Some see Singapore as an expensive place to visit but when you consider how much there is to do for free in this city state, it’s a bucket-list destination that’s also great value for money. Here’s why…
When I first moved to Singapore four years ago, I thought what many visitors do – that it’s going to be an expensive country to explore. In fact, not only is the opposite true but it's a destination that offers brilliant value no matter your budget. Its reputation for being pricey is largely down to things like the cost of renting an apartment and owning a car but for visitors, there's a diverse range of activities that cater to any kind of price point and are very accessible to one another. Whether that’s eating the incredible hawker food or visiting one of the iconic landmarks, there’s plenty here that’s either free or great value for money. Read on to see how you can maximise your time, and wallet, in Singapore – especially in 2024…
Few destinations are as versatile as Singapore (Shutterstock)
It’s no secret that Singapore is small; the mainland is roughly half the size of London. But this is one of the best things about it, because it means you can enjoy all kinds of travel experiences in one shot.
Here, the city, garden and beach seamlessly blend into one. As an example of how close everything is, you could start the day dipping into cafés and museums along the Singapore River. By late morning, you could be in the tropical Botanic Gardens, one of three in the world to be awarded UNESCO status. In the afternoon you could be over in the East Coast Park, where you can stroll along the sandy beach beneath the palms. And by night you could be in Chinatown, taking in the dramatically lit temples and lanterns.
And not just that – Singapore adds jungle into the mix too. The island’s wild nature reserves still have patches of primary rainforest, home to long-tailed macaque monkeys, wild boar and enormous monitor lizards. You could hike the 11km trail around MacRitchie Reservoir, climb to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill or seek out rare migratory birds and sleeping crocodiles in Sungei Buloh Wetlands – all accessible within 30 minutes of downtown.
Hainanese chicken rice is a classic Singaporean dish (Singapore Tourism Board)
Of all the things to do in Singapore, eating should be at the top of your list. There are over 100 hawker centres – considered the nation’s dining rooms – where people from all walks of life can find cheap and delicious dishes from morning to night. These Hawker centres are so integral to Singapore society that they were recently inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
True to this city’s melting pot culture, you’ll find hawker dishes influenced by Chinese, Indian, Malay and Western cuisines, all side-by-side in open-air food halls that are clean, cool and comfortable. You can try everything from laksa and prawn noodles to Hainanese chicken rice, nasi lemak and satay – with most dishes setting you back no more than SG$4 (£2.40).
That said, Singapore is by no means just ‘street’ food. In fact, the city has 55 Michelin-starred restaurants, two of which – Les Amis and Odette – have even been awarded three Michelin stars. And this trend continues for 2024: La Liste, a French ranking guide for restaurants, recently released their 2024 global Top 1000 Restaurants list, and 12 from Singapore made the cut.
Cycling is a great way to navigate (Singapore Tourism Board)
It’s not often a city’s public transport system is worth commenting on, but Singapore’s stands out. It’s regularly ranked among the best in the world for being accessible, efficient, convenient, sustainable, impeccably clean, and at the same time, affordable. It’s also one of the best ways to cool down, because the buses and trains are blissfully air conditioned.
From the airport, taking the MRT is the easiest way into the city, and once you’re there, all the major sites are connected by public transport. There’s also a comprehensive bike hire system, similar to London’s Santander bikes, where you can use one of several apps (Anywheel, SG Bikes, HelloRide) to locate the nearest bikes and hire one for just a few dollars.
Given Singapore‘s small size, cycling is actually a really pleasant way to get around, especially as the majority of the city’s gardens and parks are linked up by 370km of ‘park connectors’. These paved paths zig-zag all over the city – alongside canals, through gardens and beside pretty rivers. There’s also a coast-to-coast trail that stretches from west to east, a 150km Round-the-Island park connector and a soon-to-be-complete 24km Rail Corridor that slices from north to south.
Fireworks over Singapore Marina (Shutterstock)
There’s always something happening in Singapore, and the 2024 calendar looks more packed than ever. Time your visit well and you can enjoy annual highlights like Chinese New Year (Feb 10-11) – the most important event in the Chinese calendar, when the streets are draped in lanterns – or National Day (August 9), turning the island a patriotic shade of red and white, with fireworks lighting up the sky.
Home to so many different cultures, you’ll also find a range of vibrant religious celebrations. These include Hari Raya in April, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when the neighbourhood of Geylang transforms with light-up festivities, a bustling food bazaar and a range of cultural programmes you can participate in. There’s also the Hindu festival of Deepavali in November, known as ‘Diwali’ or the ‘Festival of Lights’. Here you can meander through the many colourful bazaars of Little India, each awash with floral garlands, incense, gold jewellery and silks.
Beyond these celebrations, there are plenty of other events in 2024, including Singapore Cocktail Festival (May), Singapore Wellness Festival (June), the light up Night Festival (August) and many more.
Enjoy a wander through Singapore's Chinatown (Shutterstock)
One of the most interesting things about Singapore are the diverse neighbourhoods, which are easy to walk between and free to explore. These little pockets of culture stand side-by-side but feel entirely different, each with their own architectural identity and style.
Kampong Gelam, for instance, is known as Singapore’s Muslim quarter, home to colourful textile shops and a golden mosque ringing out the call to prayer. Just 15 minutes away on foot is Little India, an enclave of Hindu temples and brightly painted shophouses, with canteen-style eateries and vibrant street art. And just a few stops south on the MRT you’ll find Chinatown, with its open-air market and ornate temples, or Tiong Bahru, a neighbourhood known for its red-and-white Art Deco buildings.
In fact, once you’ve got your bearings of the city, you’ll realise just how much there is to do here for free. Besides neighbourhood hopping, you could take a hike in one of the many nature reserves, visit one of the free art galleries like Gillman Barracks, admire the multitude of temples and shrines, or simply take in views of the city from atop Mount Faber. You’ll be surprised at how little you spend.
It always helps to ask the experts. With over 40 years in travel and hundreds of Asia specialists ready to help you realise your dream holiday, Travelbag are the team to talk to about Singapore. They offer a range of itineraries that take all the hassle out of trip planning, incorporating the best of the city sights, food and culture. Check out their itineraries that combine a stop in Singapore with a range of other incredible destinations, like Bali, Borneo or Australia.
For more information and to start planning your trip to Singapore, visit the Travelbag website.
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