The Diary
Things to do in Singapore, this weekend and this month, each with a price, a date and the honest alternative.
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Dog-Friendly Parks and Places in Singapore: The Rules and Where to Go
Dogs are welcome in most of Singapore’s parks and park connectors, but must be leashed in public places, with fines of up to $5,000,…
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Universal Studios Singapore: Ticket Prices, Express Passes and the Best Days to Go
As of October 2026, Sentosa’s official site lists Universal Studios Singapore tickets from $83, with children under four free, and Resorts World Sentosa sells…
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Fort Canning Park: The Free Gardens, the History Trail and Getting There
Fort Canning Park is free and open 24 hours, with nine historical gardens, two self-guided 2km history trails of about 45 minutes each and…
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Jewel Changi Airport: What’s Free, the Paid Attractions and Opening Hours
Jewel is open 24 hours, and the Rain Vortex, its light and music show and the Forest Valley trails are all free. You pay…
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Spectra and the Marina Bay Light Shows: Times and the Best Free Spots
Spectra, the free 15-minute light and water show at Marina Bay Sands’ Event Plaza, runs at 8pm and 9pm from Sunday to Thursday, with…
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The Southern Ridges: Henderson Waves, the Routes and How Long They Take
The Southern Ridges is a free, roughly 10km chain of hill parks from Mount Faber to Kent Ridge, and NParks suggests allowing three to…
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MacRitchie and Bukit Timah: Trails, the TreeTop Walk and When to Go
MacRitchie’s trails and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve are free and open 7am to 7pm, while the TreeTop Walk suspension bridge is closed on Mondays…
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Singapore Botanic Gardens: What’s Free, the Orchid Garden Fee and Opening Hours
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is free for everyone, every day, from 5am to midnight; only the National Orchid Garden charges admission. Orchid Garden tickets…
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Mandai Wildlife Reserve: The Zoo, Night Safari, Bird Paradise and River Wonders Explained
Mandai Wildlife Reserve holds Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Bird Paradise, River Wonders and Rainforest Wild Adventure, each with its own ticket. As of October…
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Singapore Festivals 2027: The Calendar From Thaipusam to Christmas
Singapore’s 2027 festival year runs from Thaipusam on Friday 22 January and Chinese New Year on 6 February, through Hari Raya Puasa on 10…
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Pasar Malam in Singapore: How Night Markets Work and When They Run
A pasar malam is a temporary night market set up on open ground in a housing estate, usually for a few days to a…
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Free Performances at the Esplanade: What’s On and How to Catch Them
The Esplanade puts on free shows every day at the Concourse and every Friday to Sunday and public holiday at the waterfront Outdoor Theatre,…
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New Year’s Eve at Marina Bay: Fireworks, Road Closures and Getting Home
New Year’s Eve at Marina Bay ends with fireworks at midnight, and in recent years roads around the bay have closed from early evening…
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Free Water Playgrounds in Singapore: Where They Are and When They Open
Singapore’s best free water playgrounds are at Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, the Far East Organization Children’s Garden at Gardens by the Bay and Coastal…
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Singapore River Cruise: Bumboat Fares, Routes and Times
A 40-minute Singapore River Cruise bumboat ride costs S$28 for adults and S$18 for children aged 3 to 11, with a walk-in discount for…
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Concert Tickets in Singapore: Resale, Scalpers and How to Avoid the Scams
Reselling a concert ticket isn’t illegal in Singapore, but many organisers void resold tickets, and scams are common: at least 722 cases and S$615,000…
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Can You Swim at Singapore’s Beaches? How NEA Grades the Water, and Where to Check
Yes, at most of them. NEA tests the water at seven popular beach areas every week, from Sentosa to East Coast, Pasir Ris and…
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Gardens by the Bay: What’s Free, What You Pay For and the Resident Rates
The outdoor gardens, the Supertree Grove and the nightly Garden Rhapsody light show cost nothing. The two conservatories, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, cost…
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Singapore School Holidays 2027: MOE Term Dates, the Four Breaks and the Extra School Days Off
School starts on Monday 4 January 2027 and the year-end holidays begin on Saturday 20 November. In between come a one-week March break, four…
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Singapore Public Holidays 2027: All 11 Dates, the Five Long Weekends and the Best Days to Take Leave
Singapore has 11 public holidays in 2027 and five long weekends, starting with New Year’s Day on a Friday. Two holidays fall on a…
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Park Connectors in Singapore: The Routes, the Paths and the Rules for Walking and Cycling
Singapore’s park connectors link parks into free walking and cycling routes, including the 150km Round Island Route. Which path is which, the 25km/h and…
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Film Ratings in Singapore: What G, PG13, NC16, M18 and R21 Mean at the Cinema
Singapore has six film ratings. G, PG and PG13 are advice; NC16, M18 and R21 are age limits enforced by law, and cinemas check…
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Getting Into Sentosa: Boardwalk, Monorail, Bus, Car or Cable Car, and What Each Costs
Walking in on the Sentosa Boardwalk is free. The Sentosa Express costs S$4 including island entry, and the ride back is free. Cars pay…
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Festive Light-Ups in Singapore: When Orchard, Chinatown, Geylang Serai and Little India Switch On
Little India for Deepavali, Orchard Road for Christmas, Chinatown for Chinese New Year and Geylang Serai for Hari Raya. When each light-up usually runs,…
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Chinese New Year in Singapore: What Closes, What Opens and for How Long
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on 6 and 7 February, with Monday 8 February off. What closes over the holiday, what stays open, and…
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How NDP Tickets Work: The Ballot, the Rehearsals and Where to Watch for Free
National Day Parade tickets are free and balloted through Singpass. How the ballot works, which shows you can apply for, and how to catch…
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ActiveSG Explained: Pool Entry, Gyms and Court Bookings, With the Fees
ActiveSG membership is free for citizens and PRs and comes with credits. What pool and gym entry cost, how passes and court bookings work,…
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SG Culture Pass Explained: What It Covers and How to Spend It
Every Singapore citizen aged 18 and above in 2025 has S$100 of SG Culture Pass credits, valid until 31 December 2028. Who qualifies, what…
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Free Museum Entry in Singapore: Who Gets In Free, and When
Singapore citizens and PRs get into the national museums free all year. Which museums are covered, what special exhibitions cost, who else gets in…
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Resident Rates, WildPass and Online Discounts: How Attraction Pricing Works in Singapore
Where you live, where you buy and which day you go all change the ticket price. How Singapore’s resident rates, Mandai’s free WildPass and…
