Singapore can be done on a budget without having to miss out on awesome attractions. If you know where to look, you’ll see that Singapore has lots to offer in terms of green spaces, free museums, and so much more. I’ve made it easy for you and compiled a comprehensive list of Singapore free attractions here in this blog post.
Be sure to read my concluding thoughts to learn where you can save even more money! Feel free to use the table of contents below for ease of maneuvering.
- Gardens by the Bay (the Outdoor Attractions)
- Singapore Museums & Galleries
- Temples, Mosques, and More!
- The Merlion
- Nature & Parks
- Architecture
- Rooftop Views & Green Spaces
- Beaches
- Murals
- Jewel Changi International Airport
- Kid-Focused Attractions
- The Esplenade
- Getting Around on a Budget
- Low Cost Singapore Attractions
1. Gardens by the Bay (the Outdoor Attractions)
Gardens by the Bay is one of Singapore’s most popular tourist attractions. However, most don’t know that the property is free to access almost all day, except between the hours of 2am-5am.
It’s iconic trademark, the Supertrees, also live in the public access park of the property. There are actually three Supertree Groves, the Golden Garden, the Silver Garden, and the main grove that houses the 12 Supertrees, the observatory, and the OCBC Skyway (the latter two are paid attractions).
Free nightly show; There’s a bi-nightly 15 minute music and light show Garden Rhapsody at 7:45pm & 8:45pm totally free of charge at the SuperTree Grove! These are a few of just many Singapore free attractions at Gardens by the Bay.
There are two parallel gardens that surround the main Supertree Grove! The Heritage Gardens are captivating with traditional architecture and plant life of China, India, Malaysia, with even a Colonial Garden. The World of Plants consist of six smaller gardens with breathtaking plant life, unique fruit trees, and stunning nature scenes great for relaxing in the shade.
The Canyon features unique palm trees and boulders, some as tall as 7 metres/23 feet, including a Chinese totem. These rocks originate from Shandong, China, and are considered ancient.
The Sun Pavilion is home to 1,000+ desert plants that originate from Africa, Madagascar, and the Americas. I imagine these plants are kept under a the glass pavilion as to not take in the heavy Singapore rain. There is also a comfortable wooden seat at this garden.
Just south of the Sun Pavilion will you encounter the Victoria Lily Pond which features a swam statue; close to there is the Big Fish Aquarium. If you follow the trails from here, you will inevitably end up at the famous Waterlily Pond. This is a must-see Gardens by the Bay attraction; many like to pose for photos on the boulder near its eastern edge to capture the pond with the fountain and the iconic Marina Bay Sands in the background.
If you walk further east from the Cloud Forest, you will walk into the Kingfisher Wetlands which features a number of Kingfisher statues as well as the nearby Lotus Pond, waterfall, and streams. Here you can enjoy the wildlife from birds to fish to turtles who have made these wetlands their home.
The Active Garden is wedged in the northwestern most corner of the park between the Silver Gardens and the Marina Bay Sands. This outdoor gym also features a musical playground, a vegetable garden, as well as hosting spaces.
The southwestern edge of Gardens by the Bay also features an wide meadow for events along with the hard-to-miss floating baby statue known as Planet. On the far side of the meadow are the large Serene Gardens, a zen inspired garden filled with bamboo, bonsai, junipers, and more stretching across 20,000 sq metres/215k sq ft. You can walk through rows of tall bamboos or enjoy the silence near the streams.
➡️ For more information on all Gardens by the Bay attractions, tips, prices, maps, and more, click here.
🌟 Keep scrolling for the free splash pads at Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Barrage!
2. Singapore Museums & Galleries
There are a number of Singapore free attractions that expand into the indoor learning space. Did you know that this city has over 50 Singapore museums, galleries, and heritage centres?! Please note although these are free to enter, some establishments require you to make a reservation ahead of time. Also be aware of certain hours/closure dates.
In the City Centre there is the Fort Canning Heritage Gallery & Spice Gallery, two history museums within Fort Canning Park, as well as the Battle Box, a series of bunkers you must reserve a time for in advance! Throughout the park you will also find plenty of historical sites including the Fort Gates! Right outside the park on Hill Street you’ll find the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery (CDHG) & Emergency Preparedness Centre (EPC); the EPC requires a reservation, so does booking a guided tour at CDHG. These niche museums detail the emergency response efforts in Singapore and can be fun for kids!
