As a certified Eastie, I’ve only stuck around the east side of the country. However, when I was working on this article, I came across some beautiful parks all across Singapore — even in the West! So, if you are looking for something to do this December, check out these 10 parks in Singapore for your next family day out.

There’s just so much to do here in Singapore and it was honestly tough to narrow it down to just 10 spots. I have stuck to parks with more unique features and activities. Sorry, East Coast Park, you are just too crowded. Better luck next time.

There are many wild flora, fauna and activities at these parks. Do check out the NParks website for the dos and don’ts of each park before visiting.

East

Starting with my home turf, the east side has a lot to offer when it comes to scenic places for recreational activities. I’ll just be highlighting some of my favourites here.

1. Pasir Ris Park

Pasir Ris Park brings about memories of school marathons and adorable otters skittering about the water. With upgrading works currently ongoing in the park, there is less space than there used to be. So, let’s all put more effort into showing our appreciation and hope that most of it will be preserved for generations to come.

Your family can find yourselves having a fun barbecue bash at the many barbecue pits around the park. Sit around and play games with your cousins while the uncles and aunties prepare the delicious fried chicken, crab sticks, sausages and many other barbecue staples. 

In the meantime, you can also visit the 3-storey bird-watching tower in Area 2. Challenge yourselves and try to spot the White-collared Kingfisher or the Black-naped Oriole. You can also go on an adventure through Pasir Ris Park by venturing through the Nature Walk and discovering the beautiful flora.

167 Pasir Ris Rd, Singapore 519144
Daily: 24 hours

2. Changi Beach Park

Changi Village as a neighbourhood is truly a bizarre phenomenon in Singapore. It has been spared from much of Singapore’s urbanisation developments thus far. An unassuming, quiet edge of the country, it frequently buzzes with energy as people from all over the east side pop by to enjoy some food at the Changi Village Hawker Centre and 89.7 Supper Club, among other delicious food places.

Just a walking distance away is Changi Beach Park. As you cross the bridge to get to the park, you’ll notice that it is a constant hub of activity with fishermen fishing in the ocean or along the small river and cyclists riding around. The park is a frequent end destination for cyclists journeying through the Changi Bay Park Connector.

The park is covered with multiple sheltered areas for you to have a chat under the shade. There are also barbecue pits available for use. Kids of all ages can enjoy building sandcastles, cycling, or playing at the playground. 

As one of the few people who live in Changi Village, I would say that my favourite part about it is the aeroplane sightings. Since the beach is so close to the airport, planes are close to landing as they pass over the beach. You can spot them very clearly.

Nicoll Dr, Singapore 498991
Daily: 24 hours

3. Bedok Reservoir Park 

Bedok Reservoir sits between Bedok and Tampines. With the new Bedok Reservoir Station on the Downtown Line, it is a highly accessible park, regardless of where you’re coming from. It is typically the go-to for anybody who wishes to get a quick workout before going about their day.

The Reservoir itself is a calming presence at the heart of one of the busiest neighbourhoods in Singapore. It provides a calming presence and an escape from the daily grind. With your family, you can just set up camp at the edge of the reservoir and have a chat over some food.

A highlight of Bedok Reservoir is Forest Adventure, Singapore’s only treetop obstacle course. Enjoy a high-element course 14 metres above ground with zip lines and wobbly crossings. There are 3 courses to choose from with increasing difficulty: the Kids Course, the Junior Course, and the Grand Course.

The Junior and Kids Courses are S$40.90 and the Grand Course is S$50.90. Pre-booking is highly recommended. Click here to find out more about the Forest Adventure.

760 Bedok Reservoir Rd, Singapore 479245
Daily: 24 hours

Central

Moving on to Central. Most of the parks here hold historical significance. 

4. Fort Canning Park

Fort Canning Park is one of these places around Singapore where you can go on a history-filled walk. Go on a self-guided walk or join a tour through the Ancient History Trail or Colonial History Trail. You can also visit the Fort Canning Heritage and Fort Canning Spice Galleries to see some old relics from Singapore’s 700 years of history.

You can visit colonial structures and relics. View various historical pieces, including the replica 9-pound cannon. Once upon a time, Fort Canning Centre functioned as an army barracks. There are many replicas of monuments from that time, including a lighthouse and a time ball that was used by the British to inform the public of the correct time.

If your family is one to enjoy history, consider going on the guided tour. It is a 2-hour tour that will take you through the different centuries in Fort Canning Park, starting as far back as the 1300s. It costs S$10 per pax with a minimum of 15 participants per group. Have fun learning historical tidbits and facts with your loved ones.

River Valley Rd, Singapore 179038
Daily: 24 hours
Fort Canning Heritage Gallery: 10am – 6pm (Daily)
Closed for maintenance works on the last Mon of every month.
Fort Canning Spice Gallery: 7am – 7pm (Daily)

5. MacRitchie Reservoir Park

MacRitchie Reservoir is one of the best-known hiking trails in Singapore. The river is circled by the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. 5 different trails start from MacRitchie with distances ranging from 3km to 11km. The hardest route is Route 5 where you will go down the Treetop Walk onto Sime Track and end up on Rifle Range Road.

Click here for more information on the different hiking trails.

MacRitchie is a fun visit for everyone in your family. The experience of exploring the park could be a casual stroll or a wild adventure through shrubbery and different flora. The one must-see of the entire reservoir, though, is the Treetop Walk.

