Singapore is always a country I was interested in visiting but had always heard that it was super expensive to visit. I prepared myself a bit for possible pocket-gauging prices especially since generally traveling through Southeast Asia is very affordable and in most cases insanely cheap.

To my surprise, I didn’t end up spending an arm and a leg in Singapore. Sure, there are definitely ways and areas you will pay a lot. Stay at the Marina Bay Sands, eat at the restaurants at the Marina Bay Sands, go to the bars with views of the Bay, pay admission to the Super Trees or even go shopping in the plethora of designer stores. But you don’t have so do these things.

Here is a list of things to do while in Singapore and most of them won’t break the bank!

LITTLE INDIA

Little India is one colorful area of the city you should definitely explore. If you haven’t tried Indian food, this is a great place to do so. And if you love Indian food, you’ll find stalls and restaurants of authentic, delish dishes at your fingertips. The best part about this area is definitely the colors. There are tons of colorfully painted houses and artsy walls to snap photos of.

GARDENS BY THE BAY

There are two main stops to see when at the Gardens By The Bay, the Super Tree Grove and Cloud Forest. There are ton more attractions to visit in the Garden like the Flower Dome, the OCBC Skyway or the many gardens and sculptures, but if you’re short on time the Super Trees and Cloud Forest are the must sees.

Cloud Forest is actually home to the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. It’s an incredibly impressive sight to see and the perfect way to cool down from the humidity outside. If you love plants, Cloud Forest will be heaven for you. You can get tickets for $21 USD for both the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome.

The Super Trees, though not actually trees, range from 25 to 50 meters tall. They are vertical gardens that are designed to look like trees. It is free to walk around the Supertrees, but if you want a more up close view and a higher vantage point, check out the OCBC Skyway. You can pay $6 USD to access the walkway.

MARINA BAY SANDS

The Marina Bay Sands is the most recognizable building in Singapore. It is lavish and the optima of luxury standing tall over the bay with three towers and what I can only describe as what looks like a surfboard across all towers. The most spectacular views can be seen from the Skypark at the 57th floor of the hotel. If you want to splurge for a night at the Marina Bay Sands, you’ll have access to the Skypark and the infamous infinity pool. If not, you can still buy admission to the Skypark for views from the Observation Deck for $17 USD or there are a few restaurants to choose from to grab a drink or some food. Book your tickets in advance,

MICHELIN STAR FOOD STALLS

It’s not very often that you have a chance to dine at a restaurant that has a Michelin Star. I never thought I would have a chance to eat at one especially since they are usually super expensive. Did you know that there are three foods stalls in the world that have been awarded this prestigious honor? Well, two of the stalls are in Singapore.

Hawker Chan and Tai Hwa are two places to not pass up. You get a Michelin Star meal all for a couple of bucks. One of the cheapest meals you can get and one of the highest praised.

TIAN TIAN HAINANESE CHICKEN

I didn’t realize how big of a foodie city Singapore is. After trying some Michelin rated food, head over to TIan Tian for some of the best Hainanese chicken around. Anthony Bourdian covered this food stall on his show No Reservations. As with the two food stalls mentioned above, this place can get extremely busy. Come ready to wait or go at an extremely off hour. We went around 2pm and there was absolutely no line. I’ve heard others say the line was out of control.

Singapore 2-Day Itinerary