Best Free Things in Singapore

Our Local Expert Says:

A fascinating insight into the rich history and culture of Buddhism.

Description:

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is located in the heart of Chinatown. The magnificent temple building comprises five floors and a roof garden and was designed to incorporate the best of the Tang Dynasty and the Buddhist Mandala.

The Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic Chamber is the most revered part of the temple and can be found on the 4th floor. Its importance is evident in the magnificence of the room, complete with gold floor tiles surrounding the solid gold stupa. The roof garden houses the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pavilion with its large Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel, while the excellent Buddhist Culture Museum can be found on the 3rd floor. This houses an impressive collection of rare Asian Buddhist artefacts, which accompany a display on the life story and teachings of Lord Buddha. The 100 Dragons Hall on the ground floor is where the daily ceremonies take place, when the chanting monks and congregation add to the air of reverence.

Our Local Expert Says:

A great place to unwind and relax.

Description:

Just a 15 minute walk from the retail frenzy of Orchard Road brings you to the relaxing and peaceful Botanic Gardens. This 52 hectare park provides a huge variety of areas to explore, including lakes, fountains, sculpture gardens and well-manicured lawns, all linked by well signposted paths.

The highlight is undoubtedly the National Orchid Garden, where you can marvel at the largest display of tropical orchids in the world - over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids, all cultivated here. In 1957, the Singapore Government began to honour state visitors and other VIPs by naming selected orchid hybrids after them. There are now over 100 of these VIP orchids, so keep a look out for the Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, Jackie Chan and even Ricky Martin orchids!

Other visitor favourites include the Rainforest – a 6-hectare slice of the original rainforest that once covered the island of Singapore; the Evolution Garden, which takes you on a journey through time, from the era of the dinosaurs through to the modern world of flowering plants; and the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, a fun and educational area specially designed for kids, including a maze, suspension bridge, tree house and secret cave.

Our Local Expert Says:

A moving and humbling experience.

Description:

The Changi Museum is dedicated to the memory of all those who suffered incarceration during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore from 1942-45, and is probably the most harrowing collection of stories in all the war museums of Singapore.

This incredibly moving exhibition is put together based on interviews with former inmates, Prisoners of War and their families, with direct quotations used where possible. Personal accounts of torture and humiliation at the hands of the Kempeitei are interspersed with stories of the hardship of rationing and high inflation, and the struggle for survival. Just as shocking are the brutal statistics that accompany the personal memories – such as the 16,000 Prisoners Of War who died from hunger, physical abuse and tropical disease whilst being forced to labour on 'Death Railway', a railway line being built by the Japanese to cross the Thai/Burmese border.

Entrance to the Chapel and Museum is free, but it is well worth paying for the personal audio tour which really brings the exhibition to life with additional stories and actual interviews with survivors.

Our Local Expert Says:

The highlight of the MacRitchie Reservoir.

Description:

The HSBC TreeTop Walk, is the highlight of popular nature reserve MacRitchie Reservoir Park. This free-standing 250m long suspension bridge gives you a bird's eye view of the plants and animals in the rainforest canopy from its 25m high position. The Park is home to more than 840 flowering plant and 500 animal species, so you have a good chance of spotting Long Tailed Macaques, Monitor Lizards, White-bellied Fish-eagles and an abundance of butterflies and birds.

The nature reserve offers several boardwalk treks around the reservoir and more rugged forest trails which vary in length from 3km to 11km. The Blue trail to the HSBC TreeTop Walk is a 10.5km round trip from the MacRitchie Reservoir Park. For a slightly shorter walk, an alternative 7km (orange) trail can be taken from the Venus Drive car park. The TreeTop Walk allows one-way traffic only so don't try to do the walk in reverse!

Description:

Representing two cultures of contrasting architectures, these gardens are set on adjacent islands in Jurong Lake linked by the Bridge of Double Beauty. The Chinese Garden is fashioned according to imperial Sung dynasty architecture with twin pagodas, pavilions, rockeries, a tea gallery and arched bridges. The Japanese Garden is laid out in contrasting simplicity, embracing classical Japanese motifs such as Zen rock gardens, traditional summer houses, stone lanterns and gilded arched bridges. Plain and serene, it is a conducive place for meditation, poetic inspiration or just a quiet picnic.

Description:

Before the days of Stamford Raffles and commercialisation, much of Singapore was covered in lowland tropical rainforest. More than 90% of the original vegetation was cleared for logging and cultivation during the 19th century, but the rainforest at Bukit Timah remained relatively undisturbed, and is now managed by the National Parks Board.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has one of the most diverse ecological systems in the world – besides 840 flowering plant and 500 animal species, it also contains more tree species in one hectare than in the whole of North America! In addition to being an ecological hotspot, Bukit Timah is also home to Singapore's highest hill, which peaks at 163.63 metres.

