Things to do in Singapore for Students

Singapore has plenty to offer students, whether they’re studying in the city state or just passing through in search of cultural enrichment. We’re talking world-class museums, space-age libraries, irresistible hawker centers, and gratis attractions like Merlion Park and the superlative Sultan Mosque. Read on for our guide to all the best things for students to do in Singapore.

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Published: February 11, 2025
Friends taking a selfie

Singapore Hawker Centers

Satay skewers on the grill in a hawker center

We begin our guide with that most essential of student staples: cheap, delicious street food. Singapore’s hawker centers are the stuff of legend. There are around 100 of these epic covered food courts scattered all across town. Inside, sensational street food – Singaporean, Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian – awaits.

Get the tastebud party started with zingy chili crab, Singapore’s (unofficial) national dish. Slurp great steaming bowls of laksa. Sample sweet, sticky satay skewers. Gorge on umami oyster omelet. Heck, you can even go rogue and try out-there local specialties like turtle soup, century egg and – for guts of steel only –  fried pigs’ fallopian tubes in kung pao sauce. Er… yum?

Couple eating out at a Singapore hawker center

Whatever your poison, the great news is that prices for hawker center plates tend to begin and end in student-friendly single figures. In other words, you can fill your face with some of the best food in the world for less than S$10, and often way less. Dig in!

Pro-tip: if you only visit one hawker center in Singapore, make it Lau Pa Sat in the CBD, celebrated for both the food and its octagonal Victorian architecture. Lau Pa Sat features in our guide to the best cheap eats in Singapore here.

Cathedrals of Knowledge

Wavy bookshelves in Library@Orchard

When not sustaining their bodies with life-giving Hainanese chicken down the hawker centers, there’s only one place a Singapore student should be. No, not the pub, but Singapore’s quite excellent public libraries. Many of these great cathedrals of knowledge run free events – readings, film screenings and the like – but it’s mostly about the books. And the architecture. Library@Orchard (pictured) is particularly eye-catching, with long, wavy shelves containing hundreds of volumes on lifestyle, art and design. There’s a Library of Botany and Horticulture at (where else?) Singapore Botanic Gardens, while Tampines Regional Library comes with its own auditorium, indoor running track and children’s playground.

A Singapore Sightseeing Stroll

Sultan Mosque amid the colorful streets of Kampong Glam

Two great reasons for students to lace up their boots and pound the pavements of Singapore: 1) it can be very culturally enriching and 2) it doesn’t cost a dime. 

Our favorite Singapore stroll reveals the hotch-potch of national identities that have shaped this wonderful island state. Start with a stroll through the labyrinthine lanes of Chinatown, where markets and temples may be just about enough to distract you from all those heady street-food aromas. Fill your Insta feed with color as you meander through Kampong Glam, the city’s vibrant Muslim district. Don’t miss the old-school Peranakan shopfronts, contemporary street art at the open-air Gelam Gallery and, of course, the extraordinary golden dome balanced atop the opulent Sultan Mosque. A well-earned lunch of tandoori chicken and fish-head curry awaits at journey’s end: the temple-filled streets of Little India.

Discover more things to do in Kampong Glam here.

Hit the Museums

The National Museum of Singapore

Singapore has some quite excellent museums; ideal for broadening young minds with a thirst for knowledge. The country’s National Museum is housed in a great neoclassical edifice and showcases centuries of artifacts from the country’s history, while ArtScience at Marina Bay Sands brings visitors kicking and screaming into the present/future with its immersive exhibitions and VR artworks. Student discounts are available at both.

For further discounts on Singapore museums and other activities and attractions, check out the Singapore pass from Go City. The pass can save you up to 50% when visiting dozens of major Singapore attractions, including Universal Studios, Singapore Zoo and the Sentosa cable car. Click here to find out more and get your Singapore pass.

