Best budget-friendly date ideas in Singapore

Dating nowadays is hard, isn’t it?  Getting that first proper date is always an achievement. But, what can you do on said date? You’ve come to the right place. I present to you these fun budget-friendly date ideas to have fun without breaking the piggy bank.

They range from low-cost activities to absolutely free. Put in a little time and a lot of effort and I guarantee you that it will be worth it.

1. Picnic at Marina Barrage

With the development of the Thomson-East Coast line, Marina Barrage is more accessible than ever. It’s only about 5 minutes away from Marina Bay MRT Station and the go-to spot for many people to spend their time. 

The gorgeous view of the Marina Bay Sands skyline is a great highlight.

Buy some light snacks and drinks, maybe some takeaway lunch or dinner, and head down to Marina Barrage to have a little picnic. Enjoy each other’s company and take beautiful photos of each other against the MBS skyline.

If you choose to come here in the evening, you can watch the sun set. The sky will erupt in beautiful colours and the sky will expose a scattering of stars that is harder to see in the main city area. You can even proceed to have a debate whether they were stars or simply satellites and space stations (personally a scintillating discussion).

Pro-tip: the best times to visit the place is on weekdays. This is to avoid the big crowds during the weekends. 

2. Go to a museum

If your date is an artsy type, consider taking them to an art gallery. National Gallery Singapore has free entry for Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents. You can enjoy exploring different exhibitions and taking photos alongside beautiful art pieces. With the passes, you can also be taken on a tour of the gallery to discover more details about the different art pieces. 

These beautiful exhibitions of historical art date back to the 19th Century. There are ceramics, paintings, furniture and photographs from a time long gone in Southeast Asia. It is a beautiful catalogue of many moments in our history. 

Beyond that, the art gallery itself boasts unique historical architecture. It’s a piece of our colonial history frozen in time. The European exterior is contrasted by an artistic layout in the interior. 

Another place where you can find free admission to art museums is Gillman Barracks. Just recently, they had a free exhibition of Scottish artist Olivia Fraser. Her artworks depict beautiful flora and snakes atop a textile pattern. 

3. Ride the cable car and explore the beaches of Sentosa.

What better way to spend time than by taking a trip to Sentosa? 

The most scenic way to get to Sentosa is by taking a cable car. An adult ticket for a cable car ride is only S$4 on weekdays and S$5 on weekends. For that amount, you get to enjoy the stunning views of Sentosa Island as you cross over from the mainland. Cuddle up close and enjoy some quiet time to yourselves.

Once you reach Sentosa, there are many places for you to explore. Activities themselves do tend to get pricy there but you can get creative. Explore the many beaches in Sentosa. There’s Palawan, Siloso and Tanjong Beach. 

Palawan also has this massive floating bridge for trekking over to another island. That smaller island has a watch tower from which you can see the beautiful view of Sentosa Island. Once you’re done sightseeing, dip into the ocean and enjoy the breeze.

4. Go on a bike trail

In Singapore, we are blessed to be so accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. Everything is walkable and there are many bike trails available for us to explore. So, why not take your date cycling through one of the many park connectors?

Singapore’s parks are popular spots for locals and foreigners alike, especially on the weekends. As you cycle through the different greenery, you get to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and disappear for a little bit. 

Parks like East Coast Park are also perfect places for dates. With the beautiful scenery and peaceful atmosphere (as long as you don’t visit on a particularly crowded day), it will be the perfect chance for you to get to know each other even better and just enjoy each other’s company.

Even if you don’t own a bicycle, you can easily rent from the many local bike rentals, including Anywheel. Bike rentals with Anywheel are S$1 for every 30 minutes.

5. Thrift-shopping

Thrift stores are having a big boom in Singapore. Many of these stores provide high-quality second-hand clothing items. Some of these are on the pricier range with a good vintage selection but there are also others that provide good deals.

If you and your date need a wardrobe revamp, thrift stores are the way to go. You can shop for any type of clothing you like, from crop tops and football jerseys to jackets and sweatshirts. There are also a wide variety of oversized T-shirts being sold.

Woofie’s Warehouse is a great example. Their main draw is that all their products are capped at S$10. They provide many classic everyday pieces, including known clothing brands like Carhartt. They also sell other second-hand products like watches, pants, Woofie’s Warehouse branded tote bags and many more. 

