Exploring Singapore with autistic children can be an extremely enriching experience with the right planning and tools. Singapore is a vibrant, multicultural city-state known for its cleanliness, safety, and extensive public transportation system, making it a great destination for families. Here’s a detailed guide to help you plan your visit, including transportation options, family-friendly activities, and practical tips.
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Getting to Singapore
We flew into Singapore, arriving from Cebu in the Philippines. Singapore is served by Changi Airport, one of the best airports in the world. Here are the main transportation options from Changi Airport to your accommodation:
Transport Options from Changi Airport
- Taxi: Taxis are a convenient and comfortable option, especially when traveling with children and luggage. The taxi stands are located at the arrival levels of each terminal. It should cost approximately SGD 20-40 depending on the time of day and your destination. It takes around 20-30 minutes to reach the city centre.
- MRT (Mass Rapid Transit): The MRT is an affordable and efficient way to get to the city. The Changi Airport MRT station is accessible from Terminals 2 and 3. You may need to transfer lines depending on your destination. The cost of the MRT is around SGD 2 per person and it take about 30-45 minutes to the city centre.
- Airport Shuttle: The airport shuttle service is a shared minibus that takes you directly to your hotel. It’s a convenient option for families who prefer door-to-door service. This option should be about SGD 9 per adult and SGD 6 per child. It takes approximately 25-30 minutes to most hotels in the city centre.
- Private car: You can pre-book a car to transfer you from the airport to your hotel or into the city. You can even do this via GetYourGuide. I love this option because all of your tickets or transfers get stored in one app (great for my ADHD brain that can’t keep track of stuff easily).
We opted to take a taxi due to its convenience and the ease of traveling directly to our hotel, which minimized the stress for our autistic child. We also landed fairly late at night so it was just a much better option for us to take a taxi.
Our Stay in Singapore
Choosing the right accommodation is crucial when traveling with an autistic child. We stayed in two different accommodations in Singapore: first on Sentosa Island and then in Tiong Bharu. I think we spent about a week in Singapore and spent the larger part of the week on Sentosa Island.
During the stay in Sentosa Island with autistic children we were at a hotel called the Costa Sands which I think closed down or changed names now. I was not working these days and we spent every day exploring all of the free activities on Sentosa Island.
The second part of our stay I did a lot of working hours and so we didn’t get out into Singapore as much as I would have liked.
Family-Friendly Things to Do in Singapore
Sentosa Island
Sentosa is a resort island with numerous attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, and Adventure Cove Waterpark. It’s a fantastic all-in-one destination for families. We found there to be a massive amount of free things to do, we loved the glass bridge walk, Palawan Pirate Ship, the many gardens to explore and especially Siloso Fort.
Here are a few highlights from our time on Sentosa Island. Sentosa Island with autistic children is one of my favourite places in the entire world.
Below are some of the incredible experiences you can book on GetYourGuide for Sentosa Island.
Singapore Zoo
Known for its open-concept enclosures, the Singapore Zoo is a world-class attraction where children can get up close with animals in naturalistic settings. It’s engaging and educational.
I particularly like to use GetYourGuide, because of their huge presence globally, and so I am thrilled to say you can also book your Singapore Zoo tickets in advance with them here.
ArtScience Museum
Located at Marina Bay Sands, this museum offers interactive exhibits that blend art and science. The Future World exhibit, in particular, is great for sensory play and creativity.
This looks like a fantastic sensory experience for autistic children, and will absolutely be one of the places we visit when we return to Singapore in 2025. I’ll be booking via GetYourGuide and you can do the same here.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Botanic Gardens offer a peaceful retreat with plenty of space for children to run around. The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is a highlight for young visitors.
I love that you can book your Singapore Botanic Gardens tickets on GetYourGuide and pair it with a photoshoot! What a fantastic way to capture some full-family memories of your time in Singapore.
Singapore Flyer
This giant observation wheel provides stunning views of the city. The gentle ride is suitable for children who enjoy visual stimulation without too much movement.
River Safari
Adjacent to the Singapore Zoo, the River Safari is a river-themed wildlife park with boat rides and freshwater exhibits. It’s both relaxing and educational.
Science Centre Singapore
A hands-on science museum with interactive exhibits that cater to children of all ages. The sensory-friendly exhibits and play areas make it a great destination for learning and fun.
Book your tickets in advance via GetYourGuide here.
East Coast Park
A large beach park with playgrounds, cycling paths, and barbecue areas. It’s a wonderful place for outdoor activities and relaxation.
National Gallery Singapore
An art museum housed in historic buildings. The Keppel Centre for Art Education offers interactive art experiences designed for children.
Chinatown
Explore the vibrant streets of Chinatown, visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and enjoy sensory-friendly activities at the Chinatown Heritage Centre.
Jurong Bird Park
Asia’s largest bird park with interactive feeding sessions and bird shows. It’s a colourful and engaging experience for children.