Free Singapore Attractions for Students

The Merlion statue at Marina Bay in the evening

Singapore has a bit of a reputation for being expensive, but there are plenty of ways to have fun here for free. Here’s a rundown of our fave free things to do in Singapore for students…

  • Gardens by the Bay. Sure, you’ll pay through the nose for entry to the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome (unless you have a Singapore pass, that is). But did you know you can wander among the enormous trunks in Supertree Grove for free? Well, now you do. 
  • Merlion Park. Can you even say you’ve visited Singapore if you didn’t grab a selfie by the island’s monolithic mythical mascot while you were there? No, dear reader, you cannot. Hotfoot it down to Merlion Park, just across the water from the iconic Marina Bay Sands resort, where the 70-tonne statue – half fish, half lion – can be found spouting geysers of water from its (feline) head. Don’t miss its cute little (well, three-tonne) Merlion Cub progeny nearby. 
Tourist gazing up at the illuminated Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay
  • Jurassic Mile. Jog, cycle or stroll the roar-some Jurassic Mile, part of the 3.5-kilometer Changi Airport Park Connector that runs between the airport (obvs) and Singapore’s east coast. Along the way, you can meet, pet and otherwise dodge several life-sized dino models, from docile brontosauri to vicious velociraptors and even a fence-trashing T-rex!
  • City Lights. Singaporeans just love a light show and there’s barely a day goes by that the city skies aren’t filled with apocalyptic pyrotechnics or laser light shows. You can catch two of the very best down Marina Bay way, where the Sands Resort’s Spectra light show turns the skies technicolor daily at 8PM and 9PM. Over at Gardens by the Bay, experience the eye-popping spectacle of the supertrees bursting into luminous life every evening at 7.45PM.
Waterside walkway amid lush greenery at MacRitchie Reservoir
  • Back to Nature. Visitors to Singapore often overlook The Great Outdoors in favor of futuristic city attractions. But beyond (and even within) the city limits, there are stacks of ways to enjoy the gloriously free fresh air. Hike the woodland trails at MacRitchie Reservoir (pictured), keeping peepers peeled for lazy monitor lizards and cheeky macaques. Grab a picnic and some pals for a Southern Ridges trail hike that takes in Henderson Waves, the highest – and most striking – pedestrian bridge in Singapore. Or splash out and rent a bike to explore the seaside at East Coast Park or – if you’re feeling particularly energetic – to cruise all 75 epic kilometers of the Round Island Route.

Check out our guide to Singapore’s top natural attractions here.

Students can explore dozens of Singapore attractions for one low price with the Singapore pass. Click the buttons below to find out more and choose your pass.

 

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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A collared kingfisher in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore
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Singapore in July

