School holidays in Singapore are expensive if you let them be.
But if you know where to look, there are plenty of activities that cost almost nothing and still leave the kids talking about them for weeks after.
Here are 31 activities across Singapore that I have either done with my own kids or verified through parents who have.
None of these require you to spend S$50 per person at a commercial attraction.
Some are completely free. Others cost under S$10 per child. All of them are worth doing.
Free Activities (S$0)
1. HDB Park Playground Hunting
Singapore has hundreds of HDB neighbourhood playgrounds and they are genuinely good.
Pasir Ris, Sengkang, Punggol, Toa Payoh: each estate has at least one playground that would be free to play.
Bring snacks and let them run for 2 hours. Go on a weekday morning to avoid crowds.
Where: Any HDB neighbourhood playground, Singapore
Cost: S$0
Best age: 3-10
2. Gardens by the Bay Children’s Garden
The Children’s Garden at Gardens by the Bay has a water play area that kids love.
Weekday mornings are quiet. Bring swimwear for the water jets, a towel, and sunblock.
Parking at Marina Bay Sands is expensive, but you can take the MRT and walk.
Where: Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive
Cost: Free for Singapore citizens
Best age: 2-10
3. Singapore Botanic Gardens (Free Zone)
The Botanic Gardens is free to enter and has a large children’s garden with a rainforest area, water features, and lots of space to run.
Bring bread to feed the fish at the pond.
The Jacob Bah’s Museum nearby has kids activities sometimes.
Where: 1 Cluny Road
Cost: S$0
Best age: 2-12
4. Bedok Reservoir Park
Wide open space, a track for bikes and scooters, and water views.
Very popular with families in the east. Bring your own picnic setup and make a morning of it.
No shade though, so go early or late afternoon.
Where: Bedok Reservoir Park, Bedok Rise
Cost: S$0
Best age: 4-12
5. Chong Pang Market and Food Walk
Not a tourist spot. This is a real neighbourhood wet market in Yishun that families actually live near.
Walk through, buy whatever fruit is in season, get a packet of kueh, let the kids see how Singapore actually shops for food.
Then walk to the nearby Chong Pang City to feed the cats at the void deck.
Where: Chong Pang, Yishun
Cost: S$0 (buy some snacks if you want)
Best age: 3-10
6. East Coast Park Beach Day
Picnic at East Coast Park with bikes and a kite.
The beach section near Carpark F has hammock spots and good sand for building.
The sea air and open space means the kids will sleep well after.
Where: East Coast Park, Carpark F area
Cost: S$0
Best age: 3-14
7. MacRitchie Reservoir TreeTop Walk Preview
You do not have to do the full hike. Walk the first 1.5 km of the MacRitchie trail, let the kids cross the small suspension bridge near the Ranger Station, then turn back.
It is free, scenic, and gives you the MacRitchie experience without committing to the full 8km.
Where: MacRitchie Reservoir, Llower Peirce Track
Cost: S$0
Best age: 5-12
8. Jurong Lake Gardens
Completely free entry. Large natural space with a water playground, sand play area, and wide paths for cycling.
Less crowded than East Coast Park during school holidays. Bring bikes, a picnic mat, and water.
Where: Yuan Kuang, 1040
Cost: S$0
Best age: 2-12
9. Tampines Round Market and Neighbourhood Walk
Tampines has a network of parks and neighbourhood walks. Park at the multi-storey car park near the wet market, walk through, then do the Tampines 1 and 3 trail loop.
It is about 4km of mixed park connector and neighbourhood paths. Free.
Where: Tampines Round Market, then Tampines Park Connector
Cost: S$0
Best age: 6-14
10. Lower Peirce Reservoir Boardwalk
Flat, shaded, 2.2km boardwalk through old growth forest. Nature without the effort.
The kids will spot monitor lizards and various birds. No bike path so stick to walking.
Bring mosquito repellent.
