Things to do in Marina Bay Singapore on a budget: There are tons of budget tips for Singapore. For someone who’s walked here, some of the best things to do in Marina Bay Singapore on a budget are free. So here goes out my advice on all budget attractions in Marina Bay!
To be frank spending around Marina Bay, apart from the Marina Bay Sands hotel itself, it’s worth it. But for a tight budget, a few places like the flower dome are simply must-visits. I’ve been around Singapore as a budget traveler, and these are some places not to miss out on.
UPDATE: Don’t miss out on the latest edition of the Cloud Forest in Gardens by the bay here – Avatar: The Experience! Find out more about it in this section of this post.
*This post contains affiliate links. We recommend products we trust.
I’ll put out spots that I found worth visiting in this post on the best things to do in marina bay on a budget. Hope it helps you!
Cheap Things to Do in Marina Bay Singapore: How to Get there?
The easiest way to get there is by Bayfront MRT Station (CE1/DT16) via the Circle line or Downtown line. You’ll land right below the Marina Bay Sands. There are 2 main exits, one of which takes you straight through the underpass to Gardens by the Bay.
All places are worth visiting anywhere you begin. I’d been around Gardens by the Bay and Flower Dome before, but it was a while ago. So, I visited it again, thinking it would be nostalgia all over.
But I found places that I hadn’t visited yet. Thus, making it another exploring trip! There are a bunch of places to see and the best things to do in Marina Bay Singapore on a budget here. But like hitting the SG Zoo, there’s a lot, a lot of walking involved.
Best Things to do in Marina Bay Singapore on a Budget
To get the best of the Marina Bay experience, I’d recommend visiting the place in the evening. 5 should be a good time to begin your stroll. Keep in mind most attractions like the Sky Park Observation Deck close at 9 pm.
I think 4 hours is sufficient to get around the whole place. Speaking of the free things to do in Marina Bay Singapore, did you know it’s free to walk around Gardens by the Bay? So is the Singapore Skyline View deck in front of the Marina Bay Sands.
But the indoor Flower Dome and some in-depth experiences need an entry ticket. Here are all the best things to do in Marina Bay Singapore on a Budget:
1. Visit the SkyPark Observation Deck Singapore
Anywhere you walk around the Marina Bay area, you’re bound to find the three buildings standing with pride. The sight from any viewpoint around here is spectacular. But what about standing on top of one of SG’s most luxurious hotels?
Not many tourists can afford to stay at Marina Bay. Hell, I stayed at a Spacepod on my SG solo trip! But the SkyPark Observation Deck makes it possible for tourists to visit the top of the building. It costs SGD S$23 per person to get a panoramic view of the city’s skyline.
Keep in mind that the Observation deck can sometimes be closed for private events. You’ll find its info on most travel booking sites. I recommend booking from Klook.com for the best prices.
Being an affiliate of Klook, our readers get discounted rates for tickets. Don’t miss out on the ticket deal below!
Klook.com
2. Window shop at Marina Bay Shoppes
Opposite to the Marina Bay Sands building is the Marina Bay Shoppes, one of SG’s most luxurious places in the country. One transparent end faces the looming Marina Bay Sands with the boat hanging over its 3 buildings. The other end looks over the city’s skyline.
While there wasn’t anything I could think of shopping here, it was worth strolling the place. On the lower floor, there’s an indoor river with gondolas passing through!
Towards the waterside, a large Rain Oculus emptying into the indoor river below makes for a grand exit.
Other places for you to visit in SG: Universal Studios Singapore Guide for 1 Day.
3. Walk by the Singapore Skyline View deck
This was my favorite free thing to do in Marina Bay Singapore. Walking out of the Shoppes at Marina Bay, it was a breezy evening on the Skyline View deck. The wood decks covering the bay walk made it a smooth walk around the place.
Here, you’ll get to catch sight of the peculiar Apple Marina Bay Sands retail store as a tiny island itself on the water body. Similar to it is the Louis Vuitton store.
The breathtaking view of the buildings around made me wonder how far we as humans have come. How far Singapore has come. Living in Batam, Indonesia – it’s quite a world away from beaches and slow life.