As Singapore’s peak holiday season draws to a gentle close, July sees a slight let-up in the number of vacationers that have been thronging the hot, sticky streets for the last couple of months. But, while the crowds may have dissipated somewhat, the searing temperatures and frequent downpours of the southwest monsoon season show few signs of abating. Read on for the lowdown on what to expect when visiting Singapore in July. Visiting Singapore in July Temperature: 75–88°F • Average Rainfall: 19 days/month • Average Sunshine: 8 hours/day You’ll want to pack an umbrella along with your factor 50 for trips to Singapore in July. Thunderstorms and heavy downpours are absolutely guaranteed at this time of year, but what’s difficult to predict is when you might be about to get caught in one. A small umbrella in your backpack is the number one hack for such eventualities along with, ideally, rubber sandals or similarly waterproof footwear. In fact, most of July’s rain storms tend to arrive after dark, but afternoon showers are also still highly likely. Don’t forget loose-fitting cotton and linen clothes, too. Synthetics are a big no-no in these temperatures, unless of course you actively enjoy the feeling of polyester trousers clinging damply to your sweaty knees, in which case: you do you. Broad, floppy hats, UV sunglasses and a big water bottle should also be considered essential if you’re planning to do a lot of outdoor sightseeing. And, while there’s loads you’ll want to see and do that require you to be exposed to the sun, we’d advise mixing it up with a bit of air-conditioned action indoors, perhaps spending cooler mornings (after the nightly rainfall) ticking off the outdoor must-sees, before hitting the malls, hawker centers, museums and immersive attractions before the afternoon heat really starts to bite. Things to do in Singapore in July Singapore is a haven for all manner of wildlife. It’s not unusual, for example, to see traffic grind to a halt to allow a family of otters to cross the road, or to be deafened by the sound of thousands of roosting myna birds as you stroll beneath the trees that line the Orchard Road in the early evening. Sultry Singapore mornings in July are a great time to experience some of this garden island’s vibrant flora and fauna up close. Rent a bike to explore one of the many traffic-free routes that weave through wetlands, woodlands, nature reserves and more. The Rail Corridor – stretching from Chinatown all the way north to Kranji – is among the very best: 24 kilometers of rewilded railway line, along which you might well encounter monitor lizards, flying lemurs and colorfully crested bulbuls. A little over halfway along the route, you can take a diversion into Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, where an epic 400 acres of tropical rainforest awaits the intrepid explorer. There’s an even more varied bunch of critters to be found here beneath the canopy, among them reticulated pythons, macaques and endangered Sunda pangolins. The reserve is also home to the highest hill in Singapore. Rising to over 500 feet, it’s a moderately challenging climb that takes around an hour and rewards hikers with awesome 360-degree views across the treetops to the city beyond. The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Singapore’s northwestern tip is another fine option for wildlife-spotting, particularly for twitchers. Migratory species including the distinctive Pacific golden plover and the long-legged Asian dowitcher have been spotted here, and you might also clock mudskippers, monitor lizards, giant Atlas moths and even the occasional saltwater croc lurking among the mangroves. Take the reserve’s two-hour walking loop to get the most from your visit. Shopping and Dining in Singapore in July Looking for something a little more... indoorsy? The Great Singapore Sale (GSS) is in its final month in July, which makes it a fine time for a spot of air-conditioned retail therapy in Singapore’s mega-malls. Hit up the shopping mecca that is Orchard Road, a string of high-end malls seemingly designed specifically to empty your wallet and fill your home with shiny new gadgets, designer handbags and other expensive knick-knacks. It’s the cheapest time of year to do so as the annual bonanza that is the GSS means whopping great discounts of up to 70% (!!!) at hundreds of participating stores. Meanwhile, in-the-know souvenir hunters head to hip Kampong Glam, where colorful 19th-century shophouses contain no end of chic indie boutiques and Arab Street’s antique emporia yield the kind of unique gifts of which dreams are made. We’re talking hand-woven Turkish textiles, intricate mosaic lanterns, painted ceramics and more. After splashing the cash, tuck into some of the best nasi padang this side of Jakarta in the shadow of the Sultan Mosque, with its iconic golden dome. And if nasi padang and other South Asian favorites like chili crab and sticky peanut satay float your boat and tickle your tastebuds, you’re in luck! With over 100 hawker centers to choose from, you’re never far from your next plate of delicious, affordable street food in Singapore. Better still, many centers are now air-conditioned, meaning you get a little respite from the soaring temperatures outside, albeit you may end up pretty hot under the collar anyway, as you dive into spicy bowls of sambal-laced laksa, zingy chili crab (the national dish, no less) or red-hot rendang curries. Cool off with a refreshing glass of bandung - a sweet (and highly Instagrammable) cocktail of condensed milk and rose syrup served over ice. Yum! And, if you’re feeling particularly bold and adventurous on your July visit to Singapore, why not give some of the nation’s most out-there delicacies a spin. We’re talking pufferfish, fried pigs’ fallopian tubes in kung pao sauce and – very much for the non-squeamish – still-wriggling octopus tentacles that will, we kid you not, cling to your chopsticks and even your tongue in a bid to escape their fate. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
festivals in singapore
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Festivals in Singapore

