Backpacking the most expensive city in the World, Singapore lat1.3667 long103.8
When we got to Singapore we didn’t know anything about it apart from the fact that it was going to ruin our budget. We weren’t sure if we’d enjoy the city as we tend to have a hard time with big cities but Singapore just blew us away. It is easy to fall in love with the city; the diversity, the food, the parks and oh, there is so much to see!
Getting around the city is pretty easy as the MRT system is quick and covers all important places but a lot of things are actually in walking distance once you’re in the city centre. From Chinatown to Marina Bay for example, it only takes about an hour to walk. However, there are a few things of interest that are a bit more out of the way, for instance the Botanical Gardens. You can just buy a normal metro ticket (can be used up to 6 times) or you can purchase a EZ-link card which costs 12 SGD (including a 7 SGD credit) but gives you a good discount on fares.
We were surprised that Singapore was actually more affordable than we expected. Obviously, you can pay loads of money for drinks and food and expensive tours but if you stick to Hawkers (amazing food courts where you can get all kind of meals for just a couple of dollars), hostels and all the free stuff, you can definitely backpack Singapore.
“Free things to do” is a favourite with everyone and Singapore has got quite a lot of it to offer. Just by walking around the city you can learn a lot about the diverse culture as well as the different heritages. Little India, Chinatown and Arab Street are the three districts not to miss. The names all speak for themselves but here is a little impression of what to expect in each of them and a few ideas on what to do while you’re there :
Chinatown
Food and markets and food and markets. But more importantly, an amazing view of Victorian shophouses in contrast to the impressive skyline of Downtown and the Financial district. Chinatown has it all, there are temples, a Heritage centre, a huge market and, of course, the popular Food Street where you can indulge in the flavours of seafood and/or roasted duck.
Little India
40% of the residents of the State of Singapore are expatriates. But moreover, a large part of the “true” Singaporeans have their roots elsewhere. The majority is made up by Chinese, Malay and - you guessed it - Indians. Although not free, the Indian Heritage Museum is worth every penny if you’re interested in how Indians first came to the city and slowly integrated into and evolved in society.
Kampong Glam (Arab Street)
Last but not least, the muslim district in Singapore is home to the beautiful Sultan Mosque, and a whole bunch of little alleys filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars. Tourists and locals mix in a continuous hustle and bustle creating a joyous atmosphere of selfies, mint tea and tapas. Don’t forget to snap a selfie in Haji Lane and marvel at the beautiful drawings that cover the walls.
If there lives a tiny spark of interest for the Singaporean history and culture in you, those three districts shouldn’t be missed. Each and every one represents a different ethnicity - and therefore a different way of living - all representative of a part of Singapore’s population.
Obviously, you shouldn’t miss Marina Bay with all it’s got to offer either! Take a stroll right through the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel and dream of a holiday you may never be able to afford, walk through the Gardens By The Bay and enjoy the amazing light show (every night at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm) at the Supertree Grove. The best part is, you can do all of that for free!
Not for free but worth the experience (in our humble opinion) is the Cloudforest - one of the two separate exhibitions that are located in the giant domes. Usually, you only find the combined ticket price online (Cloudforest + Flower Dome for 28 SGD) but when we got to the ticket counter we also had the option of buying a single ticket to either one for 16 SGD!
Once you’ve checked all those things off your list, you can start exploring the city. No kidding.
Walking around the financial district is a must! Get lost between giant skyscrapers, admire the palm trees on rooftop terraces (whaaat) and marvel at different pieces of art spread across the city.
From there it is only a short walk over to Merlion, a creature half lion and half fish that figures as the national personification of Singapore.
One of our favourite walks led across Singapore River and down the Queen Elizabeth Walk past the Raffles Statue, the National Gallery and, eventually, the Esplanade. If you take a left turn at the theatre, you’ll reach the Raffles Hotel and St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
Another hotspot for happy hour drinks or afternoon walks is Clarke Quay. Strategically well placed, this used to be the trade center of Singapore accommodating boats that would then transport goods further upstream.
If you do have a couple of dollars to spare, go on a boat cruise (25 SGD) and enjoy a different perspective of the city.
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting while the sun is shining, don’t miss out on the Botanical Gardens! Wander around, have a picnic or visit the famous Orchid Garden (5 SGD or 1 SGD if you’re a student card holder).
One last thing we’d like to recommend, even though it is not free, is the National Museum of Singapore. Admission is quite reasonable at 15 SGD for adults and 10 SGD for students and it is one of the most interesting museums we’ve been to (and we typically don’t like museums very much). Singapore has an extremely impressive history - a short history as a country considering it only became independent in 1965 - and while the economic and financial developments in the country since its independence are one-of-a-kind, we also enjoyed learning about the cultural evolution throughout the early 20th century.
We absolutely loved Singapore and, as we said in the beginning of this post, it can totally be a backpacker destination. A bed in a dorm can go for as little as 15 SGD and if you avoid bars and restaurants (except for the amazing food stalls and hawker centres obviously) you can certainly get by without heaps of money.
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