12 FREE things to do in Singapore
If you’re worried that Singapore is too expensive then I have the guide for you! I help people find the gems of Singapore but I often hear fears that Singapore is too expensive to even visit. So I wrote this guide as part of a series of good value, cheap, and free things to do in Singapore.
1. Botanic Gardens
Singapore’s Botanic Gardens are UNESCO world heritage listed and sprawl over 200 acres in size, containing more than 10,000 species of plant.
One of the trees located within the gardens is said to be over 200 years old. This pre-dates the gardens themselves and is famous enough to appear on the S$5 note.
Most of the gardens are free to enter, including many of the speciality areas, such as the Healing Garden.
I love recommending the gardens to tourists for their:
- Jungle canopies
- Expansive lakes
- Wide open spaces, suitable for a picnic
- Variety of birds
All of the above can be explored for free!
It’s easy to get to the gardens by public transport as well. The easiest way I recommend to get there is to take the train to Botanic Gardens MRT station. You can also use Napier MRT station as an alternative.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens are open from 5am to midnight daily. Specific paid areas, such as the National Orchid Garden, only open until 7pm however.
2. Haw Par Villa
Haw Par Villa is easily my favourite theme park in Singapore. It was built over 80 years, ago to teach young people traditional Chinese values, but now it’s full of stories from its decades survival as a park since then.
I love recommending it to tourists who want to explore the weirder side of Singapore; it is home to:
- Strange mystical creatures, including half bird half human hybrids
- A menagerie of animals willing to share a snack with you
- Mermaids, who are topless
It’s a great recommendation for kids as well - there is plenty of space for them to run around, as well as turtles to feed and bubble toys to play with (these are not free though).
It is free to enter most parts of the park, and explore the areas I described above. There is a paid area called Hell’s Museum where tickets start from S$18 for adults.
The easiest way to get to Haw Par Villa is by catching the Circle Line MRT and alighting at Haw Par Villa MRT. Yes, the theme park is so important to Singapore it gets its own MRT station.
The park is open from 9am to 8pm (last entry 7:30pm) daily, including weekends and public holidays.
3. Gardens by the Bay
Did you know you can get up close and personal with Singapore’s famous Supertrees completely free? This is why I love recommending Gardens by the Bay to tourists.
A lot of the Gardens are free to walk around in, and this includes the Supertrees. There is also a free light show at 7.45pm and 8.45pm daily. There are also lakes and green spaces to explore.
To get to Gardens by the Bay, take the Circle Line to Bayfront, and follow the signs for the walk over to the Gardens. Alternatively, there is also a station called Gardens by the Bay on the Thompson East Coast Line, however this line is still under construction making the station a bit challenging to get to.
4. The Merlion
The Merlion is Singapore’s favourite half-fish half-lion who represents the country’s humble beginnings as a fishing village and its modern history as the Lion City.
I like to bring people here if they don’t have much time in Singapore. The Merlion is easy to get to, quick to take a look, and free to visit.
You can get up close and personal and take a selfie with the Merlion (please don’t fall in the water), and have a leisurely stroll around Marina Bay. There are some great views of Marina Bay Sands.
To get to the Merlion, I usually bring people via the Fullerton Building. It partly serves as an underpass from Raffles Place MRT to the Merlion and has this great visual history of Singapore (the Fullerton Building used to be the general post office for Singapore).
5. The Waterfall at Jewel
Jewel - the large mall and entertainment complex adjacent to Changi Airport - is home to the world’s largest indoor waterfall.
That waterfall is free to visit and take a selfie with. It lights up at night and is surrounded by this incredible green space that I feel is highly underrated.
I like recommending to visitors to climb the stairs around the waterfall to get away from the crowds and immerse yourself in a taste of the tropics. Also check out the Canopy Park level for a view of the waterfall with less crowds.
Jewel itself is an easy recommendation because it’s:
- Easy to visit in transit (4 hours is the minimum, I asked the ICA)
- Lots of space for the family to enjoy
- Lots of Singaporean food (though the food isn’t free)
Jewel is also easy to get to. Simply take the MRT or bus to Changi Airport and then walk across to Jewel. While all terminals are connected to Jewel, the building itself is closest to Terminal 1 (if you’re arriving in Singapore at Terminal 1, you will collect your bag, walk through the doors, and be right in front of Jewel).
6. Fort Canning Park
Fort Canning Park is my favourite green space in Singapore. It’s convenient and easy to access, and it offers this oasis of jungle amidst the concrete jungle.
Fort Canning Park is also free to visit, walk around, and explore.
I like recommending it to visitors because:
- It’s rarely crowded
- It’s open at night
- Close to the city and easy to access
- Full of green space and even has a smattering of historical sights that are still standing today
If you’re visiting Singapore for work and you want a quick escape from the office - I highly recommend it.
You can even explore Fort Canning Park at night. Singapore is completely safe to walk around at night, and the park does have a lot of lighting.
The famous Fort Canning Tree Tunnel Instagram spot can also be found in the park. It’s on the north-east side (up the hill from Wesley Methodist church) connecting the park to the UBS building.
To get to Fort Canning Park take the MRT to Fort Canning, Clarke Quay, or Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations and walk up to the park.
7. Singapore River
Singapore grew up around its historic river, and these days it’s a walking trail that anyone can enjoy.
