10 Best Things to Do in Singapore on a Budget

Gardens by the Bay

You’ve probably heard of Gardens by the Bayas well as its temperate biodome with (of course) an indoor waterfall, walkways from which to admire the views of the city, restaurants atop “giant tree” installations, and more. But these paid events aren’t all there is to offer. Entry to the gardens is actually free and you can find yoga pavilions, brilliant winding paths (which kids will love to explore), bridges and promenades, lakes, a wonderful children’s play area and stunning flora and fauna (we hung out with some wild chickens during a rest stop). You will find all this on a huge site that does not require any costs.

A walk through Chinatown and Little India

While Singapore may be known for its towering skyscrapers, its more humble and eclectic beginnings can still be seen in the cultural districts of Chinatown and Little. India. Stop by the low-rise buildings and narrow pedestrian streets to sample the variety of ethnic food that Singapore is known for. You can also visit temples and old shops, buy a souvenir or three and admire how Singapore’s many cultures and backgrounds live side by side in harmony.

Art and Science Museum

The Science and Art Museum is part of it Marina Bay Sands development (next to the famous hotel, casino and mega mall) so you can sign up for a free Sands Lifestyle membership and get a 30% discount on tickets to this wonderful and exciting museum. Tickets can still be expensive for a list of world-class and time-limited exhibitions (no permanent collection), but our kids spent hours at one of the current exhibitions Future World: Where Art Meets Scienceinteract with light displays, climb tunnels, go down slides and climb over obstacle courses. Perfect Instagram feed.

A show with sound, light and water

If you visit the Art and Science Museum early in the evening, have a snack there Food court or one of the restaurants at the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sand Mall opposite, before strolling along the beautifully manicured promenade. The evening is a great time to enjoy the river and city lights during the cooler temperatures, and at 8pm and 9pm, you can enjoy a free 15-minute sound, light and water show called Spectra, which tells “the story of Singapore in four” acts”.

Track monkeys and soar over the water from Mount Faber

Climb (slowly) up the hill to Mt Faber to cross the water to the smaller island of Sentosa on the cable car, which offers both a fun activity and a mode of transport, as well as great photo opportunities. Along the way, you may encounter wild monkeys hanging out in the greenery near the trail. Visit on a weekday and you’ll avoid the weekend crowds and have a better chance of spotting new animal friends (don’t feed them!). Mount Faber Park is also part of the Southern Ridges Trail, which offers 10 km of parks and trails connected by bridges that lead from Harbor Promenade to Kent Ridge Park.

Pedal through East Coast Park

Singapore’s goal is to be more than just a garden city, but a “city in a garden,” and evidence of the success of this mission is everywhere. Many parks, gardens and parks criss-cross the island, and one of the original (and best) of these is East Coast Park.

Built on reclaimed land and with man-made beaches, sports fields, fishing spots and (of course) shopping malls, East Coast Park is perfect for a day on two wheels. Hire a bike from one of the several bike hire shops in the park itself or even take a street bike e.g. Any wheels – Singapore’s bike sharing service – from the city to the puta along the 15-kilometer coastline, enjoying the sea breeze.

Go to the beach

Singapore may be bustling, but it’s also surrounded by tiny island reserves with beautiful beaches. Take a short ferry ride to Lazarus Island (via St. John’s Island and a short walk) or Kusu Island for a quiet desert island oasis of white beaches, palm trees, jungle and a break from the noise. Kusu even has a turtle sanctuary where hundreds of turtles live. A welcome contrast to the bustling skyscrapers in the heart of Singapore itself. Take the ferry from Marina South Pier, which is accessible by metro.

Get the Singapore Sling at Raffles

Can’t afford to stay in the famous Raffles Hotel? This icon of Singapore’s colonial architecture and history is worth a stop. Visit the Long Bar, home to the famous Singapore Sling, for a cool drink in a vintage setting. The long bar is perhaps the only place in the country where littering is encouraged – customers are encouraged to clean peanut shells directly onto the floor.

And don’t forget the Merlion

Singapore is known as the Lion City (“singa” is Malay for “lion” and “pura” for “city”) and its symbol is the merlion – half lion, half fish. The story goes that in 1299, the emperor of the Srivijayan empire, which included Malaysia, Singapore and all of Sumatra, wanted a new capital for his empire and set out to find it by sea. After some difficulties, he landed in Singapore and saw a lion in the jungle, which he took as a good omen and renamed what was previously known as Temasek (Sea City in Old Javanese) to Singapura, or Singapore. See the famous statue at the mouth of the Singapore River in Merlion Park.

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Fly nonstop from Auckland to Singapore with Singapore Airlines after about 11 hours.

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visitsingapore.com/en