
Arrival in Singapore
Two countries, two theme-park worlds, a cable car into the clouds and a cave temple up a rainbow staircase: this is a holiday that school-age children and teenagers will talk about for months. It begins with three nights in Singapore, built around Sentosa and Universal Studios, then crosses the border by coach to Kuala Lumpur for three nights of skyscrapers, hills and adventure. Today is simply about arriving well and setting the family up for a busy week.
Flights from most Indian cities reach Singapore in four to six hours, and Singapore is two and a half hours ahead of India, so a morning departure from home usually lands in the afternoon. Before you fly, make sure every member of the family, including the children, has a valid passport with at least six months left, the right visa, and a completed SG Arrival Card. The card is free, it is filled in online or through the official app, and it can be submitted up to three days before you arrive. Keep the confirmation emails on one phone so the whole family's details are in one place.
Changi is one of the easiest airports in the world to arrive at with children. Immigration is largely automated, the queues move quickly, and the baggage halls are calm and well signed. If anyone is hungry, there are food courts on the arrivals side, and the toilets are spotless. Once you have your bags, walk out to the arrivals hall, where our representative will be waiting with your name. The transfer to your hotel in the city is private, so there is room for everyone's suitcases and no waiting for other passengers.
If your flight lands early and the children are full of energy, Jewel Changi, the glass dome attached to Terminal 1, is worth an hour. The Rain Vortex, a column of water falling from the roof into the heart of the building, is the tallest indoor waterfall in the world, and it is free to watch. Canopy Park, on the top level, has hedge mazes, bouncing nets and a glass-bottomed bridge at extra cost. If you are tired, keep Jewel for another day; you will pass through Changi again only if you fly home from Singapore, so ask us if you want to plan it in.
Check in to your hotel and let everyone rest. Rooms in Singapore are often compact, so for families of four or more, we can request connecting rooms or a family room when you book, subject to availability. Use the afternoon to unpack the swimwear and sun cream, which you will need tomorrow on Sentosa, and to charge every phone and power bank.
In the early evening, take a gentle first walk. If your hotel is near Orchard Road, the malls are cool, bright and full of familiar shops, with toy stores and food courts that children love. If you are closer to the river, walk along Clarke Quay or Boat Quay, where the old shophouses glow with lights and the water is busy with bumboats. Many families end the first evening at a hawker centre: a big, open food hall where you can order from dozens of stalls and everyone can choose something different, from chicken rice and noodles to roti prata and fresh fruit juice.
Indian food is never far away in Singapore. Little India, with its banana-leaf restaurants, vegetarian thali places and sweet shops, is a short taxi or MRT ride from most hotels, and many food courts have at least one Indian stall. Tell children that tap water is safe to drink here, so a refillable bottle each saves money and plastic all week.
A few house rules help everything run smoothly. Singapore is spotlessly clean and very safe, and it keeps it that way with strict laws: no littering, no eating or drinking on the MRT, and no chewing gum brought into the country. Children usually find these rules fascinating, and it is a good chance to explain them before they reach for a snack on the train.
Getting around Singapore is easy with children. Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Grab are plentiful and inexpensive for a family, and the MRT is fast and air-conditioned, with lifts at every station for prams. Most adult bank cards with contactless payment work at the MRT gates, and children below a certain height travel free.
Get an early night. Tomorrow is a full day on Sentosa, ending with a light and water show on the beach, and the adventure starts after breakfast.
Included today: private arrival transfer from Changi Airport to your hotel in Singapore, hotel stay.
Good to know: every traveller, including children, needs a valid passport, visa and SG Arrival Card. Request connecting or family rooms when you book. Read our guide to the SG Arrival Card and Singapore visa for Indians.





