Singapore Itinerary: Happy Big Family

Planning to travel to Singapore with your family? Here are the things you can do in Lion City. I've also included an optional tour to JB, Malaysia on this 7-day itinerary. I've prepared recommended activities that your kiddos, grandparents or the whole family will enjoy.

Day 1:

Arrival in Singapore. Do not forget to grab free maps at the airport arrival area. If landed at midnight, you can start your tour before lunch.

Make a stroll around the neighborhood, have breakfast and try the famous Kaya Toast set with Kopi. To familiarize yourself on the public transport: buses, trains or cabs. Get an ezlink card instead of paying cash in buses and trains. Head to Marina Bay Sands to relax and enjoy the Shopping Centre. Take a picture and enjoy the view facing the Merlion and the skyscraper. Go up to take pictures of the Marina Bay Sands towers and see the Gardens by the Bay super trees from afar.

Take the lift down to Gardens by the Bay, enjoy the park for free Dragonfly & Kingfisher Lakes, Children's Garden, Heritage Gardens, Supertree Grove, Sun Pavilion, World of Plants and Bay East Garden. You may also check out paid attractions like Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, and Skyway.  Hungry? There's a food court at the Marina Bay Sands where you can take out or "tapao" the food and bring to your next destination. Spend the rest of your afternoon there.

Before sunset, walk to the Singapore Flyer and experience the magical feeling in the 30-minute ride when you're on top of the world riding the big wheel. Have your first Singapore dinner at Makansutra Gluttons by the Bay near the Esplanade. Try the famous chili crab, cereal prawns, and other local dishes. You may also try their local drinks like chin chow (sweetened drinks with grass jelly), lemon barley, water chestnut, soya bean milk or chrysanthemum tea.

After dinner, walk to the Esplanade and cross the Esplanade bridge and get a selfie with the iconic Merlion statue.

Day 2:

For a limited time, it would be good to go the three parks in 1 day. Getting a 3-in-1 park hopper ticket is cheaper rather than buying tickets at the park. For four people or less, take a cab or take the bus (but it would be timing consuming). For more than four people, take a Maxi cab and scheduled a pickup. Take note, need to pay each pickup from point A to point B (around $60 to $70 for a 7 seater MPV).

For this tour you can choose where you will start your tour:

Option 1: Jurong Bird

Start your tour early and be at Jurong Bird Park at 08:00 to have breakfast at their picnic area. Do a stroll and discover the different kinds of birds. Make sure to head your way to Hawk Walk to witness the Kings of the Skies Show at 10:00 am. Then catch up the next show, the High Flyers Show at Pools Amphitheatre at 11:00 am. Take your quick lunch and be at your pick up point (if you arrange for a pickup) at most by 1:15 pm otherwise, need to leave earlier to catch up with a public bus going to Singapore Zoo, which takes more than 1 hour and take more than 1 bus rides. I would suggest you take a cab with a traveling time of 21 mins only.

Option 2: River Safari

For this option, there's an hour difference when you start the tour. Be at River Safari at 09:00 and you can have your breakfast before you entered the park. Take a stroll and discover the animals inhabiting along the rivers and do not forget to take the Amazon River Quest ride. Meet giant pandas Kai Kai & Jia Jia. Spend the rest of your morning in this park. Have your lunch before going to Singapore Zoo at 1:00 pm. The good thing for this option is the next park is just around the area, no need to travel.

Another option is you can spend a whole day at Singapore Zoo and go to the Night Safari in the evening.

Singapore Zoo

Spend your afternoon at the zoo. Don't miss the exhibits of a white tiger, proboscis monkey, Free-Ranging Orang Utan, Pygmy Hippo, Otter, Tapir and more. Check out those animals that you have never seen before in the Frozen Tundra, Wild Africa, Australian Outback, Reptile Garden and a lot more to see. But be also cautious of the time and you must witness the following shows (afternoon timing):

Night ZafariHave your dinner at the entrance of the zoo or you may take it at Night Safari entrance and witness the Thumbuakar Performance while dining. Expect a long queue. So if you want to catch up the 7.30pm Creatures of the Night Show, then be hurry. If you miss it, you can try the tram ride first and catch up the show timings at 8.30pm, 9.30pm, and 10.30pm. Enjoy the rainforest and nocturnal animals!

Day 3:

Time to explore Asia's Favorite Playground - Sentosa. The island offers a wide variety of attractions. You can choose where to go, like to hang out in Siloso Beach or take a picture of the father Merlion statue and some more. If you're on a tight budget, you can select few paid attractions and avail the free amenities provided on the island. Here are the options for getting to the island:

Option 1: By Cable Cable Car Ride

You can choose where to start your cable ride from Mount Faber  or Harbourfront Tower II. This is a round trip ride.

Option 2: Monorail

Go to VivoCity (Lobby L, Level 3), take the Sentosa Express

Option 3: By Foot via Sentosa Boardwalk

You only have to pay S$1 / entry per person on weekdays and Free during weekends or public holidays

Here's my recommended attractions and ride.

or you can check combo packages for cheaper prices online.

Day 4:

Trip to JB, Malaysia
- Legoland
- Kitty Town
- Premium Shopping Outlet

You can go to Johor Bahru via public transport or private van if you want an easy ride. I would suggest availing the "Go Private package," it's quite expensive, but this service will pick up at your home/hotel and brings you to the theme parks of your choice in JB. The package includes the theme park ticket admissions and fare ride back to Singapore. But if you plan to stay in Malaysia for another 1 to 2 days, then it's better to take public transport then travel to your next destination in Malaysia.

Day 5:

You can bring your whole family to cool down and swim at Adventure Cove Waterpark in Sentosa. If you still have time, you can try the Trick Eye Museum.

• Adventure Cove Waterpark
• Trick Eye Musuem (Optional).

Treat your parents and grand parents to a relaxing walk and admiring the flora at the Botanical Gardens. Then spoil them at Orchard for shopping.

• Botanical Gardens
• Orchard Road

Day 6:

Universal Studios

Explore the 7 zones being offered in this theme park and I have recommended some attractions, ride for the youngsters

Day 7:

This is most relaxed day, your last day! Time to go for shopping some souvenirs. Places to go for cheaper prices:

• Bugis Street
• China Town
• Daiso

If you plan to buy new smartphone, tablet, TV, laptop, DSLR, other gadgets and accessories, then I recommend these stores:

• Funan Digital Store
• Sim Lim Square
• Challenger (Items are in discounted prices for members or some items you can avail member points only).

Pack up and be at the airport 2 hours before your expected departure time. Have a safe trip!