They are located at 46 Haji Lane from 1pm to 8pm daily and #03-31 Golden Landmark Shopping Complex from 10am to 8pm. The Golden Landmark outlet is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Click here to check out other thrift stores you can find in Singapore. A perfect date for a weekend afternoon.

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6. Explore Jewel Changi Airport

Constantly topping the charts in Best Airport lists around the world, Changi Airport is practically a shopping mall in its own right. This has been especially so since the opening of Jewel in 2019.

Jewel Changi Airport is the best shopping experience one could have. You and your date can easily spend a whole day exploring that part of the airport together. Take photos by the water vortex and enjoy retail and F&B offerings.

You can take a stroll around the place and, in between, you can chill at what I deem to be the highlight of Jewel: the Shiseido Forest Valley. It is a great exploration of indoor flora and complements the water vortex beautifully. The forest is a lush backdrop creating a beautiful haven between modern technology and nature. 

There are also many places you can sit to have a nice chat and simply appreciate each other’s company. As the Skytrain peeks into view from between the trees, the image is truly one full of wonder and boasts a future with endless possibilities. 

7. Take pictures at a photo booth 

People would say that this is a dating cliche but I believe that it is a dating classic. Photo booths are honestly the best way to preserve your memories with someone. That iconic photo strip has been a staple in my personal life, capturing many goofy moments in my life. 

In Singapore, there has also been an uptick in photo booths and pop-ups. None more famous than Solace Studios.

Solace Studios is a photo booth company in Singapore with multiple outlets across the country. It’s a self-service, where you can take your time, choose your props and pose for photos. People love them for their many different themed set-ups. 

They have an MRT, elevator, and even a laundromat. Get funky and pose in front of these beautiful backdrops for only S$10 for 2 strips. You can ask for additional strips for S$2 each.

Photo booths are the best way to preserve memories between you and your date. It would be the perfect cherry on top after a fun date.

8. Catch a movie 

Speaking of dating classics, why not catch a movie?

Be it an action movie, romantic comedy or even just some silly Hollywood flick, there is something for both of you to enjoy. It’s the easiest way to generate conversation. Both of you can go out into the night and talk all about the film you just watched right after. 

There are so many good movies out now. Wicked (2024) was just released and The Wild Robot (2024) has been receiving good reviews, both from critics and audiences. 

Standard cinema tickets nowadays start at S$11 if you keep it to a weekday. 

Pro-tip: Get lunch or dinner before the film. You can save some money as your date will be less inclined to get popcorn on a full stomach.

If even that is beyond your budget, just go to a nearby Heartland Mall. Our Tampines Hub and Heartbeat @ Bedok are examples of places that play movies for free.

Some of the selections can be questionable in quality but that’s the fun. You are free to trash-talk the film while watching it with your date. It’s an open public space and there is no expectation of silence to begin with.

9. Take a stroll in town

This one is a personal favourite pastime of mine. After a long day, I would walk around town and enjoy the views. I would walk from Marina Bay Sands to Esplanade, at times even ending up at City Hall. 

The entire Central Business District, colloquially known as “town”, is a walkable scenic route. It is surrounded by lush skyscrapers and hotels, surrounded by massive malls. The thing that makes this entire area more accessible is the network of MRT underpasses. 

Each of these places has a nearby MRT station. However, it is completely possible to walk from one point to another. As you go from landmark to landmark, you can beat the heat and escape into the cooling underpasses. 

This would be the perfect place for you to have a heart-to-heart with your date. Although these places are at the heart of town, they are typically big enough for you to have enough space for yourselves. Take your time to ask some deep questions, important ones that would determine whether there is a future for the two of you.

10. Do an art project

To end off the list, I would like to offer up something a little more creative.

Recently, there has been a viral art trend that has been circulating on TikTok. The trend was mostly done between significant others but some also did the trend with friends. The main gist of the trend is that both partners would start painting the background, for instance. 

Every 5 minutes, or so depending on how long you wish to take, both partners would exchange canvases and continue the painting. Both people would get creative and add different things to the painting. They will exchange every 5 minutes until the painting is completed.

This is a very simple trend that you can do as much or as little as you want. To make it fun, you can buy some cheap paints and brushes, along with some mini canvases. Even simpler, use some old coloured pencils and A4 printer paper.

Another similar trend is where couples would draw each other. This adds a unique cuteness where both partners can see themselves through their partner’s eyes.

Talent is also definitely not a factor. So, just have fun and enjoy the process.

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