Stepping into the huge open spaces of Singapore Zoo you immediately know this is a special place. If you are searching for the best things to do in Singapore with kids, family attractions in Singapore or tips for visiting Singapore Zoo, this incredible wildlife park absolutely deserves a place at the top of your itinerary. Since it opened its doors back in the early 1970s the Zoo has set out to remove barriers, bars and cages. And provide its animals with large natural homes. Today this is still very evident in its approach and the result is an immersive and incredibly positive day out. Singapore Zoo is widely regarded as one of the best zoos in the world and is particularly brilliant for children thanks to its open habitats, interactive experiences, shady walking trails and family-friendly facilities. We visited Singapore Zoo with our children and absolutely loved it. It’s huge, beautifully designed and filled with moments that children remember long after the holiday ends. So rather than simply a Singapore Zoo review, here are our top tips for visiting Singapore Zoo with kids, including the best things to see, how to plan your day and how to make the most of your visit.
👩💻 About the author – Nichola is a family travel expert and has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet Magazine and Wanderlust, amongst many others. She’s spent over a decade travelling the world with her children, finding the best places for you to explore too.
*AD / This post contains affiliate links & as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also have been compensated in this post either financially or with products / stays. To read more see our Disclosure Policy.
Get your skip-the-line tickets to Singapore Zoo here.
Table of Contents
About Singapore Zoo
Across the seventy acres of zoo there are over 300 different species. Many of which are considered endangered.
One of the things that makes Singapore Zoo so unique is its “open concept” design. Instead of traditional cages and heavy fencing, many habitats use natural barriers like moats, planting and glass viewing areas.
This creates a much more immersive experience where you often feel as though you are stepping directly into the animals’ environment rather than simply observing them from afar.
The zoo is located in Mandai Wildlife Reserve, around 30 minutes from central Singapore, making it an easy day trip for families staying in the city.
Arrive early for the coolest temperatures
One of our biggest tips for visiting Singapore Zoo is to arrive as early as possible.
Singapore is hot and humid throughout the year and although the zoo has lots of shaded pathways, it can still feel very warm by lunchtime.
Arriving early has several advantages:
- Cooler temperatures
- More active animals
- Smaller crowds
- Easier tram access
- Better photo opportunities
It also helps children pace themselves better throughout the day rather than becoming overtired in the afternoon heat.
Don’t underestimate how big Singapore Zoo is – Singapore zoo tips
The sheer scale of Singapore Zoo surprised us.
There is so much to see that it would honestly be impossible to properly cover everything in a single morning. You really need to allow a full day here if possible.
The pathways wind through rainforest areas, open habitats and themed sections from around the world.
Comfortable shoes, hats, sun cream and lots of water are essential.
The animals feel so close – tips for visiting Singapore Zoo
At the very start of the zoo you come face to face with Cotton Top Tamarins sitting in a tree in the middle of the path.
This is where they live. There are no fences here and you can get so close.
It’s a wonderful experience where you feel less like an observer and more like a visitor in the animal’s habitat.
This immersive style is one of the reasons Singapore Zoo is so popular and feels so unique.
Walk the Treetops Trail – tips for visiting Singapore Zoo
From here you enter the Treetops Trail. This takes you out over a rainforest where there are brown lemurs swinging around overhead.
Below you are a number of toothy False Gavial, a close relative of the crocodile and native to Malaysia, living in their jungle pond.
Deciding that we didn’t want to hang around too long with the Gavial, we headed on to see otters leaping and playing, and then onto the enormous tapirs and white tigers, which my eldest absolutely loved.
Use the tram wisely – top tips for Singapore Zoo
Because the zoo site is so vast you can leap aboard a tram for a small charge and it will take you around the main routes stopping at key locations.
This is brilliant for helping little legs rest.
However, one important tip is to consult the map before you board because it’s easy to accidentally skip some fantastic sections.
For example, we nearly missed the giraffe feeding platforms, which offered incredible close-up views of the giraffes.
The tram is especially useful if you are visiting Singapore Zoo with toddlers or younger children who may struggle with the amount of walking involved.
Don’t miss the Fragile Forest
Fragile Forest was one of our favourite areas in the entire zoo.
This indoor rainforest biodome is home to everything from tiny frogs and mudskippers to ring-tailed lemurs, mouse deer and Malayan flying foxes – the world’s largest bats.
Walking through it feels really immersive and cool after the heat outside.
The bats hanging overhead fascinated our children and the free-roaming animals make it feel very interactive.
Plan around feeding times – top tips for Singapore Zoo
One of the best tips for visiting Singapore Zoo is to check feeding schedules before your visit.
The feeding experiences were a huge highlight for our children.
Elephant feeding at Singapore Zoo – tips for visiting Singapore Zoo
The absolute standout experience for our family was feeding the elephants.
