10 Best Family-Friendly Things to Do in Singapore on a Rainy Day

Singapore has a tropical climate so rain can fall anytime without notice. Luckily there are plenty of world-class indoor activities to keep everyone busy. Here are ten tried-and-tested activities the whole family will love.

Ok, let’s be real — if you’ve ever spent time making elaborate plans for a lovely day out in Sentosa and then suddenly heard the ominous clap of thunder, you feel my pain. Over the years of living and traveling in Singapore I’ve learned this: Singapore is possibly the most rain-proof destination on the planet for families. Each of these family friendly attractions is completely indoors, air-conditioned, and will entertain kids for hours.

This list is for you whether you’re a Singaporean parent looking for new ideas or a tourist that’s been caught in an afternoon shower. I’ve rounded up the top indoor activities for families in Singapore and included tips on cost, ages, and how to get there.

ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands

Address: 6 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018974

Hardly any destination is as magical for children as Singapore’s ArtScience Museum. Perched on the waterfront at Marina Bay Sands, this lotus flower-shaped building houses art, science, culture, and technology-based exhibitions that are truly interactive for all ages.

Speaking of interactive, the museum’s permanent Future World exhibit by teamLab will have your kids RUNNING through fields of digital flowers that bloom with their every step, drawing fish onscreen that interact with life-like ocean creatures and building a virtual skyscraper with digital blocks. Adults aren’t immune to its wonder, either. Change up your visit with special exhibitions (topics have ranged from biomedicine to outer space) that rotate regularly.

Accessibility? It’s conveniently located just steps from the MRT (Bayfront station, Exit B) for easy access on those rainy days. Plan to spend at least two to three hours here, especially if you want to dive into the teamLab exhibit.

Pro tip: Book tickets online in advance — weekend queues at the ArtScience Museum can be lengthy, and online pricing is often cheaper than at the door.

KidZania Singapore, Palawan Kidz City

Address: 31 Bch Vw Rd, #01-01/02 Sentosa Island, Singapore 098008

KidZania’s Palawan Kidz City at Sentosa is easily one of Singapore’s best rainy day kids activities. The entire premise is just genius: it’s a miniature city where children from ages 4 to 14 pay to be anything they want to be – firefighter, chef, pilot, surgeon, news anchor – and earn income based on their job via KidZania’s currency, KidZos, which they can save or spend throughout Palawan Kidz City.

And while they’re playing make-believe, KidZania is actually doing something remarkable: empowering children and increasing confidence while socialising with others, all while being kept entertained for 3-4 hours. Parents are welcome into KidZania, though they are encouraged to sit back and watch their children “run” the “city”. There is even a Toddler Zone for parents with younger kids ages 1–3.

Rain or shine, with Sentosa’s covered boardwalks and free shuttle bus from VivoCity, getting here is easier than you think.

Pro tip: Weekday visits are significantly quieter. If your family can visit on a school day, the experience is markedly better with shorter queues at each activity station.

Singapore Science Centre, Jurong East

Address: 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081

Any Singapore destination with strong appeal to families with school-age kids should be on your rainy day radar, and the Singapore Science Centre in Jurong East is no exception. One of Singapore’s best indoor activities on a rainy day (and cheapest too), it boasts over 1,000 exhibits across 14 permanent galleries. Learn about robotics, astronomy, the human body, climate change and more.

Must-sees include the Ecogarden, Omni-Theatre (home to the domed IMAX cinema) and perennial favourite, the outdoor water-play area (which you’ll want to avoid on a rainy day). Visitors can also head next door to Snow City, Singapore’s only permanent indoor snow centre, for a taste of novelty: tobogganing down an actual snow slope less than half an hour from the equator.

Pro tip: Combine the Science Centre with Snow City for a full-day outing. Bundle tickets are available at a discounted rate.

S.E.A. Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa

Address: 24 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island, 098137

Home to one of the largest aquariums in the world, Singapore’s S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa is a sprawling and utterly impressive rainy day spot. Host to more than 100,000 marine animals representing over 1,000 species — from manta rays and whale sharks to the dramatic Open Ocean habitat — SEA is awe-inspiring in the best possible way.

Parents can send little ones exploring the aquarium’s interactive touchpools while they soak in one of Singapore’s most relaxing experiences from the underwater viewing galleries. The best part? The aquarium is connected to all of Resorts World Sentosa’s other covered attractions, making it easy to explore further once rain stops play.

Gardens by the Bay — Cloud Forest & Flower Dome

Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953

Best enjoyed during sunny days, the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay can be a delight to families on rainy days too, thanks to its two glass conservatories – Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. Admittedly two of Singapore’s best covered attractions, visiting here with the kids is excellent fun.

Kids will be particularly mesmerised by the Cloud Forest and its 35-metre tall indoor mountain wrapped in tropical vegetation and enveloped in mist. Walkways take you around the mountain – you get different views from every level – and don’t miss the waterfall at the base of the mountain. At 40 metres high, it’s the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. The Flower Dome, by comparison, displays Mediterranean and semi-arid flora. It’s also noticeably cooler here and lends itself well to taking a leisurely stroll around the gardens.