Singapore is a melting pot of so many beautiful cultures, so it's no surprise you'll find dozens of festivals there throughout the year. If you're visiting this beautiful country and want to join in the festivities, you'll need to know when they are, what they're about, and what you can expect to do and see during them. So, let's talk about festivals in Singapore. We've run our fine-tooth combs through the wealth of offerings to find the very best ones you won't want to miss. So, without further ado, this is our guide to the best festivals in Singapore! And by the by, this list is in chronological order. So you'll find your early-year ones at the top and your later-year ones at the bottom! Enjoy! Including: Pongal Chinese New Year Thaipusam Lantern Festival Hari Raya Puasa and more! Pongal When: January 15 - January 18, 2023 This four-day festival is widely celebrated by the Indian population of Singapore, as it originated there. Dedicated to the Hindu god of the sun, Surya, Pongal is honored to bring wealth and a rich harvest to the people. Head to Singapore's Little India, and you'll find it ablaze with lights, celebrations, and events. It's customary to exchange gifts and wear new clothes during Pongal, so bear those in mind if you want to get in on the festivities. Chinese New Year When: January 22, 2023 Chinese New Year is celebrated all over the world, and in Singapore, it's no different. In 2023, the big day falls on January 22, so expect Chinatown to be full of fun and fancy! This year is the Year of the Rabbit, and people born in these years are said to be witty, ingenious, and vigilant. You can be all of those things, too, believe it or not. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Expect to find plenty of red and gold decorations, dancing in the streets, and lively processions to boot. And, like with many of these festivals in Singapore, gifts are often exchanged. Because gift-giving is fun, and fun is all we have in this cruel, cruel world. Thaipusam When: February 5, 2023 'Thai' is a month in the Tamil calendar. 'Pusam' is the name of a star in the night sky. What do you get if you combine the two together? Thaipusam, of course! And you can bet your stars that Singapore's burgeoning Tamil population will celebrate it with abandon! Over the festival, you'll see those taking part walk from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, carrying all sorts of symbols of divinity, but the celebration itself actually takes place over two days. Lantern Festival When: February 5, 2023 Taking place on the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival is unsurprisingly celebrated by lighting paper lanterns and letting them drift up into the sky. It's one of the most popular festivals in Singapore, so if you're visiting at the beginning of February, you're sure to see some of these bright tributes floating in the air. Head to Chinatown to get the best views of the festivities. If you've never seen countless lanterns lighting up the sky, you're in for a treat. Hari Raya Puasa When: April 21 - April 22, 2023 Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. So it's no surprise that the following day is called the 'day of celebration'! Following a month of fasting, you can understandably expect plenty of delicious food making the rounds. On the holy side of things, many Muslims also flock to local mosques, visit the graves of their forebears, and wear new clothes to signify the purity and renewal that comes in the wake of Ramadan. If you're a Muslim and visiting Singapore at the back end of Ramadan, you'll be pleased to know you can share Hari Raya Puasa with others! Vesak Day When: May 5, 2023 Don't worry, Buddhists, we see you. And thankfully, you're catered to too here, thanks to Vesak Day. For those that don't know, Vesak Day marks the enlightenment and death of Buddha. And, given its melting pot of cultures, you'll find many Buddhists celebrating Vesak Day in Singapore. Meditation and charity are the name of the game here, which gives believers a chance to look inward and take part in some nice self-reflection. Duanwu Festival When: June 22, 2023 More commonly known as the Dragon Boat Festival around the world, Duanwu Festival is another celebration of Chinese origin. Falling on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calendar, it's been celebrated for thousands of years. As you may expect from the Dragon Boat Festival, it primarily consists of dragon boats racing one another. Pretty cool! Even onlookers can enjoy the day, thanks to the food and rice wines often consumed from the sidelines. Hari Raya Haji June 28 - July 2, 2023 Another Muslim festival, Hari Raya Haji is dedicated to the character of Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his first-born son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah. Sacrifice plays a huge role over Hari Raya Haji, with volunteers from mosques sacrificing goats, sheep, and cows on the holy day. A third of the meat from these animals is given to people that need it most. The rest is given to the families of those who sacrificed their animals. Singapore National Day When: August 9, 2023 No matter your religion or cultural background, August 9 is a special day for Singaporeans. It's the country's National Day, and it draws massive crowds from all over the world every year. Expect massive parades, choreographed dance, and plenty of other festivities to enjoy! Diwali When: November 12, 2023 And finally, we end our guide to festivals in Singapore with Diwali, the biggest celebration in the Hindu calendar. Marking the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom, it represents the triumph of good over evil. But what does it mean for you, oh traveler? Well, plenty! Plenty of fireworks, bright clothes, and dancing. Little India will be buzzing all day, so make sure you go down there and check it out! And that rounds out our guide to the best festivals in Singapore! Looking for more fun things to do on your vacation? Go City's got you covered. With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can experience the best of Singapore for one low price, and fit them around your festival itinerary!
Dom Bewley

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