Where: Lower Peirce Reservoir, off Old Upper Thomson Road
Cost: S$0
Best age: 4-12
More Exciting Attractions
11. Singapore Zoo (Non-Peak Window)
If you go before 10am on a weekday, the crowd is thin and the animals are more active.
Bring your own snacks to avoid the restaurant prices. A family of four can do the zoo for under S$140 total if you time it right and bring food.
Where: 80 Mandai Lake Road
Cost: From S$39+ per adult (Singapore citizens), children $27++, Kids under 3 free.
Best age: 3-14
12. Jacob Bah’s Museum
The free exhibits change regularly and there are always craft activities aimed at primary school kids.
You can spend 2-3 hours here without spending anything beyond transport and maybe a snack from the cafe.
Where: 2 Imbiah Road, Sentosa
Cost: S$0 (booking recommended)
Best age: 5-12
13. PUB Waterworks Education Centre
Learn about Singapore’s water cycle through interactive exhibits.
The centre is free but you need to book online. Very few people know about this, which means it is never crowded.
Where: Waterworks Centre, 1 Space Ave, Tukarkan
Cost: S$0 (book online)
Best age: 6-12
14. Science Centre Singapore
The Science Centre admission is around S$12 per adult and free for Singapore citizens and PRs for the main exhibits.
The special exhibitions cost extra. Go early to maximise time. Allow 3-4 hours minimum.
Where: 15 Science Centre Road
Cost: From S$12 per adult, free for Singapore citizens and PRs
Best age: 6-14
15. library@harbourfront
A library is an underrated school holiday activity. The HarbourFront branch has a dedicated children’s section with regular storytelling sessions and craft workshops, most of which are free.
Allow 2 hours.
Where: 1 Harbourfront Walk
Cost: S$0
Best age: 3-10
16. Free Art Jamming at Libraries
The National Library Board runs free art jamming sessions for kids during school holidays. Check the NLB website for schedules.
No booking required for most, just show up. All materials provided.
Where: Various NLB branches across Singapore
Cost: S$0 (check NLB website for schedule)
Best age: 4-12
17. Community Centre (CC) Holiday Activities
Most CCs run school holiday programs for kids. Art jamming, craft workshops, games sessions, and active play classes. Check your nearest CC’s Facebook page or notice board for the holiday schedule – they usually post it 2-3 weeks before the school break starts.
Prices are usually S$5-S$15 per child per session. It is not fancy, but it is supervised, air-conditioned, and your kid comes home having made something.
Where: Your nearest Community Centre (CC)
Cost: S$5-S$15 per child per session
Best age: 3-12
Under S$30 Per Child
18. Snow City Singapore
The entry fee is around S$25-S$30 per person depending on the package. Dress warmly – they provide the winter gear.
The snow room is small but for a kid who has never seen snow, it is a genuine wow moment. Allow 1-2 hours.
Where: 3 River Valley Road
Cost: From S$25 per person
Best age: 5-12
19. Pororo Park
Soft play area themed around the Korean cartoon character Pororo. Located at Marina Bay Sands.
Entry for children around S$25, adults pay a small observer fee. Very popular with toddlers and early primary school kids. Book online to avoid walk-in queues.
Where: Marina Bay Sands, B1-01
Cost: From S$25 per child, adults from S$8
Best age: 2-7
20. Kidz Amaze
Multiple locations across Singapore. Indoor soft play centres with a range of zones for different age groups.
Kids under 3 enter free. Monthly passes available if you plan to go more than twice.
Where: Multiple locations (Sengkang, Jurong, etc.)
Cost: From S$18 per child, adults free
Best age: 2-10
21. Singapore Discovery Centre
Near Jurong Lake. Interactive exhibits that teach kids about Singapore’s history and defence.
Entry is around S$15 per person for Singapore citizens. Allow 3 hours.
Where: 15 Science Centre Road
Cost: From S$15 per person
Best age: 7-14
22. Air Force Museum
Free entry. Static aircraft displays outside, some interactive exhibits inside.
It is compact but the kids can climb into a real S-1A trainer aircraft and sit in the cockpit. Good for 1-2 hours.
