How much does it cost to visit Singapore Zoo (tickets, food, and more)
Singapore Zoo presents an incredible and unique experience to get up-close-and-personal with a wide variety of animals from around the world (and many who call south-east Asia home). The Zoo puts a lot of effort into making the animals feel at home, and in animal conservation activities. All this doesn’t come cheap, and the costs can add up when spending a day at the Zoo as a family. I put this guide together to help visitors to Singapore calculate how much they would spend if they visited the Zoo.
A day at the Singapore Zoo can reasonably cost between S$51 and S$100 per person including transport. The cost depends on whether you eat the zoo, purchase any additional experiences, or rent gear from the Zoo. If you want to splurge on your trip to the Zoo, it’s possible to spend hundreds more on boutique and personal experiences. This guide has more details on all the above.
I spent roughly S$80 on my last visit to the Zoo in June 2024. This included entry to the Zoo, transport (bus and MRT) to and from the Zoo, and having lunch at the Ah Meng restaurant inside the Zoo (a bowl of laksa and a coffee).
Some examples prices of a Singapore Zoo experience include:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Entry ticket (adult) | S$49 |
| Taxi to the zoo | S$25 |
| Lunch (Laksa) | S$13.50 |
| Coffee (local) | S$2.80 |
| Feed an animal | S$8 |
In this guide I’ve gone into more detail on what you can expect to spend when you visit Singapore Zoo. I’ve also included a few freebies at the end, things you don’t have to spend money during your visit.
Ticket Price: S$49 for adult, S$34 for child
The entry ticket to the Singapore Zoo costs S$49 for an adult and S$34 for a child. This includes entry to the Zoo and unlimited rides on the tram (which includes an audio guide presenting the animals that the tram drives past).
Savings can be had if you’re planning to visit more than one wildlife attraction.
Bundle tickets have 7-day flexibility, meaning that you have 7 days from your first visit to use the remaining of your bundle visits. Each visit is still only valid for a single day.
| Bundle | Total Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Zoo + River Wonders | S$80 | S$12 |
| Zoo + Night Safari | S$90 | S$15 |
| Zoo + Bird Paradise | S$80 | S$18 |
| All 4 | S$110 | S$98 |
The 4-park bundle is incredible value - I do recommend spreading out your visit over at least 2 days though, it’s a very tiring day if you try to visit all 4 parks in a single day.
Tickets should be purchased online before arriving at the Zoo. A QR code is emailed to you to use for entry at the Zoo. Use the website here or the app to purchase tickets.
Tickets can be purchased at the entrance, however cash is not accepted. Credit card and QR code are the preferred payment methods.
Transport to/from the Zoo
Getting to the Zoo can be done using public transport (bus and MRT), by taking a taxi, or by private bus rides. The best option will depend on how much time you have and how many people in your group. For 1-2 people, I prefer public transport; for 2-4 people I prefer taxi.
An approximate guide to the costs of transport to and from the Zoo is in the table below:
| Transport method | Cost (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Public Transport (MRT + bus 138) | S$2 - S$2.20 per person |
| Public Transport (MRT + Mandai Khatib Shuttle) | S$4.80 - S$5.20 per person |
| Mandai City Express coach | S$8 per person |
| Taxi | S$20 - S$30 |
Costs are based on travelling from typical hotel locations such as Orchard Rd or Chinatown; expect to pay more if travelling from somewhere further away such as Sentosa. All prices are for one direction only.
To get to the Zoo: I usually recommend taking a taxi. If you are splitting the cost amongst 2-4 people, it is not that expensive to take a taxi to the Zoo compared to even the Mandai Khatib shuttle. Start your journey after 9:30am to take advantage of off-peak taxi fares.
To depart the Zoo: I recommend taking bus 138 and changing for the MRT or a taxi at Springleaf MRT station. You can also take the Mandai Khatib Shuttle service which is free when leaving the Zoo.
Getting to or from the Zoo can be complicated and time consuming. I wrote a whole guide to demistify all the options available and give you a comparison of costs and travel time. Check it out here: reachingsingapore.com/zoo-transport-guide
Food and drink
I recommend visitors spend at least 4 hours at the Zoo, and this likely means overlapping with a meal time.
