Free things to do · Singapore
9 free things to do in Singapore
Singapore without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Singapore without paying an entry fee: Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Little India are all free. Eat most meals at hawker centres, where a full meal costs a fraction of a restaurant bill.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 2
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- March–May and October–November
Free sights and experiences
Waterfront · Marina Bay
1.Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade
Walk the loop at dusk when it is cooler, timing your arrival at the Event Plaza for a Spectra show.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Garden · Tanglin
2.Singapore Botanic Gardens
Come at 7–8am with the joggers, when it is cool and the swans and terrapins on Swan Lake are most active.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- History
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Religious site · Chinatown
3.Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Cover shoulders and knees (shawls are provided), then cross to Maxwell Food Centre for lunch.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Neighbourhood · Little India
4.Little India
Come in the late afternoon, then eat dinner at Tekka Centre or a Race Course Road fish-head curry restaurant.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Neighbourhood · Kampong Glam
5.Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque
Visitors can enter the mosque outside prayer times; robes are lent at the door.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
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Architecture · Changi
6.Jewel Changi Airport
Leave luggage at the airport's storage counters and come for the evening light show on the waterfall before a late flight.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Nature · Telok Blangah
7.Southern Ridges and Henderson Waves
Start at HarbourFront MRT, climb Mount Faber, and walk west so you finish near the Labrador or Kent Ridge stations.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Views
- Active
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Central Catchment
8.MacRitchie Reservoir and TreeTop Walk
Start early, carry plenty of water and keep food out of sight of the macaques.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
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Park · Pasir Panjang
9.Haw Par Villa
The hell scenes are gruesome; preview them before bringing younger children.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Marina Bay | Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade | 1–2 hours |
| Tanglin | Singapore Botanic Gardens | 2–3 hours |
| Chinatown | Buddha Tooth Relic Temple | 1 hour |
| Little India | Little India | Half a day |
| Kampong Glam | Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque | 2–3 hours |
| Changi | Jewel Changi Airport | 1–2 hours |
| Telok Blangah | Southern Ridges and Henderson Waves | 2–4 hours |
| Central Catchment | MacRitchie Reservoir and TreeTop Walk | 3–4 hours |
| Pasir Panjang | Haw Par Villa | 1–2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Island · North-east Singapore
Pulau Ubin
Bring cash for the bumboat and bike rental; boats leave when about 12 passengers have gathered.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Experience · Singapore River
Singapore River bumboat cruise
Take a sailing after dark to see the skyline lit up and, with good timing, the Spectra show from the water.
- Time needed
- 40 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- After dark
- Views
More ways to save
- Eat most meals at hawker centres, where a full meal costs a fraction of a restaurant bill.
- Many headline sights are free: the outdoor Gardens by the Bay, Garden Rhapsody and Spectra shows, the Botanic Gardens and the Southern Ridges.
- Alcohol is heavily taxed; happy hours, usually late afternoon to early evening, can cut bar prices significantly.
- Tap a contactless bank card on the MRT instead of buying a tourist pass unless you will ride many times a day.
- Visitors can claim back GST on eligible purchases through the electronic Tourist Refund Scheme at Changi; check the conditions with participating shops.
- Hotel prices jump around the Formula 1 race, Chinese New Year and December; book early or avoid these dates.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Singapore expensive to visit?
Singapore is expensive for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Singapore?
Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade: Walk the loop at dusk when it is cooler, timing your arrival at the Event Plaza for a Spectra show.