Hot day? Grab your swimming costumes and hit one of Singapore's fantastic free water play areas!
You can barely blink without breaking a sweat under our blistering sun, so where do you go to escape the heat in Singapore? Forget about staying huddled around the air-conditioner; bring the kids to one of the city’s fantastic water parks to cool down and play. From the elaborate outdoor fountains and sprinklers at Gardens by the Bay to the rooftop oasis at NEX, these are our top places to go for a splashing good time – totally free of charge!
Top tip: Before heading down to these fab water play locations, check ahead to ensure they are open. We try our very best to keep you up to date, but things change daily, and we wouldn’t want a wasted journey for you and the kiddos!
BEST FREE WATER PLAY FOR KIDS IN SINGAPORE
1. Far East Organization Children’s Garden, Gardens by the Bay
Kids never fail to make a beeline for this elaborate water play area, nestled among the lush greenery of Gardens by the Bay. With classic Disney tunes streaming and fun fountains creating a visual display, this certainly excites the senses. It’s no wonder this is a fave destination on sunny days. There’s even a designated area for tots, where fish-shaped fountains send out water in gentle arcs. Plus, plenty of seating for parents to sit back and take in the spectacular view of Marina Bay Sands. Designed for children aged six to 12 years, the main water play area is perhaps the best we’ve seen. With sensors that detect movement to create a corresponding water effect sequence, parents will get as much of a kick playing here as the kids. The towering orchids dump buckets of water below, so watch where you stand (we talk from experience!).
Where: Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953; Open Tuesday-Sunday from 9am – 7pm (last admission at 6pm; closed on Mondays).
2. Marina Barrage Water Playground
For some more gentle fun in the water, head to Marina Barrage with its huge wading area that kids can’t get enough of. The water is very shallow (perfect for tiny tots), and you don’t have to worry about getting soaked by a water cannon here, but there are plenty of water jets that fearless kids will have fun running through. Don’t forget to look up and admire the kites being flown from the nearby Green Roof!
Where: Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018951; Limited to 20 persons per session on a first-come, first-served basis. Mon, Wed and Fri (slots at 1.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm, 6pm) and Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun (slots at 9am, 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm, 6pm).
3. Clusia Cove, Jurong Lake Gardens
Jurong Lake Gardens has whole lotta things going on for kiddos! We’re loving Forest Ramble, a nature-inspired playground with play elements that encourage kids to mimic the actions and motions of the animals that inhabit the nearby swamps. When you’re done, cool off at Clusia Cove, a water playground where kids can experience and learn about water movements at coastal shores.
Where: Jurong Lake Gardens, along Yuan Ching Road and Boon Lay Way, Jurong East, Singapore 649848; Open 8am – 7pm (closed on Mondays).
4. Coastal PlayGrove, East Coast Park
Taking over the former Big Splash site at East Coast Park, this latest play spot is basically a reconstructed version of its predecessor. There’s the four-storey, 16-metre play tower that houses everything including two massive slides, the nature playground that features all-natural materials, and an open space where the kiddos can run around. Once you have explored the dry parts of Coastal PlayGrove, go on to the water play area to cool down and have a splash! Another plus point? The area is wheelchair-accessible. Wonderful! Stay till evening time, when the water jets light up.
Where: 902 East Coast Park Service Rd (Area B of East Coast Park, Singapore 449874; Open Tuesday-Sunday from 8am – 8pm (closed on Mondays).
5. Lower Seletar Reservoir Park
Although this park is usually known for kayaking and dragon boating, there’s also a splashy water play area with a mini river and water mill at the Family Bay, complete with a bioswale rain garden. Kids can also try out fishing – word on the street is that there’s lots of large fish, including snakeheads and tilapias swimming in the waters.
Where: Lower Seletar Reservoir Park, bounded by Yishun Ave 1 and Lentor Avenue, Yishun, Singapore 786568
6. Splash-n-Surf at Singapore Sports Hub
If you haven’t discovered the Splash-n-Surf at the Singapore Sports Hub, you’re seriously missing out! Complete with a water play area, kids’ pool, lazy river and even a half-pipe, it’s great for kids aged three to 12. You’ll find plenty of sprinklers, slides and water pistols along with a pint-sized merry-go-round swing ride. Kids who fancy a trip down the lazy river can rent a tube for $2, while thrillseekers can try their hand at surfing on the half-pipe Stingray, although you will have to be at least 1.2m tall! Note: Pre-booking is required for the water playground and Stingray, while the lazy river remain closed till further notice.
Where: Splash-n-Surf, 1B Stadium Walk (access from the entrance along Gate 22), Singapore 397690; Open daily 8am – 10pm.