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Near Gardens by the Bay you’ll find the Sustainable Singapore Gallery inside the Marina Barrage, which addresses the potable water issue in Singapore; there are free daily tours available! The Barrage also has a grassy rooftop with amazing views of the Singapore Strait and the city! Just south of there is the Singapore Maritime Gallery that educates patrons on the maritime industry.
Across the bay at the National Stadium is the niche Shimano Cycling World, which features vintage bicycles and an active bike shop (you can book a guided tour in advance!). Up the river at Robertson Quay you’ll find the STPI Creative Workshop and Gallery, an art gallery which is only open on certain exhibition days, as the art rotates often.
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In Little India, you can reserve a spot to enter the Gem Museum to learn about the mine to market pipeline; just up the road from the Gem Museum lies LTA’s Singapore Mobility Gallery that involves all things public transport and universal access.
Near Orchard Road is the Istana Heritage Gallery, a small museum that details Singapore’s history from colonialism to its presidents. About once a month, you can book ahead to join the Istana Heritage Tour around the real life presidential property. Further north at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, you will find two free museums, the SBG Heritage Museum & the CDL Green Gallery, all about plants, seeds, sustainability, and history.
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In Chinatown, there is the fashionable Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery, which details Chinese theatre and opera. Across Chinatown lies the adorable Fuk Tak Chi Museum (inside Amoy Hotel) which features miniature historical recreations of Singapore’s history. Of course you can’t visit Singapore’s Chinatown without visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum (there is a dress code) as well as the Singapore City Gallery, which features a miniature 3D rendering of the Singapore City Centre.
Beyond the city centre lies Gillman Barracks, a contemporary art gallery. The NUS Museum has an ever rotating exhibition of art, located on the National University of Singapore campus. On Sentosa Island, there is the indoor/outdoor museum of Fort Siloso, which is quite interactive and immersive. Though not an actual museum, nearby Fort Imbiah & Fort Serapong remain in ruins behind the lush rainforest. Heading far east, you can explore the Singapore Air Force Museum which features an outdoor air park.
➡️ For more museums & galleries, check out my guide here.
3. Temples, Mosques, and more!
What’s Singapore without its rich cultural and religious heritage. According to the Pew Research Center, among Singaporean adults, “26% identify as Buddhist, 18% as Muslim, 17% as Christian, 8% as Hindu, 6% as a follower of Chinese traditional religions like Taoism or Confucianism, and 4% as some other religion, including Indigenous religions. Another 22% do not identify with any religion.”
The suggestions below are highlighted due to their architectural significance. Please be mindful of visiting places of worship you are unfamiliar with. Be mindful of dress code and photography etiquette, as well as holiday closures and other community events. These shrines, temples, mosques and beyond are so much more than just Singapore free attractions!
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Some Sikh Gurdwaras include Silat Road Sikh Temple, Central Sikh Gurdwara, and Gurdwara Sahib Yishun.
Some well known Buddhist temples in Singapore include Kuan Yin Thong Hood Cho, Buddha Tooth Relic, Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, and Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery; which really barely scratches the surface.
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There are only two Jewish synagogues in Singapore; Chesed-El Synagogue and Maghain Aboth Synagogue.
and Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. However, I find that all Hindu temples are quite stunning.
4. The Merlion
No visit to Singapore is complete without photos with the Merlion. The best time to get your unique shots is in the morning hours to beat the crowds, so if you are feeling jet lagged, time is on your side (The Merlion spouts water 24/7). If you go at dusk, you may see the Merlion in colorful light projections.
Did you know? There are more merlions located across Singapore! One of which is the merlion cub located behind its mama in Merlion Park. Other’s can be located on Mount Faber, inside the Singapore Tourism Court, and in several other locations around the city. The Sentosa Island statue has unfortunately been closed and disassembled since 2019. Don’t skip on the easiest of all the Singapore free attractions.
➡️ Click here for additional information on all things Merlion.
5. Nature & Parks
Singapore is no stranger to stunning nature, hiking, and green spaces. Amazing Singapore free attractions in nature are abundant and full of wildlife, biodiverse plants, and even fruit trees! This was one of my favorite parts about Singapore, hence why I included TONS of photos to inspire you!
