Looking for something different to do in Singapore? Visit a kampung, try a beekeeping workshop, a Vespa sidecar tour, camping or a secret dinner party! And if you’re booking a cruise – read these tips first!

“What shall we do this weekend/school holiday?” We’ve got you covered with a heap of suggestions of different things to do with the family. Pssst! With many of the tours, activities and experiences below, check out Klook or Fave which often have promotions and deals that can beat booking direct!

1. Book the Royal Caribbean Cruise or World Dream Cruise

Have you succumbed to a cruise to nowhere yet? We can see the attraction – as opposed to a regular staycation at a hotel with a pool in Singapore, going on a Royal Caribbean Cruise or World Dream Cruise opens up a heap of other attractions for the family (including rainy day activities)! Cruise fun often includes waterslides, theatre shows, wave surfing, indoor skydiving, rock climbing and bumper cars for the kids not to mention countless dining concepts! The only drawback – you’ll need to do a COVID-19 test.
Tips: 
– Book a drinks packages (both alcohol and alcohol-free options to include juices and coffees) – it will work out cheaper than buying drinks on the cruise.
– Bring a stroller if you have young kids/babies. Plus comfy shoes – you can easily walk 8km around the cruise liner per day!
– Try to get a room not too far from the lift lobby, it will save a lot of walking.
– Board early, take the earliest check-in possible, and start booking all the popular shows and activities as soon as you board (or they will sell out). Note that some shows are not exactly child-friendly, check with staff or read the show details first!

2. See Singapore from a sidecar

See Singapore from a different view, from a Vespa sidecar! Singapore Sidecars is the world’s first vintage Vespa sidecar tour where you can zoom down alleyways to get a glimpse of street art, street culture and street life! Kids need to be at least 10 years old to join this tour where each Vespa has a driver from Singapore Sidecars and a rider (you or your child) in the sidecar. There are different neighbourhood tours to choose from, starting from a one hour tour at $160, night tours and more.

3. Learn about beekeeping and taste honey

Scared of bees? Curious about bees? There aren’t many beekeepers in Singapore but we did hunt one down! BEE AMAZED Garden (near Orto) offers educational programmes, family activities, honey tasting, and basic beekeeping lessons ($50 per adult/primary school child or $30 for 3yr olds+). The founder John who has been an educator all his career, will take you on a tour of his small beekeeping area and passionately tell you all about bees. He can tailor your workshop to fit your needs (and we would recommend you ask for less theory and more hands-on activities if you are with kids). You’ll listen to a presentation about John and how important bees are, what to do if you are stung and lots of interesting advice. There’s a chance to try on the beekeeper outfits, see inside a beehive, and of course, taste honey! We loved the motivational messages by John about believing in yourself! Also, if you ever have problems with bees in Singapore, call John (+65 9669 6370) – he will remove the beehive and keep the bees safe – he’s all about being “bee friendly!”

4. Go camping or glamping with the kiddos

Want to go camping but don’t know where to start, how to get permits and maybe you just need a little moral support? Join a camping experience with SG Trek where you’ll get a crash course on setting up a tent, an outdoor cooking experience and a chance to pop over to Sembawang Park or Hot Spring. Or take things up a notch with a glamping experience with Heavenly Glamping (at Orto or East Coast) – you’ll need a camping permit but these guys do everything else for you – from pitching the massive tent to providing airbeds, sheets, fans and even twinkling fairy lights. Plus we love how they say their tents are “strategically pitched near restaurants” – wink, wink!

5. Go on a kid-friendly kampung tour

Join a two hour guided walk (from $50) through Singapore’s last kampung village to see how Singapore transformed from a simple fishing village to the thriving city it is today. Your guide will introduce you to the kampung residents and you can hear their nostalgic stories and maybe join in with some old-school games such as Five Stones & Pick-up Sticks in one of the Kampong houses. This is a family-friendly tour (covering some Primary 3/4 MOE topics). Be mindful that this tour takes place in Kampong Lorong Buangkok which is an active residential area so it’s a great opportunity to discuss respect and different ways of life/culture with your children prior to the tour.

6. Go on a naturalist beach ‘safari’

Keen to nurture a little wildlife naturalist? Go on a two hour educational journey with biodiversity right here in Singapore. The Untamed Paths wildlife-focused programmes take place at Changi Beach (from $79 per adult with a discount for kids). These sessions focus on encouraging active discussions with families about nature with emphasis on discovery and piquing your child’s curiosity. Kids (aged 3 and up) will get to explore the marine shoreline during low tide to see what sea life and marine critters they can find! As intertidal walks are conducted during the low tide timing, the start time varies from 5pm to 7pm.

7. Book a dinner party at a Chef’s home

Restaurants? Who can get a booking these days? Why not try a secret supper club instead? Okay so you’ll need to plan ahead (like way, way ahead) but dining at a supper club in a chef’s private home is such a fun experience. There’s often an element of theatrics or storytelling involved to explain each dish too. From Cantonese classics at Lucky House Private Kitchen to Singaporean chow cooked by 77 yr old Mama Soh at One Kind House to a “Taste the World” menu in the home of a historian-musician-Chef at Relish SG. Your host may be a famous violinist, or the owner of an urban farm! Check ahead if children are allowed or ditch the little darlings at home tucked up in bed and go with your mates for a memorable experience with a difference.

8. Bond with the kids over pottery or carpentry

Why not pick up a new skill that the whole fam can enjoy together? Pottery has always been on our wishlist or wood-crafting is another great hands-on activity that parents can bond with their kids over. The Common Bench is all about family-friendly crafting and they have both pottery and woodworking workshops for families or kids. The Ground Up Initiative also offers woodworking in their kampung style crafting outfit up near Orto.

9. Cycle on Lazarus Island

For the first time ever you can pick up bicycles on-site at Lazarus island and St John’s for some beachside cycling with Gogreen Bicycle Rental’s pop-up store! Head over by boat to the Southern Islands, rent a bicycle and then explore the green trail for rustic green views or cycle to Lazarus Island Beach (pack your swimmers, a picnic, and suncream as there’s not much shade). Bicycles are suitable for ages 7 and above and there are limited bicycles for children ages 3-6 (but no kids’ seat on adult bikes). Helmets are included in rental price and pop-up beach tents are also up for rental. Island cycling here we come!

       Read more: Guide to Lazarus Island and St John’s Island

10. Go on a full-day yacht trip

Sail the seas for a day with the family and pretend you are in Bali, the Maldives or anywhere with tropical vibes! Chartering a yacht is on our list of must-dos to celebrate a big birthday – you can even stay overnight for the ultimate staycation!

      Read more: Where to rent a yacht in Singapore

Whatever experience you try with the family, we hope you have a super Singapoliday until we can travel again!