3. Enjoy the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade Show
Right on the skyline deck I talked about earlier, is the Spectra Light and Water Show. With a never-ending pool of tourists flocking here every day, this show is held every evening. The best part is that it’s free!
Spectra is a laser show that comes to life at night (every 8 – 9 pm) and illuminates the Marina Bay area. The waterfront area beside the Helix Bridge is where it all happens.
The green laser lighting up from the top of the Marina Bay Sands resort makes the whole show experience worthwhile. It’s free, why not?
Other places for you to visit in SG: Jurong Bird Park Review in Singapore
4. Visit the Art Science Museum
It’s hard not to miss the obvious structure. If you didn’t already know, the Art Science Museum is the white lotus-shaped building that sits beside MBS.
Though curious about the structure, never did I realize it was a museum. Unlike a museum we’d imagine, this place focuses on tech-advanced exhibits. Thus making for a visually immersive experience. If you’re planning to visit it, get there early as it closes at 7 pm.
As for the tickets, it’s recommended to get them from online sites for better discounts. I didn’t get a chance to visit it myself. But here’s a guide to the ArtScience Museum that I found. Get the tickets from Klook for the best deal below:
Klook.com
5. Stride the Helix Bridge
Next to the ArtScience Museum as you walk on the skyline view deck, is the Helix Bridge. I didn’t have it in mind to visit it, but I’m glad it was around.
There’s not much to the DNA-like structured bridge, but it sure adds up to the whole Marina Bay view. At night, you can get great views of the Marina Bay Sands and the skyline from it. If you’re looking for free things to do in Marina Bay Singapore, there’s no reason to miss on it!
Other places for you to visit in SG: Best Singapore Travel Advice Australia
6. Don’t miss out on the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest
Both the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest parts of Gardens by the Bay fall under the same ticket. If you’re planning on visiting, make sure to visit Marina Bay earlier (and book your tickets in advance).
There are no long waiting queues as you’ll need to only scan a QR code to get in. But it takes time to get around the indoor gardens themselves. I visited both the indoor cool misty spots with tropical plants and flowers when I was younger.
I don’t remember much, but here’s an article to help you get an idea of the place. As for the tickets, get them from Klook.com along with the Skypark Observation Deck tickets – it’ll cost you lesser!
Get your Gardens by the Bay tickets here!
Klook.comAvatar: The Experience (Latest edition of Gardens by the Bay)
This is the latest addition to Gardens by the Bay’s cloud forest. And hell, does it look cool! It’s an immersive experience that combines the best of two worlds with the storyline of the world’s highest-grossing movie – Avatar.
Read all about it on MotherSG here. The best part? We’re a partner of Klook and our readers get the best discount prices! Get your tickets today.
Klook.com
7. Gardens by the Bay and SuperTree Grove
Those large magnificently shaped ‘trees’ or supertree as they call it is the best part of Marina Bay. It makes up for the iconic part of Gardens by the Bay. Again, it’s totally free to visit!
Even the Garden Rhapsody show is free to all visitors every evening. All the special light effects with soothing music come together making it a beautiful end to a night here. You can just sit on the floor staring up at it.
The OCBC Skyway (the sleek bridge from the supertree) however costs S$8 per person to get an elevated experience of the gardens. But is it worth it? Some find it great while some would prefer not to. And that’s that!
8. Walk around the DragonFly Lake
Heading back towards the Marina Bay Sands from Gardens by the Bay is the DragonFly Lake. It’s an Instagrammable spot with a large linear lake and shining figures of dragonflies in between.
Daytime is pretty to visit and walk around the boardwalk here. With the spot dark at night, the enormous Marina Bay Sands looms down with its lights boasting its superiority and bigness.
9. Try out the new Floral Fantasy
Passing the DragonFly lake and Kingfisher lake from Gardens by the Bay is the last attraction to keep an eye on – the floral fantasy. It’s the latest addition to the Gardens. And it’s worth being on this list of the best things to do in Marina Bay on a budget.
