Singapore has so much to offer for being such a small country, but it’s definitely not a cheap destination. With some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, restaurants, resorts, and activities, it can seem like Singapore isn’t a budget-friendly travel destination. But it can be! We found so many incredible and affordable things to do in Singapore.
Singapore has a number of free things that you can do, see, or experience, all of which can give you a great feel for the city. There are also even more low-cost activities so you can see Singapore without breaking the bank.
We also highly recommend using public transport to find your way around Singapore, as it’s affordable, easy to navigate, and you can get pretty much anywhere you need to go! You can find all the information you’ll need about Singapore’s transit system in our blog post here.
Let’s get started on our favourite budget things to do in Singapore:
Kampong Glam and Haji Lane
Cost: Free
Maybe one of the most famous streets in Singapore, Haji Lane in the Kampong Glam neighbourhood is full of boutique stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars. It’s a narrow lane lined with unique stores and covered in street art, and it’s a great way to spend a few hours getting to experience Singapore at it’s best.
Also to see in Kampong Glam is the Sultan Mosque, an absolutely beautiful 1800’s mosque with a stunning golden dome that is impossible to miss.
Explore Sentosa Island
Cost: Free to walk or cycle on to the island, up to S$4 for the Sentosa Express or up to S$6 to drive.
Sentosa Island is a small island off the south of Singapore which can be reached by public transport or by walking along a boardwalk. There are a number of paid attractions on the island (think theme parks and aquariums), but you can also have a great time exploring the free sites.
Once you’re on Sentosa Island, you can check out some of the beautiful beaches and cross the footbridge onto Palawan Island to climb the Palawan Viewing Tower. You can also head to the preserved WWII Fort Siloso, and walk along the nearby skywalk, or spend some time on one of the stunning nature walks (Imbiah Nature Walk or the Coastal Trail). Also, keep a look out for otters because they apparently live in the area!
Window shop at Marina Bay Shopping Mall
Cost: Free (with some cheap activity options)
While the stores in Marina Bay Shopping Mall may not exactly suit budget travellers, it’s always free to browse! You can easily spend hours in the stunning mall, perusing the many luxury stores or watching people take boat rides along the canal (yes, there is a canal inside the mall!). The canal rides range from S$15-25 per person, so you can also take part if there’s space for it in the budget.
It’s also a lovely place to get out of the heat of Singapore, and offers free wifi, which is always a plus!
Visit Gardens by the Bay (and see the light show)
Cost: Free (with paid attractions available)
Gardens by the Bay is probably one of our favourite things to do in Singapore, and it’s amazing that it’s free to enter! The Gardens opened in 2011, and have been one of the most visited sites in Singapore since.
Some of our favourite parts of the Gardens to explore are the Supertree Grove, the Dragonfly Lake, the Web of Life and the Chinese Garden.
There are a few paid activities in the Gardens, including two domes (The Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest – S$53 together) and the Floral Fantasy display – S$12. If you can squeeze them into your budget, we would highly recommend both of them, but if not, you should still give Gardens by the Bay a day of your time in Singapore.
If you can organise your time around being at the Gardens in the evening, then it’s well worth staying for the free light show that takes place at 7:45pm and 8:45pm each day. The light show takes place at the Supertree Grove, but can be seen from various places around the Gardens. There are different themes for the light show throughout the year – check them our here.
Visit the Merlion statue
Cost: Free
The Merlion, with it’s head of a lion and body of a fish, is the mascot for Singapore. Representing it’s origins as a fishing village and it’s original name (Singapura, meaning Lion City), the Merlion can be seen all over Singapore, especially in souvenir stores.
The most well-known Merlion though is the statue in Merlion Park, which overlooks the Singapore River. You won’t need long at the statue, but no trip to Singapore is complete without a photo with the Merlion as it spurts water into the river below.
Walk around the Botanic Gardens
Cost: Free (except for the Orchid Garden, which is S$15)
The Botanic Garden of Singapore, just outside the city (and reachable by train or bus), was one of our favourite places we visited in Singapore. It’s over 160 years old and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can easily spend several hours wandering around the gardens, visiting all the areas (including the sundial garden, Palm Valley or the Symphony Lake).
Do the Southern Ridges Walk and see the Henderson Waves
Cost: Free
A short bus ride from the centre of Singapore City, you’ll find a lovely raised walk through the forest. The Southern Ridges Walk consists of 10km of paths through and above the forest. It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, and a place to get back into nature.
Part of the Southern Ridges Walk includes the Henderson Waves – a bridge sitting 36 metres above the forest floor, that has a beautiful wave pattern built into it.
Not only is the Southern Ridges a great place to find some quiet, but it also offers some amazing views back towards the city.
Explore Chinatown
Cost: Free
Chinatown is one of the more hectic places in Singapore, but it’s well worth a walk through! With restaurants, hawker centres, grocers, souvenir shops and temples, you could easily fill a day wandering the narrow streets.
Make sure to stop by the Chinatown Street Market (open daily) to get a taste of the local culture or to grab some street food!
Walk through Little India
Cost: Free
Not far from Kampong Glam, you’ll find the lively neighbourhood of Little India. It’s a great place to explore the beautiful streets, and maybe get a bite to eat at one of the numerous Indian restaurants which boast some of the best curries we’ve had. Make sure you don’t miss the beautiful colourful Tan Teng Niah house!
Eat at a Hawker Centre
Cost: Varying but cheap! (S$3-15 per meal)
Hawker centre’s may be one of the things Singapore is best known for. What could be better than a centralised location for food vendors to sell their delicious (and cheap) dishes?
Many vendors at hawker centres will only have a small menu of their specialties, so you know whatever you get is going to be amazing. With some meals as cheap as only a few SGD, you can always find an affordable meal at a hawker centre.
Our favourite hawker centres we visited were Lau Pa Sat and Adam Road, but there are so many to choose from around the city that are all well worth a visit. We would highly recommend having a look online at the best dishes to order at a the hawker centre you’re heading to, otherwise you’ll be overwhelmed with choice! Also be sure to take cash, as you’re unlikely to find stalls that accept card.
Visit Changi Chapel and Museum
Cost: S$8
The Changi Chapel and Museum is a small but impactful museum near the site of the Changi Prisoner of War Camp. Thousands of prisoners of war were held at the camp during WWII, and their stories as well as the story of Singapore during the war are explored in the museum.
Bonus: spend some time in Changi Airport
Cost: Free (if you’re already going to the airport)
If you’re flying in or out of Singapore, it is well worth it to plan some extra time in the world famous Changi Airport. Home to the incredible Jewel, an entertainment and shopping mall connected to the terminals, the airport is, crazily, one of the top tourist attractions in Singapore.
With the worlds tallest indoor waterfall (it’s so impressive!) surrounded by a rainforest, a butterfly garden, a cactus garden, a swimming pool, and a movie cinema, there is so much to do while you’re waiting for your flight or just passing the time in the air conditioning.
Take note that the Jewel is outside customs and immigration, meaning if you’re planning to see it as you leave Singapore, you must do so BEFORE heading through security. The other attractions we’ve mentioned are inside the airport, but make sure to check which terminal you’re flying from as you may not be able to access everything.
Check out our YouTube videos below from our time in Singapore to see everything we got up to:
While Singapore may not be the cheapest destination, there are plenty of free or low cost activities to fill your days there! We hope you enjoy spending time experiencing some of our favourite budget things to do in Singapore.
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