Adapted from Source
Having a social life comes with a price – literally. It’s always fun hanging with the bros, but constant outings also means that you’ll have to keep spending money. And when you’re in a relationship, there are only so many times you can go cafe-hopping before your wallet gets thin – and you get fat.
Instead of resigning yourself to staying home with re-runs of HIMYM, check out these free activities for every sort of soul – whether young or old, nua or adventurous!
There is an inexplicable joy and sense of accomplishment when something is done ‘DIY’ style. If you worship the King of Fruits, you’ll be delighted to know that there’s a Durian Picking Community in Singapore – who picks their own durians, and eats them too!
As you trudge through Singapore’s wilderness, experts in the community will impart their skills on durian picking to you – from spotting trees with a potentially high durian harvest, to durian-collecting techniques. Don’t worry about the spiky fruit falling on your head – you’ll learn all the necessary safety measures too.
One of their past harvests! Source
Be sure to be well-equipped with insect repellent, snacks, and camping equipment as some durian picking trips might even last through the night!
Check out Durian Picking’s Facebook page for updates on the next durian hunt.
Firefighters risk their lives for the safety of others but what aids them in such acts of bravery is unfamiliar to many. To learn more about these noble men and women, head down to any fire station around the island on any Saturday between 9am and 11am to attend a Fire Station Open House.
Source: @lifeintheweehours
You’ll be given an hour-long tour around the interior of the fire station, where you’ll learn about how the various vehicles and equipment – including the famous fireman pole – are used.
One of the highlights is being able to witness the strength of the water hoses and getting the opportunity to try them out – they’re not like your ordinary garden hose, so don’t be surprised if you get wet!
Fun fact: The Central Fire Station is the only station with a mini museum.
List of fire stations: Alexandra, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Bukit Batok, Central Fire Station, Changi, Clementi, Jurong, Paya Lebar, Sengkang, Tuas, Woodlands, Yishun.
Source: @cherylyh
It’s like being Dora The Explorer, just with a more high-tech map – your smartphone. Geocaching is a real life treasure hunt, where you download a Geocaching app and select a cache to find with the given GPS coordinates and clues.
It’s easy to get to the various locations, but searching for the cache itself can be quite a challenge. It could be anywhere – on a tree, under a rock, buried in a hole even. Once you’ve found the cache, you sign the logbook inside as a mark of your achievement and you might even be rewarded with a small token hidden inside.
Of course, don’t expect to find a chest full of gold coins – but you’ll get to explore parts of Singapore you never knew existed!
Check out Geocaching Singapore‘s Facebook page for more information.
Source: @kai_kaenoi
Situated at the ulu Seletar West Farmway, The Animal Resort is a #throwback to rural Singapore with its kampong-style surroundings. Enjoy the lush greenery, rustic shelters, and animals like rabbits, a horse, and cassowaries!
You get to pet these animals for free, but a small token fee is required to feed the animals. Either way, it’s a perfect place to find solace from the bustling streets of Singapore.
Source: @angelineee
Address: 81 Seletar West Farmway 5, Singapore 798061
Opening Hours: 10AM-5PM daily
Telephone: 6482 1160
Live out your own True Singapore Ghost Story – by joining the Singapore Ghost Hunting Club on their expeditions into the spookiest nooks of our little red dot.
The camera crew will be recording the entire hunt, and the shots will be posted on their Facebook page. Of course, feel free to take your own photos too – if you’re lucky, you might be able to spot shadowy figures in your snaps.
Even if you don’t, you’ll still get to boast about being that brave kid who visited haunted areas and made it out alive.
From a range of Zumba to Pilates classes, the daily FIT-sessions at Singapore Sports Hub are a great way for anyone to keep fit – even if you’re not the best at balancing.
Also worth checking out is Sunrise In The City. This initiative has a wider range of free classes conducted at all corners of Singapore, with classes of varying difficulties to suit participants of all skill levels.
Schedules: Singapore Sports Hub, Sunrise In The City
Source: @xinrongy
Singapore is not exactly a city of stars, but if you want a romantic date under the stars, head down for a free stargazing session at The Observatory at Singapore Science Centre.
