New Things to Do With Kids in Singapore in 2026 That Most Parents Have Not Tried Yet

13 July 2026 · 8 min read

Most parents in Singapore have a shortlist of five or six venues they return to every school holiday. The Science Centre, Gardens by the Bay, the Zoo. These are good choices. But they are not new choices.

This is a list of things on in Singapore in 2026 that most parents have not yet visited. Some are permanent attractions that opened quietly and have not broken through to the mainstream. Some are limited-run shows that close before the year is out. All of them are worth booking before word spreads.

1. Adventure+ at Mandai Wildlife Reserve

Most families who go to Mandai head straight for the Zoo, Night Safari, or River Wonders. Adventure+ sits within the same campus and most of them walk past it.

It is an outdoor adventure course at Rainforest Wild Adventure with activities graded by thrill level across two zones, from gentle ground-level play to canopy challenges up to 20 metres high. Children can choose their own intensity: some activities require no harness and suit younger children, while the higher routes demand more from older ones.

Up to nine activities are included in park admission, making it one of the better-value additions to a day already at Mandai. If you are going to the Zoo anyway, there is no reason to skip it.

Best for children aged 5 and up. Older children who want a physical challenge will get the most from the higher routes.

Book at Adventure+ at Mandai.

Find more activities like this on Jungle.

2. Savage Garden at Science Centre Singapore

Science Centre Singapore has been on every parent's radar for decades. Savage Garden is one of its least talked-about attractions and one of its most visually striking.

The exhibition is built around carnivorous plants: pitcher plants, sundews, Venus flytraps and more, displayed in a setting that goes considerably further than a typical plant display. There is a Plant Theatre featuring large-scale plant characters, a live Paludarium tank housing real carnivorous plants in their natural habitat, and a giant pitcher plant slide that children can ride.

It is one of the few indoor exhibits at Science Centre that genuinely surprises children who have been before and think they know what to expect. Entry is included in standard Science Centre admission.

Best for all ages, though children aged 4 to 10 tend to find it the most memorable.

Book at Savage Garden at Science Centre.

Find more activities like this on Jungle.

3. The Galilean Mission at KidsSTOP

KidsSTOP is Singapore's dedicated children's science centre for ages 8 and below, located within the Science Centre campus. The Galilean Mission, running until 30 August 2026, is a newer addition that most parents do not specifically seek out.

It is a 15 to 20 minute immersive space adventure where children explore Jupiter's moons, identify minerals, and battle space pirates through a gamified sequence of challenges. It runs on a walk-in basis and is included free with KidsSTOP admission.

The structure works well for children who get impatient with passive exhibits. It requires participation and decision-making, and the space theming is detailed enough to hold the attention of even children who would otherwise rush through.

Best for children aged 4 to 6. Book KidsSTOP admission in advance as slots fill during school holidays.

Book at The Galilean Mission at KidsSTOP.

Find more activities like this on Jungle.

4. The Intan Tea Experience

The Intan is an award-winning Peranakan home museum in Joo Chiat, housed in a restored shophouse filled with one of Singapore's largest private collections of Peranakan artefacts. It is run by Alvin Yapp, who leads the guided experience himself.

The visit combines a viewing of the private collection with an exploration of Peranakan history and culture, and ends with a sampling of authentic Nyonya kuehs over tea. There are fewer than 20 visitors in any session, and the experience is deliberately intimate: Alvin is present throughout and will answer any question fully.

It is one of the most unusual things you can do with children in Singapore. It is not a playground or a performance. It is a real home opened to visitors by someone who cares deeply about what he is sharing. Children who come out of it with questions are the ones who got something from it.

Tickets are $32.10 per person. The experience runs until 30 September 2026 and sessions must be booked in advance.

Best for children aged 7 and up, particularly those with an interest in food, history, or Singapore culture.

Book at The Intan.

Find more activities like this on Jungle.

5. Once Upon a Tide at the National Museum of Singapore

The National Museum of Singapore's SG60 special exhibition runs until 9 October 2026 and is one of the more substantial family experiences on in the city this year.

The exhibition traces 700 years of Singapore's history through five immersive sections, focusing on the role of the sea and the river in shaping how the island developed. Each visitor picks up a personal RFID wristband at entry that activates interactive elements throughout the space, including games, experiential storytelling zones, and narrative moments tied to specific artefacts.

The National Museum charges admission for its permanent galleries; check the museum website for the current ticketing structure for Once Upon a Tide specifically, as some elements are free.

Best for children aged 6 and up.

Book at Once Upon a Tide at the National Museum.

Find more activities like this on Jungle.

6. Botero and Hockney at the IMBA Theatre, Gardens by the Bay

Both immersive art exhibitions at Gardens by the Bay's IMBA Theatre run until 31 August 2026. Most parents have not yet been, even though both have been running since earlier in the year.

Botero: A Life in Fullness is a 40-minute immersive show using projection, music, and light to bring Fernando Botero's large, rounded figures to life. It is accessible to all ages and the visual language is immediately legible to young children.

David Hockney: Bigger and Closer takes audiences through Hockney's career from Yorkshire to California, at a scale and with a soundscape that makes the work genuinely different from seeing it in a conventional gallery.

The IMBA Theatre requires a separate ticket from main Gardens admission. Both shows run throughout the day and booking a specific slot in advance is recommended.

Best for all ages.

Book at IMBA Theatre at Gardens by the Bay.

Find more activities like this on Jungle.

Plan Before They Close

Three of the six activities above have hard end dates before the year is out: The Galilean Mission closes 30 August, the IMBA Theatre shows close 31 August, and The Intan Tea Experience closes 30 September. Once Upon a Tide runs until 9 October.

If any of these fit your children's ages and interests, book sooner rather than later. School holiday periods fill quickly, and some of these will not return once they close. Browse the full list of things to do in Singapore on Jungle.