Retro Playgrounds in Singapore

1.  Toa Payoh Dragon Playground

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BI4kxOqg1aR/?tagged=dragonplayground

Credit: Ben

You may be familiar with this red dragon playground with its illustrations sold as quirky pins and tote bags in novelty stores such as NAIISE!

P.S. We’ve got a naiise deal for guests of Royal Plaza on Scotts! Simply show your room key to staff working at the Orchard Gateway or Shaw Centre (right next to the hotel) outlets and you’ll enjoy 10% off their products! (*T&Cs apply. Promotion ends 30 November 2017).

Address: 28 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310028

Getting There (By Taxi/GrabCar): 15-minute drive from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel

Getting There (By Bus): 25-minute ride from Royal Plaza on Scotts; Board Bus 105 at Thong Teck Building (“Tong Teck Bldg") and alight Opp Blk 177 after 10 stops

*GrabCar works similarly to a taxi service — simply book via the kiosk at the hotel and get picked up at the hotel’s entrance!

NAIISE

Address: Various (There’s one right next to us at Shaw Centre!)

Opening Hours: Depending on location (Shaw Centre Outlet: Monday - Thursday, 11am - 9pm; Friday - Sunday, 11am - 10pm)

2. Ang Mo Kio Dragon Playground

Credit: growoldwithmesg

You’ll be sure to spot the majestic yellow creature from afar! Clad in a vibrant yellow and green tiles, the lesser-known Ang Mo Kio dragon playground is better-preserved than its more famous twin at Toa Payoh.

Address: Blk 570 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, Singapore 560570

Getting There (By Taxi/GrabCar): 19-minute drive from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel

Getting There (By Train): Ang Mo Kio MRT Station, 6 stops from Orchard MRT Station (3-minute walk from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel)

3.  Pipit Road Baby Dragon Playground

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BaUCNWKBTfB/?tagged=dragonplayground

Credit: Wenbin

Show some love to the baby of the Dragon Playground family if you’re around MacPherson!

Unlike her siblings at Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio with metal-ribbed ‘bodies’, she has a smaller structure—you can walk up a set of spiral steps to get to the crown of the dragon’s head and take the winding slide to get back down!

Address: Between Blk 53 & 54 Pipit Road, Singapore 370053

Getting There (By Taxi/GrabCar): 24-minute drive from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel

Getting There (By Train): MacPherson MRT Station, 7 stops from Orchard MRT Station (3-minute walk from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel)

4.  Tampines Central Mangosteen Playground

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BQulyXJBJbh/?hl=en&tagged=mangosteenplayground

Credit: Delphine

Bring your love for the queen of fruits to a new level and take a picture with these giant mangosteens.

P.S. Take it from the little girl in the photo and keep a smile on your face, it’ll be the best accessory you can wear!

Address: Blk 858 Tampines Avenue 5, Singapore 520858

Getting There (By Taxi/GrabCar): 27-minute drive from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel

Getting There (By Train): Tampines MRT Station, 13 stops from Orchard MRT Station (3-minute walk from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel)

5. Tampines Central Watermelon Playground

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYCjQq_hLue/?hl=en&tagged=watermelonplayground

Credit: Patricia

Brighten your feed than with a picture of you standing amidst huge slices of watermelons!

The playground structures are decorated with red, yellow and green mosaic tiles to mimic the flesh and rind of a watermelon—it’s even complete with holes in the walls to resemble the seeds of the fruit! It’s all about the fun details!

Address: 858 Tampines Ave 5, Blk 858, Singapore 520858 (20m away from the Tampines Central Mangosteen Playground)

Getting There (By Taxi/GrabCar): 27-minute drive from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel

Getting There (By Train): Tampines MRT Station, 13 stops from Orchard MRT Station (3-minute walk from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel)

6.  Bishan Clock Playground

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/0y5cqOBgVv/?hl=en&tagged=clockplayground

Credit: Low

What better way is there to capture the wonderful times you’ve spent in Singapore than in front of this huge mosaic-tiled clock playground?

The vibrant pastel colours and huge clockhouse structure will also be a cute addition to your Instagram profile!

Address: Blk 514B, Bishan Street 13, Singapore 572514

Getting There (By Taxi/GrabCar): 19-minute drive from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel

Getting There (By Train): Bishan MRT Station, 5 stops from Orchard MRT Station (3-minute walk from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel)

7. Dakota Crescent Dove Playground

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTylvXGlVui/?tagged=doveplayground

Credit: Samantha

Be whisked away to a quiet oasis when you visit the pair of pastel blue doves that watch over the now-vacated blocks of quaint and quiet Dakota Crescent, one of the oldest estates in Singapore.

There used to be a number of playgrounds themed surrounding animals but many of them have since been demolished. So be sure to visit the pair of doves before they’re gone!

Address: Blk 10, Dakota Crescent Mountbatten East, Singapore 390010

Getting There (By Taxi/GrabCar): 16-minute drive from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel

Getting There (By Train): Dakota MRT Station, 8 stops from Orchard MRT Station (3-minute walk from Royal Plaza on Scotts Hotel in Orchard)

8.  Elias Road Sampan Playground

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BXm61DPBGxF/?hl=en&tagged=sampanplayground

Credit: CurryPop

Sampans (a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat) are now a rare sight in a metropolitan city in Singapore. For an alternative to the actual sea barge, visit the mosaic-tiled one at the Sampan Playground next to Elias Mall.

Besides being one of the few remaining sand playgrounds in Singapore, the playground is designed with details such as the addition of “eyes”—legend has it that these eyes protect the sampans from monsters or evil spirits—and tyres to resemble an actual Sampan.

Address: Block 625, Elias Road, Singapore 510625

Getting There (By Taxi/GrabCar): 29-minute drive from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel

Getting There (By Train): Pasir Ris MRT Station, 15 stops from Orchard MRT Station (3-minute walk from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel)

Bonus: Kim Keat Avenue Dinosaur Playground

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/BD2tqWPoOVW/?tagged=dinosaurplayground

Credit: Simon

If you’re in the vicinity of the iconic Toa Payoh Dragon Playground, pay a visit to the Kim Keat Avenue Dinosaur Playground!

Unlike other playgrounds in the list, the dinosaurs aren’t made up of mosaic tiles. They also aren’t like the “normal” playgrounds—there are no swings, slides or monkey bars—but if you’re feeling adventurous, you may scale the back of the towering T-Rex structure (it's 3m tall!).

Address: Blk 27 Kim Keat Ave, Singapore 320076

Getting There (By Taxi/GrabCar): 9-minute drive from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel

Getting There (By Train): Toa Payoh MRT Station, 3 stops from Orchard MRT Station (3-minute walk from Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore Hotel)