The rest of the world needs to copy Singapore. That is the joke I tell my friends when we talk about tourism growth, but that is true though. The country has been described as one of the fastest-growing countries in the world and also a playground for the rich. There are many best places to see in Singapore than just the high-end shopping mall, fancy and luxury hotels, and fine dining places.
Singapore also has some top historical places you would love to see. And also some lovely friendly places you can take a walk and take some pictures. It is a place worth visiting even if you are on a budget. There are so many places to see or things to do without breaking the bank.
What Is Singapore Known For?
Although, Singapore is a playground for the rich, but it is also a playground for everyone. They have affordable and excellent public transport system that makes getting around convenient and easy. One thing I love about Singapore is, it is a perfect place for tourists everywhere around the world. English is spoken anywhere and even signs are in English. If you are thinking of visiting any Asia country, don’t kick Singapore out of your bucket list. As long as you are or not on a budget, you can still see Singapore and have a lovely stay.
For the best places to see in Singapore, check out my ultimate list. After this list, I will give you a full list of places to visit in Singapore for free ( for budget travelers).
Best Places To See In Singapore
1.Marina Bay Sands
You might not know the name but I’m pretty sure you have been seeing the picture everywhere on the internet. And Marina Bay is said to be one of the best cities in the world. Marina Bay Sands is one of the most popular best places to see in Singapore right now. The place is a resort complex, and it is ranked as the world’s most expensive standalone casino property.
The building is a 55-storey tower and it’s home to the world’s largest infinity pool and atrium. There are other prime attractions including the Shoppes Mall, Artscience Museum, and Sands SkyPark.
If you are looking for the best time to visit Marina Bay Sands then it’s all year round. The place is at 10, Bayfront Avenue which is easily accessible to train service, bus service, and river ferry services.
2.Helix Bridge
Connecting Marina Central to Marina South lays the beautiful Helix Bridge. This is one most popular pedestrian bridges in Singapore. Linking the city’s existing CBD area with the newly developed Bayfront district and is popularly known as ‘’The Helix”
The bridge has a stunning view at night with ribbons of LED lighting. Turning it into a popular tourist attraction for both local and international tourists.
You would love to visit and take some pictures for your social media feeds. The bridge is made of special duplex stainless steel, and the 280-meter long bridge can support up to 1600 people at once. The bridge is about three storey to four-storey tall, with 2250 meter-long steel tubes which make up its structure.
3.SEA Aquarium
Seeing this Aquarium is not free. So if you are on a budget, you probably have to check the entry fees before you visit. The Sea Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world. It’s home to more than 900 species of aquatic wildlife. The chief draw is the open Ocean Tank – the world’s largest viewing panel and the only aquarium in the world to house the giant oceanic manta ray.
It is best to go early in the day, around 9.00 am, as the crowds can huge as the day progresses. If you looking to see SEA Aquarium, it is best to visit during weekdays because weekends are squished by the crowds.
4.Gardens By The Bay
This is a must-visit place in Singapore. Gardens bay has been featured in some Hollywood movies and is a 101-hectare nature park and a botanic garden. It’s home to almost 40,000 plants.
Gardens bay is one of the famous places you can visit in Singapore. The vast and colorful super park conservatories are spread across 250 acres of reclaimed land along the waterfront. Its famous Supertree structure, which are futuristic botanical giants connected by commanding Skyway. Offers a mesmerizing view as one traverses the skywalk over the garden.
You should check the entry fees before visiting the garden if you visiting Singapore on a budget.
5.Singapore Botanic Gardens
It’s the only tropical garden to be featured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Singapore. The 82-hectare garden houses more than 10,000 species of flowering plants and trees.
Singapore Botanic Gardens is the best budget attraction I will recommend for you if you are visiting Singapore on a budget because it has free entry.
There are few things to know before visiting the garden. It is good to check the rules at the services desk or even visit their website to find out more. But the number one rule is that visitors are not allowed to set up tents, camping gear, or furniture anywhere in the garden.
6.Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Another budget attraction for travelers traveling on a budget. It’s free getting inside the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. If you don’t know, there is a Chinatown in Singapore and that is where the Buddha Temple is located.
