Free Things to Do in Singapore 2026: 20 Picks, Most Free for Everyone
19 October 2026 · By the Eventful team
The best free things to do in Singapore are Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay (7.45pm and 8.45pm daily), the Botanic Gardens (5am to midnight) and the Jewel Rain Vortex light show, plus the national museums, free for Singaporeans and PRs. Here are 20 picks, free for everyone where the operator says so, and free for Singaporeans and PRs at the four museums, checked by 19 October 2026.
Top photo: Singapore Botanic Gardens, by Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsFree means free admission on the operator's page. Museum picks are free for Singapore citizens and PRs. If you have a little to spend, see cheap things to do under $20.
1. Garden Rhapsody, Gardens by the Bay Where: Supertree Grove. MRT: Gardens by the Bay (TE22) or Bayfront. Hours: 7.45pm and 8.45pm daily. Free; some ticketed events at Supertree Grove charge, like Christmas Wonderland.
Lie on the ground under the Supertrees.
2. Spectra, Marina Bay Sands Where: Event Plaza, MBS waterfront. MRT: Bayfront. Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8pm and 9pm; Friday and Saturday 8pm, 9pm and 10pm. Free.
3. Rain Vortex light show, Jewel Where: Jewel Changi Airport. MRT: Changi Airport. Hours: Rain Vortex 10am to 10pm; light and music show Monday to Thursday 8pm and 9pm, Friday to Sunday, PH and eves 8pm, 9pm and 10pm. No ticket listed.
4. Singapore Botanic Gardens MRT: Botanic Gardens. Hours: 5am to midnight daily. Free; only the National Orchid Garden charges.
Go before 9am for the cool air and the tai chi groups by the lake.
5. Jacob Ballas Children's Garden Where: Botanic Gardens, Bukit Timah end. Hours: 8am to 7pm, closed Mondays unless a PH. Free; kids must come with an adult. The Tree House is closed until around the end of 2027, by NParks.
Open on weekdays when the Gardens by the Bay one is not.
6. Far East Organization Children's Garden Where: Gardens by the Bay. Hours: Thursday to Sunday and PH 9am to 7pm (Tuesday to Sunday in school holidays). Free for 12 and below.
Water play, so pack a full change of clothes.
7. Gardens by the Bay outdoor gardens Hours: 5am to 2am. Free; the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are paid.
Walk the outdoor gardens at sunset, then stay for Rhapsody.
8. TreeTop Walk, MacRitchie Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9am to 5pm, weekends and PH 8.30am to 5pm, last entry 4.45pm, closed Mondays except PH. Free.
A real hike to reach the bridge. Bring water and keep snacks zipped, the monkeys know.
9. Henderson Waves Where: Telok Blangah Hill Park. Lights come on at 7pm. No ticket listed.
Uphill walk in, view at the top. Go around sunset.
10. Fort Canning Park MRT: Fort Canning. Hours: park 24 hours; Fort Canning Heritage Gallery 10am to 6pm, closed the last Monday of the month. No ticket listed.
The gallery is air-conditioned, the park is shaded. A good hot-day plan.
11. East Coast Park and Coastal PlayGrove Hours: park 24 hours; PlayGrove water play 8am to 8pm Tuesday to Sunday, slides 8am to 10pm daily. No ticket listed. Parts of the nature playgarden are closed until 31 October 2026.
Cycle, picnic, then let the kids loose after 5pm when the sand cools.
12. Forest Ramble, Jurong Lake Gardens MRT: Lakeside. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 8am to 10pm. Free.
NParks calls it the largest nature playgarden in the heartlands. Go in the evening when it is lit and cool.
13. Sentosa beaches on foot MRT: HarbourFront. Entry on foot over the Sentosa Boardwalk is free by Sentosa's FAQ. The Sentosa Express is $4 from VivoCity if you would rather not walk.
Walk in, swim, eat at VivoCity on the way out.
Free museums and galleries
14. National Museum of Singapore Where: 93 Stamford Road. MRT: Bras Basah. Hours: 10am to 7pm daily. Free for Singaporeans and PRs; standard tickets for others.
The museum to bring visiting relatives to.
15. National Gallery Singapore Where: 1 St Andrew's Road. MRT: City Hall. Hours: 10am to 7pm daily. General admission free for Singaporeans and PRs, kids 6 and under and Singapore-based students; standard tickets for others.
Big enough for a whole rainy afternoon. Start at the top floor.
16. Asian Civilisations Museum Where: Empress Place. MRT: Raffles Place. Hours: 10am to 7pm, Fridays to 9pm. Permanent galleries free for Singaporeans and PRs; standard tickets for others.
Open late on Fridays, a free plan after work.
17. Peranakan Museum Where: Armenian Street. MRT: City Hall or Bras Basah. Hours: 10am to 7pm, Fridays to 9pm. Permanent galleries free for Singaporeans and PRs; standard tickets for others.
Small enough for 45 minutes, colourful enough to keep kids looking.
18. Singapore City Gallery Where: The URA Centre, 45 Maxwell Road. MRT: Maxwell. Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, closed Sundays and PH. Free admission.
The giant city model is the draw. Pair it with lunch at Maxwell Food Centre.
19. Children's Museum Singapore, Level 1 MRT: City Hall or Bras Basah. Free admission to Level 1 from 29 September to 12 November 2026; advance booking required; for 12 and below. Closed 13 November; a new exhibition opens 14 November.
A short, free indoor stop for little ones until 12 November.
20. Indian Heritage Centre Deepavali Open House Where: Little India. 17 October to 8 November 2026, 10am to 6pm, closed Mondays; free galleries for citizens and PRs plus free and ticketed experiences ($10 and $28).
Do it with the Little India light-up, which runs to 29 November.
Make a free day out of it
A full free day: Botanic Gardens in the morning, National Gallery after lunch, Rhapsody and Spectra at night. For dated events, check things to do this weekend. When you do want to eat out, Eventful Tables lets you book free.
Good to know
· Museum entry is free for Singapore citizens and PRs. Bring your NRIC or pink IC.
· Garden Rhapsody runs at 7.45pm and 8.45pm daily, and Spectra at 8pm and 9pm Sunday to Thursday.
· The Children's Museum free Level 1 ends 12 November and the Indian Heritage Centre open house ends 8 November.
· Parks like MacRitchie close on Mondays; check before you go.
FAQs
What can I do for free in Singapore?
Free things to do in Singapore include Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay (7.45pm and 8.45pm daily), Spectra at Marina Bay Sands, the Jewel Rain Vortex light show, Singapore Botanic Gardens and the national museums, which are free for citizens and PRs.
Is Gardens by the Bay free?
The outdoor gardens and Garden Rhapsody are free. The Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are paid, and some ticketed events at Supertree Grove charge admission.
Are museums free in Singapore?
The National Museum, National Gallery, Asian Civilisations Museum and Peranakan Museum are free for Singapore citizens and PRs. Visitors pay admission.
What time is the Rain Vortex light show?
Jewel's light and music show runs at 8pm and 9pm Monday to Thursday, and 8pm, 9pm and 10pm Friday to Sunday, public holidays and their eves.
Is Singapore City Gallery free?
Yes. URA's Singapore City Gallery at 45 Maxwell Road has free admission, Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
