The best family-friendly activities in Singapore right now

Looking for ways to keep the family entertained this weekend? Singapore’s attractions scene is constantly evolving, with immersive exhibitions, interactive pop-ups and limited-time experiences.

One week might bring a larger-than-life art installation, while the next introduces a collectible-themed showcase or family-friendly festival drawing crowds from across the island.

Whether you’re planning a full-day outing or simply looking for a fresh activity to fill the weekend, these family-friendly attractions and experiences are worth adding to your list.

Pikachu has gone local. Fresh from its first full-scale renovation since opening, Pokémon Center Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport has been reimagined with Singapore-inspired details, exclusive collectibles and a new Legendary Pokémon taking pride of place at the store.

The refreshed space marks the first full-scale renovation of a Pokémon Center outside Japan. Look out for Solgaleo, now the store’s official symbol, greeting visitors alongside Pikachu at a new façade inspired by Singapore‘s skyline. Inside, local references continue throughout the design, alongside a dedicated event space where fans can gather for video games, Pokémon Trading Card Game and app gaming activities.

Collectors have another reason to visit this August. A second wave of commemorative merchandise is set to arrive, adding to a 20-piece collection created specially for Pokémon Center Singapore. The designs imagine Pokémon against a Singapore-inspired cityscape, with local touches extending to one particularly charming combination: a Pikachu bag charm featuring everyone’s favourite yellow Pokémon with a cup of kopi.

Families can also make the store part of a day out at Jewel, while serious Pokémon fans can browse Singapore-exclusive merchandise, battle, trade and connect with fellow Trainers from around the world.

Pokémon Center Singapore is located at #04-201/202/203, Jewel Changi Airport, and opens daily from 10am to 10pm.

For more information, click here. 

Karma has a new neighbour at River Wonders. This National Day weekend, head to the wildlife park at Mandai to meet Yaffa, an 11-year-old red panda from Taipei Zoo and the first new red panda to join River Wonders in 12 years.

While long-time resident Karma remains at the Pavilion Capital Giant Panda Forest, Yaffa has moved into a newly opened, purpose-built red panda exhibit in the Yangtze River zone. His climate-controlled home is designed around the species’ tree-dwelling habits, with logs, tree trunks, elevated platforms and plenty of perches to climb, explore or simply snooze on. An overhanging log crossing also connects the habitat’s two sections.

Families can get close, too. The indoor viewing area has no glass barrier separating visitors from the exhibit, giving little ones a clear look at Yaffa as he explores his new surroundings and, with any luck, shows off some of the personality his keepers have grown to know.

Come for the adorable new arrival and leave knowing a little more about his species. Red pandas are classified as Endangered, with fewer than 10,000 estimated to remain in the wild. Yaffa’s story also offers families a chance to learn about threats such as habitat loss, poaching and the illegal pet trade, as well as how zoos work together to support the species’ conservation.

Planning to make a full day of it? Local residents can sign up for the complimentary WildPass membership to enjoy up to 30 per cent off the 2-Attraction Pass until 31 August, with prices starting from $44 for children and $59 for adults.

Seniors aged 60 and above can also visit River Wonders, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Bird Paradise, Rainforest Wild Adventure or Exploria for $25 per attraction.

For those who plan to return throughout the year, the Friends of Mandai membership offers unlimited annual visits, with prices starting from $265.

For more information, click here. 

Pop Mart fans have a new reason to head to Resorts World Sentosa. The global collectibles brand has opened Southeast Asia’s first Pop Bakery in Singapore, bringing together exclusive desserts, limited-edition merchandise and character experiences under one roof.

Located in a two-storey standalone villa opposite the Singapore Oceanarium, the new destination pairs a Pop Mart Store on the ground floor with Pop Bakery upstairs.

While the first level is home to fan-favourite collectibles and Singapore-exclusive merchandise, the bakery serves up a menu of playful desserts and handcrafted drinks inspired by Pop Mart’s beloved characters.

The Singapore-exclusive menu offers something for every palate. Those craving lighter, tropical flavours can start with the Twinkle Twinkle Tangy Coconut Mousse ($18), where a chocolate coconut shell gives way to creamy coconut mousse, tangy pineapple filling and passionfruit popping boba.

Another standout is the dine-in-only Pucky Xiao Long Bao Dessert ($18), a playful take on the classic soup dumpling featuring silky soy milk panna cotta, ice cream, biscuit “chopsticks” and milk chocolate dipping sauce.

If you prefer richer desserts, the Twinkle Twinkle Sweet Coconut Mousse ($18) layers rich coconut mousse with red bean filling beneath a chocolate coconut shell, while the Dreamy Banana Pastry (S$16) combines caramelised banana with dark chocolate whipped ganache inside a delicate crisp pastry.

