Find our curated of 16 sensory-friendly places to visit with your little ones! From gardens to forest adventure, pick what suits your family best!
In a city as high-performing as Singapore, family outings can potentially become overwhelming for children who navigate the world differently. Bright lights, crowded queues, unpredictable noise levels and constant movement may be part of the norm for many, but for neuro-diverse or more sensitive children, these may end up triggering anxiety.
This is where sensory-friendly and quiet-hour spaces play an important role for all kids. Designed around predictability, control and comfort, families who appreciate such spaces will know their immediate and long term benefits.
Here’s a list we put together for a different kind of family outings.
1. ArtScience Museum
Venue: 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
Hours:
- Sun to Thu 10am – 7pm (Last entry at 6pm)
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Fri & Sat: 10am – 9pm (Last entry at 8.15pm
Website: https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum.html
We are probably no stranger to the travelling and major exhibitions on showcase here, but did you know that sensory-friendly access is thoughtfully integrated into selected exhibition and programmes? During these designated low-sensory hours or sessions, visitor numbers are moderated, noise level is reduced and the overall environment is intentionally made less stimulating. Children can explore art, light and movement adapted for quieter exploration.
2. Changi Airport Terminal 2 Calm Room
Venue: T2 Transit Level 2 near Dreamscape, opposite Transfer F
Hours: 24h, biophilic windows are shut down daily from 2 – 5am
Website: https://www.changiairport.com/en/at-changi/facilities-and-services-directory/calm-room.html#about
*Check prior for maintenance closure
Travel time can be one of the most overwhelming periods, for adults and kids alike. The Calm Room at terminal 2 offers a soothing, safe environment where travellers can take a moment to regulate, recharge and prepare for their journey. Featuring 3 uniquely themed zones – The Forest, The Den and The Nest – with a welcome area for luggage storage, prams and shoes, check it out before you fly out of T2.
3. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Venue: 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Hours: 8am – 11.30pm
Website: https://www.esplanade.com/
Alike ArtScience Museum, the team here features the occasional sensory-friendly performances and activities or quiet-hour for reduced stimulation. Sound and light are adjusted for optimal experience. While you are here, check out PIP’s PLAYbox, a creative play area for kids, during off peak hours.
4. Forest Adventure (Junior Course quiet sessions)
Venue: 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Hours: 8am – 11.30pm
Website: https://www.esplanade.com/
The variety of kids and family activities available here is as impressive as it gets, with the kids course designed for children aged 5 to 9 and training them in life skills.
Before you dismiss this as potentially overwhelming for your kid, know that you can check up on sessions that are less crowded and can give more attention to helping your kid with their physical sensory input, movement and proprioception. Also enquire on accompanying your child for the activity.
5. Gardens by the Bay
Venue: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Hours: 9am – 9pm
Website: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/
There is already a Quiet Morning programme, being one of the most structured sensory-friendly activities in Singapore, with deliberate environmental adjustments for a calmer experience. April being World Autism Awareness Month brings about initiatives to encourage greater understanding of this topic.
In addition to this, don’t forget the Far East Organization Children’s Garden which grants free access to the outdoor and water play space. We suggest going on weekday mornings for a calmer sensory load.
6. Gentle Habit Space
Venue: At your preferred place, or home studio at Cascadale, Upper Changi Road East or 85 Kampung Bahru
Hours: Requires advance booking
Website: https://www.gentlehabitspace.sg/
Founder Carrie Choong is a sound healing practitioner and yoga instructor, and started this as a quiet space for people who are mentally tired or overwhelmed.
With small-group sound baths designed to calm the nervous system, this could be an enjoyable and relaxing experience for older kids who benefit from regulated sensory input rather than full silence. Conducted one-to-one or in very small groups, book a highly customisable session with Carrie.
7. Haven Art Therapy
Venue: 1 Marine Parade Central, #09-06 Parkway Centre, Singapore 449408
Hours: 8am – 8pm, by appointment only
Website: https://www.haventherapy.sg/
Singapore’s leading art psychotherapy clinic for children and teens, their services are backed by evidence-based sessions and neuroscience, helping kids find calm and cope with difficult emotions. Also available online or in the comfort of your home.
8. Hush TeaBar
Contact: hush@hushteabar.com or fill out this online form
Hours: By appointment only
Website: https://hushteabar.com/
While not specifically designed for kids, older neurodiverse children or teens may benefit from this intentional silenced experience, that can be enjoyed with parents and grandparents. A 4-zone journey that brings clients into silence, reflection and connection, sessions are co-led by the Deaf and persons with lived mental health experiences.
9. Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
Venue: 1H Cluny Road Singapore 259604
Hours: 8am – 7pm, last admission 6.30pm (CLOSED MON, except PH)
Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/sbg/our-gardens/bukit-timah-core/jacob-ballas-childrens-garden
Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is a popular outdoor space that recently expanded with enhanced features and amenities for families to enjoy. Now spanning approximately 500 square metres – more than triple its previous size – the refreshed Waterplay offers children a fun, immersive way to connect with nature and learn about important environmental processes through play. Suitable for children aged 2 to 12, we suggest enjoying this nature-based play space in the quieter mornings.
10. Little Joy Play
Venue:
- 20 Jalan Layang Layang, Singapore 598486
- Trehaus @ Funan Mall, North Bridge Road Lift Lobby A, Singapore 179097
- East Coast Commune, 1000 East Coast Park, #01-03, Singapore 449876
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Blk 528B Pasir Ris Street 51, Singapore 512528
Hours: Weekdays 9am – 5pm, Sat 10am – 3pm (CLOSED SUN)
Website: https://www.littlejoyplay.sg/
Designed for kiddos aged 8 months through 6 years old, child-led sensory classes in small groups with flexible pacing and lower over-stimulation create experiences through music, games, art and more. These not only promote healthy brain stimulation, sensory integration, fine motor skills and also enhance children’s attention span.
11. National Gallery Singapore
Venue: 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
Hours: 10am – 7pm
Website: https://www.nationalgallery.sg/
If you are here for their lovely and well-curated exhibitions, know that they have a Calm Room for visitors to rest when feeling over-stimulated or overwhelmed by the environment, located at City Hall Wing, B1, Spine Hall. Opened from 10am to 7pm, there is a limit of 7 pax at any point. Sensory items are also available for loan to help calm visitors.
12. National Library Board Singapore
Venue: Punggol Library 1f & 2f, Woodlands Library 4f
Hours: 10am – 9pm
Website: https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/Accessibility
Libraries must be one of the quietest areas we know, and the ones in Singapore are one of the most inclusive and accessible public spaces. If you haven’t been here before, there are calm pods at Punggol Library and Woodlands Library with well-designed spaces, enclosed zones, padded floors and more.
13. National Museum of Singapore
Venue: 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
Hours: 10am – 7pm
Website: https://www.nhb.gov.sg/nationalmuseum/plan-your-visit/accessibility/quiet-room
While the quiet room here is not open to the general public, you can approach the Visitors Services Counter to use it when needed. Use of the room is limited to 7 pax including both adults and children.
14. The Artground
Venue:
- 90 Goodman Road, #01-40 Goodman Arts Centre Block J, Singapore 439053
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7 Holland Village Way #01-20 One Holland Village, Singapore 275748
Hours: 9.15am – 10.30am, 10.45am – 12pm, 1.45pm - 3pm, 3.15pm - 4.30pm, 4.45pm - 6pm (Prebooking required; CLOSED on selected PH and for private events)
Website: https://www.theartground.com.sg/
Managed by The Ground Co Limited, a registered arts charity dedicated to children from birth to 9 years old, sensory-based installations create learning experiences – be sure to enquire about their quieter sessions.
15. The Centrepoint
Venue: 176 Orchard Road, Singapore 238843
Hours: 10am – 10pm
Website: https://www.thecentrepoint.com.sg/home
Did you know that this and participating Frasers malls have a Keep Calm & Shop On initiative, with calm hours every Monday and Tuesday, when stores create a more sensory-friendly environment by lowering music, dimming lights and reduce overall noise? Trained Inclusion Champions are also able to support individuals with special needs, having completed at least 6 hours of training.
16. Therapeutic Garden @ Jurong Lake Gardens
Venue: 50 Yuan Ching Road, Singapore 618661
Hours: 24h
Website: https://juronglakegardens.nparks.gov.sg/therapeutic-garden/
The Therapeutic Garden consists of two sections – one designed for adults and another for children, with features specially curated for seniors with dementia and children with conditions such as mild autism and ADHD respectively.
Both sections are wheelchair-accessible. The Therapeutic Garden for children is designed with various sensory zones (for smell, touch, sound and sight) which includes play elements, such as musical play instruments, a wheelchair-friendly crawling trellis, a labyrinth with glow in the dark pathways and floor imprints of the animals and insects found in Jurong Lake Gardens.
Most importantly, these spaces don’t just serve neurodiverse children – any child can benefit from these spaces and activities. Share with our community if you have been to any of these and your experience at them!
*Images are from official websites or social media profiles