An iPhone 6 shot of the moon through one of the Observatory’s telescopes! Source: @dearjoys
With their many telescopes, you’ll get a spectacular view of the planets, stars, and constellations in space. The main telescope brings you up close to planets that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Check their schedule as there are specific planets that are only visible in specific months.
The Orion Nebula. Source: Science Centre Observatory
Tip: Be there at 7.30pm when they start giving out the limited queue cards for the main telescope!
Address: 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081
Viewing Timings: Fridays, 730PM-11PM
Telephone: 6425 2500
Tucked away in a corner on the second floor of The Cathay is a doorway that’ll send you to back to the era of technicolour.
The Cathay Gallery is a museum filled with cinema-related antiquities – from an old film projector to vintage posters, cameras, and old cinema interior designs. With that dose of nostalgia, you’ll be wishing that there were still retro cinemas around to watch your blockbusters in.
Address: #02-16, The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd, 229233
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11AM-7PM
Telephone: 6732 7332
You don’t have to travel to the ends of the world to live out your Indiana Jones dreams – uncovering the forgotten bunkers in Singapore will make for a great adventure quest.
Finding the creeper-ridden Queenstown’s Kay Siang Bunkers will be an escapade in itself, and if you’d like a thrill, Pasir Panjang’s Labrador Battery looks like a perfect setting for a horror movie. Those who’d prefer to stay on the safe side can join a free tour with the National Heritage Board to visit the British bunker at Woodlands.
Read about our bunker exploration adventures here!
Source: @allanlimyc
Other than being home to many stores touting cheap apparel, *Scape is most known as a place where dancers gather to rehearse. But take the cargo lift to the 5th floor followed by a flight of stairs to the rooftop, and you’ll find yourself at Comcrop – a secret urban farm.
Source: @debbieyong
Comcrop is run using aquaponics – a method of reusing water used for the breeding of fishes to grow crops. You’re free to try the fresh fruits and vegetables and even common cooking condiments like basil, peppermint and ghost peppers.
To let the public learn more about this new green initiative, the founders have opened up the farm for free tours on the first Saturday of every month. There are even volunteer opportunities for those who’d like to cultivate green fingers – check out their Facebook page for more information.
Note: Be sure to drop them a message on Facebook a week before you plan on visiting.
Address: #04-01 *Scape, 2 Orchard Link, Singapore 237978
Telephone: 6634 2826
Lying hidden in Bukit Gombak is the forgotten cousin of Little Guilin – Seng Chew Granite Quarry. The only way to get to it is through a small park behind the HDB blocks, following a drain. It’s home to the oldest rock formation in Singapore as well as a multitude of fish – paradise for the avid angler.
Hidden from plain sight, deep inside the vegetation is a mysterious, collapsed structure. The first people to have uncovered this place have deduced that it’s a World War 2 relic, possibly a blasting shelter. Its true origins remain unknown – head down to check it out for yourself.
Source: @moviemob
Every month, MovieMob holds movie screenings in charming alternatives to the usual cinema, such as Marina Bay Sands and Seletar Aerospace Park. You’ll get to catch a free movie with a drive-in concept, or simply lay out on an open field with a picnic under the night sky.
Past screenings include local works such as Long, Long Time Ago and 881, as well as international titles like Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Check out MovieMob‘s Facebook page for updates.
Telephone: 6225 6536
Source: @thesmartlocalsg
Music@Empress takes you away from the confined space of a concert arena, to the spacious lawn in front of the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. Staged on the last Saturday of every month, you’ll get to enjoy a breath of fresh air as local musicians impress you with their powerful vocals and soothing instrumentals.
Check for updates here.
Address: Empress Lawn, 10 Empress Place, 179557
Time: 6PM-730PM
Whether you want to go on an adventure or simply chill out, Singapore has everything you need – so there’s really no excuse to lament about being bored out of your mind! This little red dot may be small, but there’s certainly lots to do. Plus, with these free activities to your list of “to-dos”, you don’t have to spend a single cent to have fun!
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