I didn’t get a chance to get in, but I regret not going in as soon as I looked at the out-of-the-world flowers hanging inside through the glass walls.
Don’t make the same mistake and get your Floral Fantasy tickets right away! Book it on Klook below and save time!
Klook.com
10. Get on the Singapore Flyer
All spots on Marina Bay are covered already. But if you’re looking to check out everything near Marina Bay as well. From here on, these are all the additional places to visit around Marina Bay.
With Clarke Quay around, Singapore Flyer, and the Esplanade, you can make Marina Bay a full-day trip on your Singapore Itinerary. Speaking of the SG Flyer, the basic ticket to the capsule comes to S$40 per person. But consider some other options like having the Singapore Sling as a beverage on the 30-minute spin.
Another option is dining on the flyer. Yep, that’s an option costing around S$355 for two. This is as of 2023. The Singapore Flyer stays alive with its deals and they keep changing. Search their official site for current updates.
Klook typically offers great deals for such attractions. So here are all the options you get for the Singapore flyer. Book your spin right away!
Klook.com
Singapore Sling, if you didn’t know, is a must-try iconic drink in Singapore. People visit Raffles Hotel, just for this drink. The S$67 ticket gives access to Singapore Flyer, Time Capsule, as well as the premium drink – which is a pretty good deal!
11. Visit the Red Dot Museum
Visiting the National Gallery in Singapore myself, I had the urge to visit more museums here for their peaceful introspective ambiance. Red Dot Museum, at Bayfront, is unlike most museums displaying ancient cultures and history.
It’s a display of international product designs named after the Red Dot awards. In fact, it’s a more futuristic display of artwork. Being someone into innovative product designs myself, I’d find this worth visiting.
It’s no more than an hour’s tour around the place. Moreover, it’s only S$10 and right around the corner!
Another post for you to read: River Wonders Singapore Review: 5 Rare Creatures to Spot!
12. Check out the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Past the Helix bridge and the Float in Singapore Marina Bay, is the Esplanade. It’s known by its people as the ‘durian’ building for its shape. While the enormous shell structure looks curious on the outside, it’s even more on the inside!
Oh, and you don’t have to get a tour ticket to get around the place. The Esplanade is a performing arts center used for shows every day! Check up on their official site for upcoming shows!
Keep in mind there are multiple venues at the Esplanade. I’d recommend picking a show at the Esplanade Concert hall venue to experience the best of the Esplanade Mall. Many shows are even free here!
Another post for you to read: Chinatown Singapore Guide 2023
13. Get on the Singapore River Cruise
See those boats always running down the Singapore river and around Marina Bay? This is the Singapore river cruise if you didn’t know. It’s a 40-minute trip down Clarke Quay river, Marina Bay, and then back to the start point. I have been on it, and I highly recommend it!
With S$26 per person, it had to be on this list of cheap things to do in Marina Bay Singapore. Keep your SG river cruise at the end of your Marina Bay day tour. The 40-minute trip can be a sweet end to your day taking you through everything you visited that day!
Like the SG Flyer, Klook also exclusively offers Seafood dinner at Clarke Quay along with the SG River cruise ride. These tours are operated by professional guides. Pick your preferred SG River cruise option below:
Klook.com14. Take pictures by the Singapore Merlion
Aside from the Marina Bay places to visit, the Singapore Merlion is simply a must-visit. Whether you visit the rest of Marina Bay or Clarke Quay comes next. But the Merlion represents Singapore.
Anywhere you look up Singapore, the mythical creature is bound to be the first thing you see. The mascot with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Get your best camera shots of the place here in the evening and of the night view!
Another post for you to read: Ultimate SEA Aquarium Singapore Blog
15. Walk by Fullerton Hotel
Not many people put this up. After all, there’s no event as such here. But I decided to put this because I personally found it an intimidating sight. The bridge and the almost-a-century neo-classical building make the whole experience rich.
After the Cavenagh Bridge, the bronze sculptures of the First Generation and the Five Boys by the River make a reminder of life in Singapore in the early days. It reminds me of how much daily life has changed today.
Regardless, it’s no doubt a picturesque spot for any passerby here!
