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Experience a reimagined Singapore without breaking the bank

Rediscover Singapore while staying under budget.

Singapore – the Lion City, is well-known around the globe for its worldclass airport (complete with a waterfall, movie theatre and butterfly dome), the towering Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, and the epic Marina Bay skyline which no Instagrammer can miss. What many people don’t realise about Singapore is that it’s not just all about glitz and glamour – in fact, some of the most authentic and eye opening experiences can be done on a shoe-string budget. Here are some of the best free and budget-friendly things to do and see while in the Lion City.

Make the most of Singapore’s world-leading public transport system

Why bother taking a cab when you could hop on one of the best metro systems in the world? With a Singapore Tourist Pass, you can zip from place to place on one of the city’s buses or Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) trains. You can choose from a handful of different pass options

(1 – 3 days), including one that offers a free walking tour.

Get your fill of hawker food

Singapore is well known for its hawker food having been added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Think: chicken rice, fried noodles, bak chor mee (minced pork noodles), bak kut teh (pork ribs soup), char kway teow, fried carrot cake (look it up, it’s not what you’d expect), laksa, nasi lemak and more. And the best part is that it’s both delicious and affordable. Some of the best places to get an authentic hawker meal are Old Airport Road Food Centre, Tiong Bahru Food Centre, Maxwell Food Centre, and Chinatown Complex Food Centre.

Take advantage of free shows

Singapore is packed full of free shows that are impossible to miss, such as the stunning Spectra light show, a 15-minute light and water show that happens every evening at Marina Bay Sands. If you plan it right, you could also hop over to Gardens by the Bay to catch the Garden Rhapsody light show in the same evening. If you’re at Sentosa, experience a multi-sensory transformation of Siloso beach when Magical Shores takes over. Alternatively, head over to Central Beach Bazaar for a unique carnival beach experience with views of the Sentosa Skyjet (Southeast Asia’s tallest fountain) and the return of the iconic Sentosa Musical Fountain.

Discover amazing cultural enclaves

If you haven’t already, hit up Singapore’s Chinatown district, with sights like the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Sri Mariamman Temple. Make sure to stop by Kampong Gelam to enjoy the street murals and live music before hitting up Little India to go bargain hunting at Mustafa Centre. If you’re after something different, check out the colourful and lively KatongJoo Chiat neighbourhood which features pastel coloured shophouses and delicious Peranakan* cuisine.

*The term is an Indonesian/Malay word that means “local born”, which generally refers to people of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage.

Unwind and relax in nature

Singapore has no shortage of green spaces to unwind in. If you’re up for a challenge, hike the 10km Southern

Ridges or the scenic 11km MacRitchie Reservoir loop. If you’re looking to relax and soak up the sun, lay out your towel and take a swim at either Palawan or Siloso Beach at Sentosa. Other outdoor favourites include the renowned Singapore Botanic Gardens, one of only three gardens globally to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park.

Singapore’s culture, food, nature and attractions are ready to be explored, so what are you waiting for? Learn more at visitsingapore.com/en_au. and start planning your trip to Singapore today.

STUFF TRAVEL

en-nz

2023-01-22T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-22T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282492892819292

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