Leisure & Recreation

While persons with disabilities may have challenges getting around, a growing number of buildings are making themselves accessible with universal design features. Here are some inclusive places to play, shop, or watch a movie and just have fun!

Key points

Plan ahead for an outing by checking online if your destination has the necessary accessibility features.

Many cinemas, theatres, museums, parks, playgrounds and sports facilities in Singapore are accessible.

If travelling overseas is a challenge, consider a staycation at a local resort or hotel.

Check out the list of inclusive leisure/ recreation activities that you can participate in.

You can also check out this list of inclusive leisure/ recreation groups that specialise in activities such as horticulture, arts and crafts, music and sports as well as these events here.

General information

Actions to take

Visit the Enabling Village, which is equipped with accessibility features and various amenities for those with disabilities.

When deciding what to do for the weekend, it helps to plan ahead by finding out if a place is wheelchair-accessible or has other features to accommodate persons with disabilities as not all buildings are accessible.

In Singapore, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is developing user-friendly built environment by promoting Universal Design (UD) for buildings and public places where the young, the old, and persons with disabilities can work, live and play. To encourage the adoption of such designs, the BCA initiated the annual BCA UD Awards to accord recognition to stakeholders for incorporating user-friendly features in their developments.

The Enabling Village near Redhill MRT station is an integrated community space with multiple facilities for persons with disabilities and the rest of the community – the first of its kind in Singapore. These include an ActiveSG gym with accessibility features. It also hosts various community events for visitors with disabilities. These include arts festivals, pop-up stores and movie screenings.

Getting there

Transport is always an important consideration. Information on different modes of transportation can be found in the Transport section of this website.

Arts, culture and entertainment venues

Retail

Shopping Malls are important community nodes where persons with disabilities meet, share experiences, and participate in different activities.

Frasers Property Singapore is committed to creating a supportive and caring environment at their malls by investing in its industry-first Inclusion Champions programme with select tenants at its malls to provide consumer inclusivity training, including disability inclusion training supported by SG Enable, so that they can be better equipped to support shoppers with different needs, including persons with disabilities.

Selected stores also offer “Calm Hours” every Monday and Tuesday, where lights are dimmed, and noise reduced to provide a more comfortable shopping environment for persons with sensory needs.

In commemoration of World Autism Awareness Day 2024, Frasers Property Singapore is expanding “Calm Hours” to an additional 42 stores across the Malls of Frasers Property Singapore. Do check out this initiative on their Facebook and Instagram.

Elevators and ramps are conveniently located throughout to facilitate ease of access for visitors with mobility challenges. Complimentary loans for wheelchairs are available at selected malls, subject to availability.

In line with legislation, malls also welcome guide dogs trained to assist individuals with visual challenges.

For more details, do view their Accessibility Guide.

Cinemas

At Cathay Cineplexes, wheelchair users are encouraged to buy tickets at box office counters in advance to secure suitable seats. More information on the number of wheelchair-accessible seats available in each theatre can be found below:

FAQs - Cathay Cineplexes (FAQ #20).

At Golden Village Cinemas, people can check if wheelchair-accessible seats are available when booking online. More information can be found below:

Information on booking wheelchair berth seats - Golden Village

Performance Venues

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is dedicated to supporting access and upholding their vision of being an arts centre for everyone. Their premises are wheelchair-friendly, with features such as wheelchair-accessible toilets, accessible parking and special seating arrangements for patrons with mobility challenges. It is also guide and assistance dog-friendly and has additional accessibility facilities such as tactile floor markings, lift access, handrails and more. As part of its PLAYtime! series of theatre productions for children, Esplanade presents Relaxed Performances (RP) with a welcoming and relaxed environment for those who are on the autism spectrum or have sensory sensitivities. Special modifications are incorporated into the performance to make it relaxed. Since December 2022, Esplanade has also introduced Relaxed Environment (RE) performances at the centre. RE performances are suitable for anyone who benefits from being able to make a noise, leave and return to their seat or access the toilets during the performance. No modifications are made to the performance. Esplanade’s Beautiful Sunday and Coffee Morning & Afternoon Tea series are presented in RE settings. All Esplanade Presents programmes that offer concessions have ticket concessions for persons with disabilities (PWDs). This concession for PWDs can also be utilised by one accompanying companion.

Other venues such as the Sports Hub also have dedicated areas for accessible seating; tickets for such seats can be bought by calling 3158 7888 or visiting the Singapore Indoor Stadium box office.

