The September school holidays may be short, but Singapore has packed plenty into them.
From giant pandas and glowing Sanrio gardens to immersive oceans, ice cream making and a citywide stamp hunt, there are outings here for toddlers, primary school children, teens and parents who simply want an excuse to get out of the house.
1. Celebrate Kai Kai and Jia Jia at Singapore’s First Panda Planet Exhibition
Panda lovers have an especially good reason to head north this school holiday. River Wonders is hosting Singapore’s first Panda Planet Immersive Experience, an exhibition dedicated to giant pandas, making its first stop outside China. The timing also coincides with birthday season for Singapore’s resident pandas, Jia Jia and Kai Kai.
Jia Jia turned 18 on 3 September, while Kai Kai turns 19 on 14 September. Visitors can catch Kai Kai’s birthday celebration on 13 September at Pavilion Capital Giant Panda Forest, where his care team will prepare enrichment filled with favourite foods. These aren’t simply panda birthday props. Enrichment encourages behaviours such as exploring, manipulating objects and foraging, which makes watching the birthday boy investigate his present part of the fun.
The Panda Planet exhibition itself runs from 4 to 14 September and adds much more to a regular panda visit. Families can move through three zones covering giant panda evolution, behaviour and conservation, before learning more about Kai Kai, Jia Jia and their Singapore-born cub Le Le. Children who prefer something interactive can try panda trivia, pose at themed photo points and experience a mixed-reality interpretation of a giant panda’s natural habitat.
It works particularly well as an outing for families with children of different ages because younger kids can simply enjoy seeing the animals, while older ones have enough science and conservation material to keep them occupied.
Singapore residents with WildPass currently pay from S$35 for adults and S$26 for children aged three to 12 on regular weekdays, with higher peak-day rates. Children below three enter free with an accompanying ticket-holding adult.
River Wonders is at 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826.
2. Let The Kids Bounce And Climb at Aperia Mall
The main school-holiday attraction at Aperia Mall is Rocketland at the Level 1 Atrium. Running from 7 to 12 September, the temporary indoor play space gives children plenty of room to jump, climb and burn off some of that seemingly limitless holiday energy, while parents can stay comfortably indoors. From Monday to Friday, Rocketland is open from 3pm to 9pm, while Saturday hours run from 10am to 9pm.
There is also a particularly good deal for families who are already planning to dine or shop at Aperia. Spend at least S$30 in a single transaction using eCapitaVoucher, and CapitaStar members can redeem a complimentary one-hour Rocketland pass for two people. The promotion is limited to the first 300 redemptions, so leaving the outing until the last minute may not work in your favour.
Older children who have graduated from inflatable playgrounds can head upstairs to Boulder+ instead. The climbing gym at #03-17 features walls and routes designed for different abilities, along with introductory and youth programmes. It is a handy way to turn the same mall visit into completely different experiences for siblings of different ages.
Rocketland is complimentary for two people with a qualifying S$30 eCapitaVoucher transaction during the promotion period. Boulder+ admission and classes are separately priced.
Aperia Mall is at 12 Kallang Avenue, Singapore 339511.
3. Stay Out After Sunset For Sentosa’s Magical Island Adventure
Sentosa gets a little more magical after sunset. During the September school holidays, families have one final chance to experience A Magical Island Adventure: Let’s Set Sail with Disney Cruise Line before the island-wide programme ends on 20 September 2026.
Start around Palawan Beach, where several installations can be enjoyed without a ticket. Children can spot supersized Toy Story characters, including Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and Bullseye, alongside playful beach installations. There are also Marvel-inspired elements around The Palawan, making this an easy spot to explore before dinner or as the sun begins to set.
After dark, head to the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia for a more immersive experience. Normally known for its suspension bridge and sea views, the attraction stays open until 10pm for a ticketed night experience during the programme. The pathways take on a bioluminescent glow, while areas inspired by Wayfinder Bay and Disney’s Moana bring together mist, lights and the Heart of Te Fiti. Walking across the suspension bridge after sunset also gives this familiar Sentosa landmark an entirely different atmosphere.
Families can also make an evening of the wider September programme, with Movies by the Beach on selected weekend evenings, alongside guided activities and silent dance sessions on other dates. For the easiest itinerary, arrive in the late afternoon, explore the free Palawan installations first, then save the illuminated attractions for after sunset.
Palawan Beach and the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia are on Sentosa and can be reached from Beach Station by beach shuttle or on foot. Daytime entry to the Southernmost Point is free. The current Magical Island Adventure night pass is S$10 for adults aged 13 and above and S$8 for children aged four to 12, while children aged three and below enter free. The night attraction runs from 7pm to 10pm and is closed on Wednesdays.
