10 Fun and Free Things To Do In Singapore

Singapore is nothing but a small yet prosperous nation. With only 270 square miles, Singapore is the smallest country in Southeast Asia but it is also one of the richest. Along with Singapore’s status, it cannot be denied that it is indeed an expensive place and because of this, some tourists try to avoid Lion City.

Luckily, it’s not always the case for those who only wish to stay there for a short while. As long as you budget your money wisely, you’ll be fine. Trust me! Not everything in Singapore will cost you a fortune.

Besides, a lot of great deals on transportation, food, and accommodation are just waiting for you to find them.

So while you look for these deals online, we’ll be happy to unload some burden by giving you this list of 10 free things to do in Singapore. All of these, you can add to your itinerary for Singapore. 

1. Take an early morning walk in Singapore Botanic Gardens

One great way to start your morning in Singapore is by taking a stroll in this 82-hectare garden. But if you’re not a morning person, don’t worry… the garden opens from 5 am until midnight.

You can find over 10,000 different species of flora or come across a three-foot monitor lizard in the Singapore Botanic Garden. Speaking of flora, you can also find the world’s biggest display of tropical orchids in this botanic garden. Wildlife is also abundant.

How to get to Singapore Botanic Garden

Singapore Botanic Garden is located at 1 Cluny Road, Singapore. It is just five minutes away if you’re from Orchard Road. If you take this route, you’ll be entering the Tanglin gate.

You can also take another route and get off at The Botanic Garden MRT Station. This is the closest to the Bukit Timah entrance of the garden. Lastly, if you’re with a hop-on-hop-off bus, you can get off at the Tyersall entrance of the garden.

2. Visit Little India

Now that you are energized for the day after the morning stroll, you can then start exploring the different neighborhoods in Singapore. One of them is the Little India where you can see Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple.

You didn’t finish reading it, right? Don’t worry if you can’t read it out loud, not everyone can too. Aside from this temple, you can also visit the Mustafa Centre, the Temple of Thousand Lights, and the House of Tan Teng Niah.

Don’t forget to come back in the evening and experience the lively nightlife in Little India.

How to get to Little India

You can get to Little India by using the MRT, bus, or taxi. If you want to take the MRT, get off at Little India MRT station, Farrer Park MRT station, or Rochor MRT station.

If you want to take the bus, you could take buses 23, 48, 56, 57, 64, 65, 66, 131, 139, 147, 166, 170, 1N+, 3N+, 5N+, and 6N+.

3. Take a selfie with The Merlion

This iconic statue is one of the touristy spots in the Lion City that you can hang out for free. Merlion, the half-lion, half-fish statue, stands 8.6 meters tall overlooking the Marina Bay.

You can snap an Insta selfie with it if you want a souvenir to take home or you can simply admire the bay in front of you.

How to get to Merlion Park

Merlion Park is just adjacent to Hotel One Fullerton. The nearest MRT station is the Raffles Place MRT. From there, walk along Battery Road and then to Fullerton Road.

4. Take a peek at the Ten Courts of Hell in Haw Par Villa

In the mood to try something out of the ordinary while in Singapore? The Haw Par Villa is a nightmare theme park that exhibits the “Ten Courts of Hell”. The aim is not to scare the tourists away though.

Instead, Haw Par Villa teaches its visitors about Chinese mythology no matter how terrifying it is. Each court shows different gruesome statues so enter at your own risk.

How to get to Haw Par Villa

Haw Par Villa is located in Pasir Panjang Road. To get to here, get off at Haw Par Villa MRT station. The park is just one minute away from the station.

If taking the bus, get off at Bus Stop no. 16019, 16011, or 16229.

5.  Get mesmerized in the Gardens by the Bay

Landscape architecture in Singapore never fails to amaze and Gardens by the Bay is just one of the prime examples of this.

With more than 1,000,000 plants in this 101-hectare garden, you’ll find a variety of eye-candies in your visit and a couple of these are free of charge. The outdoor garden, for example, opens from 5 am to 2 pm and contains the popular Supertree Grove, Sun Pavillion, World of Plants and Heritage Garden.

(Editor’s Note: Entry to the garden is free, but admission fees will apply to the two conservatories, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, and at the 128m-long aerial walkway)

How to get to Gardens by the Bay

Getting to Gardens by the Bay is possible by taking the Downtown Line or East-West Line. If taking to Downtown line, get off at Bayfront MRT Station, take exit B all the way to the underground linkway exit and cross the Dragonfly Bridge or Meadow Bridge.

If taking the East-West Line, get off at Tanjong Pagar MRT station, take exit C and go straight to bus stop no. 03223. Take bus 400 and get off at bus stop no. 03371.

6. Watch the Garden Rhapsody

While you’re at Gardens by the Bay, why not wait for the light show at 7:45 pm or 8:45 pm? This 12-minute magical light and sound performance at the Supertree Grove will surely transport you to an enchanted forest you’ve never been before.

This is one of the best free things to see and top attractions in Singapore that you should not miss while you’re in the Lion City.

How to get to the Garden Rhapsody

The Supertree Grove is located in the heart of Gardens by the Bay. Just head on to the Bay South Garden and you’ll surely not miss these 50-meter tall vertical garden.

7. Watch the sunset at Marina Bay Sands

Sunsets are magical but paired with the impressive Singaporean skyline, it gets even better. Watching the sunset at Marina Bay Sands is one of the most relaxing things to do in Singapore. The best time to go is around 6 pm.

If you want to stay longer, you can also wait for the water and light show at 8 pm and 9:30 pm.

How to get to Marina Bay Sands

To get to Marina Bay Sands, get off at Bayfront station. You can take Exit A, C, D, or E. Exit A connects to the Gardens by the Bay, Exits C and D connect to a couple of attractions in Marina Bay Sands, and lastly, Exit E connects to Sands Expo and Convention Center.

8. Go Merlion hunting

Running out of things to do in Singapore on a budget? Why not take your sightseeing trip to the next level by going for a hunt of the iconic half-lion, half-fish statues?

Singapore actually has 8 Merlion statues located all over the city. The challenge is every time you find the Merlion, take a photo with it.

How to get to a Merlion hunting spree

The city is your playground but to get a good start, you can work on the Merlion statue in Merlion Park and start hunting from there.

9. Watch free concerts at Esplanade

If you’re a sucker for free shows, the Esplanade is the best place to go in Singapore. You can find all types of performances here like dance showdowns, theatrical acts, and live bands. Even art exhibits and workshops are held here.

How to get to Esplanade

Esplanade can be accessed by MRT, Bus or Taxi. If taking the MRT, get off at the City Hall MRT then start following the signs to Esplanade theater. If taking the bus, you can get off at Bus Stop No. 02061 or 02111.

10. Show your love for animals by volunteering in Animal Lovers League

Singapore is not only a place for sightseeing but also for volunteering most especially for our furry friends at the Animal Lovers League.

The workload includes cleaning the shelter grounds, mixing foods, showering and walking the dogs, and fixing things in the shelter. If you’re going to be in Singapore for a longer period of time, why not try this out?

How to get to the Animal Lovers League

The Animal Lovers League shelter is located at 61 Pasir Ris Farmway 3. You can take the bus or the subway to get there. You can start your trip from Nex, Giant Super, Bedok Mall, or Changi Airport to the shelter.

If taking the subway, East-West Line and North East Line stop near Animal Lovers League.

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