Fun Places To Explore In Singapore With Grandparents
With International Day of Families coming up later this month, there's no better time than now to plan a special day with the 'grands. Spend quality time exploring Singapore, one adventure at a time, at these vibrant, relaxing attractions. (Bonus: They're great for kids too!)
Check out these fun venues:
Located in Lorong Tawas, Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle - home of Singapore's oldest operational dragon kiln - isn't exactly accessible. But perhaps that's exactly what makes this historic ceramic warehouse such an ideal local for a grandparent-grandkid adventure. Make a day out of it by signing up for a dragon kiln tour, browsing through shelves of old-school ginger jars and celadon pots, or even signing up for a pottery workshop, if your grandparents are game. Don't be surprised if they start waxing lyrical about how their own grandparents' collections of blue and white dinnerware.
Go museum-hopping
Singapore is home to so many different types of museums (most of which are wheelchair-friendly), so you really can’t go wrong with picking one to check out with grandparents.
For instance, there’s the iconic ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands, where art, science, culture and technology come together; the National Gallery Singapore in the Civic District is home to the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian modern art; learn about Singapore’s (and indeed Asia’s) rich cultural heritage and history at the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore’s national museum of Asian antiquities and decorative art; while the National Museum of Singapore is Singapore’s oldest museum that seeks to inspire with stories of Singapore and the world, with its history dating back to 1849.
IMAGE: UNSPLASH/AMEYA SAWANT
Visit a wet market
Many of Singapore's neighbourhoods have a wet market, so it’s easy (and free) to explore them with grandparents. They’re sure to tell you fun stories ‘from their time’ about some fruits and vegetables that you wouldn’t even have heard of. Plus you can stop off for lunch at the next door food centres afterwards after seeing all that lovely produce.
Spend a leisurely afternoon or evening on Singapore River Cruise electric-powered bumboats, as they cruise up and down Singapore River, gently gliding past popular areas such as Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, the Merlion and Marina Bay Sands.
Enjoy a fun history lesson and a walk down memory lane with the grandparents telling you about Singapore's transformation from fishing village and trading port to the global city it is today, and how much the island has changed since they were kids.
Earn huge brownie points with grandparents by letting them soak their tired feet at Sembawang Hot Spring Park, Singapore’s only natural hot spring park.
Not only is access to the hot springs totally free, but the Park also boasts Japanese-style hot spring eggs at the dedicated egg cooking station, as well as rustic nature trails reminiscent of Singapore’s old kampungs, and naturalised streams flowing from the hot spring, which mimics the freshwater swamp forest landscape.
The hot spring and nature trails are also wheelchair-accessible.
With admission being as high as $49 for entry (for Singapore residents), grandparents only pay $20 for entry to the Singapore Zoo, so it’s well worth splurging a little here.
Not only are the walkways really wide to accommodate wheelchairs (which are also available to rent for free by the way), but each entrance ticket also includes unlimited complimentary tram rides to explore the park at a more relaxed pace.
The trams also have special slots for wheelchairs, so you and grandparents can comfortably get around the zoo while listening to the animal stories and seeing the different animals in their enclosures.
Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay
A stereotype about grandparents is that they LOVE plants. So if you're looking for a fun and memorable experience to share with your grandparents in Singapore, visiting Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay should be at the top of your list!
This conservatory is a true gem, showcasing an incredible variety of plants and flowers from around the world in a breathtaking indoor environment. Imagine walking amongst a sea of vibrant blooms, surrounded by stunning landscapes that are sure to delight your senses.
Not only is Flower Dome visually stunning, but it's also highly educational, offering visitors a chance to learn about the ecology and history of the plants on display. Your grandparents will love this immersive experience, and you'll get to create wonderful memories together as you explore the botanical wonderland.
With so much beauty and learning in one place, Flower Dome is a must-visit attraction that promises to be enjoyable for people of all ages.
PS – Entry rates from Mondays to Thursdays (excluding public holidays) are only $8 for Singapore resident seniors, as compared to $12 for adults. From Fridays to Sundays and on public holidays, seniors pay $23, compared to the adult price of $27.
Finally, amidst all the walking, don't forget to feed your seniors! Grandparents love feeding their grandchildren, so why not give them a break and treat them to a special meal together? Spending quality time during a traditional breakfast or a hearty afternoon tea at one of their favourite eateries sounds good to us!
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Additional reporting by Sam Wong