4. The BT21 Star Walk Is Coming to Marina Bay
If your child or teen is a BTS fan, this is one school-holiday activity they will not want to miss. The BT21 Star Walk brings the beloved LINE FRIENDS characters created by BTS members into a playful walking adventure around Marina Bay, giving young fans a chance to see their favourite characters while getting some steps in.
Taking place on 12 September from 5pm to 9pm, the event starts around Marina Square and extends into the Marina Bay precinct. Participants can choose a shorter 2km experience or continue on the 5km route, encountering BT21-themed checkpoints, questions and photo opportunities along the way. It is designed to be more playful than competitive, so there is no pressure to chase a personal best or keep pace with serious runners.
That makes it a particularly appealing first organised walking event for younger children. They get the excitement of receiving an event pack, following a route and eventually collecting a finisher medal without having to train for a conventional race. Parents, meanwhile, get a family activity that involves several kilometres of actual movement.
The BT21 experience also begins before race day. Marina Square has been running a broader BT21 programme from 21 August to 13 September, so fans can explore character displays and activities at the mall while collecting photos and merchandise. It would be easy to arrive early for dinner, explore the mall and then head outdoors once the evening cools down.
The original basic Star Walk pack was advertised at S$45 and the VIP pack at S$84, although the official ticketing site is currently displaying discounted prices, with availability varying by category and flag-off slot. At the time of checking, the standard individual ticket was listed at a promotional price of S$36, while the VIP ticket was S$76, before applicable charges.
Marina Square is at 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594.
5. Let’s Kids Become Scoop Masters at the Museum Of Ice Cream
Eating ice cream is easy. Making it yourself gives children considerably more bragging rights.
For three days during the September school holidays, Museum of Ice Cream Singapore is bringing back its Ice Cream Making Class. Sessions take place on 7, 9 and 11 September at 11am and 2.30pm, with each workshop lasting around 45 minutes.
Instead of simply being handed another scoop, participants get to step behind the counter and learn how their dessert comes together. Guided by MOIC’s Scoop Professors, children can choose from familiar flavours such as chocolate, strawberry, vanilla and mint, then add crunchy mix-ins and colourful toppings to create their own sundae. There is also a little science and history woven into the experience, giving parents at least some justification for calling an ice cream workshop educational.
Every participant receives a Scoop Master Certificate at the end. Better still, the S$63 Ice Cream Making Class bundle includes admission to the Museum of Ice Cream afterwards, turning the workshop into the start of the outing rather than the whole experience.
Families can then explore the museum’s colourful interactive installations, play spaces and dessert stations, with unlimited ice cream treats available throughout the visit. Younger children are likely to love the sheer novelty, while older ones may spend almost as much time taking photos as eating.
Parents can accompany their children during the workshop. Adults who want to explore the museum afterwards will need their own admission ticket, so remember to factor this into the total cost of the outing.
Museum of Ice Cream Singapore is at 100 Loewen Road, Dempsey, Singapore 248837.
6. Spot 23 Disney and Pixar Characters Made from Flowers
There is something wonderfully unexpected about seeing familiar animated characters recreated as elaborate floral sculptures. Disney Garden of Wonder has returned to Floral Fantasy at Gardens by the Bay for its second edition, with this year’s showcase featuring 23 Disney and Pixar character topiaries.
Some of the newest additions are likely to appeal to children who missed the first edition. Rapunzel, Belle and Jasmine appear among the Disney Princess displays, while Anna and Elsa from Frozen have been transformed into floral figures set within an icy-themed landscape.
Elsewhere, families can spot Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story 5, alongside Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger. There is even a distinctly Singaporean section, where familiar characters are paired with local references such as laksa and teh tarik.
The appeal goes beyond simply spotting favourite characters. More than 40 species of preserved and dried plant materials were used across the displays, with different textures selected to recreate details such as hair, clothing and fur. Observant children can take their time examining how each character has been brought to life, rather than simply rushing from one photo opportunity to the next.
Floral Fantasy is also indoors, air-conditioned and relatively compact, making it a sensible school-holiday option for grandparents, toddlers or anyone who would rather avoid Singapore’s midday heat. Allow around an hour for the attraction, then extend the outing with the rest of Gardens by the Bay.
Disney Garden of Wonder runs until 14 March 2027 and is open from 10am to 9pm, with last admission at 8.30pm.
Floral Fantasy is at Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953.
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7. Walk Through VivoCity’s Glowing Sanrio Moonlit Garden
If your child can identify Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi and My Melody from twenty metres away, an evening at VivoCity may be unavoidable this September.
