The best free playgrounds in Singapore

East Coast Park is likely one of the biggest draws for families on weekends, especially after the refurbishment of its Marine Cove enclave. A 3,500 sq metre playground, family-friendly restaurants and a beachfront setting make it perfect for a day out. The centrepiece of the playground is the eight metre tall tower modelled after a lighthouse – it features three levels, a rope funnel for active kiddos to scale up, multiple slides and a link bridge. Wheelchair-friendly play areas are also available, along with numerous other swings and mini obstacles courses. 

Singapore is home to the first garden in Asia dedicated to children. With the aim of promoting awareness and education, the Jacob Ballas Childen's garden is divided into several spaces for play and exploration – there's a farm, orchard, and forest with stream and ponds. At the forest, tykes can have fun with trampolines, treehouses and a flying fox zipline. Budding naturalists can walk along the stream, spotting its natural wildlife, then take to the orchard to learn more about fruit trees, cocoa, tea and coffee plants. At the farm, kids can learn about how produce is grown and how food waste can be reduced by composting at home. To wind down, there's a sheltered outdoor café with all-day brunch items for the entire family. 

This family-friendly park sits on 50 hectares of land that includes a camping site, barbecue pits, a dog run and a huge playground with eight sets of play areas. Go through a large zipline play zone so your kids can race each other; a pyramid-shaped rope course with a slide, a viking ship playground, toddler play corner, unique swingsets – and more. As one of the largest outdoor playgrounds in Singapore, be prepared to spend an entire afternoon of family fun here. And in case you need to refuel, the McDonald's is right next to the play areas.

Westgate Wonderland takes its fantasy theme seriously, with a 10-metre tall treehouse, giant replicas of insects and flowers, and spinning canopies that enchant little ones with light and music. Kids will love scaling up the treehouse, safely ensconced by nets, building their strength at the rock climbing wall, and frolicking at the waterpark corner on hot days. Drying areas are also available for convenience. Remember to bring a change of clothes!

Overlooking the scenic Punggol Waterway are man-made, massive tree-like structures that can be spotted from afar. These attention-grabbing trees surround the playground at Waterway Point and are meant to be climbed, with tunnel slides and rabbit-hole burrows that allow kids to get on all-fours as they make their way around the padded play zone. Also weaving through the play zone is a shallow stream for kids to splash about, with water curtains, jet sprays and mini fountains to cool off. There is even a sheltered hut for parents to dry off the young ones and swap those bathers for clean clothes. 

Grab your towels and let the kids go wild at the children's garden in Gardens by the Bay. With curving water jets, floral splash buckets and a sand area with rope and net installations, everyone is going to be kept busy splashing around. The nearby children's garden café even offers bento meals and light snacks for kids and adults.

Sembawang Park's beachside locale is perfect for a lazy weekend picnic or evening barbecue. And while the adults are busy setting up, children can have fun at the park's famous battleship playground. The maritime theme is a homage to the park's links to Singapore's naval history (it used to be part of a naval base built by the British). The battleship is made of uneven, slanted wooden decks, with nets and escape hatches that are actually concealed slides. It's a visual spectacle for the eye and a physical adventure for the kids. Nearby, there's also a climbing net and pendulum swing. 

Thanks to a two-year-long makeover, this extensive urban park now boasts 26 thrilling slides – the most in Singapore – including a massive high adventure roller slide that’s fitted with motion sensor LED lights that are especially eye-catching after sunset. The park also features an inclusive playground with a wheelchair-friendly swing and a merry-go-round that’s fun for kids with and without special needs. To encourage the entire family to join in the fun, the family terracing play area is an undulating terrain that allows parents and other adult family members to join in. 

The tilted train playground at Tiong Bahru has been the subject of many photographs on Instagram, and for good reason – its quirky design is visually arresting. Kids will have fun navigating their way through the train as its walls, set at unnatural angles, make it difficult to keep upright. Slides and ramps are present at various entryways around the train, while nearby, there are ziplines, swings and a padded play area for toddlers.

You may need a map to navigate your way around VivoCity, but one thing’s for sure: this mega mall has everything under one roof – a cinema, library, numerous restaurants, food courts, and an open-air playground on level two. The colourful playground consists of trampolines, shooting water jets, various slides and roundabouts. The best part? It's surrounded by restaurants and shops so parents can slip away for some kid-free shopping time while their little ones run amok at the playground. 

Go for a jaunt through Pasir Ris Park with the kids in tow. While the coastline view is a plus, explore the mangrove swamp using the boardwalks and bird-watch at the three-storey viewing tower. Sandpits, rope tunnels, and challenging climbing structures also feature at this area, along with a multitude of slides, swings and seesaws. A flying fox zipline and rotating bars are available for the more adventurous young ones. 

Easties, this one's for you – head over to Changi City Point for some outlet shopping, and drop off the kids at the second-floor playground. There's an obstacle course with a wooden supension bridge and climbing ropes, but the highlight is undoubtedly the wet play area, complete with water cannons and a spinning water carousel.  

Let your kid’s imagination take flight at this aviation-themed playground and recharge at one of the many hipster bistros located at this recently redeveloped district. The playground’s dominant aircraft motif even extends to a control tower-like structure that young ones can clamber up for a better view of planes taking off and landing at the nearby Seletar airport.