 6–12 closes 18:30 |
| Garden Rhapsody light show | Free | Free | 19:45 and 20:45 at Supertree Grove |
Two planning notes. First, the Children’s Garden is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays outside school holidays, so if water play matters to your kids, put Gardens by the Bay on a Thursday to Sunday. Second, from 26 March 2026 its entrance moved to near the Sun Pavilion because of bridge works. The Cloud Forest also has maintenance closures. The next one is 26 October 2026.
Stay for Garden Rhapsody. The Supertrees light up to music, and it’s one of the best free things in Singapore.
After dark: Sultan Mosque, Kampong Gelam
One evening we went to see the Sultan Mosque (Masjid Sultan) in Kampong Gelam, with its golden dome. We only photographed it at night from the outside and didn’t go in. If you want to visit inside, go during the day, dress modestly and check the visiting hours first, because the mosque closes to visitors at prayer times. Nearest MRT: Bugis.
If you have an extra morning: Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens are a completely separate place from Gardens by the Bay, about 6 km away. They’re free, and they’re home to the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden: free, open 8:00–19:00 (last entry 18:30), closed on Mondays unless it’s a public holiday. It’s a 10-minute walk from Botanic Gardens MRT (Exit A). With young kids, it’s the best free morning in the city, and it’s cooler early in the day.
How much do 2 days in Singapore cost for a family?
Here’s an estimate for 2 adults and 2 children aged 3–12, following this itinerary, at September 2026 prices. Hotels and flights are not included. Euros are calculated at the ECB rate of 14 September 2026 (€1 = S$1.4676), so treat them as approximate.
| Item | Free-and-hawker version | With the domes and SkyPark |
|---|---|---|
| MRT and buses (about 5 rides each per day, around S$1.60 a ride) | S$64 | S$64 |
| 4 hawker meals (4 dishes at S$5–9 each, drinks not included) | S$80–144 | S$80–144 |
| Flower Dome + Cloud Forest (2 adults, 2 children) | — | S$156 |
| SkyPark Observation Deck, family package | — | S$110–126 |
| Merlion, Esplanade, Spectra, Supertree Grove, Garden Rhapsody, Children’s Garden, Thian Hock Keng, Botanic Gardens | Free | Free |
| Total | S$144–208 (about €98–142) | S$410–490 (about €279–334) |
What changes the total:
- Drinks, breakfast and snacks aren’t included above. Budget for them separately, because the heat means you’ll buy a lot of water.
- Children under 7 who are 0.9 m or shorter ride public transport free with a paying adult.
- Taxis or Grab in a storm add up quickly. Pay the extra when it pours rather than fighting the rain with tired kids.
- The Singapore Tourist Pass (S$24 for 2 days, including a S$10 refundable deposit) only pays off if you take a lot of trips. With this itinerary, tapping a bank card is usually cheaper.
- Hawker food is how Singapore stays affordable. Chicken rice costs about S$5–7, laksa S$6–9 and satay S$0.80–1.20 a stick. A restaurant meal in Marina Bay easily costs several times that.
How to get around Singapore with kids
Use the MRT and buses, and pay by tapping a contactless Visa or Mastercard at the gates. You don’t need to buy a travel card. Stations have lifts, so a stroller is manageable. Every stop on this itinerary has an MRT station close by: Raffles Place, Bayfront, Chinatown, Telok Ayer, Bugis and Botanic Gardens.
Where to stay for 2 days in Singapore
For the city half of the trip, stay near Marina Bay or on an MRT line, so you’re not adding a long journey to each day. We spent most of our week on Sentosa at Village Hotel Sentosa, which we’d recommend for the island part. The box at the top of this page has a budget, a mid-range and a luxury option.
Plan the rest of your Singapore trip
- Flying there: Emirates economy from Barcelona to Singapore with kids
- Sentosa Island with kids: getting there, beaches, where to stay
- Village Hotel Sentosa review: the family room, breakfast and pools
- Dolphin Island Sentosa with kids
- Changi Airport with kids: how we spent our last day
- Singapore in April with Kids
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
2 Days in Singapore with Kids FAQ
Is 2 days enough in Singapore with kids?
Two days is enough for the city centre: Marina Bay, Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay are all a few MRT stops apart. It is not enough to also cover Sentosa, which needs its own days, so we split our trip between Sentosa first and the city at the end.
How much does 2 days in Singapore cost for a family of four?
Excluding hotels and flights, a family of two adults and two children aged 3 to 12 spends about S$144–208 (roughly €98–142) on public transport and four hawker meals if they stick to free sights. Adding the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest (S$156) and the SkyPark Observation Deck family package (S$110–126) brings it to about S$410–490 (roughly €279–334), at September 2026 prices.
How much are Gardens by the Bay tickets?
The outdoor gardens, Supertree Grove and the Garden Rhapsody show are free. The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest combo costs S$46 for adults and S$32 for children aged 3 to 12; the Cloud Forest alone is S$26 and S$22, and the OCBC Skyway is S$14 and S$10.
What time are the free light shows in Singapore?
Garden Rhapsody at Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay, runs at 7:45pm and 8:45pm. Spectra at the Event Plaza, Marina Bay Sands, runs at 8pm and 9pm from Sunday to Thursday, with an extra 10pm show on Friday and Saturday. Both are free.
When is the Children’s Garden at Gardens by the Bay open?
The Far East Organization Children’s Garden is free and open from Thursday to Sunday and on public holidays, 9am to 7pm, and from Tuesday to Sunday during school holidays. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays otherwise, and its water play, designed for ages 6 to 12, closes at 6:30pm.
Is Singapore expensive for families?
Singapore can be expensive, but many of its best sights are free, including Merlion Park, Supertree Grove, both nightly light shows, the Children’s Garden, Thian Hock Keng Temple and the Botanic Gardens. Hawker centres keep food affordable, with chicken rice at about S$5–7 a plate, and children under 7 who are 0.9 m or shorter ride public transport free with a paying adult.
What is the best way to get around Singapore with kids?
Use the MRT and public buses and pay by tapping a contactless bank card at the gates. The 2-day Singapore Tourist Pass costs S$24 including a S$10 refundable deposit, but on an itinerary like this one pay-as-you-go is usually cheaper. Take a taxi or Grab when a tropical storm hits.
2 Comments