Museums

The National Museum of Singapore and National Gallery Singapore have various accessibility services. Both have free manual wheelchairs available for use on a first-come-first-served basis, and wheelchair-accessible facilities. They also welcome service dogs or guide dogs. Check the respective museums’ websites for more information.

The ArtScience Museum has wheelchair-accessible toilets, lifts and parking spaces.

Public Libraries

The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through the libraries and archives.

Punggol Regional Library

Punggol Regional Library offers a suite of services to create a welcoming start-to-end experience for persons with disabilities. Located in One Punggol, Punggol Regional Library is a warm and inviting space which features technology, programmes and special collections for all patrons. Interested patrons are encouraged to learn more about the library's Accessibility Information.

Accessible Membership

Accessible Membership provides an expanded scope of library services across all libraries for persons with disabilities, on top of basic library membership privileges.

Accessible Membership is open to persons with disabilities who are beneficiaries of eligible disability schemes and services funded by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), or who had attended or are currently attending government-funded Special Education (SPED) schools.

Accessible Members enjoy:

a) A longer borrowing period (from 21 to 42 days);
b) A longer renewal period (from 21 to 42 days);
c) Free reservation of items (which costs $1.57 per item); and
d) Priority access to accessible features in Punggol Regional Library.

Find out more about the Accessible Membership and how to apply.

Sports facilities and playgrounds

Engaging in sports and physical activities can make a tangible difference for people with disabilities. According to the NCSS Quality of Life Study, persons with disabilities who participate in sports or physical recreational activities are 1.7 times more likely to have a better quality of life (p. 27).

Participating in sports and physical activities boosts physical and mental health, builds confidence, independence, and social skills, and fosters connections within the community. That is why Inclusive Sports is a key component of the Enabling Masterplan 2030 (EMP2030), our national strategy for supporting people with disabilities and promoting inclusion.

In line with EMP2030, the Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) is being refreshed to increase sports participation among persons with disabilities. As the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore, SG Enable is working closely with SportSG to explore making sports more inclusive across the country. The aim is to use sports as a way to promote wellness, dignity, independence, and a supportive community for everyone.

Sports

Actions to take

Find out more about recreational sports and facilities on the Inclusive Sports Portal.

Visit the ActiveSG gym at the Enabling Village, which is an inclusive gym.

For more options and sporting opportunities, browse through the list of disability sports providers.

SportSG has launched the Inclusive Sports Portal in 2024, a comprehensive resource dedicated to promoting and facilitating sports for persons with disabilities.

By visiting the portal, you can find information on a wide range of accessible sports opportunities, such as their inclusive sports programmes and facilities designed to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. Their "Play Inclusive" campaign promotes inclusivity within our community by creating shared sporting experiences for individuals with and without disabilities. This initiative fosters mutual understanding and cooperation, helping to build a more inclusive society.

Explore the Inclusive Sports Portal to discover how you or someone you know can get involved in inclusive sports and experience the numerous benefits of physical activity and community engagement.

The ActiveSG gym in the Enabling Village is the first inclusive gym where persons with disabilities, seniors and the able-bodied can exercise together. It features inclusive gym equipment such as removable seats for wheelchair users and Braille on the treadmill user panels for persons with visual impairment. You can also find other inclusive gyms and pools across Singapore.

For persons with disabilities and their caregivers who are interested to find more sporting opportunities, head over here for a list of disability sports providers.

For further enquiries, please write to inclusivesport@sport.gov.sg.

Parks

At the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Botany Centre and entrances are wheelchair-accessible, but some other areas are not due to the hilly terrain. Wheelchairs are available on loan.

Gardens By the Bay also has wheelchairs available for rental at $2 per day. It also has special ramps, lifts, wide pathways and barrier-free routes incorporated in its spaces.

Playgrounds and toy libraries

There are over a dozen inclusive playgrounds in Singapore. These have equipment such as wheelchair-accessible merry-go-rounds which allow children with and without special needs to play together. Children with special needs can also visit these 'toy libraries' which have toys that are specially curated for them.

Vacationing in Singapore

If you wish to look for accessible accommodation, you may visit travel websites which allows you to filter searches for properties with accessibility features. These include Agoda, Airbnb and TripAdvisor.

For locals in Singapore who find it challenging to travel overseas, or who are looking for a short getaway, Sentosa Island is just a short drive from the mainland. The island has many wheelchair-accessible attractions and hotels, including some in Resorts World Sentosa, an integrated resort which is home to popular attractions such as Universal Studio Singapore and S.E.A. Aquarium.