Four colour-coded walking trails lead you into the reserve, with two of these – yellow and red – leading to the 'summit'. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk for long-tailed macaques and squirrels, and you may also spot lizards, snakes, butterflies, beetles and spiders along the way. It's worth taking the time to read up on the native flora and fauna of the reserve in the exhibition in the Visitor Centre before you set off on your walk.

Our Local Expert Says:

One of the most elaborate and beautiful temples in the whole of Singapore.

Description:

Thian Hock Keng Temple, also known as the Temple of Heavenly Bliss, is one of the most popular temples in Singapore with visitors.

The temple is dedicated to Ma-Zu-Po, the Goddess of the Sea, and once faced the sea – the spot where it stands originally bordered the shoreline, before the island was extended through reclaimed land. It was therefore often the first stop for new Chinese immigrants arriving in Singapore who came to pay their respects to Ma-Zu-Po, and give thanks for a safe passage.

The temple was erected in 1821, making it the oldest Hokkien temple in Singapore. Nearly all of the materials used to construct the temple came from China, and some even from the boats the immigrants arrived on. Incredibly the entire temple was constructed with bricks and wooden poles and without the use of any nails.

Take your time to explore the temple - wander through the courtyards and admire the rooftop dragons, ceiling mosaics, gold-leafed details and the intricately painted doors. You will find a statue of Ma-Zu-Po on the central altar in the main part of the temple, flanked by the Protector of Life and the God of War.

Our Local Expert Says:

Watch out for crocodiles!

Description:

The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is set in 130 hectares of mangroves, mudflats and secondary forests. This peaceful oasis has become well known for its abundant birdlife, particularly during the migratory season of September to March when huge flocks of shorebirds, such as Egrets, Sandpipers and Plovers visit the Reserve. Although a popular destination for bird enthusiasts, the Reserve is also home to an amazing diversity of other interesting plants and animals, including Otters, Monitor Lizards and if you are lucky, you may spot an Estuarine Crocodile.

There are three walking routes to follow, ranging from 3km to 7km in length, and a 500m Mangrove Boardwalk that leads from the Visitor Centre.

Free guided tours are available on Saturdays at 9.30am (except on Public Holidays). Each tour is limited to a maximum of 15 people per guide and is on a first come first served basis.

Description:

In 1935, brothers Haw Boon Haw and Haw Boon Par -- creators of Tiger Balm, the camphor and menthol rub that comes in those cool little pots -- took their fortune and opened Tiger Balm Gardens as a venue for teaching traditional Chinese values. They made more than 1,000 statues and life-size dioramas depicting Chinese legends and historical tales, and illustrating morality and Confucian beliefs. Many of these were gruesome and bloody, and some of them were really entertaining. But Tiger Balm Gardens suffered a horrible fate. In 1985, it was converted into an amusement park and reopened as Haw Par Villa. Most of the statues and scenes were taken away and replaced with rides. Well, business did not exactly boom. In fact, the park lost money fast. But recently, in an attempt to regain some of the original Tiger Balm Garden edge, they replaced many of the old statues, some of which are a great backdrop for really kitschy vacation photos, and ditched the rides. They also decided to open the gates free of charge.

Our Local Expert Says:

Sums up Singapore - where the real jungle and the concrete jungle merge.

Description:

The Southern Ridges Walk starts at Mount Faber Park and ends in Kent Ridge Park, taking in several walking trails along the way. Although the walk takes you through various national parks, it has the feel of an urban walk and exemplifies the juxtaposition of the real jungle to the concrete jungle that is so unique to Singapore. While walking through sections of natural rainforest, you are never far from urban development, so the sound of the traffic merges with the buzz of the cicadas, and tower blocks soar over the treetops as you walk through tree canopies.

Highlights of the walk include:
Mount Faber Park, one of the oldest parks in Singapore and home to the Jewel Cable Car station, and the various bars and restaurants of the Jewel Box. Faber Point, the highest point of Mount Faber is a good spot for panoramic views over the city and out to sea.

Henderson Waves, the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore.

The Forest Walk, a meandering 1.6km elevated steel walkway, which gives you a bird's eye view of the rainforest.  

The Canopy Walk, an elevated wooden walkway that takes you through the tree canopy from Kent Ridge Park to Reflections at Bukit Chandu, the site of one of the last battles of Singapore during World War II.

Start the walk at the Harbourfront MRT station.