Free water play sites currently closed:
7. VivoCity SkyPark (open for paddleboats only)
The impressive rooftop water feature at VivoCity SkyPark spans the size of four Olympic swimming pools (yes, it’s that huge)! The knee-deep water area is ideal for older kids to paddle around in or they can rent a paddleboat for $8 to $12; hold on to little ones! Sunscreen is a must as it can get scorching hot here. So grab those swimmers, sunscreen and towels, and make a day of it – we’d even try leaving Dad on duty while we slip off for a sneaky session in the mall. And if that isn’t enough water fun, check out the awesome Play Court at Level 2, complete with water fountains. Perfect for cooling off after a day of play. Note: Only the paddleboats are operating. The rest of the SkyPark and Play Court on Level 2 are temporarily closed.
Where: VivoCity Level 3, 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore 098585; Paddleboats open daily 4 – 9pm.
8. Splash Park at Sembawang Shopping Centre
Open to kids under 12. The Splash Park is a padded open-air playground with loads of fountains, water jet tunnels and water pistols for the kids to enjoy. There’s even a fun, sheltered playground for them to hang out at pre or post wet play.
Where: Sembawang Shopping Centre, 604 Sembawang Road, Singapore 758459; Open daily from 11am – 2pm and 5 – 7pm.
9. Happy Park at Waterway Point
Happy Park in North East family-friendly Punggol is a great place to have on your list for free water play. Dotted with massive lilies and leaf sculptures, kids will have a blast going back and forth between the wet and dry play areas. Whether they’re splashing about in the wading pool, swinging on the hammocks, or burrowing through tunnels, there’s plenty to keep them busy. Plus, if you pop by after dark, the place sparkles with LED lights, making it even more magical.
Where: Waterway Point, 83 Punggol Central, Singapore 828761; Open daily 10:30am – 8pm (opens at 12noon every Tuesday and Friday due to scheduled maintenance).
10. IMM Outdoor Wet Playground
Another opportunity to shop and play! Reward those kiddos for tagging along on a day to the mall with a fun session at IMM’s outdoor wet playground. Kids will love the spraying flowers, buckets and water cannons. Mums will love the non-slip surface for kids to safely let loose!
Where: IMM Shopping Mall, Level 3 Garden Plaza, 2 Jurong East Street 21, Singapore 609601; Open daily 10am – 10pm.
11. The 3 House Playground at Changi City Point
The 3 House Playground is located on the second level of Changi City Point. The wet area includes fountains, mini pools and swings, while the dry area has a treetop obstacle trail for older kids to cross and climb. There’s even a landscaped rooftop garden, equipped with interactive art installations just above the play area for the kids to explore while they dry off. Suitable for little ones below 12.
Where: Changi City Point, 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, Singapore 486038; Open daily 10am – 10pm.
12. Kidzplay at NEX Skygarden
Kidzplay at NEX (located on the mall’s rooftop) is a wet and dry play area for kids five to 12. Hot day in the city? Cool down with water cannons, spray tunnels and water buckets for kids to get wet and wild with. Too wet? Hop on over to the dry playground, equipped with fun slides and bridges.
Where: NEX Shopping Mall, Level 4R, 23 Serangoon Central, Singapore 556083; Open weekdays 1pm – 8pm; weekends, public holidays and school holidays 11am – 8pm.
13. Tampines 1
This wildlife-themed rooftop water playground at Tampines 1 has plenty of slides, pools and fountains for the kids to splash about in. Little ones will be enthralled by the animal-shaped topiaries and the arctic-themed play areas that come complete with polar bear and seal slides. Another reason to love it: there’s a shaded area to escape the heat for a bit.
Where: Tampines 1, 10 Tampines Central 1, Singapore 529536; Open Monday 4 – 8pm, Tues – Sun 12 – 8pm.
14. Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens (closed for renovation)
Tucked away near the entrance of the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, a visit to this fun water play area is hands-down the highlight of the day for kids once you’ve explored the expanse of the Gardens. You’ll find water spouts at low heights for crawling tots to enjoy, but also very little shade – so remember to lather on lots of sunscreen and come armed with a hat. Note: The water play area is currently under renovation.
Where: Singapore Botanic Gardens, 481 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259769; Currently closed for renovations.
15. Lot One (closed for upgrading work)
Kids will have a blast exploring Lot One’s dry and wet playgrounds on a hot sticky day. If you’ve got a little wannabe zoologist, Lot One’s water park is animal-themed, so they’re bound to love the stripes off of it!
Where: Lot One Shopping Mall, 21 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4, Singapore 689812
16. Ninja Trail at Compass One Shopping Mall (closed for maintenance work)
Compass One has a special Ninja Trail for little warriors aged two to 12 who can work their way through 17 different play features, including a path laid out with jets, a climbing net, spray tunnels and spring animals. There’s even a swing set – but it can get slippery, so make sure your little ones hold on tight!
Where: Compass One Shopping Mall, 1 Sengkang Square, Singapore 545078.
