Family holiday destinations from Singapore, by how you get there

The best family holiday destinations from Singapore are the ones that fit your child's naps and how long they'll sit in a seat. Sort them by how you get there: a ferry to Batam, Bintan or Desaru, a drive into Johor and beyond, a short flight to Thailand, Bali or Vietnam, a cruise, or a stay at home. Then check each passport and arrival card before you pay.

How to plan a family holiday from Singapore, step by step

1. Start with your child's age and nap pattern. A trip on Singapore time leaves feeds and naps alone, and timeanddate.com puts Malaysia and Bali on Singapore time.
2. Decide how long you'll travel each way. Bintan Resort Ferries says its crossing takes about 1 hour 10 minutes, and Legoland Malaysia says it's a 55-minute drive from Changi Airport.
3. Check every passport, your baby's too. ICA says yours must be valid for at least 6 months before departure, and MFA says Malaysia wants more than 6 months at entry.
4. Check the arrival card for your destination. MFA says Singapore passport holders are exempt from Malaysia's MDAC, but Thailand's TDAC is due within three days before you arrive.
5. Check the season with the operator. Desaru Ferries says rough seas in the northeast monsoon can move its sailings to Tanjung Pengelih, with a coach transfer.
6. Book the transport first, then the room. If the resort has a kids' club, ask the four questions further down this page.
7. Get the car ready before you drive into Malaysia. MFA says Singapore-registered cars need a Vehicle Entry Permit. Singapore Customs adds a rule of its own: the tank must be at least three-quarters full when you leave.
8. See a doctor about 4 to 6 weeks before an overseas trip, as KKH advises, to check vaccines. Our travel vaccinations guide has the steps.
9. Pack from our baby travel packing list and first aid kit checklist. Then record your trip on MFA's eRegister, as ICA suggests.
10. Submit the SG Arrival Card for the trip home. ICA says it's due within 3 days before you arrive, and residents skip it only when crossing at Woodlands or Tuas.

Family holiday destinations by how you get there

Tap a name for our full guide, or browse every guide on the travel hub.

Batam ferries sail from HarbourFront and Tanah Merah, Sindo Ferry and Batamfast show. Singapore Cruise Centre says its old HarbourFront terminal has relocated, with a last day of 14 July 2026, so check the terminal on your ticket. Bintan Resort Ferries asks you to check in at least 1.5 hours before departure. Marina Bay Cruise Centre only opens on days a ship is at berth.

Match the trip to your child's age

With a baby, shorter is easier. Each airline sets its own minimum age for newborns, which our travel after giving birth guide lists side by side. Cruise lines set one too. Royal Caribbean's policy says infants must be at least 6 months old, or 12 months on a cruise with 3 or more days in a row at sea.

With a toddler or preschooler, plan around the nap, because a ferry or a drive on Singapore time keeps the whole routine where it is. For flights, see flying with a baby and flying with a toddler. For naps away from home, see baby sleep while travelling.

Travelling with grandparents or a helper? Changi says its Special Assistance Lanes at immigration are for passengers with young children, assisting a companion, or using mobility aids. Our guide to travelling with grandparents covers the rest, and travelling with kids tips covers the flight and first night.

Kids' clubs: what to ask before you book

Plenty of resorts near Singapore run a kids' club, and each sets its own rules. Ask the resort these four questions:

• What's the youngest age the club takes?
• Does a parent have to stay with younger children?
• Is the club included in the room rate, or charged per session?
• What are its opening hours, and do they change on weekdays?

Our Bintan guide in the table compares each resort's kids' club from the resort's own page. The Desaru guide covers what the resorts there offer.

Coming home to Singapore

ICA says all travellers submit the SG Arrival Card before arriving, residents included. The only residents who skip it are those crossing at Woodlands or Tuas. So a family flying or sailing home fills it in for everyone. It's free, and due within 3 days before arrival.

Driving back? ICA's MyICA app can make one group QR code for everyone in the car, but you still carry every passport. ICA also says a Singapore passport with less than 6 months left still clears you into Singapore.

When to get help

• In Malaysia, MFA says to call 999 for an accident or medical emergency. Singaporeans can contact the High Commission in Kuala Lumpur or the Consulate-General in Johor Bahru.
• In Indonesia, which covers Batam and Bintan as well as Bali, MFA lists 112 as its emergency call centre. It names the Embassy in Jakarta and the Consulates-General in Batam and Medan.
• In Thailand, MFA lists 1669 for medical assistance and 191 for police.
• In Vietnam, MFA lists 115 for an ambulance in its Hanoi contacts.
• Anywhere abroad, MFA's 24-hour duty office is on +65 6379 8800 or +65 6379 8855. Keep your travel policy's assistance number in your phone, and check what it covers on the General Insurance Association's travel page.
• After the trip, KKH's Children's Travel Clinic asks its patients with fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, rashes or jaundice to return to Clinic M, Children's Tower Level 1.
• In Singapore, start with your GP or polyclinic. The Children's Emergency at KKH treats acutely ill or injured children, and NUH's runs round the clock. For an emergency, SCDF says call 995.
• Child unwell before you leave? Our guide to travelling with a sick child sets out when to go and when to wait.

Frequently asked questions

Which short getaways from Singapore with kids need no flight?

The Riau islands and Desaru are a ferry ride away. Johor Bahru and Legoland are a drive across the Causeway or the Second Link. Bintan Resort Ferries puts its crossing at about 1 hour 10 minutes. Legoland Malaysia says it's a 55-minute drive from Changi Airport.

Are there resorts with a kids club near Singapore?

Yes. Many family resorts on the islands and in Desaru run one, and each sets its own age limits and fees. Ask the four questions above before you book. Our Bintan guide in the table compares the clubs from each resort's own page.

What weekend trips from Singapore with kids suit a baby?

Trips on Singapore time are the gentlest, because feeds and naps stay put. timeanddate.com lists Malaysia and Bali on Singapore time. Bintan and Batam are 1 hour behind, their ferry operators say. Check the baby's passport is valid for at least 6 months, as ICA advises.

What are holiday ideas for families in Singapore without going overseas?

A hotel staycation, a chalet or a glamping weekend needs no passport or arrival card. Our staycation guide in the table compares hotels and their rates.

Do Singaporeans need an arrival card for Malaysia, Thailand or Indonesia?

Not for Malaysia: MFA says Singapore passport holders are exempt from the MDAC at all entry points. For Thailand, MFA says the TDAC is due within three days before arrival. Bintan Resort Ferries says Indonesia's e-Arrival Card has been mandatory for Bintan since 1 October 2025.

Do Singapore citizens need the SG Arrival Card to come home?

Yes, by air or sea. ICA says all travellers submit it, except residents crossing at Woodlands or Tuas. It's free, and due within 3 days before arrival.