The Treetop Walk is a 250-metre-long freestanding suspension bridge. I distinctly remember a story of when my mom joined my sister’s company trip to MacRitchie. My mom is notoriously afraid of heights. So, when it came time to cross the bridge, she held on to my sister for dear life and avoided looking down at all costs. 

Lornie Rd, Singapore 298735
Daily: 7am – 7pm
Treetop Walk
– Closed on Mon (except PH)
– Tue to Fri: 9am – 5pm (last entry at 4.45pm)
– Sat, Sun & PH: 8.30am – 5pm (last entry at 4.45pm)

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6. Mount Faber Park

Mount Faber Park is one of the oldest parks in Singapore. The nearest MRT to the park is the Harbourfront Station. It has a beautiful view of the city with the highest peak being 106 metres. Despite being in the heart of town, the park hosts some unique bird species like the White-bellied Eagles, Japanese Sparrowhawks and Changeable Hawk Eagle.

If you wish to hike up the trail, you can begin your trek up on the Marang Trail, which is only a 4-minute walk from VivoCity. For a more leisurely experience, you can choose to ride a Cable Car to the peak. 

Once you are up there, you and your family can explore the many landmarks either on your own or as part of a guided tour. Some of these landmarks include the Mini Merlion, the Poland’s Bells of Happiness, and the Mural Walls. The mural depicts Singapore’s evolution from a small fishing village to a bustling international hub.

Mount Faber Rd
Daily: 24 hours

North

Now, let’s head back up to the north. Upon researching, I discovered that it contains some fascinating natural phenomena and rich biodiversity.

7. Sembawang Hot Spring Park

Sembawang Hot Spring Park is the only natural hot spring in mainland Singapore. Located at the junction of Sembawang Road and Gambas Avenue, it is free to enter so you can enjoy dipping your fit into the Cascading Foot Bath Pool at no cost.

It is said that immersing your body in a hot spring bath has a slew of health benefits. Some alleged benefits are pain relief, improved cardiovascular health, improved gut health, support for weight loss and relief from certain skin conditions. As of now, these claims are unsubstantiated.

Nonetheless, there are still opportunities for you to learn more about the geology of hot springs. Singapore is a place that possesses very few natural phenomena (which can be both a positive and a negative thing). The hot spring is a rare opportunity for Singaporeans to experience something naturally occurring first-hand.

Other than enjoying the hot spring, you can take a stroll down Floral Walk and do some bird-watching. The Sembawang Hot Spring Park hosts birds like the Yellow-vented Bulbuls and Olive-backed Sunbirds. 

Along Gambas Ave, Singapore 756952
Daily: 7am – 7pm
The Cascading Foot Bath Pool is closed on Mon and Thu from 11am – 2pm

8. Admiralty Park

Admiralty Park is the largest park in the north. The park includes a 20-hectare nature area that has a variety of wild flora and fauna with grasslands, mangroves, forests and riverines. With more than 100 species of wildlife, the nature area is the largest in Singapore within an urban park.

During my research of the beautiful biodiversity of Admiralty Park, I discovered the fascinating Baya Weaver. During mating season, between March and July of the year, the males of their species weaves long blades of grass into a hanging nest to attract a mate. If you find one of these nests, there’s a chance for you to spot a Baya Weaver in the wild.

The younger children will enjoy the wide open areas to run free and play. There are also 26 slides for the children to enjoy; some are twisty and others are steeper with a straight run.

31 Riverside Rd, Singapore 730000
Daily: 24 hours
Nature Area: 7am – 7pm (Daily)

West

Last but not least, we head over to the west. Although I have spent the least time in this area, I discovered some beautiful parks to include in this list.

9. Jurong Central Park

Jurong Central Park is one of those classic Singapore parks. It is located near Boon Lay MRT, at the junction of Jalan Boon Lay and Boon Lay Way. The 8-hectare park is a nice quiet place for you and your family to enjoy a day out. 

You can set up a picnic next to the pond. While the adults chat, the younger kids can play at the Ludo Garden and the playground, which has life-sized board game features. They can drag their siblings and cousins into a fun game. 

Pro-tip: use the clock tower as a digital dice. It can generate numbers at random.

You can also engage in other classic park activities like cycling, rollerblading and bird-watching. After your day of fun, you can visit the nearby McDonald’s at 291 Boon Lay Way for lunch and to escape from the afternoon sun in the air conditioning. 

Junction off Jalan Boon Lay & Boon Lay Way, Singapore 609961
Daily: 24 hours

10. Jurong Lake Gardens

Last but not least, what I would deem the jewel of the West, is Jurong Lake Gardens. This garden is one of the most scenic neighbourhood parks in Singapore. Built in their current form in 2019, the Jurong Lake Gardens are made of the Lakeside Garden, the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden.

You and your family can just spend an entire day exploring the different parts of this 53-hectare garden. The Chinese and Japanese gardens have beautiful architectural and natural inspirations from both cultures. You can visit the Twin Pagodas in the Chinese Garden or explore the Japanese Gardens. There, you can take as many family photos as the gardens make beautiful backdrops.

Children have a slew of activities to choose from. The Forest Ramble provides many fun opportunities to traverse bridges and climb. It is a nature play garden that allows for creative fun and exploration. As the sun begins to peak, they can take a dip in the and build sandcastles at the Clusia Cove.

There is simply too much to do at the Jurong Lake Gardens. Find out more here.

Along Yuan Ching Road, Singapore 618662
Lakeside Garden: 24 hours (Daily)
Chinese Garden: 5.30am – 12am (Daily)
Japanese Garden: 5.30am – 12am (Daily)

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