Food can be found within the Zoo at the Ah Meng restaurant and bistro, and at KidzWorld. There are a also snack stands at the Shaw Amphitheatre and Elephants of Asia. A cluster of eateries is available at the entrance to the Zoo as well, in the non-ticketed area.
A guide to the range of prices for food and drink at Singapore Zoo is included in the table below:
| Food / drink | Cost |
| Meal (local cuisine) | S$12.90 - S$19.90 |
| Meal (KFC) | S$10 - S$18 |
| Snacks | S$5 - S$10 |
| Drinks (cans) | S$3 - S$5 |
| Drinks (tea or coffee) | S$3 - S$7 |
| Drinks (fresh juice) | S$6 - S$8 |
Local cuisine includes favourites such as laksa, chicken rice, biryani, and fish & chips.
Money saving opportunity: Bringing your own food and drink into the Singapore Zoo is allowed. Bring a water bottle, snacks, or even a full meal to save having to purchase these inside the Zoo. Water re-fill stations are available and do not cost any money.
Additional experiences
While exploring the Zoo there are some additional experiences you can take advantage of. You can feed animals, ride a carousel, eat breakfast with the animals, or even go on a private tour.
Additional experiences you can buy at Singapore Zoo include:
| Experience | Cost |
|---|---|
| Breakfast buffet with animal introduction | S$47 per adult, S$37 per child |
| Carousel ride | S$4 per person |
| Zebra feeding | S$8 per portion |
| Rhino feeding | S$8 per portion |
| Giraffe feeding | S$8 per portion |
| Tortoise feeding | S$8 per portion |
| Elephant feeding | S$8 per portion |
| Private tour | S$440 off-peak, S$550 peak per tour (up to 7 people) |
Feeding is dependent on season and animal needs.
Experiences should be booked in advance due to limited availability, particularly if you are planning to visit on a weekend. Timing is also strict. There are multiple feeding sessions throughout the day that can be booked on the Mandai app.
Further ‘back stage’ activities are available and I believe the Zoo changes these every now and then. When I visited (June 2024), the options were:
- “Zookeeper for a day” - joining the animal care team for a full day as a small group (2-5pax) - S$499 per person
- “Incredible Invertebrates” - a one hour meeting with a variety of insects as a small group (2-8 pax) - S$118 - S$148 per person depending on which day of the week
These ‘back stage’ activities are held on a strict schedule and only on certain days. I recommend downloading the Mandai Wildlife app to find out more and plan your visit.
Rental equipment
There are a few items you can rent at the Zoo to make it a more enjoyable experience as you walk around the park. These are:
| Rental Equipment | Price |
|---|---|
| Wagon | S$18 |
| Stroller (single seat) | S$15 |
| Binoculars | S$15 |
These items seem very much geared towards kids. On my last visit the wagons were very popular - you can put children and items in the wagons and then pull them around.
Souvenirs
Exiting the Zoo is via the gift shop, giving you the chance to pick up some souvenirs before you leave. There are stuffed toys, t-shirts, lego sets, mugs and water bottles, and more.
Photo taking is also available. You can have your photo taken at certain locations, including the zoo entrance, and then buy a printed copy.
Prices for souvenirs are roughly between S$10 and S$100.
Freebies
Here are some things that are free (i.e. after you buy your ticket, you don’t have to spend any more money).
Water re-fills are available at water re-fill stations dotted around the park. If you bring your own water bottle (or buy one at the Zoo) you can top it up with water at these re-fill stations. They are typically located in an amenities area next to toilet blocks.
Tram rides are included in the cost of your ticket, you do not have to pay anything extra to ride the tram. The tram does a loop of the park to help you get around (particularly to KidzWorld) if you don’t feel like walking; it also inlcudes audio commentary of the animals you are passing and what to do at each stop.
Bringing your own food is allowed and the Mandai Wildlife Group explicitly states this on their website. There are tables and chairs within the zoo where you can eat your own food. Check out my guide here for more detail on eating and drinking at Singapore Zoo.
References
Tickets can be booked directly on Singapore Zoo’s website here: mandai.com