Mango lovers won’t want to miss the Twinkle Twinkle Mango Sago ($12), which combines juicy mango, pomelo, coconut milk and silky milk foam for a refreshing tropical treat.

Before you head off to explore the rest of Resorts World Sentosa, cool down with the Twinkle Twinkle Twin Popsicles ($15). Blending creamy milk with sweet mango, they’re the perfect treat to share as you continue your day around the resort.

And before you leave, be sure to pick up a box of the Singapore-exclusive Labubu Butter Cookies ($32). Available in original, chocolate and coconut flavours, the delicate honeycomb-textured cookies make a thoughtful souvenir or gift, whether you’re visiting Singapore or simply bringing a taste of Pop Bakery home.

Beyond the menu, visitors can also meet Twinkle Twinkle, one of Pop Mart’s most beloved characters, during its first overseas residency in Singapore. Meet-and-greet sessions take place from Thursday to Monday at 2.30pm, 4.30pm and 6.30pm, adding an extra touch of magic for little ones and longtime fans alike.

Reservations are required for dine-in, while takeaway is available throughout the day. Guests attending the meet-and-greet sessions are required to spend a minimum of $40 per person, with a minimum spend of $80 per table in a single transaction.

For more information, click here. 

This weekend calls for a proper coffee outing with the family. Blue Bottle Coffee has rolled out a fresh summer menu built around Kyoto-style cold espresso, headlined by two new drinks: the Espresso Tonic for the grown-ups, and a Vanilla Bean Shakerato for the kids (decaf-friendly requests welcome!).

The menu also welcomes new bakery partner Chu and Co, with fresh bakes like Banana Bread, Sea Salt Croissants, and the show-stopping Triple Pistachio Escargot rounding out the table for a full spread the whole family can dig into.

Pop by the Raffles City or Paragon outlets to try it all – but don’t wait too long for one thing on the menu: the new Lemon Cream Cheesecake, a collaboration with Queic by Olivia, is only available until 8 August 2026.

Made by the cult Chinatown cheesecake boutique born out of Olivia Restaurant – the Michelin-selected Spanish restaurant renowned for its signature cheesecake – this bright, citrusy and irresistibly creamy creation has become one of Singapore’s most sought-after desserts.

For more information, click here. 

From puffer fish and manta rays to whale sharks and anglerfish, Crybaby’s signature tears take on an ocean-inspired twist at Singapore Oceanarium’s latest limited-time activation.

Created by Thai artist Molly Yllom, Crybaby has become one of Pop Mart‘s most recognisable characters, beloved for its heartfelt stories about friendship, self-acceptance and emotional resilience.

Now, the character dives beneath the waves in Crybaby: Cry Me an Ocean, an immersive trail of 11 photo spots spread across the Oceanarium and Weave at Resorts World Sentosa.

Visitors can encounter everything from towering five-metre inflatables and larger-than-life sculptures to immersive light installations inspired by marine life. Each installation draws on real ocean creatures and their behaviours to explore themes such as hope, companionship and finding strength during difficult moments.

Highlights include a glowing anglerfish that encourages visitors to “be your own light amidst the darkness”, a manta ray embracing its crying self, and a whale letting go of the weight of an anchor.

After exploring the trail, swing by the Crybaby pop-up store at Weave, where exclusive Cry Me An Ocean merchandise and collectibles await. Visitors who present a same-day Singapore Oceanarium ticket and spend a minimum of S$128 will also receive an exclusive Crybaby Cry Me an Ocean eye mask, while stocks last.

For more information, click here.

What if you could step through the screen and into the world of Minecraft? Now making its Asia debut at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue turns the beloved video game into a one-hour immersive adventure where players become the heroes of their own story.

The quest begins with a mission to save a village under siege from zombies. Along the way, visitors journey through eight themed rooms inspired by Minecraft’s iconic biomes, from lush forests and bustling villages to mine shafts and the fiery Nether, gathering resources, encountering familiar mobs and tackling challenges as a team.

Bringing the experience to life is the Orb of Interaction, a handheld device that lights up, vibrates and changes colour in response to your actions. Use it to mine blocks, collect resources and interact with the world around you as the adventure unfolds.

Blending theatrical sets, large-scale projections and motion-tracking technology, the attraction recreates the spirit of Minecraft beyond the screen, making it just as enjoyable for longtime fans as it is for first-time players. No prior gaming experience is required, and the family-friendly experience is suitable for all ages.

Before heading home, don’t forget to claim an exclusive half-zombie, half-villager cape for your in-game character – a commemorative reward unlocked after completing the quest.

Tickets start from S$46 for adults and S$40 for children aged three to 12 on weekdays, and from S$51 and S$44 respectively on weekends.

For more information, click here.