Some of the most popular and picturesque locations include:
- Fort Canning Park
- Jurong Lake Gardens
- MacRitchie Treetop Walk
- The Southern Ridges/Mount Faber
- Tempinis Cascade on Sentosa’s Imbiah Trail
- The Singapore Botanic Gardens
Lesser known hiking areas and green spaces include:
- Mandai Boardwalk
- Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
- Coney Island
- Japanese Cemetery Park
- East Coast Park
- West Coast Park
- Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
- Sungei Buloh Wetlands
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➡️ For more on parks around Singapore, click here.
6. Architecture
Beside the aforementioned religious sites, which are beauties within themselves, Singapore has a lot stunning modern architecture all around the city. These Singapore free attractions are a great way to explore the city through the camera lens. Some popular photo opp spots include:
- The ArtScience Museum (inside the atrium too, free to enter atrium)
- The Marina Bay Sands
- Gardens by the Bay
- Shophouses on Everton Road
- Peranakan Houses on Joo Chiat Road
- Arwaa Mansion
- The Hive
- Hill Street Police Station
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- The National Gallery (inside atrium)
- The Esplenade
- The Capitol Theatre
- Park Royal Collection Pockering
- Pan Pacific Orchard
- ION Orchard
- EDEN Singapore
- The Helix Bridge
- The Singapore Flyer
- Marina One Tower
- Potato Head
- The Duo
- Oasia Hotel Downtown
- Tan Teng Niah
- AlKaff Bridge
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This is not a full list by any means! Just some popular suggestions…very instagrammable.
➡️ For more stunning architecture around Singapore, click here.
➡️ For architecture in the city centre, click here.
7. Rooftop Views & Green Spaces
It wouldn’t be a city adventure without rooftop views and/or rooftop gardens. Here are more access points to Singapore free attractions from a bird’s eye view!
- Marina Barrage Rooftop
- Marina Bay Sands Tower 3 (near CÉ LA VI Singapore)
- Sky Garden at Capita Spring (requires time reservation online)
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
- Fort Siloso SkyWalk
- Faber Point
- Henderson Waves
- Funan Mall Rooftop
- Design Orchard
- Orchard Central
- Orchardgateway Mall Rooftop
- Andaz Hotel (39th Floor, past Mr. Stork Bar)
- VivoCity SkyPark
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8. Beaches
If you want to relax, then make it a beach day! Although the island has a mostly rocky coastline, there a number of public access beaches. Here are some popular locations:
- Sentosa Beaches: Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong
- Changi Beach
- East Coast Beach at East Coast Park
- Pasir Ris Beach
9. Murals
If you like to venture outside for Singapore free attractions, then look no further than Chinatown and Kampong Glam.
In Chinatown, while wondering around Pagoda Street, be sure to stop at Smith Street, Temple Street, and Kreta Ayer Square for stunning murals. There are also several murals located south of Tiong Bahru Market.
In Kampong Glam, be sure to take notice of the art on Baghdad Street, Muscat Street, and Haji Lane.
1o. Jewel Changi International Airport
Jewel Changi Airport has a lot of Singapore free attractions inside the main Jewel as well as at each terminal! So if you are on a long layover or want to show to the airport extra early, there is a plethora of things to do here for completely free!
HSBC Rain Vortex: This is the real name of the waterfall inside the Jewel! But note that this waterfall does take a break. It is active during the weekdays from 11am-10pm, and on weekends/PHs (to include Fridays) it’s active from 10am-10pm.
Catch the free nightly Sound & Light Shows at the Vortex: Monday-Thursday 8pm & 9pm/Friday-Sunday/PHs/Eve of PHs 8pm, 9pm & 10pm.
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The Shiseido Forest Walk is a series of trails that surround the many floors around the Vortex. It’s walkways and staircases are adorned with foliage, streams, and small waterfalls. It is not wheelchair/stroller friendly and luggage is not permitted.
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Terminal 1 at Jewel Changi Airport is best known for it’s pool and it’s many gardens, inside and out!
On the Public Side:
- The Arrival Garden: features the “dragonfly habitat”
- Kinetic Rain: over 1000 copper raindrops that move
Inside the Transit Area:
- Aerobar Pool/Jacuzzi and Bar
- The Piazza Garden: features plants native to Singapore as well as a maze of ponds
- The Discovery Garden: small outdoor winding trail with SuperTree Grove inspired structures
- The Waterlily Garden: has adorable ponds full of lily pads
- Tropical Rainforest Vivarium: terrarium displaying over 60 species of plant life
- The Cactus Garden: outdoor desert scape with over 100 species of cacti
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Terminal 2 at Jewel Changi Airport is all about large LED displays blended with a natural element.
