13 Free Attractions In Singapore 2022

Welcome to a guide and list of the free attractions in Singapore. Are you planning to visit Singapore, one of the world’s most expensive cities on a tight budget? No worries, there are plenty of places to visit in Singapore without having to spend much. Read on!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tourist Spots	Nature	Activities & Others
Useful Bits & Links	The End

1) SENTOSA

When it comes to tourism, the resort island Sentosa will always pop up. It houses Universal Studios Singapore, a casino, hotels, and various other attractions. A perfect tourist trap indeed. But just avoid the obvious tourist traps, and there’s still plenty of free stuff to explore here.

• It’s pretty expensive to go by cab or cable car. I will recommend a nice slow walk across Sentosa Broadwalk. Depending on the season, entry can be free or just cost a dollar (or two).
• Once you are in Sentosa, the monorail and shuttle buses are free.
• Grab a coconut and chill at the beaches – Siloso Beach, Palawan Beach, and Tanjong Beach.
  • During weekends and public holidays 7.30 PM to 10.30 PM, Siloso Beach transforms into Magical Shores.
  • Also, visit the inaccurate southernmost point of continental Asia at Palawan Beach.
• Fort Siloso & Fort Siloso Skywalk.
• Sentosa Nature Discovery is a lesser-known “attraction” on the island that is completely free.

2) GARDENS BY THE BAY

Another famous tourist spot, but this place is actually open to the public, with zero admission charges. Tickets are only required if you want to enter the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, or go up the Super Trees.

• Garden Rhapsody, better known as the “Supertree Light Show”. This free light show will play at 7.45 pm and 8.45 pm daily.
• Far East Organization Children’s Garden is a free water park in Gardens By The Bay. Although children above the age of 12 must be accompanied by a child 12 years or younger.
• Marina Barrage at the edge of Gardens By The Bay is also a pretty good place to chill. People usually come here to fly kites.
• Gardens By The Bay East – Cross the bridge from Marina Barrage. This is a good place for cycling and offers scenic views of the city.

3) HAJI LANE & ARAB STREET

Once a sleepy back alley in Singapore. Until creatives start to reside in the area and carpet it with wall art. Now, this place is haunted. With Instagrammers, YouTubers, and Tik Tokers. This is a good place to visit and take pictures. Even if you don’t buy anything, there’s still plenty of window shopping to do here.

Right beside Haji Lane is Arab Street, another pretty popular place with a heavy middle eastern influence. Don’t miss the photo opportunity with Sultan Mosque as the backdrop.

4) MARINA BAY AREA

The bread-and-butter Merlion and Singapore skyline is right here in the Marina Bay area. But I will recommend coming here after 7 pm. It’s just a lot nicer with the city lights and less the daylight heat.

• Merlion Park – Don’t think this needs any introduction. The “official mascot” of Singapore.
• Marina Light Show Spectra – Another reason to come here at night. There are free light shows at the Marina Bay Sands, at 8 pm and 9 pm daily.
• Esplanade – Yet another reason to come at night, right beside the Merlion park is the Esplanade. There are plenty of free performances and exhibits to enjoy here.

5) CHANGI AIRPORT

Yes, the airport itself is an attraction. Even locals come here from time to time just to chill and admire the crazy waterfall thing.

• Jewel Changi – A massive shopping center in the airport. Once again, tons of window shopping even if you don’t buy anything.
• HSBC Rain Vortex – The “real main attraction” in Jewel, the massive waterfall right in the middle. A light show will run at 8 pm and 9 pm daily.
• Jurrasic Mile – An interesting walkway full of dinosaur displays. This is beside terminal 4, and quite a long walk from terminals 1 and 2.

6) HAW PAR VILLA

A theme park with over a thousand statues and dioramas. Mainly depicting Chinese folklore, and to scare kids into “do good or hell awaits”. There are some pretty weird a** statues here too. Anyway, entry into the park is free, but the “hell museum” is not.

7) BOTANIC GARDENS

A green oasis right in the heart of Singapore. Access to the Botanic Gardens is free, but take note that it is closed from 12 am to 5 am.

8) PULAU UBIN

This place is not as accessible, and you can see why from the above video… Yep, Pulau Ubin is like time traveling back to the 1970s, and locals escape from the city life here too. Just a few small notes though:

• The bum boat ride is $6 at the time of writing… Not until you decide to swim over.
• Bike rental on Pulau Ubin varies, but usually from $6 to $20. You can choose to walk too, but it’s just faster to cycle.
• Best to bring your own water. Food and water options on the island are rather limited.
• Bringing food is discouraged. Wild monkeys are a common sight on the island.
• Bring your own insect repellent, this place is not mainland Singapore.