Sanrio characters Moonlit Garden has taken over the Level 3 Sky Park until 27 September, transforming the outdoor space into six character-themed environments. Rather than placing a handful of figures around a shopping mall and calling it an installation, VivoCity has created a continuous garden experience built around oversized characters, lanterns, landscaping, light displays and interactive elements.
The setting becomes particularly photogenic after sunset. Families can wander among the illuminated displays, solve lantern riddles and, subject to availability, redeem a Sanrio sticker set. The Sky Park carnival operates from 5pm to 10pm daily, with games and a Mini Express Train adding something more active for children who quickly become bored with taking photographs.
There is plenty downstairs for serious Sanrio fans, too. The East Court on Level 1 hosts an official merchandise pop-up until 27 September, selling character accessories, collectibles and lifestyle items. Selected dates also feature character meet-and-greet sessions and other traditional Mid-Autumn touches.
The nicest way to experience it is probably to arrive around dinner time and head to the Sky Park once the lights become visible. Unlike a ticketed attraction, nobody has to feel guilty about staying for only 30 minutes if the children have had enough. Families can also combine the visit with dinner, shopping or a trip across to Sentosa.
Sanrio characters Moonlit Garden is at VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore 098585.
8. Dive Beneath the Ocean at Artscience Museum
For a school-holiday activity that is both playful and educational, ArtScience Museum offers a particularly good mix this September.
A familiar favourite is teamLab Future World, where digital artworks respond to movement and participation. The exhibition has recently refreshed its first gallery with new installations including I Know Myself Through the Flow and The Ethereal Body of Flowers. Rather than simply standing in front of static artworks, children become part of an interactive environment where their movements can change what appears around them.
This school holiday, it is also worth heading downstairs to Into the Ocean: Journey Beneath, created in collaboration with OceanX. The exhibition takes visitors through different layers of the ocean, from the sunlit surface to environments found far below. Running until 1 November, it is accompanied by family programmes exploring marine biology, animal adaptations and ocean science.
The combination works particularly well for primary school-aged children. They can spend one hour chasing responsive lights and digital flowers, then switch gears to discover why animals living thousands of metres underwater look and behave so differently from those found closer to the surface.
Ticket prices vary by exhibition and peak period. For Singapore residents, non-peak admission to teamLab Future World currently starts from S$28 for adults and S$22 for concession tickets. Into the Ocean starts from S$19.50 for resident adults and S$16.50 for concessions on non-peak days. Family packages and combined Museum Tickets are also available.
ArtScience Museum is at 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974.
9. Turn a Starbucks Run Into a Singapore Stamp Hunt
Here is one school-holiday activity that turns an ordinary trip for coffee into a citywide treasure hunt.
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From 4 September 2026, Starbucks Singapore’s Adventure Journal turns eight of its more distinctive stores into stops on a citywide stamp-collecting trail. Think of it as a low-stakes treasure hunt, with coffee breaks conveniently built into the itinerary.
Each participating store has its own stamp, with the eight locations chosen for their connections to Starbucks’ history or different parts of Singapore. The route includes the brand’s first Singapore outlet at Liat Towers, heritage-style stores around Chinatown and Katong, as well as locations at Gardens by the Bay, Bird Paradise and Jewel Changi Airport.
There is no need to complete all eight in one heroic, caffeine-fuelled day. In fact, it may be more enjoyable to spread the journal across several weekends or school-holiday outings. A family could collect the Mandai stamps while visiting River Wonders or Bird Paradise, add the Gardens by the Bay stamp during a visit to Disney Garden of Wonder, then save Jewel and the heritage neighbourhoods for separate trips.
The activity also gives older children a small project to manage themselves. Put them in charge of the journal, route planning and keeping track of the remaining stamps, and an ordinary trip across Singapore suddenly has a mission.
Collectors looking for an extra souvenir can also redeem a Starbucks Blind Bag Adventure Pin with a minimum spend of S$30 in a single receipt at selected participating stores, while stocks last. The designs feature Singapore-themed Bearista characters and local references.
10. Let AI Plan Your Family Meals with Foodpanda
Looking for an easy thing to do — or eat — this school holiday? Foodpanda has launched an AI plug-in for ChatGPT and Claude, letting you search for restaurants, dishes and deals through simple prompts. Try asking for a family meal under S$50 or discounted dessert spots, then order directly through foodpanda.
There are also plenty of September deals, including 50% off selected HOT DEALS until 16 September and up to 40% off selected bestsellers for pandapro subscribers until 27 September. Participating brands include Starbucks, Burger King, A-One Signature and Maki-San.
Pandapro costs S$5.99 a month and comes with free delivery on eligible orders, plus exclusive deals.
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