Planning a Family Day in Singapore? Spend It at Marina Bay Sands

Located within Marina Bay Sands, Sands Theatre has hosted a wide range of beloved family shows as well as acclaimed Broadway and West End productions, including Hamilton, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, and Sunset Boulevard.

It also showcases one of the most exciting year-round calendars in the region, which means there’s bound to be something everyone in the family will enjoy. It feels even more special when it is a child’s first experience of a large-scale stage production. 

This March, younger audiences can look forward to Paw Patrol Live! The Great Family Pirate Adventure, running from 11 to 15 March. Ideal for preschoolers and early primary school children, it is a cute, tail-wagging story brimming with familiar characters and catchy tunes. 

Now You See Me takes the stage from now to 8 March, bringing cinematic magic into a live setting through large-scale illusions and visual spectacle. After the school break, families with older children can consider Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular, arriving from 24 March. As the world’s longest-running musical, this production has now been reimagined with an extraordinary new design and an expanded cast and orchestra of over 65 members. 

The best part? Sands Theatre offers shows across matinee and evening, so you can easily plan your day with little and not-so-little ones. For an even more special experience, pair with Show & Dine and enjoy a meal at one of the many participating restaurants before curtain call.  

Pro Tip: Shows during the school holidays tend to book up quickly, so it is worth securing tickets early. 

When energy levels dip and the midday heat sets in, an indoor family activity at ArtScience Museum will feel like a welcomed pause. Unlike museums designed purely for observation, this space is all about active participation and plenty to enjoy across age groups. Imagine a world of creativity, hands-on activities and magical installations to crawl, slide and hop through.

One of the highlights this season is NOX: Confessions of a Machine, running from 23 January to 19 April. Designed as a solo, site-specific experience, the exhibition blends interactive game stations, soundscapes and visual storytelling. Families are encouraged to touch, explore and respond, which keeps them engaged far longer than traditional displays. Parents will love how it sparks conversations. What is the machine thinking? How do you know when a machine needs a break, just like people do? 

Running alongside, Insects: Microsculptures Magnified takes a different approach. Using high-magnification photography by British photographer Levon Biss, insects are presented at a scale that feels almost unbelievable. Wings, textures and patterns become visible in ways children rarely get to see, turning curiosity into genuine fascination. During the March holidays, visitors can also join the Insects Tour for Kids on 14 and 21 March (Saturdays, 2pm to 3pm), a guided session that introduces science through storytelling and observation.

Families often return to teamLab Future World at Marina Bay Sands, a permanent exhibition created with an international art collective. This exhibit thrives on movement and interaction, with drawings coming to life and installations shifting as children move through them. There is no set route, which suits different attention spans and allows families to explore at their own pace.

For the latest details on exhibitions and programmes, visit ArtScience Museum website. 

After a day of indoor exploration, you will be ready for some fresh air. Head to the 56th floor, where SkyPark Observation Deck at Marina Bay Sands (tickets needed) offers families the chance to take in the city without the need for a rooftop dining commitment.

Late afternoon is especially lovely, just before sunset. Turn the experience into an engaging game by pointing out famous landmarks. Can you spot the domes at Gardens by the Bay? 

For visitors to Singapore, the deck offers instant context of the iconic skyline. For locals, it is a lovely way to see Singapore through a child’s eyes, while enjoying the sense of space from above. 

Stay as long as you like, or grab a quick bite from the kiosk, then head back down to see what the evening at Marina Bay Sands has in store.

Once back at ground level, slow the pace with a charming Sampan Ride. Glide gently along Singapore’s only indoor canal in a traditional wooden boat. The short, relaxing boat ride is a charming way for you to rest your feet while soaking in the atmosphere, and offers a calm contrast to the soaring views above. 

Pro Tip: Late afternoon is ideal for cooler weather and sunset photos at SkyPark Observation Deck.

There is something quite comforting about an experience that requires very little planning. No fuss, no tickets to keep track of. Simply arrive and watch the bay come alive at the free Spectra Light and Water Show at Marina Bay Sands. 

Held nightly at Event Plaza, the show combines fountains, light projections and mist effects set to a sweeping orchestral soundtrack. Expect the kids to be mesmerised. Water moves in rhythm, colours shift across the bay, and familiar shapes appear and disappear to the music. Shows run daily at 8pm and 9pm, with an additional 10pm show on Fridays and Saturdays, making it flexible enough to fit around dinner or an earlier bedtime. 

After a full day out, Spectra works well as that gentle closing note. It leaves children wide-eyed and settled, and parents glad the plan came together so easily. From here, it is an easy stroll back through Marina Bay, ending the March holiday outing on a calm and memorable note.

From live shows at Sands Theatre and hands-on moments at ArtScience Museum, to skyline views from SkyPark Observation Deck and the magic of Spectra by the bay, Marina Bay Sands offers a full day of experiences in one place. No rushing across the city, no overpacked schedules, just plenty of memories for everyone.

Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956. Explore more to do in Marina Bay Sands. 

If you're looking for more fun things to do in Singapore – we've got a whole selection of the finest date night ideas to new restaurants and menus to try. 

_{*This article contains some paid partnership content.}