Bloggers have always raved about famous Singapore tourist spots, from the panoramic views in the Marina Bay Sands infinity pool to the blast-from-the-past atmosphere of Palau Ubin.
During my recent visit to Singapore, I tried to visit as many of the city’s important tourist attractions as possible. During my first two days I rode a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus, which whisked me from tourist spot to tourist spot while allowing me to see the city from above ground level (unlike the MRT public transportation system, which is fast and convenient but sorely lacking in beautiful views).
When I sat down to write a post about my favorite tourist attractions in Singapore, I decided to organize my list into free attractions and paid attractions. Singapore’s reputation for being expensive is well-earned, but savvy travelers can find dozens of free or inexpensive ways to spend their time in the city.
In fact, many of my favorite experiences in Singapore were completely free. That’s why I invited some fellow travel bloggers to contribute to this post. These bloggers checked out some of the city’s more expensive tourist attractions and shared exactly why their experience was worth every last Singapore dollar.
Whether you’re on a tight budget or an unlimited budget (or fall somewhere in the middle) you’ll want to add as many of these Singapore tourist spots as possible to your itinerary – they really are amazing.
The Best Free Singapore Tourist Spots
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Only the most special parks are eligible for UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and Singapore Botanic Gardens obtained this highly-coveted status in 2015.
The gardens cover almost two hundred acres and have been operational for more than 150 years. They are divided into distinct sections including the National Orchid Garden (the only part of the gardens that charges an admission fee), a six-acre tropical rainforest, the Sun Garden, the Sundial Garden, three lakes and an assortment of dining options (including a Michelin-starred restaurant).
Personally, I’m a perfume-lover and I was most interested in the Fragrant Garden and the Frangipani Collection. After visiting those two gardens (which were on opposite sides of the park!) I wandered freely around the gardens, stopping for a lemonade and occasionally gasping as I encountered meter-long monitor lizards on the path (don’t worry, they’re more afraid of you!).