11 Cheap Activities to Do in Singapore on a Budget

Before visiting Singapore for the first time in 2019, I knew three things. I knew it was where they filmed Crazy Rich Asians. I knew it was illegal to chew gum. And I knew it was going to be expensive!

And while I did do a (probably unnecessary) sweep of my backpack to make sure I wasn’t bringing in any illicit gum packs by accident, I really didn’t need to worry about Singapore being expensive.

It turns out, there are lots of cheap activities to do in Singapore!

Don’t get me wrong, Singapore can definitely be a luxury destination. You can go all out on dining, activities, accommodation and transportation.

But if you have a smaller budget and still want to experience the best of Singapore, you absolutely can!

I firmly believe that some of the best things to do, see and eat in Singapore cost the least amount of money. While it might not be as cheap as other Southeast Asian countries, Singapore can be visited on a budget.

Below I’m sharing 11 budget-friendly activities and experiences you can enjoy in Singapore – most of them are even free! I’ll also include a few slightly pricier Singapore activities that I think are worth splurging on.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

1. Eat at a hawker centre

Cost: apx $5 USD

Hawker centres are basically outdoor food courts where you’ll find some of the most delicious – and most affordable – food in Singapore. Eating at hawker stalls in Singapore absolutely needs to be on your trip itinerary!

The cool thing about hawker centres is that each stall offers something unique. They’re usually small stalls that only specialize in one type of cuisine or even one specific dish.

And they’re usually run by a Singaporean grandma or grandpa who has been serving the same delicious food for decades!

Like everywhere in the world, if you don’t know where to go, follow the line. My husband, Colin, and I were totally clueless when we arrived at our first hawker centre. Everything looked delicious!

So we simply got in the longest line we could find and we were not disappointed! We sampled chicken rice, duck and got plenty of cheap things to eat for about $7 SGD ($5 USD).

If you’d prefer a local guide to the hawker centres, and don’t mind spending a bit more, check out this hawker centre food tour!

2. See the light show at Marina Bay Sands

Cost: Free!

As you might already know, Marina Bay Sands is the fancy hotel in Singapore with the infinity pool raised high above the rest of the city. Staying at the hotel – or even just using the pool – will cost you a pretty penny…

… but seeing the light show out front is free!

Every night, Marina Bay Sands puts on a free light and water show called Spectra. It’s a 15 minute spectacle of strobe lights, water fountains, stirring music and way too many phones up in the air trying to capture it all.

The show is completely free to attend and happens at the Event Plaza two to three times per night (check showtimes here).

I highly recommend arriving early to secure a good view. As the show happens out over the water, you want to be as close to the fence as possible.

PS: Want to see two free light shows in one night? Keep reading for my tips on how you can attend both the light show at Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay!

3. Say hi to the Merlions

Cost: Free!

The Merlion (a lion with a fish tail) is one of Singapore’s iconic symbols. They are spotted all over the city, but the main one you have to see is by the water across from Marina Bay Sands.

And of course, being an outdoor statue, the Merlion is totally free to visit.

I suggest getting to the Merlion early if you want to take a photo without the crowds. We showed up around 9:00 AM and it was already quite busy. I can’t imagine what it would look like at noon!

That being said, it’s still a fun statue to see and a cool area of Singapore to walk around, even if you don’t get a crowd-free photo.

4. Get quirky at Haw Par Villa

Cost: Free!

Haw Par Villa is a unique attraction in Singapore. It’s a theme park with over 1000 statues and 150 dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese folklore, culture and religion.

While that may sound boring, Haw Par Villa is actually known as one of the quirkiest attractions in Singapore. These aren’t your typical statues! Just check out their Google Images to see what I mean.

Sadly, we didn’t get to visit Haw Par Villa while we were in Singapore; it was closed for renovations. But the next time we’re in Singapore, it’s definitely on my list!

Note that while the park is free, the Hell’s Museum exhibit is paid; $18 SGD ($13 USD)/adult. A museum about hell? I told you this park was quirky!

First visit to Singapore? Check out my Singapore guide for first timers!

5. Go to the mall

Cost: Free to browse

If you’ve spent any time around Teaspoon of Adventure, you’ll know that I don’t recommend shopping malls very often. But I stand by this recommendation; it’s definitely a cheap activity in Singapore!

If you’re not used to Southeast Asian temperatures like us Canadians, Singapore is going to be HOT. A great place to get a little respite from that heat is in a beautifully air-conditioned shopping mall!

And if you really need a blast of AC, try a movie theatre! Colin and I saw a movie while in Singapore and were shivering for two hours. I loved it.

Besides the movies and, of course, shopping at the mall, you should also check out the mall food court.

I know it sounds ridiculous to eat at a food court, but they are treasure troves of great food in Singapore. You get to try a few different things with all the food court stalls in one (air-conditioned) place.

We sampled some food courts on Orchard Road and at the Changi Airport and the food was amazing. In fact, our favourite meal in Singapore was bought at a food court!