I like to recommend it as a walk from Marina Bay (where the Merlion is) to Clarke Quay or Robertson Quay. This gives you a great stroll along some of the historically significant parts of Singapore, dotted with signs telling you about the history and old photos of the river.
To avoid the heat, I usually recommend checking out the river in the evening or at night when it’s cooler. This also gives you a view of the city lights (and potentially the Marina Bay light show depending on where you are when it starts).
Since the river runs through the heart of Singapore, it is easy to access. The easiest way is by catching the MRT to Raffles Place or Clarke Quay MRT stations.
8. Joo Chiat Shophouses
Part of Singapore’s unique history, the Joo Chiat area is home to a preservation of classic Singapore shophouses maintained with their eclectic colourful exteriors.
The shophouses are part of the Peranakan culture, a historical group of ethnically mixed Chinese and Malays. Joo Chiat used to be home to a lot of Peranakan people, who liked to style their homes in this unique way.
These days it’s a great instagram spot. I like bringing visitors here to take photos in front of the houses and enjoy a bit of Singapore’s unique multicultural history.
There’s also some great food nearby.
Joo Chiat is the first location on my list that is NOT easy to get to. I recommend trying one of the following to get to Joo Chiat:
- Take a taxi to the i12 shopping mall, then walk along Joo Chiat road to explore
- Take bus number 16 or 33 and alight around Joo Chiat road
- Take the MRT to Eunos station and be prepared for a long walk (though there are some interesting Malay cultural sites and food along this walk as well)
9. East Coast Park
East Coast Park is a long stretch of green space along the eastern coast of Singapore. Many visitors can see it when landing by plane at Changi airport.
The highlights for me when recommending East Coast Park to visitors include:
- East Coast Lagoon food village - home to some of the best satay on the island
- Bedok Jetty - a large jetty that sticks out into the Singapore Strait with some great views
- Cycling - hiring a bike and cycling along the coast
Walking through the park and visiting the jetty are of course free to do.
Catching the bus is currently the easiest way to get to East Coast Park at the moment. Bus options include:
- Route 196 from downtown - you can walk through an underpass to reach the park from its stops along Marine Parade area
- Route 16 from Orchard - has a convenient stop in Marine Terrace that is very near an underpass connecting to East Coast Park
- Route 401 (weekends only) connecting Bedok MRT and Marine Parade with East Coast Park - it runs along the East Coast Park access road and is the most convenient way to get to the park if you’re visiting on a weekend.
If you’re unsure how to plan a bus route in Singapore, I wrote a whole guide to catching the bus that includes details on planning out a route (and a helpful website that you can use), check it out here: reachingsingapore.com/singapore-catch-bus-guide
The upcoming Thomson East Coast MRT Line will have a few stations with easy access for East Coast Park.
Check out the Want to know more section at the end of this guide if you’re interested in more about the history of East Coast Lagoon.
10. The Jurassic Mile
At the end of East Coast Park, connecting to Changi Airport, is the Jurassic Mile.
The Jurassic Mile is a free permanent outdoor display of life-sized dinosaurs right outside the airport connecting it to the park.
There are a variety of dinosaurs including a towering Tyrannosaurus Rex, and some of them are nearly 5 meters tall.
The Jurassic Mile can be accessed by:
- Bus - take the bus to Changi Airport Terminal 4 and follow the signs
- MRT - take the train to Changi Airport MRT station, then follow the signs for HUB & SPOKE (Terminal 2)
- Walk/cycle - from East Coast Park (at the east end, near the airport).
11. Cultural Districts
Singapore is a melting pot of cultures thanks to its rich diverse history. Different racial groups from around the region migrated to Singapore for decades during its colonial and modern history. These racial groups initially setup their lives in distinct districts that today serve as historical heritage for these migrant groups.
The 3 heritage cultural districts in Singapore are:
- Little India, home to street markets, hustle and bustle, and the Indian Heritage Centre
- Kampong Gelam, with multiple mosques, artistic laneways, and the Malay Heritage Centre
- Chinatown, packed with restaurants and eateries, a stones-throw from the CBD, and hosts the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
(I find it interesting that while Singapore is usually consistent in the way it sets up institutes - such as the heritage centres - the Chinese Heritage centre is located at the Nanyang Technological University. There is a Chinatown Heritage Centre located in Chinatown however)
These districts are spread out across the inner city core of Singapore and are very easy to get to. MRT is the way I usually recommend (though there are many bus routes). See the table below for the MRT stations that connect to each district:
| District | Nearest MRT |
|---|---|
| Little India | Little India, Farrer Park, Rochor |
| Kampong Glam | Bugis, Nicoll Highway |
| Chinatown | Chinatown, Telok Ayer |
These districts are free to walk around and explore, including visiting temples and mosques; a respectable dress code is often required.
12. Changi Airport
Changi Airport is full of free things to do, before, after, or during (in transit) your flight. There is a
Some of the highlights include:
- Butterfly garden
- Cinema
- Enchanted garden
- Slides
These are all free to experience once inside Changi Airport. Make sure you have time before/between your flights to experience these.
Want to know more
- Find out more about the Botanic Gardens here
- For more detail on Haw Par Villa, check out their website here
- Detail on Gardens by the Bay can be found here
- To find out more about visiting the Merlion, check out his website here
- A great record of the history of how East Coast Lagoon Food Village came about (it’s all built on reclaimed land from over 50 years ago!): Here.
- Changi Airport things to do (many free) complete list here.
