The best free playgrounds in Singapore

“Walking with Dinosaurs” takes a different meaning at this Woodland playground. Unlike the Changi Jurassic Mile, this mini Jurassic Park invites kids to play on rides and slides disguised as our dino friends like the dimetrodon, sauropod, pteranodon, triceratops, and of course, the mighty tyrannosaurus rex. The hollow-bellied stegosaurus and triceratops make the perfect hiding spots. These colourful prehistoric creatures also come with signs offering bite-sized facts, making it a fun learning adventure.

This beast in the east has four playground areas for kids of all ages. The one by Block 609A has two towers connected by a twisted bridge. Navigate this structure via the climbing nets and Hammock Forest. Then look out for three towers designed like a giant treehouse near Block 612B. Soak in the views from the top before sliding back down. Toddlers will love the playmound and trampoline nearby where they can explore the grounds with their new skills. There's also a mini playground complete with a slide for some whooshing fun.

Take your mini racers for a test drive at Ubi Grove's transport-themed playground. These dynamic play areas are designed to thrill young explorers with cargo trucks, toolboxes, play mounds, trampolines, climbing nets, and more. Let your baby driver navigate driving circuits, climb into giant jeeps, and slide down the petrol play station for some high-speed fun. And if your little one has their own personal supercar, take it for a spin on the driving circuit.

Are you ready to step into the enchanting world of Wonderland? Inspired by Lewis Carroll's timeless classic Alice in Wonderland, this award-winning playground invites families to tap into their imaginative play with its whimsical design. Here, the slides, seesaws, climbing platforms, and trampolines have been given a magical twist. Spot familiar characters such as Tweedledum and Cheshire Cat, as well as White Rabbit's pocket watch and the playing cards. With so much to do, the kids will go down the rabbit hole at this playground

There’s no denying that Jurong Lake Gardens is one of the biggest nature wonderlands in the heartlands, spanning a whopping 90 hectares. Beyond the flora and fauna, the grounds are specially landscaped and designed for families and the community to play, learn, and bond. Your little Ninja Warriors will love the various obstacle courses, jumping the sunken trampolines, flying across a zip line, and scrambling up a tower to go down a tube-like slide.

The iconic former Big Splash water theme park has transformed into a sprawling 4.5-hectare outdoor playground featuring Singapore's tallest outdoor play tower, a seaside classroom, a nature play garden, and a refreshing water play area. At the heart of it is the exhilarating Vertical Challenge. Navigate vibrant rope-based obstacles like stepping pods, hammocks, grip walls, and disc swings. Admire the expansive views of East Coast Park at the top of the tower before taking a thrilling ride down the 7.3-metre and 11.9-metre slides from the third and fourth levels.

Let the kids run wild at this outdoor wonderland! Known as the "Adventure Playground," Tampines Green Forest Park has three exciting sections: a high-element obstacle course, a fitness corner, and a playground for the little ones. Kids and kidults can put their skills to the test and challenge themselves on the cargo net structure. Scale up to the first tower before crossing the net bridge to get to the next tower and finish it down the tall slide.

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. 

This outdoor playground has one mission: to get everybody drenched. There are water tunnels, stepping springs and various jets your pint-sized terrors – or your mischievous side – can use to hose everyone else down. Even toddlers can get in on the aquatic action, with a safe play zone you’ll feel comfortable letting them roam around in. The water play area is open to public but only one adult is allowed in per child on peak periods. On top of this, other safety distancing measures are in place too.

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. 

Take a wild ride down any of the 26 unique slides at the three main play areas: Junior Play, Adventure Play, and Family Terracing Play. The young and the young-at-heart can slide down the Curved Roller Slide, a 34-metre-long outdoor slide lined with black tubes similar to a roller conveyor belt for easy sliding. Besides the slides, there’s also an inclusive playground fitted with a wheelchair swing and merry-go-round to support play between children with and without special needs.

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 sprawling mall has everything under one roof including a cinema, library, restaurants, food courts, and an open-air playground on the second floor. The colourful playground consists of trampolines, slides, roundabout pods, and climbing structures. For a quick cool-down, head to the third-floor rooftop and dip your toes in the knee-deep waters overlooking Sentosa. It’s also the perfect spot for some stunning bird’s eye views – and a breather.

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. 

Head to the second level for the 3 House Playground where there are both wet and dry areas for double the fun. The wet area features interactive water elements including mini pools and fountains for a splashing good time. Over in the dry area, older kids can take on the challenge of navigating the treetop obstacle trail. There’s also a landscaped rooftop garden where kids can explore the interactive art installations.

Let your kid’s imagination take flight at this aviation-themed playground before recharging at Wheeler's Estate. 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.