Post Category - EatEat - Post Category - Eating OutEating Out - Post Category - Family FriendlyFamily Friendly
Post Category - PlayPlay - Post Category - OutdoorOutdoorTired of being cooped up at home? Plan a picnic in Singapore at any of these gorgeous parks and outdoor spaces for a fun day out!
When was the last time you had a picnic in Singapore? The next time the sun’s out, consider packing your favourite snacks and drinks (or get some delish takeaway!) and enjoy a picnic with the family! Need some recommendations for a gorgeous picnic spot? We’ve rounded up all our favourite picnic places, and even noted which ones have on-site access to picnic food provisions! If you are out hiking, jogging, or just want to breathe in a little fresh air at one of our fab parks, having a picnic to look forward to at the end makes the experience so much more memorable.
Although safety measures are being gradually relaxed, social distancing is still important. The current rules require outdoor groups to be limited to no more than five (5) people at a time, with at least 1 metre of space between your group and other members of the public. Masks must be worn at all times unless you’re engaged in strenuous exercise or eating. If you’re worried about crowds at the parks we’ve listed, check Safe Distance @ Parks before you head out. NParks also has a handy Noticeboard section on their website with the latest updates on park and facility closures, new regulations and more.
Read more: 12 Healthy, Low-sugar Kids’ Snacks
1. Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park
With its pond gardens, babbling brooks, and scenic bridges that seem straight out of a Monet painting, Bishan-AMK Park serves up beautiful scenery for your picnic in Singapore. It’s also one of the country’s largest urban parks, which means you can socially distance and have plenty of picnic space to yourself. This particular park is big on grassy expanses but light on actual picnic tables, so be sure to pack a picnic blanket! And although it’s currently closed due to the recent Phase 2 (HA) measures, the park’s inclusive playground is great for children with different abilities, with features such as the wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round and wheelchair swing.
2. Changi Beach Park
If you’re after lovely views and a nice sea breeze (isn’t that half the appeal of having a picnic in Singapore?), head to this out-of-the-way park near the airport. There are also BBQ pits (currently closed) and a playground. Hot tip: The nearby Changi Village Hawker Centre and Little Island Brewing Company both offer takeaway options that make for perfect picnic food!
3. West Coast Park
With 50-hectares of open space, the massive West Coast Park is a fantastic spot for a little nourishment (and a whole lotta adventure!). Kids adore the adventure playground with its flying fox, swings, and rope climbing pyramids, slides and play structures, while mama sits back and relaxes on the grass. If the cycling tracks, the mangrove swamp, the bicycle obstacle course, the exercise garden, the ocean promenade, the pond and the sand play area are not quite enough to keep the fam busy, there are also BBQ pits available for hire (check the NParks website to see if the pits are available for booking) and plenty of benches to snaffle. Area 3 is probably your best bet, as it faces the water, offers plenty of shady spots and is close to both bathrooms and food via the nearby McDonalds.
4. Jurong Lake Gardens
Jurong Lake Gardens is an awesome place to take the kids for some outdoor play thanks to its Forest Ramble playground (huge slides, rope courses, see-saws and swings), and water play area with tidal pools and sand play at Clusia Cove (currently closed). There’s plenty of grassy areas to have a picnic, so pick a shady spot and enjoy the crowd-free feels! Read more here.
5. Fort Canning Park
Explore old forts and underground bunkers before rolling out the picnic blanket on the massive lawns at Fort Canning Green. Pack a ball or a kite so the kiddos can play on the grass after finishing their nosh, or bring the scooters and do some laps of the reservoir on the shady paths. And if they’re really good, let them have a play at the Jubilee Park Playground! You’ll find toilets inside Fort Canning Centre. Wondering what else you can do at Fort Canning? Check out our handy guide!
6. Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay allows families to pack a picnic to enjoy in most parts of the Gardens by the Bay – the Conservatories are off-limits, though! You’ll want to bring a picnic mat because picnic furniture is not allowed. Gardens by the Bay also offers Picnic by the Bay, a special picnic experience (currently on hold) that includes perks like a personal buggy ride to your picnic spot, welcome drinks and the yummiest picnic food. You can make memories with the 10 complimentary Polaroid snaps at either the Flower Dome or Cloud Forest afterwards.
7. HortPark
Also known as Singapore’s one-stop gardening hub, HortPark is the perfect spot to let the kids roam free while you snack on your lunchtime nibbles – peep that stunning gazebo above! HortLawn is the best place to spread out on the grass and even includes some shade (plus it’s conveniently close to the entrance and the toilets)! Post-lunch, head towards the Nature Playgarden playground to let the little ones play, climb and slide!
8. Kranji Reservoir Park
You may not be able to visit Johor at the moment, but you can still get a glimpse of the Johor Straits at Kranji Reservoir Park. This picnic spot in Singapore has shady spots thanks to its trees with lush canopies, and plenty of pavilions and benches for your picnic in Singapore. Do the kiddos like fishing? Take them to one of two fishing grounds here, one with a stretch of rocky banks, benches and man-made shelters, and the other with a far grassier bank.
9. Labrador Park
With beachfront picnic huts and BBQ pits, huge expanses of grassy lawns, a shady hillside with benches and ancient military battlements to explore, Labrador Nature Reserve may offer the best bang for your buck if you’re looking for the perfect picnic in Singapore.
10. Lazarus Island
Lazarus Island offers one of the best beaches in Singapore thanks to a lovely stretch of sand and shallow waters with some endemic flora and fauna that gives this island its own distinct signature. Do note, however, that there are no bathroom facilities; the closest toilet is the one at the private jetty. Shade will also be limited, so make sure you’ve got your sun hats and plenty of sunscreen! We’ve also heard reports of lots of litter on the beach, so bring an extra bag to do a beach cleanup and, it goes without saying, take your own trash home with you!