Where: 401 Upper Paya Lebar Road
Cost: S$0
Best age: 5-12
23. Malay Heritage Centre
S$8 for adults, free for Singapore citizens and PRs. Small but well-curated, with a children’s wing that has hands-on activities during school holidays.
Very quiet compared to other museums. Good if you want to avoid crowds but still be indoors.
Where: 85 Sultan Gate
Cost: S$8 per adult, free for Singapore citizens and PRs
Best age: 6-14
24. Sentosa Beach and Palawan Pirate Ship
The beach is free. The pirate ship play structure at Palawan Beach is also free.
Spend the morning at the beach and afternoon at Adventure Cove or S.E.S. Aquarium if budget allows. Or just stay at the beach all day.
Where: Palawan Beach, Sentosa
Cost: S$0 (S$4 entry to Sentosa by cable car or monorail)
Best age: 3-12
Day Trip Ideas (S$50-S$150 Per Family)
25. Johor Bahru Day Trip
Take the causeway link bus or drive to JB. Eat at a mall food court for a fraction of Singapore prices, visit the Angry Birds Theme Park at Resorts World Sentosa, or just walk around City Square and the surrounding area.
Budget S$150 for a family of 4 for transport and meals.
Where: Johor Bahru, Malaysia (2-3 hours from Singapore)
Cost: From S$50 per person for transport and meals
Best age: 4-14
26. Zoo and River Safari Combined
If you have not been to River Safari, combining it with Singapore Zoo makes sense as they are adjacent.
Book online to get discounts. Allow 5 hours minimum.
Where: 80 Mandai Lake Road
Cost: From S$50 per person for combined ticket
Best age: 3-14
27. Gardens by the Bay plus Carousel Ride
Buy the combined Gardens by the Bay plus carousel ticket. The carousel gives your kid one ride on a miniature train.
Do the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, then the outdoor gardens. One day.
Where: Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive
Cost: From S$20 per person for combined ticket
Best age: 4-12
28. Haw Par Villa
S$15 per adult, free for Singapore citizens and PRs. The park is creepy in a fascinating way for older kids.
Not for very young children. But for a family with primary school aged kids who want something different, it works. Allow 2-3 hours.
Where: 262 Pasir Panjang Road
Cost: S$15 per adult, free for Singapore citizens and PRs
Best age: 8-14
29. Kusu Island Day Trip
Take a ferry from HarbourFront to Kusu Island. Return tickets around S$35 per adult.
The island has a tortoise sanctuary, a reasonable beach, and a small temple. Very quiet compared to Sentosa. Pack food and water.
Where: Kusu Island, via HarbourFront Ferry Terminal
Cost: From S$35 per adult for ferry tickets
Best age: 5-14
30. Changi Museum and Changi Point Boardwalk
Free entry to the museum. Combine with a walk at Changi Point Boardwalk, then lunch at one of the hawker stalls in Changi Village.
Very calm, very different pace from the city.
Where: Changi Museum, 1 Netheravon Road; Changi Point Boardwalk
Cost: S$0 museum entry, S$10-S$20 for hawker lunch
Best age: 8-14
31. Bounce trampolines or Altitude trampoline
Trampoline parks are a hit with kids who have energy to burn. Safety standards are good and the staff watch the kids closely.
Book a 2-hour session online for a discount.
Where: Multiple locations (Kallang, Jurong, Tampines)
Cost: From S$20 per person for 1-2 hours
Best age: 5-12
The Pattern That Makes School Holidays Work
The cheap school holidays are not about finding one big activity.
They are about stacking small things together. Morning at a free park, lunch at a hawker centre, afternoon at a library or museum.
The kids remember the experience, not the price tag.
If you are doing this regularly, look at the National Library Board’s holiday activity schedule first. It is updated every school holiday and most events are free. That is where I start every holiday season.
If you want more ideas for keeping the kids busy without spending a fortune, check out our list of screen-free activities that works for younger kids too.