On the Public Side:
- The Wonderwall giant LED display of a waterfall (watch below!)
Inside the Transit Area:
- Sunflower Garden: outdoor sunflower nursery
- The Enchanted Garden: Breathtaking indoor garden
- Dreamscape: A garden that comes to life with LED lights
- 2 Bears Hideout: a children’s playground
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Terminal 3 at Jewel Changi Airport features a lot of cultural heritage, art displays, koi ponds as well as playgrounds!
On the Public Side:
- Four Story Slide of 12m/39 ft in height, open daily 12pm-11:30pm; height range requirements from 1.3m-2m; website says that entry requires Changi Rewards Membership and can be done online.
- Daisy: giant 13m/42 ft daisy that resembles a wind turbine
Inside the Transit Area:
- The Crystal Garden: features spherical and floral displays
- Butterfly Garden: houses over a thousand butterflies!
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Terminal 4 at Jewel Changi Airport also features an array of sculptures; you will have to take a public/transient bus to reach T4 (not accessible by foot nor by SkyTrain).
On the Public Side:
- Singapore Rojak: 37m/121 ft long mural
Inside the Transit Area:
- Heritage Zone: features Peranakan shophouses
- The Chandelier: climbing net for adults and kids; minimum height requirement of 1.1m/3’6″
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➡️ For more info in Jewel Changi click here!
11. Kid-Focused Attractions
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Ready to take your children to fun filled Singapore free attractions? Here is a small list of playgrounds, splash pads, and more!
- Far East Organization Children’s Garden ~ playground/climbing gym, splash pad, and amphitheater all for kids between the ages of 6-12 years. There is also a toddler splash pad for those five and under. It is open daily 9am-7pm, though water will stop flowing at 6:30pm. Weather conditions can also impact hours of operation.
- Water Playground @ Marina Barrage ~ splash pad at entry point of the Marina Barrage; Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 12.30pm – 9pm///Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 9am – 9pm. Weather conditions can also impact hours of operation.
- VivoCity SkyPark ~ a hidden gem rooftop shallow pool (on Level 3), with rides opens daily 11am-9pm.
- Splash-N-Surf ~ Splash pad by the National Stadium, open daily from 9am-8pm; closed on Tuesdays/some Public Holidays
🌟 The is also the Children’s Museum Singapore & the MINT Museum of Toys which are both paid attractions. There is also the Singapore Museum of Ice Cream, the Singapore Discovery Centre, the Live Turtle Museum, and the Science Centre Singapore.
12. The Esplenade
The Esplenade is the famous double durian shaped theatre right on the bay. Due to its ties with the DBS Foundation, many of the shows at the Esplenade are actually free or quite affordable. These shows change regularly, so take advantage of these Singapore free attractions.
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13. Getting Around on a Budget
The Singapore MRT & Bus system are essential to utilize if you want to get around on a budget, because Grabs and cabs can add up quick. Plus taking a public transport ride only costs between S$1-S$3. You should want to consider if purchasing an EZ Link Pass or a Singapore Tourist Pass is best suited for you. I detail everything you need to know about the Singapore MRT in my blog post below.
14. Low Cost Singapore Attractions Worth Highlighting
Something I would pay for again are the following Singapore attractions:
- SkyLuge Sentosa starting at S$33/pax (go during non-peak times)
- National Orchid Garden at the Botanic Gardens, S$15 for anyone above 13 and below 60
- National Museum of Singapore $S24 for adults for all exhibits
- Try some local fruit like mangosteen, rambutan, durian, or take the journey to Bollywood farms for local produce
Conclusion, Final Thoughts, and some Tips!
Thank you for reading my blog post on Singapore free attractions! To maximize savings on your trip, make sure you keep cash on you to pay at affordable food at Hawker Centres and Wet Markets. Staying at local branded hotels like Hotel NuVe also helps you save some money, especially when you book early.
If you’re a credit cards rewards points person, I highly recommend using points to book your airfare, hotels, and/or excursions! If you do plan on doing some of the paid attractions around Singapore, I highly recommend using Klook and/or Pelago for discounted tickets and bundles!
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