Working with a budget doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun. Head off on an adventure trail of things to eat, see and do in Singapore for next to nothing with this pocket-friendly guide. We guarantee, spending less will still pay off in amazing, memorable, and priceless experiences!
Eat
Singapore’s reputation as a gastronomic paradise doesn’t just come from the myriad of fine-dining and celebrity chef-owned restaurants. Pop into the hawker centres or the local kopi tiam (coffee shop) and get a taste of Singapore’s most iconic street food flavours.
Breakfast
Start your day with a kaya butter toast set from well-known local cafe institutions like Ya Kun Kaya Toast or Killiney Kopitiam (outlets island-wide). Consisting of toasted bread with a generous spread of kaya (coconut jam) and butter, soft-boiled eggs and a cup of kopi (coffee) or teh tarik (tea with condensed milk), this power-packed breakfast combo only sets you back a few dollars, but is sure to charge you up for the day ahead.
Lunch
Join the hustle and bustle of Singapore’s busiest food courts like Maxwell Food Centre (1 Kadayanallur Street) or Lau Pa Sat (18 Raffles Quay), and compete with locals in the race to chope (reserve) your table with a customary tissue packet. Then, take your pick of the generous plates of Singapore signatures like chicken rice, satay (grilled meat skewers) and char kway teow (wok-fried noodles) on offer. Can’t decide? Go communal to get a taste of it all!
Lau Pa Sat Market, Allie Caulfield
Mid-Afternoon Snack
To beat the heat of the afternoon sun, cool down with a potong ice cream (Singapore’s take on the ice cream sandwich) from a local convenience store. Sample local flavours like red bean, sweet corn, and (for those that dare) durian!
Dinner
For dinner, nothing beats a steaming plate of Chilli or Black Pepper Crab. Ok, so it’s not the cheapest item on the menu, but we promise the meal is well worth the little splurge. Your best bet: hit up the East Coast Seafood Centre (1206 East Coast Parkway), and take your pick from a whole line of seafood restaurants!
Do
Whether you’re a gallery hopper, culture vulture or a nature lover, Singapore has got you covered with plenty of things to see and do, without the heavy-duty price tag.
With a Singapore Tourist Pass ez-link card, you can virtually go anywhere on the island with Singapore’s super-efficient public transport system. Plus, rubbing shoulders Singapore’s buzzing urbanites on their daily commute during peak hour is a genuine sight in itself. The transport card gives you unlimited access to Singapore’s bus and train lines for up to three days. A one-day pass costs $10 but if you’re sticking around for longer, consider a three-day pass for just $20.
Katong shophouses, Kangxi504
History and Heritage
Visiting Singapore’s historic heritage sites is a must on any visitor’s list. For a taste of Singapore’s cultural diversity, explore on foot and get lost in the colours of Chinatown, Joo Chiat and Katong. Sign up for Chinatown Walking Tour to learn more about the district, or hop onto the Peranakan Trail which includes free pick-up and a sampling of local cuisine. When in Little India, don’t forget to download the free and handy Little India Heritage Trail app on your smartphone as a guide.
Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage
Nature
Outdoorsmen, get onboard a boat to the rural island of Pulau Ubin. Hike or hire a bicycle for the day in the island for around $10 and explore the old quarries and vibrant ecosystems.
Not too keen on going that far out? Check out the world-famous Gardens By The Bay (18 Marina Gardens Drive). Sidestep the Flower Dome and simply marvel at the Supertree Grove in all of its modern glory. A visit to Singapore Botanic Gardens (1 Cluny Road) won’t cost a nickel either, and is a great place for a family picnic, with occasional free performances by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra on the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage.
Art
Substitute the beauty of the outdoors for those in a gallery or a museum. Visit the National Museum of Singapore (93 Stamford Road) and Singapore Art Museum (1 Bras Basah Road) to enjoy their free, permanent exhibitions. Or, make a beeline for Gillman Barracks (9 Lock Road) to see contemporary art with a touch of history in the 17 galleries that are housed in the conserved colonial barracks of Singapore’s wartime past.
Chinatown, Brian Evans
Shop
No day out in Singapore would be complete without some shopping (yes it’s possible even on a shoestring budget!). Whether you’re on the hunt for bak kwa (barbecued meat) or a jar of kaya jam to take home, sidestep the high-street stores and head to the local markets instead!
Pay a visit to Little India’s Tekka Centre (665 Buffalo Road) or the Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre (335 Smith Street). For great local bargains on everything from kitschy-but-cute local souvenirs or funky fashion pieces, wander through the Bugis Street market (3 New Bugis Street) or Orchard Road’s Far East Plaza (14 Scotts Road). But if you’re on the lookout for something more specific, Queensway Shopping Centre (1 Queensway) sells a great variety of high-street sports brands (think: Nike, Mizuno, Adidas) far below retail prices.
For literally anything else, get lost in Little India’s titanic 24-hour Mustafa Centre (145 Syed Alwi Road) shopping mall for an absolute treasure trove of affordable goods from household items, technology, clothing and food.
Image: Katong Shopfront, Kangxi504