Why Singapore Is Our Favourite Family Stopover (And How We’d Spend 48 Hours There)
- rowofthree
- May 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 29
Why We Love Singapore
We've visited Singapore both as a standalone holiday and as a stopover on the way to Europe, and we've loved it for both.
Stepping off a long-haul flight into a city that's clean, safe and easy to navigate feels like a holiday before the holiday even begins.
Singapore was the first major Asian city we visited with Henry. We wanted him to experience a different culture, try new foods, catch trains and explore a bustling city, while still feeling comfortable travelling as a family.
Singapore gave us exactly that.
Whether we're eating at a hawker centre, hopping on the MRT or wandering through a new neighbourhood, there's always something to discover without it ever feeling overwhelming.
We've now returned several times, both as a couple and as a family, and every visit reminds us why Singapore remains one of our favourite destinations.
If we only had 48 hours in Singapore, here’s exactly how we’d spend it.
Contents
Looking for the perfect 48-hour Singapore family itinerary? These are the experiences we'd prioritise every time, based on multiple visits with and without kids.
Visit Singapore's Wildlife Parks
If we only had time for one attraction in Singapore....
Bird Paradise would be it.
Out of everything we’ve done in Singapore, this remains our favourite.
We’ve visited wildlife parks throughout Australia, but Bird Paradise felt genuinely different. Walking through the aviaries, getting close to the birds and watching the feeding sessions created experiences we simply hadn’t had before.
Quick take
Our favourite attraction in Singapore
Unlike anything we've experienced in Australia
Great for families
Easy half-day or full-day activity
Other Wildlife Parks Worth Considering:
Spend a Day Exploring Sentosa Island
If you’re travelling to Singapore with kids, Sentosa Island deserves a place on your itinerary.
You could easily spend almost a week on Sentosa Island and still not experience everything it has to offer.
Our favourite attraction was Adventure Cove Waterpark. It was the perfect way to cool off and have some fun before a long flight home.
Quick take
Easy to fill several days
Great mix of attractions
Perfect for families with different interests
Other family-friendly attractions on Sentosa highlights include:
The One We’d Skip
This may not be a popular opinion, but Universal Studios Singapore would be the attraction we’d skip.
We hoped our opinion might change on the second visit, but it didn’t.
Compared to everything else Singapore has to offer, Universal simply wasn’t as memorable for us. The park felt smaller than we expected and we found ourselves talking far more about Bird Paradise, Adventure Cove and Future World after the trip.
If you’re a huge theme park family, you may disagree. But if you’re working with limited time, we’d prioritise other experiences first.
Escape Singapore's Heat at Future World
Singapore is hot and humid for much of the year, so we always try to balance outdoor attractions with indoor activities.
Future World at the ArtScience Museum was one of Henry’s favourite experiences, but if we’re honest, Rory and I enjoyed it just as much.
The exhibits are interactive, colourful and designed to be explored rather than simply observed.
It’s also completely air-conditioned, which can feel like a luxury after a morning outdoors.
For families looking for something different, this is an easy recommendation.
Why we loved it
Fully air-conditioned
Interactive exhibits
Fun for adults and kids
Eat at a Hawker Centre
One of the reasons we love Singapore is that it allows children to experience a different culture in a relaxed and approachable way.
For us, that starts at the hawker centres.
Our Pick: Lau Pa Sat.
There’s something special about finding a table, ordering a few different dishes and soaking up the atmosphere around you.
It’s affordable, delicious and feels uniquely Singapore.
Why You Should Use Singapore's MRT
One of the biggest reasons Singapore works so well as a stopover destination is the MRT.
The train network is clean, efficient and incredibly easy to use.
We regularly use the MRT to move between attractions because it’s often quicker and easier than driving.
One of the things we love most about the MRT is how straightforward it is to use. Tickets are easy to purchase, topping up credit is simple and the stations are well signposted in English.
Even if you’ve never used public transport overseas before, you’ll quickly find your feet.
Why We Love it
Cheap
Clean
Easy to navigate
Connects almost every major attraction
For children, catching the MRT becomes part of the adventure.
What We'd Add With More Than 48 Hours
If your stopover stretched beyond 48 hours, we’d happily add:
Singapore Zoo
River Wonders
Night Safari
The Singapore Cable Car
We haven’t spent as much time at Gardens by the Bay as we’d like. The evening light shows and atmosphere look incredible, but after a full day in Singapore’s heat and humidity, we’ve often found ourselves with a very tired child by nightfall.
These are the experiences that make Singapore feel uniquely Singapore and help create those memorable holiday moments.
Why We Keep Coming Back
For us, Singapore strikes the perfect balance.
It’s easy without being boring.
It’s different without being overwhelming.
It’s exciting without feeling chaotic.
Whether you’re planning a dedicated holiday or simply looking for somewhere to break up a long-haul flight, Singapore remains one of our favourite family destinations.
If we only had 48 hours, we’d head straight to Bird Paradise, Future World, Sentosa Island and a hawker centre.
And we’d happily do it all again.
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