Otherwise, there are plenty of greenery and vantage points on this island to discover on your own. There are campsites too, but please book a camping spot with NParks first.

9) KUSU ISLAND, ST.JOHN ISLAND, LAZARUS ISLAND

Kusu Island, St. John Island, and Lazarus Island is a cluster of islands slightly further south of Sentosa. Personally, I find that Kusu Island has more stuff to explore. St. John and Lazarus are just… islands. Although Lazarus island does have a very decent beach to chill.

10) RESERVOIRS & PARKS

Nature lovers, there are a lot of reservoirs and parks in Singapore. There are so many that I can write an entire separate in-depth guide on it, but here’s a quick list.

• MacRitchie Reservoir – One of my personal favorites, a lot of ground for hiking. Just don’t go off-trail, people do get lost in the forest.
• Lower Peirce Reservoir Park – Has a nice scenic sunset view.
• Lower Seletar Reservoir Park – Nothing much here actually. Maybe a cool shot of the reservoir with the train in the background.
• Bishan Park – A nice neighborhood park, with a river that you can dip your feet into during “low tide”.
• Bedok Reservoir – Famous to the locals for the wrong reasons… Anyway, this is a good scenic spot too.
• Punggol Point Park – Right beside the sea, has a nice rocky beach during low tide.
• Fort Canning Park – An old fort that once served to protect Singapore, only an old fort gate still stands here today.
• East Coast Park – A long stretch of beach along the east side. Good for cycling.
• Chinese & Japanese Garden – A massive Chinese and Japanese-themed garden and park.
• Coney Island – There’s quite literally nothing but trees and roads on this island. Beware though, gates close at 7 pm.
• Bukit Timah Nature Reserve – Plenty of greenery and hiking trails here.
• Labrador Nature Reserve – Another old world war site, now turned into a nature reserve. You can still find a few old cannons and pillboxes here.
• Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve – Not an accessible place, but a favorite among bird and nature photographers.
• Southern Ridges – An entire stretch of “parks” in southern Singapore. Quite a lot to explore here if you decide to walk the entire width of it.
  • Mount Faber Park
  • Henderson Waves
  • Alexendra Arch
  • Hortpark
  • Kent Ridge Park

11) FREE CONCERTS & LIVE MUSIC

• Free concerts by Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
• Free performances and exhibits at Esplanade.
• If you walk down the Clarke Quay area at night, there are also plenty of live bands and performances.

12) FREE EXHIBITIONS & MUSEUMS

Sorry to all the visitors, but these are free for the locals only. Children under 13 and elders over 60 will get a discount though.

• National Gallery Singapore
• National Museum of Singapore
• Asian Civilisations Museum
• Chinese Heritage Center
• Indian Heritage Center
• Malay Heritage Center
• Peranakan Museum
• Singapore Discovery Centre
• Singapore City Gallery

13) OBSERVATION DECKS & ROOFTOP GARDENS

Living in a concrete jungle has its own perks. There are quite a few places where you can go high up, and get scenic views. These “observation decks” are free of charge, and here are a few of my favorites.

• CapitaSpring Sky Garden – Take note though, that the opening hours are 7.30 am – 10.30 pm.
• Marina Bay Sands Shoppes Rooftop Garden – No, this is not the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, but the rooftop of the Shoppes. Not as good, but still pretty decent.
• Vivocity Sky Park – Before you head to Sentosa, the rooftop of Vivocity does offer quite a decent sea view.
• Skyville@Dawson – This is public housing with a sky garden. It’s so popular that every random John is going up there for the scenic views now. The residents are, of course, not too happy with it.
• Northshore Straitsview – Another public housing with a sky garden. But what’s better? It’s literally beside the sea.

TRAVEL SMART

• Travelers, please abuse the tourist pass. 3 days for $30, with a $10 rental refund. That’s just $20 for 3 days of unlimited travel.
• If you know how to cycle, there are 2 bicycle-sharing companies in Singapore. Costs a little bit of money, and it’s faster than walking.
  • SG Bike
  • Anywheel

EAT SMART

If it is not obvious enough, locals don’t usually eat at places like the Marina Bay Sands, Newton Hawker Center, Satay By The Bay, and Lau Pa Sat. These places are rather overpriced tourist traps.

Dive into a neighborhood shopping center, and look for food courts. Even better, cross a few streets, and look for “coffee shops”, “hawker centers”, “markets”, or “food centers”. That’s where all the affordable food is at.

MORE “FREE ATTRACTIONS”

• Light Shows & Night Festivals In Singapore – Red Dot Geek
• Free Fireworks – Red Dot Geek