The best theme parks in Singapore

The perfect getaway for adrenaline junkies, USS prides itself for having the world’s tallest dueling rollercoasters, an indoor thrill ride, a 3D Transformers experience, and a soaking white water rafting that ends in a hair-raising drop. There are also kid-friendly attractions for the young and faint-hearted like a Shrek 4D cinematic experience, a train trip through Sesame Street and the canopy flyer for an aerial view of Jurassic Park. Check out our guide to USS here.

A fun and thrilling waterpark for the young (and the young at heart), Adventure Cove Waterpark guarantees a splashing good time for the whole family. From high-speed water slides including a water tornado ride and Asia's first hydro-magnetic coaster, as well as a lazy river to float away under the sun, it's easy to spend a whole day at this waterpark. Besides the exciting attractions, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and encounter with marine life. You can snorkel with over 20,000 tropical fish, wade among rays and more. 

From rapid flume rides to four-storey slides and wave pools, there's no shortage of fun at this water park in the East. The little ones can take it easy in the meandering river or splash around in Yippie!, a shallow sloshing area. The Yakult Professor’s Playground – with its slides, ladders, water cannons and fountains – will entertain older kids for hours. More adventurous ones can take on an exhilarating trip down the Ular-Lah raft slide, complete with high, banked corners and 360° spins. Otherwise unleash your inner daredevil for the 19-metre-tall Vortex.

You don't have to hop on a plane to a bungee jump anymore. Take the plunge at AJ Hackett Sentosa, Singapore's first and only bungee jump that's right over Siloso Beach. Dive headfirst or backflip your way over the edge – whatever you like. Besides the bungee, there are also other high-element activities for the thrill-seekers among you, including a giant swing that requires partners to link arms as you 'fly', a vertical skywalk where you 'walk' (facedown, mind you) down the side of the tower down to ground level, a skybridge where you attempt to overcome your fear of height and vertigo, and a top swing where you freefall from 47-metre above ground. 

Cruise in a leisurely fashion – or race down, if you prefer – four thrilling luge tracks with specially designed features including hairpin corners, exhilarating tunnels, and exciting downhill slopes. When you reach the bottom of the track, scramble onto the Skyride for a treetop ride back to the starting point, and do it all over again. Sheer fun for the whole family.   

The world’s first night zoo is home to over 130 species of nocturnal animals – all in their natural habitat without any barriers. Observe over 900 nocturnal animals like striped hyenas, lions and mountain deers out of any enclosures and in their natural habits with the use of special lighting techniques. Take a 50-minute tram ride through the lush secondary rainforest where you can get off and follow four walking trails to get close to the animals.

Manatees, crocodiles, flamingos and monkeys are just some of the many animals you'll meet in this river-themed wildlife park, which boasts the world's biggest freshwater aquarium and a panda exhibit housing the friendly giants Kai Kai and Jia Jia. Hop on a boat or take a walk and come face-to-face with creatures from the greatest rivers in the world including the Amazon and the Nile. Maximise your trip by visiting next door neighbours Singapore Zoo, and Jurong Bird Park, all within the same vicinity.

Not a theme park per se, G-Max Reverse Bungy at Clarke Quay invites thrill-seekers looking for a quick jolt of adrenaline to strap into the G-Max chair and hold on for an imminent mix of fun and fear. The blast-off sees you fired 60-metres into the air at speeds of up to 200-kilometre per hour. Revisit all the action when you replay the take caught on the onboard camera. 

While there are no thrill rides in this theme park, it's worth a visit. The weird yet wonderful park features multi-coloured statues and tableaux depicting scenes from Chinese history and mythology. The highlight is the Ten Courts of Hell (responsible for childhood nightmares for generations of Singaporeans) where small-scale tableaux show human sinners being punished in a variety of hideous and bloodthirsty ways – in extremely gory and graphic detail. It’s a safe bet that you'll never see anything like it anywhere else.