Pro tip: Gardens by the Bay is directly connected to Marina Bay Sands via an underground link — combine with the ArtScience Museum for a full day sheltered from the rain.

Universal Studios Singapore — Focus on Indoor Rides

Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, 098269

Most people know Singapore’s Universal Studios at Resorts World Sentosa as an outdoor theme park, but when it rains, it can be one of Singapore’s most entertaining covered attractions if you know where to go. Many of USS’s biggest rides and shows are indoors or covered, including the must-do Battlestar Galactica duelling roller coasters, Transformers: The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy and even Shrek Adventure is a covered 4D show.

Rain also plays to your advantage: lines for outdoor attractions die down as tourists leave, so you can hit the rides with shorter waits. Families with toddlers will love Far Far Away and Madagascar sections which have rides for children as young as 3 years old.

Pro tip: Check the USS app for real-time ride wait times — during heavy rain, popular indoor rides like Transformers can hit zero-minute queues.

National Museum of Singapore, City Hall

Address: 93 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178897

Easy to overlook when there are flashier museums around town, the National Museum of Singapore is easily one of the best free (or cheap) rainy day activities for families. Set in a beautiful neo-Palladian building near Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore’s history unfolds in expertly curated exhibitions that seamlessly weave together artefacts, multimedia and storytelling.

Themes from Singapore’s history like food, fashion, film and photography are explored in kid-friendly detail in The Living Galleries — your little ones will love all the activity stations and interactive elements created just for them. The exterior and interiors of The Building itself are gorgeous too, especially the sleek glass rotunda that was added to the historic colonial building.

Entry to its permanent galleries is free for Singaporeans and kids under 6 so it’s definitely one of Singapore’s most budget-friendly rainy day indoor activities!

iFly Singapore, Sentosa

Address: 43 Siloso Bch Walk, #01-01, AltitudeX, Singapore 099010

If you have slightly older kids (Ages 7+, 16kg minimum weight), Indoor skydiving at iFly Singapore is a fantastic exciting rainy day option. Positioned at Siloso Beach, Sentosa (indoors, of course) iFly propel you up to 220km/h through the world’s largest themed wind tunnel. Experiencing freefall WITHOUT a plane. Sound legit? It is.

Fly instructors are great and patient with rookies. The entire thing takes around two hours (including the briefing and flight). Kids are fearless when strapped into the tunnel, and will probably love it more than any other activity on your Singapore vacation. Adults can join-in too, experiences are for beginners as well as pros.

Escape Rooms & Indoor Playgrounds

Singapore’s emerging escape room industry and collection of indoor playgrounds complete our list as the ultimate last-minute alternative — when you need something spontaneous, local and reasonably priced. Singapore escape rooms like Xcape, Lockdown Escape, and Lost SG have options that cater to families, with age-appropriate puzzles and shorter, 45-to-60-minute games, making them a fun mid-afternoon activity.

Indoor playgrounds geared towards toddlers and younger kids aged 1–8 such as Smiling Fish, Pororo Park and E!hub’s The Polliwogs offer massive soft play structures, ball pits, slides and dedicated toddler zones at malls islandwide — many concentrated in Tampines, Jurong, and the East Coast. These neighbourhood favourites are frequented by Singaporeans year-round.

Practical Tips for a Rainy Day in Singapore

Singapore averages 167 rain days each year. Most rain falls between November and January when the Northeast Monsoon is in season. But if you find yourself caught in an afternoon shower, read on.

Plan transit accordingly. MRT stations are connected to most if not all of the attractions above. The majority are either indoors in a mall, or connected to one by covered linkway from the station. Make sure you consult the station’s exit directory when planning your trip.

Pre-pay & reserve. Weekend attractions like KidZania, Universal Studios, and iFly book up fast. Booking online usually a day or two in advance will ensure you secure a reservation and snag a discounted price.

Go Grocery Shopping. Eating is Singapore is a rain or shine affair. Spending an afternoon leisurely enjoying some cheap eats at one of Singapore’s covered hawker centres is as close to four-star dining as you’ll find. Plan around grabbing a set lunch at a Singapore institution like Lau Pa Sat or at one of the food courts in your shopping mall of choice.

Expect AC. Singapore’s air-con laughs at global warming. Bringing a lightweight cardigan for the kids is sincere advice you’ll hear from every Singapore veteran.

Final Thoughts

Rainy day in Singapore is not a hindrance — it’s an opportunity to discover Singapore differently. Here are the best family friendly indoor attractions in Singapore, featuring awe-inspiring museums, award-winning aquariums, indoor adventure parks, and playful discovery centres.

From walking through a rainforest-styled indoor mountain at Gardens by the Bay, or watching your kids soar like eagles at a wind tunnel at Sentosa to literally watching their crayon drawings come to life at the ArtScience Museum; these are the memories kids will remember years after the trip.

So don’t fret when the rain starts to pour down next time at Marina Bay – embrace it. Make the most of Singapore’s rainy days with your family.