The temple is famed worldwide for storing what is supposedly the left canine tooth of Lord Buddha, recovered from his funeral pyre in Kushinagar, India. This relic is housed in a massive 320 kg, solid gold stupa, sitting dazzlingly on a 4th-floor room
The temple is also home to the Eminent Sangha Museum which is essentially a theatre holding religious talk, cultural performance, and relevant screenings. The temple is one of the best places to see in Singapore if you planning to visit.
7.East Coast Park
The East Coast Park is one of the few places in Singapore you can visit on a budget. You might hire a bike for this one because there are well-paved paths for biking and jogging.
If you are a travel photographer and you looking to capture one of the best visit memories then this park is the best place to visit. Because this is the perfect location for your sunrise and sunset shots.
The park is a 15km long stretch of seafront, and it’s the largest in all of Singapore. East Coast Park is popular with locals and tourists who enjoy surfing, swimming, picnic, barbecue, and even skateboarding. It is also one of the best places to interact with locals in Singapore.
8.Universal Studios
Yes, just like what we have in the United State or any other country. And it is a must-see attraction in Singapore. It doesn’t have a free entry but it won’t change anything in your budget ( lol was that funny). Isn’t it cheap to get in a Universal Studio to have all the fun for just $60 dollars?
The studio is one of its kind theme park located in Resort World Sentosa. The park comes with 28 thrilling rides, spectacular shows, nice attractions, and it is spread across 49 acres and is divided into seven fun zones.
Just like how you enjoy Universal Studios from other places, from live-action shows with popular animation characters, thrilling roller coasters that zoom through reality-bending animation, and all activities you can enjoy in any Universal Studio around the globe.
9.Night Safari
The night safari doesn’t have to scare you though, it is worth seeing the safari in Singapore. Safaris are mostly a thing for Africans but however, Singapore has found a way to give you a great Safari experience.
It’s the world’s first nocturnal zoo and housing over 130 species of animals. Spending $30 dollars on a 45-minute commented tour of its nocturnal animals and habitats, once again it is worth seeing attraction in Singapore. The night safari host some animals ranging from gaur, chital deer, Asian elephants, rhinoceros, and all are made visible by lighting.
There are other activities to enjoy with your entry fees which are watching the cultural performance and the fire-spinning Thumbuakar Performance which is held daily at the entrance courtyard. And the place is always crowded and you have to be prepared for it
10.Singapopre Flyer
I always rate Singapore’s attractions as 5-star, and it’s obvious we can all see. Flyer sky dining flight dinner?, now that is the place I would love to propose to the love of my life (I’m not though lol). For a memorable dining experience, enjoy the Flyer’s special in-flight dining package, along with the world’s first full-butler sky dining escapade.
The Singapore Flyer is said to be the largest giant observation wheel in Asia with a magnificent height of 165 meters. Offering a 360-degree amazing panoramic view of the Lion City, the huge Ferris wheels are built on a 3-storey terminal building at Marina Bay. It is one of the best places to see in Singapore
This is a beautiful thing to do in Singapore, to see the amazing lighting City and another best picturesque place of travel photography.
11.Merlion Park
History has made this attraction the most popular in Singapore. Merlin Park is one of the historical tourist sites in Singapore even though that is not its original location. However, due to the rapid commercialization, the Merlion was no longer visible from Marina Bay. Because of that, the authorities agreed to move the statue to its current location.
According to history, the Merlion is the true embodiment of Singapore’s glorious past when it was a normal fishing town.
The picturesque Merlion part is among one of the free places to see in Singapore and is located near Fullerton in the CBD ( Central Business District)
12.Mount Faber Park
Don’t worry, you are not going to walk up there. There is Cable Car from Sentosa Island to Mount Faber and you going to enjoy the panoramic view from the amazing height. Many tourists love to look at the scenery below through telescopes placed at specific points in the ridge along the hill.
It is a beautiful place to visit and the entire hill is covered by dense secondary rainforest that not only adds to the attraction but also keeps the terrain stabilized. Mount Faber Park is one of the most popular sightseeing places in Singapore and overlooks the region of Telok Blangah.
13.Siloso Beach
Honestly, I won’t recommend Siloso Beach for surfers. But if you are looking to have the best beach experience in Singapore without surfing, then Siloso Beach is the best place to visit. It should probably be part of my best beaches in the world.
The beach is among the few artificial beaches in the world, which has been reclaimed using white sand brought from Malaysia and Indonesia.
Siloso beach is always crowded and also hosts some of the best restaurants in Singapore.