Marina Barrage
A dam and recreational area with a large green roof, perfect for kite flying and picnics. The panoramic views of the city skyline are breath-taking.
Tiong Bahru Park
A park with a unique train-themed playground that’s great for imaginative play. The park also has open spaces and walking paths. We missed this park, how gutting because we stayed in the Tiong Bahru area. We did enjoy a cool food court in Tiong Bahru but found it hard to navigate with an autistic child.
Peranakan Museum
A museum dedicated to Peranakan culture, with colourful exhibits and interactive displays. It’s educational and visually stimulating.
Our Favourite Sensory-Friendly Activity in Singapore
Gardens by the Bay
This iconic garden features the Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, and Supertree Grove. The indoor gardens provide a cool and calming environment, making it suitable for children with sensory sensitivities. We went at night to catch the light show, but honestly I think we missed out on exploring so much because we only really went for a short time to catch the light show. Luckily we will be back in Singapore in January 2025!
Click here to find the highlight reel from our night at Gardens By The Bay. You can pre-book your Gardens By The Bay tickets via the online tour operator GetYourGuide, simply click here.
Getting Around Singapore with Autistic Children
We used a taxi to get from the airport to our hotel in Sentosa Island when we arrived. On Sentosa Island we literally only walked everywhere. This was quite tiring at times but we had a stroller and found that most of the time we could bring the stroller everywhere with no problem.
When we moved from Sentosa Island to Tiong Bahru we took a taxi again. I believe we used a Grab car to get from our accommodation in Tiong Bahru to Gardens By The Bay and then on the last day we took a bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. This was a coach that we arranged and booked in advance.
Is Singapore Autism-Friendly?
Singapore is highly autism-friendly, with a robust infrastructure to support individuals with autism across various aspects of life, from education to healthcare, and public spaces. The city’s commitment to inclusivity and its well-developed support systems make it a welcoming destination for individuals with autism and their families.
Things That Make Singapore Stand Out
- Singapore’s public transportation system is highly accessible and offers several features to assist individuals with special needs. The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system and buses have priority seating, clear signage, and announcements, which can help individuals with autism navigate the city more easily. Additionally, many stations and public transport facilities are equipped with staff who are trained to assist passengers with disabilities.
- Singapore is a well-organized and clean city, with clear signage and a generally predictable environment. The city’s infrastructure supports accessibility, and many public spaces are designed to be inclusive.
- Sentosa Island: As a major tourist destination, Sentosa Island has made efforts to be inclusive, with several attractions offering autism-friendly services. Resorts World Sentosa, for example, provides support for visitors with special needs, including autism. Universal Studios Singapore has implemented a “Guest Assist” pass to help those with disabilities, including autism, navigate the park with shorter wait times.
- Gardens by the Bay: This popular attraction offers a peaceful and visually stimulating environment. Visiting during off-peak hours can provide a quieter experience. Staff at many attractions are trained to assist visitors with special needs.
- Singapore Zoo: The zoo offers sensory-friendly experiences and is relatively spacious, which helps avoid overcrowding. The Night Safari and River Safari also provide unique, less stimulating experiences.
- Museums: Many of Singapore’s museums, such as the National Gallery Singapore and the ArtScience Museum, offer inclusive programs and sensory-friendly days. Some also provide quiet rooms or sensory maps to help visitors with autism navigate the space.
Practical Tips for Autism Families
- Early Check-In: Arrange for an early check-in to rest after your journey if you need it, or plan your arrival around check-in times.
- Sensory Tools: Bring along sensory tools and comfort items that help manage sensory needs, such as noise-cancelling headphones, sensory toys, and a sensory toolkit.
- Clear Communication: Ensure that everyone involved in the trip understands the needs and preferences of the neurodiverse individual. Clear communication can prevent misunderstandings and enhance the travel experience. Consider using PECS or an AAC. We have a free pack of travel PECS available for download and have designed a set of Singapore PECS cards for your trip to Singapore.
- Safety: Consider getting an autism card for your child, or even better – use our emergency passport for medical information and important contacts. Our absolute must have safety item for travelling with an autistic child is a TinyTags wristband or tag that can be tapped or scanned by a mobile phone – giving the person who tapped it all of the information they need to get your child back to you. TinyTags also feature a location alert to help you find your child.
Our trip to Singapore with autistic children was filled with exploring fascinating and varying exhibits, places of cultural significance and tourist attractions. We spent time between two parts of Singapore to make the most of our visit and found it to be a wonderful destination to explore with an autistic child. Singapore with autistic children is probably one of my biggest highlights of travel so far, because there is so much there that appeals to different sensory needs.
If you are interested in some very terrible and probably quite dull vlogs from Singapore, here is the playlist of our trip there.
We left Singapore by coach. The bus drove us from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, and was delayed making an already very long drive even longer!
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