My eldest two children (my four-year-old preferred to watch) were given baskets of fruit to offer the elephants.
Watching the elephants gently stretch out their trunks to collect the food was a real wow moment.
If feeding experiences are important to your family, try to arrive early as these sessions can become busy during peak travel periods and school holidays.
Singapore Zoo is fantastic for education
One thing I particularly love about Singapore Zoo is how much effort goes into conservation and education.
Everywhere you go there are notes about the animals, information about endangered species and guidance on how we can all help protect wildlife.
Rather than simply displaying animals, the zoo really encourages visitors to think about conservation and environmental responsibility.
Dress for the weather – Singapore Zoo top tips
Singapore’s climate can be intense, especially for younger children.
A few essentials we would absolutely recommend bringing:
- Refillable water bottles
- Sun hats
- Fans
- Lightweight clothing
- Comfortable trainers or sandals
- Ponchos or small umbrellas for tropical showers
Although there are cafés and shops throughout the zoo, being prepared obviously makes the day far more enjoyable.
Bring swimwear for younger children – tips for visiting Singapore Zoo
One thing many people don’t realise is that Singapore Zoo has excellent water play areas for children.
The splash zones are perfect for cooling down after a few hours of walking around the zoo.
If you have younger children, packing swimwear and towels is definitely worthwhile.
Food options at Singapore Zoo – top tips
There are plenty of places to eat throughout the zoo, ranging from quick snacks to larger meals.
We found it easy to grab cold drinks and simple meals during the day.
Families visiting Singapore with children will find the zoo very well equipped with high chairs, baby facilities and shaded dining spaces.
Combine Singapore Zoo with nearby attractions
Singapore Zoo is part of the wider Mandai Wildlife Reserve area.
If you have time, you could combine your visit with:
- Night Safari
- River Wonders
- Bird Paradise
However, trying to do too much in one day can become exhausting.
We personally found that giving Singapore Zoo its own dedicated day worked best.
Why Singapore Zoo works so well for families
There’s something about Singapore Zoo that feels much calmer and more spacious than many other major zoos around the world.
The greenery, open spaces and thoughtful layout help prevent it from feeling overcrowded.
The lack of traditional cages also changes the entire atmosphere. It feels more natural and immersive.
Our children stayed engaged for far longer than they usually do at animal attractions because there was constantly something interesting to discover.
Is Singapore Zoo worth visiting?
Absolutely.
If you are planning a family trip to Singapore then Singapore Zoo is genuinely one of the best attractions in the country.
It combines wildlife, education, beautiful surroundings and family-friendly facilities.
It’s one of those rare attractions that works equally well for toddlers, older children, teenagers and adults.
FAQ – top tips for visiting Singapore Zoo
You should ideally allow a full day for Singapore Zoo, especially when visiting with children.
Yes, Singapore Zoo is excellent for toddlers thanks to shaded pathways, tram rides, splash areas and interactive animal experiences.
Morning is the best time to visit Singapore Zoo as temperatures are cooler and the animals are generally more active.
Yes, Singapore Zoo offers several feeding experiences, including the very popular elephant feeding sessions.
Yes, but it is very large. The tram can be extremely helpful for younger children.
Lightweight clothing, comfortable shoes, hats and sun cream are essential because Singapore is hot and humid year-round.
Singapore Zoo is widely respected for its open habitat concept, conservation efforts and educational programmes focused on protecting endangered species.
Many visitors and travel publications regularly rank Singapore Zoo among the best zoos in the world because of its immersive habitats and conservation focus.
If you are planning a family holiday to Singapore, this is one attraction we would absolutely recommend adding to your itinerary.
You can find out more about Singapore Zoo at their website here.
Get skip-the-line Singapore Zoo tickets here
Get your skip-the-line tickets to Singapore Zoo here.
Read more Singapore posts here –
Our review to Shangri-La Singapore Orchard Road and our review of Grand Hyatt Singapore.
You can also read all about our family holiday to Indonesia which included time in Singapore.
I was impressed the first time I visited Singapore zoo.. I think it’s really one of the best zoo in the world. Animals have space and I think it’s great. They really think about the comfort of the animals there #citytripping
I remember doing the night safari at Singapore Zoo which was wonderful but this looks like the kind of place you boulders spend hours wandering – those photos with the elephants are amazing! #citytripping
Those elephants!!!! We are going to Singapore in Feb and this is a definite on our list. Thanks for getting me more excited for our trip #citytripping
This reminds me a bit of the zoo we went to in Malaysia. It was so tropical and so different to anything you see here. I stupidly totally forgot that we could nip across to Singapore. Next time 🙂 #citytripping
I do like it when a zoo makes a big effort on conservation. It looks as though you can see some unusual creatures here – I’ve never seen a tamarin before. Love the elephant pics! #Citytripping
My parents lived in Singapore when I was younger and this was one of my favourite haunts. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. #citytripping