11. MacRitchie Reservoir Park
With a restaurant, toilet facilities, a lovely waterfront lawn and plenty of shelter all near the entrance, MacRitchie Reservoir Park is a fab spot for an easy family picnic in Singapore (just beware the aggressive monkeys!). If you’re after more shade and solitude, take a hike into the jungle and munch in peace at one of the many shelters located along the trails (just be sure to pack out whatever rubbish you have).
12. Marina Barrage
For a picnic in Singapore with a view, nothing really beats the green expanse on the rooftop of the new Marina Reservoir! Set against the backdrop of Marina Bay, Marina Barrage is perfect for kite-flying and bubble blowing, as well as letting the kids run wild — it also enjoys gentle breezes off the water! Best in the evenings (there’s not a tonne of shade during the day) families can enjoy their Marina Barrage picnic dinner while checking out the amazing views and twinkling lights of the Singapore skyline at night.
13. Pasir Ris Park
Let the kiddos ride a pony here, try out water sports or go cycling at Pasir Ris Park, which has multiple trails, bird-watching spots and plenty of stone tables scattered around for those who want a tranquil picnic in Singapore with the fam. There’s also a large playground here for little ones who want a bit of fun in between nibbles.
14. Sembawang Park
On a regular day, there’s plenty to do if you want a picnic at this underrated gem of a park. However, at the moment, the beach is closed for maintenance and BBQ pits are unavailable for booking due to Covid measures. That doesn’t mean your picnic here is off though – just choose a space on the lovely green park area near the maritime-themed playground. There also gently rolling paths that are delightful for scooting, and even – score! – toilet blocks with showers.
15. Sentosa
One of the island’s many beaches would be the obvious choice here – especially since you can bring pets along! But there are lots of other great picnic spots on Sentosa, too, whether it’s the waterfront at Resorts World or the nature trails and scenic treetop trek near Fort Siloso. And there are certainly plenty of places to pick up food and drinks if you decide to picnic on the fly. If it’s a weekend picnic by the beach you want, you’ll need to reserve your spot ahead of time. There are two time slots available, and you must keep to groups of five. Beach reservations are not required on weekdays, and you can also get updates on the crowd before heading over to Sentosa at www.spaceout.gov.sg/sentosa.
16. Singapore Botanic Gardens
There are so many great spots for picnics at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, but the most obvious would be Palm Valley – the seemingly neverending expanse of grass between the National Orchid Garden and the Shaw Symphony Stage. We also love the huge lawns near the Eco Lake, the benches and swings near the Bandstand and the fragrant Frangipani Garden, the sloping lawn near the Tembusu Heritage Tree…the list goes on and on! In addition to strategically located toilets, the Botanic Gardens recognises its own picnic game. Pick up perfect picnic food-to-go at Provisions (just across from the Orchid Garden and The Halia), while Bee’s Knees near the Eco Lake has just started offering “Picnic Buzz-kets”! Note: the pic above was taken a while ago – there aren’t any concerts happening at the moment!
17. Esplanade Roof Terrace
So this isn’t a park exactly, and chances are you’re not going to have lots of privacy or extra personal space, but there are plenty of benches and some supremely killer views at Esplanade Roof Terrace. In short, it doesn’t get more unique than an Esplanade Roof Garden picnic. Nearby in Esplanade Park, you’ll also find more benches, lots of shade, and more of those stunning views of Marina Bay.
18. Tiong Bahru Park
Not to be confused with the hipster ‘hood that is Tiong Bahru, this snug little park nestled between Henderson Road and Lower Delta offers up a whole lot more than just its famous train playground (though it is pretty awesome). Throughout Tiong Bahru Park, you’ll find benches aplenty, a relaxing “therapeutic garden,” and a number of sheltered gazebos to have your picnic at. There’s a restroom at the northern edge of the park, too.
19. Toa Payoh Town Park
You’ll forget you’re in the heartlands and will think you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole when you see Toa Payoh Town Park’s stone bridges, landscaped pond, Wisteria trellis, and multiple pavilions and gazebos. There’s plenty of shade for picnics under the willow trees, and there are shelters located strategically along the park’s grassy pathways.
20. Telok Blangah Hill Park
This just might be one of the prettiest spots for a picnic in Singapore! Choose from sheltered picnic tables near the car parks, or walk up the Versailles-like stairs of the Terrace Garden at Telok Blangah Hill Park, which offers spectacular views of Singapore (plus benches and a gazebo) at the top.
21. Clementi Woods Park
This underrated park has tree-lined walkways, vast green spaces and cute little shelters, benches and tables for you to unwind after a jog or to have a picnic in Singapore (be sure to clean up after yourself afterwards). Preschoolers will love the Nature Playgarden, where different play features will stimulate their senses, let them indulge in imaginative play and explore the surrounding greenery.
22. Seletar
Whether you opt for Lower Seletar Reservoir Park with its huge boardwalk, ample fishing spots, and myriad water sports, or instead go for the even more tranquil Upper Seletar Reservoir Park (more grassy expanses, just as much scenic waterfront), you’ll find plenty of perfect picnic spots at Seletar – and not many crowds. As a bonus, both parks are near some of our favourite kid-friendly attractions; Lower Seletar is near ORTO, while Upper Seletar is 10 minutes from the Singapore Zoo.
23. Chinese and Japanese Gardens
Sadly these two picturesque picnic spots within Jurong Lake Gardens are closed for renovation works until some time in 2021 – but they are just too pretty not to include! And while the Butterfly Field makes for a lovely alternative picnic spot, it’s also temporarily closed. However, Jurong Lake Gardens itself is open (see entry no. 4!), and there are plenty of grassy spots to picnic plus check out the amazing kids’ playground while you are there!