6. Visit the Botanic Gardens

Cost: Free!

I’m a sucker for a botanical garden. Despite having no green thumb (all the plants in our house are fake), I can appreciate the beauty of a well cared for garden.

And Singapore’s Botanic Gardens certainly are well cared for. They’re a 165 year old tropical garden and UNESCO World Heritage Site, a designation that only three gardens in the entire world hold.

Entrance to the Singapore Botanic Gardens is free and allows you to explore all of their different attractions, from a children’s garden to Swan Lake, The Learning Forest, and more! The Gardens also offer guided tours and regular events.

Unfortunately, Colin and I weren’t able to make it to the Gardens during our time in Southeast Asia. But I have heard from friends that they are really beautiful and worth a visit.

My friends also suggested going to the Botanic Gardens early, before the day gets too hot. And having endured Singapore’s heat, I definitely concur!

7. Hang out in the Supertree Grove

Cost: Free

Gardens by the Bay is a 101-hectare nature park offering some of the most beautiful and imaginative natural exhibits I have ever seen. And while some of it is paid (more on that later), lots of the park is free to enjoy!

The outdoor areas – including a children’s waterpark, workout park, serene garden, multiple lakes and sculptures – are all free to explore. But the most famous (and free!) part of Gardens by the Bay is the Supertree Grove.

The Supertree Grove is home to 12 ginormous “trees” that tower 50 m (164 ft) in the air. Of course, they’re not actually trees, but vertical garden structures that combine the natural and the man-made.

While I loved walking around the Supertree Grove during the day, you’ll definitely want to come back at night. Because this is where Singapore’s second light show happens!

Every night at 7:45 and 8:45 PM, the Supertree Grove lights up for the Garden Rhapsody, an epic performance of lights and music. Admission is free and the show changes every month or so (you can check out the schedule here).

How to see Spectra at Marina Bay Sands and Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay in one night

Don’t have time for both of Singapore’s light shows? Yes, you do! It is possible to see both Spectra and Garden Rhapsody on the same night if you’re smart about it.

I recommend starting with the 8:00 PM show of Spectra at Marina Bay Sands. Arrive early so you can secure a spot up front.

Once the 15 minute show is over, it’s time to hustle over to the Supertree Grove (18 minute walk). I remember cutting through the mall and taking the Marina Bay Overpass but Google Maps advises going around, so choose your own adventure!

Either way, you should be able to make it to the Supertree Grove by the 8:45 PM show. Even if you arrive just as the show is starting (this area is quite crowded so you may be slowed to a crawl), that’s fine because there are no bad views at the Supertrees!

That’s why I recommend doing the Spectra show first; you need to arrive early to secure a spot with a good view. Whereas with Garden Rhapsody, you can stand anywhere and still have an awesome view looking up.

Also, the show times work out a lot better to do Spectra at 8:00 PM first. You can make it from the 8:00 PM Spectra show to the 8:30 PM Garden Rhapsody show (but you have to hustle!).

You would not be able to make the 8:00 PM Spectra show if you watched the 7:45 PM Garden Rhapsody first. You’d have to wait around until the 9:00 PM Spectra show.

It’s a similar story if you catch the 8:45 PM Garden Rhapsody – you’d have to wait for the 10:00 PM Spectra show (and they only do that one on Fridays and Saturdays).

TL/DR: Go to Spectra for 8:00 PM (but arrive early) then (quickly) head over to Garden Rhapsody for 8:45 PM. Enjoy!

8. Explore Fort Canning Park

Cost: Free!

Fort Canning Park is a 48 m (157 ft) hill in Singapore’s business district that offers a natural escape from the city. For a city that’s known for its tall buildings, Singapore sure does a great job at incorporating lots of parks, gardens and forests.

If you’re into history, you can go on a heritage walk around the park, see colonial monuments and visit the Fort Canning Heritage Gallery. If you’re visiting Singapore with your family, the park also has a few playgrounds.

And, as is the theme in Singapore, there’s a number of beautiful gardens and sculptures throughout the park too! Of course, you won’t want to miss the spiral underground crossing (talk about a photo opp).

9. Discover Singapore’s cultural neighbourhoods

Cost: Free!

One of the cool things about Singapore is how diverse the small country is and how the prominent Asian cultures intermix. I loved that we could find delicious Chinese dim sum, Indian curry and Malaysian chicken all on the same block.

So one of the best (and free!) things to do in Singapore is explore the different neighbourhoods. Taste your way through Chinatown and Little India, visit temples and markets, admire historic homes and explore street art.

You can explore solo on your own two feet or via metro/bus. Or you can join a free walking tour (such as this one).

If you’re okay to spend a bit more money, this city bike tour is extremely well-rated and seems like a great way to get to know Singapore.

10. Get active outdoors

Cost: Free!