14.National Gallery
Singapore has is all, a National Gallery art museum exhibiting the world’s largest collection of colonial and past-colonial Asian and Southeast Asian art. The building was the first Supreme Court building and City Hall and is now the largest museum and venue for visual art.
The building host six galleries and two are permanent, spread across three levels. Some galleries showcase amazing artwork from major Singapore artists and also some famous Southeast Asian artists.
Free entry for Singaporeans, permanent residents and not free for tourists.
15.Raffles Hotel
Arguable, Raffle Hotel is on top of every tourist’s to see or visit bucket list in Singapore. If it’s not then you don’t know much about Raffle Hotel.
It is one of the most famous, iconic, and oldest hotels in the country. Located in the Colonial District of Singapore, it is claimed to be one of the world’s last majestic 19th century hotels. The hotel has a record of 15 restaurants and bars including the long bar where the renowned cocktail Singapore sling was made. If you looking for some of the best places to see in Singapore then Raffle Hotel should be on your bucket list.
It is free to walk around or take a tour inside the hotel. The hotel has a lobby inside the main building open for the public whereas the museum is located on the 3rd floor.
16.Esplanade – Theatres On The Bay
Buy a ticket and enjoy some amazing shows at Esplanade – Theatre and make your visit a memorable one. The theatre is focused on both local and international artists and has hosted over 37,000 shows, 26 million guests in the past 15 years.
Even though it might look fancy but its mandate is to create a platform for professional live theatre that is affordable and accessible to everyone. You should check their official page often, there might be some free shows you would love to attend when traveling on a budget.
17.Raffles Landing Site
As I said, Singapore is not only known by it fancy hotel, casinos, Luxury restaurant but also a place of great historic destinations. The Raffle landing site is said to be the location where Sir Stamford Raffle, British sailor and the founder of modern Singapore first set foot on the Island.
The site is most popular among the few historic tourist sites in all of Singapore. And it is an attraction where tourists visit to learn more about the story of Singapore from a nondescript fishing village to the huge metropolis it is today. It is free to see the statue of Sir Stamford.
18.Boat Quay
The Quay has a little history in the growth of Singapore, though the place is not an active aquatic trade center anymore. But it is the hotspot for some of the most happening parties in Singapore right now, I mean nightlife hotspot.
Boat Quay is one of the best places to see in Singapore if you looking to enjoy nightlife during your visit. There are a few spots you would love to have all the fun and make sure you don’t drink much. (that is not a joke). Headquarters by the council is my top spot for your nightlife, They host most of the popular parties at Boat Quay.
19.VivoCity
VivoCity is one of the places in Singapore that will get you wowing. It’s said to be the largest shopping mall in Singapore and located at the HarbourFront. The mall is among the few shopping complexes that are famed for its open space.
I mostly recommend it to travelers with kids. because it has a playground for kids on it level two, along with a rooftop ’Skypark’. If you are looking for the largest cinema in the city, The VivoCity mall host it. The Mall also hosts some of the best restaurants in Singapore.
Just like how we can move around other shopping malls without buying anything, so as if is free to walk around inside the VivaCity mall.
20.Sim Lim Square
Maybe I will look through it to get some photography gear for my travel blog since it is a hub for electronic items. The Sim Lim Square is popularly known as SLS, it offers all kinds of electrical items like cameras, laptops, mobiles, computers, along with software updates and repairs.
You will need a tour guide or locale to show you around, or make sure you grab one of these guide information given at the entrance. The guide helps you get information about the best and affordable products. One best tip is to have items in hand before bargaining for the best deal.
Places To Visit In Singapore For Free
As I said earlier, Singapore is a playground for the rich but it’s also a playground for everyone. There are many places to visit for free if you are traveling on a budget. You don’t have to use all you life saving when visiting Singapore. Some of these places look expensive in the picture but trust me, these are totally free. And here is a list of places to visit in Singapore for free.
- Sri Mariamman Temple
- Singapore Chinese Garden
- Fort Canning Park
- Singapore Botanic Gardens
- East Coast Park
- Merlion Park
- Mount Faber Park
- Siloso Beach
- Changi Beach Park
- Raffle Landing Site
- Boat Quay
- VivoCity
- Sim Lim Square
- Supertree Grove
- Lazarus Island
- Haw Par Villa
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
- Arab Street