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One day in Singapore

One day in Singapore with children can start at 08:30 at Mandai Wildlife EAST with Singapore Zoo and River Wonders, ride the MRT south in the afternoon to Gardens by the Bay for the Far East Organization Children's Garden, and finish at Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and the OCBC Skyway.

Children are 2 to 11 years old; infants are under 2.

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Updated 23 October 2026

Plan your trip to Singapore

Singapore Zoo and KidzWorld at Mandai Wildlife EAST in the morning

Start your morning at 08:30 at Singapore Zoo inside Mandai Wildlife EAST (80 Mandai Lake Road), which opens daily from 08:30 to 18:00 with last entry at 17:00. Families can take the North-South MRT Line to Khatib Station (NS14, Exit A) and hop on the M2 – Khatib Bus, which departs every 15 minutes from 08:30 and reaches the reserve in about 20 minutes (children under 7 ride free), or take public bus 138 from Springleaf MRT (TE4) or Ang Mo Kio MRT (NS16) to bus stop 48131.

Set in an open-concept tropical rainforest home to more than 4,200 animals, the zoo lets children spot free-ranging orangutans, join keeper talks and animal presentations, and spend time inside KidzWorld – Home of the Ranger Buddies, which features the Splish Splash water play maze and interactive Ranger Buddies Quest missions. Sensory-friendly and access guide maps are available to download before you set off.

River Wonders next door at Mandai Wildlife EAST at late morning

Walk right next door within Mandai Wildlife EAST to River Wonders, which opens daily from 09:00 to 18:00 with last entry at 17:00. Dedicated to freshwater habitats, the park houses more than 11,000 land and aquatic animals across 260 species, including giant pandas, manatees, capybaras, the Indian gharial and the Mekong giant catfish.

Families can follow sheltered boardwalks through the Amazon Flooded Forest and board the Amazon River Quest boat ride. When you are ready to head back toward the city center, take bus 138 from bus stop 48131 to Springleaf MRT Station (TE4) on the Thomson-East Coast Line for a direct train ride south to Gardens by the Bay MRT Station (TE22, Exit 1), or return via Khatib MRT Station.

Far East Organization Children's Garden at Gardens by the Bay in the afternoon

Arrive at Gardens by the Bay (18 Marina Gardens Drive) via Gardens by the Bay MRT Station (TE22, Exit 1) or Bayfront MRT Station (CE1/DT16, Exit B across the Dragonfly Bridge or Meadow Bridge) and head to the Far East Organization Children's Garden using its entrance near the Sun Pavilion. Admission is free, and the garden is designed specifically for children aged 12 and below (adults are admitted only when accompanying a child aged 12 or under).

Outside school holidays, the Children's Garden opens Thursday to Sunday and public holidays from 09:00 to 19:00, and during school holidays it opens Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00 (last admission is at 18:00 and water play closes at 18:30). Children aged 1 to 5 have their own Toddler Play Zone with a swaying bridge and Fish Fountain water tunnels, while ages 6 to 12 can climb the two Rainforest Tree Houses along a 130-metre canopy trail and splash through the motion-sensor Water Play zone. A nursing room and a 300-seat sheltered amphitheatre are right on site.

Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and the Supertree Grove in the late afternoon

Cool off inside the two climate-controlled glass conservatories (kept at 23°C to 25°C), both open daily from 09:00 to 21:00. Flower Dome (last admission 20:30, recommended duration one hour) holds the Guinness World Record for the largest glass greenhouse and displays African baobabs, cacti and Mediterranean flora, while Cloud Forest (last admission 20:00, recommended duration one hour) surrounds a 35-metre indoor waterfall with aerial Cloud Walk ramps, misting sessions every two hours (10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00), Crystal Mountain's Hidden Forest digital installation, and animatronic dinosaurs in Jurassic World: The Experience.

Finish at the Supertree Grove, where you can ride up to the 128-metre-long OCBC Skyway aerial walkway suspended 22 metres above ground (open daily 09:00 to 21:00, last admission 20:30, weather permitting) and stay for the free Garden Rhapsody light and sound show beneath the Supertrees at 19:45 or 20:45.

Plan your one day in Singapore

Check weekly and scheduled maintenance closures before locking in your date: the Far East Organization Children's Garden is closed Monday to Wednesday during regular school weeks (and closed on Mondays during school holidays, or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday). At Gardens by the Bay, individual attractions close on scheduled maintenance days—Cloud Forest is closed on 26 October 2026, OCBC Skyway on 4 November 2026, and Flower Dome on 16 November 2026. At Singapore Zoo, the African Penguin exhibit is closed for upgrading from 31 August to 30 November 2026, and the Elephants of Asia exhibit is closed on 29 October 2026.

Pack swimwear and a towel for both Singapore Zoo's Splish Splash wet zone and the Far East Organization Children's Garden water play, and keep an EZ-Link card or contactless bank card/mobile wallet handy for the M2 – Khatib Bus, which does not accept cash. Note that Cloud Forest's Jurassic World: The Experience includes loud sound effects and flashing lights for sensory-sensitive children, and nursing rooms are available inside Cloud Forest, at The Canopy, and at the Children's Garden.

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Frequently asked questions

Which days of the week is the Far East Organization Children's Garden open?

During regular term weeks, the Far East Organization Children's Garden opens Thursday to Sunday and on public holidays from 09:00 to 19:00 (last admission at 18:00, water play closes at 18:30). During Singapore school holidays, it opens Tuesday to Sunday on the same hours.

How do you get to Singapore Zoo and River Wonders by public transport?

Take the North-South MRT Line to Khatib Station (NS14, Exit A) and board the M2 – Khatib Bus, which runs every 15 minutes from 08:30 and takes about 20 minutes to Mandai Wildlife EAST (children under 7 ride free; contactless payment only). You can also take bus 138 from Springleaf MRT (TE4) or Ang Mo Kio MRT (NS16), or bus 927 from Choa Chu Kang MRT (NS4).

What time are the misting sessions and evening light shows at Gardens by the Bay?

Inside Cloud Forest, misting takes place daily at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00. Outdoors at the Supertree Grove, the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show runs twice every evening at 19:45 and 20:45.

Are nursing rooms and stroller or wheelchair services available at Gardens by the Bay?

Yes. Nursing rooms are located at the Far East Organization Children's Garden, inside Cloud Forest, at The Canopy near Flower Dome, at Golden Garden and at The Meadow. The Bayfront Shuttle Service runs every 20 minutes between Bayfront MRT and Flower Dome from 09:00 to 21:00 and is free for passengers using foldable wheelchairs.