If you’ve had enough of city exploring, it’s time to get back to nature with this cheap activity in Singapore. The country is full of beautiful parks and gardens where you can hike, bike and enjoy other physical pursuits.

Take a hike through MacRitchie Reservoir, with trails suited for beginners as well as more advanced hikers. Walk or bike down the Rail Corridor, a green path that cuts through some of Singapore’s coolest neighbourhoods.

On your way back to the airport, you can even cycle, skate or jog down the Changi Airport Connector where you’ll find not only greenery but life-sized dinosaurs along the Changi Jurassic Mile.

And when you get there, don’t miss checking out the Jewel at Changi Airport, another free thing to do!

Keep in mind that it gets hot in Singapore. If you’re going to be doing anything active outdoors – or even if you’re just walking around all day – stay hydrated and take breaks.

Nature not your thing? Check out the Singapore National Gallery instead!

11. Take public transit

Cost: From $0.80 USD per ride

This isn’t exactly a cheap activity in itself, but it is a cheap way to get to your activities in Singapore. Rather than paying for taxis and ride shares, hop on Singapore’s excellent public transit for a fast, clean and affordable trip around town.

Singapore is a small country and is very well-connected through its MRT metro and bus system. And since English is one of Singapore’s national languages, you don’t have to worry about not being able to read the metro maps or understand the announcements.

Fares are based on distance, but if you’ll be doing a lot of travelling around Singapore, you may want to buy a transit pass. You can learn more about your fare and transit pass options here.

Bonus: 3 activities worth splurging on in Singapore

While there are a lot of cheap activities to do in Singapore, there are also quite a few expensive ones. Here are three I think are worth splurging on (and really, they’re not even that pricy):

Gardens by the Bay

While I mentioned above that large parts of Gardens by the Bay are free, such as the outdoor gardens and Supertree Grove, there are some paid parts too.

We visited the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest – both indoor, paid attractions at Gardens by the Bay – and I thought they were so worth it. Both blew me away!

There was so much to see and everything was incredibly well designed. I was wowed by all the species of flowers, the towering waterfalls and, of course, the very nice air conditioning.

As of April 2024, a combo ticket to the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest costs $23 USD per adult.

You can buy your Gardens by the Bay tickets here!

Singapore Zoo

I’m not usually a big zoo person but the Singapore Zoo is absolutely phenomenal. Unlike other zoos where the animals seem stuck in too-small cages, the Singapore Zoo adopts a more open-concept approach.

Almost all of the animal enclosures appear to be open (an effect achieved by creating a moat between the enclosure and the visitors that is covered in greenery).

It felt like the elephants could reach out and touch us (I’m told they couldn’t). We were shocked to see monkeys swinging overhead or whenever we came across birds on our walking path.

The zoo is expansive, home to over 4200 animals throughout its rainforest setting, and has special shows, areas for kids, tram rides, food stalls, etc.

But it’s not only the regular zoo that you can visit. The complex of parks also includes Bird Paradise, River Wonders and the Night Safari.

Colin and I visited the zoo during the day and then the Night Safari at, you guessed it, night. It was an incredible opportunity to see nocturnal animals when they’re most active, something that you don’t get to do at a regular zoo.

We took a tram ride through the Night Safari park where guides would shine low lights (mimicking moonlight) onto the enclosures. Then we headed down the walking path to explore a bit more – Colin was sure the hyenas were eyeing us for dinner as we walked by!

As of April 2024, Singapore Zoo tickets cost $34 USD per adult and Night Safari tickets cost $37 USD per adult.

You can buy your Singapore Zoo tickets here and your Night Safari tickets here!

Universal Studios

If you’re a theme park junkie, you probably have Universal Studios Singapore on your bucket list. Hang out with Transformers, dinosaurs, mummies, dragons and all of your favourites from Shrek at this action-packed theme park!

I haven’t been to Universal Studios in Singapore but I have been to the one in Los Angeles and really enjoyed it. Despite not liking rides and roller coasters, I loved seeing the different worlds brought to life, watching the impressive shows and going on some of the tamer rides.

Universal Singapore is located on Sentosa Island where you can also hit the beach or spend time at one of the other resorts or theme parks on the island.

As of April 2024, adult admission is $61 USD. Get your tickets to Universal Studios Singapore here!

Are there really cheap activities to do in Singapore?

Absolutely! While Singapore can certainly be an expensive place, not everything will cost you a lot.

In fact, some of the best activities in Singapore are some of the cheapest to enjoy. No trip to Singapore would be complete without wandering through the Supertree Grove, taking a selfie with a merlion or eating at a hawker centre.

And because you can save so much money on the cheap activities in Singapore, it means you have a little more room in your Singapore budget for a few splurges!

Whether you have one day in Singapore or a few days, I hope these activities have you excited for your trip and feeling more confident about how far your money will go in Singapore.

Where would you spend your Singapore budget? Let me know which of these experiences caught your eye, or recommend one of your own!