Published 8 Oct 2026 · Updated 12 Oct 2026
For a first trip abroad with children, Singapore is hard to beat: about five hours from most Indian metros, clean and safe, with a zoo, a night safari, a theme park and a garden of giant artificial trees on one small island. Five days is enough, and a family of four should budget roughly ₹65,000 to ₹95,000 per person including flights. The one thing to start early is the visa.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
Indian passport holders need a Singapore visa, and you can’t get one at the airport. ICA’s visa requirements page lists India among the countries that need a visa and says applications go through an authorised visa agent appointed by the Singapore mission, or at the mission itself. That page does not state the fee, processing time or validity, so ask the agent for these in writing before you pay. Your length of stay is set by the visit pass issued at the checkpoint, not by the visa.
- A passport valid long enough for the trip for every family member (agents usually ask for six months).
- An approved visa for each traveller, children included.
- An SG Arrival Card for each traveller, free, submitted online or in the MyICA app within three days before arrival, counting the arrival day. ICA does not endorse paid services for it, so skip any site that charges.
- A return ticket and proof of where you will stay, which officers may ask to see.
Start from the official site, ica.gov.sg. Look-alike visa and arrival-card sites exist: use only an agent appointed by the Singapore mission in India, and never pay to submit the arrival card.
Transit is different. Indians may use the 96-hour Visa-Free Transit Facility only when travelling on to a third country, with an onward ticket and a valid visa or long-term pass (valid at least one more month) for Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK or the US. Don’t plan a holiday on it.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, a family of two adults and two children (about 6 to 12 years old), mid-range, five days. Singapore dollar amounts use roughly ₹65–70 per SGD; check the day’s rate.
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flight, Chennai, Delhi or Mumbai to Singapore | ₹20,000 – ₹32,000 |
| Visa through an agent | ₹3,000 – ₹4,000 |
| Family room, 4 nights (a quarter of the room cost) | ₹16,000 – ₹23,000 |
| Attractions: Zoo, Night Safari, Universal Studios, Sentosa, more | ₹14,000 – ₹18,000 |
| Food, about ₹2,000 – ₹3,000 a day | ₹10,000 – ₹12,000 |
| MRT, taxis, eSIM, tips, insurance | ₹3,000 – ₹5,000 |
| Total | ₹65,000 – ₹95,000 |
Ticket prices change, so confirm them on the official sites before booking. For orientation, 2026 visitor guides list Universal Studios Singapore at about S$83–86 for adults and S$62–69 for children aged 4–12, and Mandai’s Night Safari page lists non-resident tickets at S$58 for adults and S$41 for children aged 3–12. Mandai also sells combined tickets for the Zoo, River Safari, Night Safari and Bird Paradise, which are worth comparing with single tickets.
Day-by-day family itinerary
Day 1: arrive and Gardens by the Bay
Changi is an attraction on its own, with a butterfly garden and the Jewel waterfall for tired children. After check-in, go to Gardens by the Bay. The outdoor gardens are free, and the Supertree Grove is at its best at dusk, when the lights come on. Dinner at a hawker centre such as Lau Pa Sat keeps the bill low.
Day 2: Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Go to the Mandai wildlife area in the morning, when animals are active and it is cooler. The Singapore Zoo is open-concept, and its water-play area cools children down. Return to the hotel for a nap, then come back for the Night Safari and its tram ride, and plan to leave by about 9:30 pm so children are not asleep on their feet. Buy tickets online ahead.
Day 3: Sentosa
Take the Sentosa Express or the cable car over. Choose one main attraction: Universal Studios Singapore for children old enough for rides, or the SEA Aquarium and the beaches (Siloso, Palawan) for younger ones. Pre-book tickets to skip the queue.
Day 4: Chinatown, Little India and a slow afternoon
Walk through Chinatown and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, then go to Little India for a vegetarian lunch and shopping at the Mustafa Centre, which stays open very late. Keep the afternoon free for the hotel pool or the Merlion and the Marina Bay waterfront.
Day 5: last morning and flight home
Do a final walk at Jewel or Merlion Park, and leave for Changi at least three hours before your flight. The MRT from the city takes under an hour.
Tips for families from India
- Food: vegetarian families should head to Little India and ask hawker stalls about fish sauce and egg. Halal and vegetarian options are common.
- Money: use a forex or multi-currency card. UPI works at some Singapore merchants, but don’t depend on it. Carry a few notes for hawker stalls.
- Plugs: Singapore uses the Type G (UK-style) plug, so pack an adapter.
- Transport: the MRT and buses accept contactless bank cards; taxis cost more, and ride-hailing apps are common. Check the operator’s rules for children’s fares.
- SIM: an eSIM or an airport SIM is simple and cheap.
- Rules: chewing gum sales are banned, littering is fined heavily, and vapes are prohibited, so don’t pack them.
Best time to visit
February to July is usually drier, though short thunderstorms can hit at any time of year, since Singapore sits near the equator. The year-end monsoon brings more rain, and Indian school holidays (April to June) and Diwali week fill hotels and raise flight prices, so book early. It is hot and humid all year, so plan outdoor visits for mornings and evenings.
Getting there from India
Singapore Airlines, Scoot, IndiGo and Air India fly nonstop from Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other metros. If you’re weighing another Southeast Asian first trip, read our Thailand in 6 days guide, which is visa-free for Indians, pair it with Malaysia’s beaches in our Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur honeymoon plan, for a harbour-city weekend try our Hong Kong 4-day plan, for a shorter flight with the same family-friendly mix, see our Dubai family trip, for a Europe trip with Legoland and Tivoli see our Denmark family plan, or see the Singapore hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Singapore?
Yes. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) lists India among the countries whose passport holders need a visa, applied for through a visa agent appointed by the Singapore mission or at the mission itself. Only transit is visa-free, for up to 96 hours, and only if you hold a valid visa or long-term pass for Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK or the US.
Do children need a separate Singapore visa and arrival card?
Plan on both for every traveller, children included. ICA says all travellers must submit the SG Arrival Card, free of charge, within three days before arrival. Ask your visa agent what each child's visa application needs.
How much does a Singapore trip for a family of four cost from India?
About ₹65,000 to ₹95,000 per person for five days, so roughly ₹2.6 to ₹3.8 lakh for two adults and two children, with return flights, a family hotel room, attraction tickets, food and local transport. Child tickets are cheaper, so the family average sits a little under the adult figure.
How many days are enough for Singapore with kids?
Four to five days. That fits the Zoo and Night Safari, one theme-park or Sentosa day, Gardens by the Bay and a rest afternoon without rushing young children.
Is Singapore good for vegetarian families from India?
Yes. Little India has many vegetarian restaurants, and hawker centres have vegetarian stalls. Ask about fish sauce, shrimp paste and egg in noodle dishes, and check whether a restaurant is fully vegetarian or only lists a few vegetarian options.
What is the best time to visit Singapore with children?
February to July is generally drier than the year-end monsoon months, though showers can happen any day. Weekdays outside school holidays are the quietest for the theme park.
