Things to do in Singapore with friends: 30 ideas for every mood

The best things to do in Singapore with friends tend to be simple, and most are a short walk from an MRT station. Think a hawker crawl, a walk over Henderson Waves, a museum when it pours or satay by the bay. This guide gathers 30 ideas for people who live here, sorted by mood and weather, each with its nearest station and a local tip.

The short answer

Pick one of these and send the group chat a date.

• A hawker crawl between Maxwell Food Centre and Chinatown Complex, with kopi to finish.
• The Southern Ridges and Henderson Waves, early in the morning.
• Kites and a picnic on the green roof of Marina Barrage at sunset.
• The National Gallery or Jewel's Rain Vortex when the rain sets in.
• A game of doubles at an ActiveSG badminton court, then supper.
• The Night Safari, for an evening walk among nocturnal animals.

How to choose

Match the plan to the mood of the group and the sky outside.

Eating out together

Plans with friends here usually start with food, and hawker centres are built for groups. In December 2020, Singapore's hawker culture joined UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.

A hawker crawl in Chinatown

Maxwell Food Centre and Chinatown Complex are a short walk apart in Chinatown. Between them you can work through chicken rice, char kway teow and most of the local classics.

Order one dish each and share, and the group tastes six stalls instead of one. One person holds the table while the rest queue.

• Where Chinatown; Maxwell MRT for Maxwell Food Centre, Chinatown MRT for Chinatown Complex.
• Best for lunch or an early dinner, rain or shine.
• Tip Learn the coffee words first: kopi comes with condensed milk, kopi O is black with sugar and kopi peng is iced.

Tiong Bahru Market and the estate

Tiong Bahru Market is a wet market and food centre in a low-rise estate. The Singapore Improvement Trust built the flats around it, some before the Second World War and some after.

Eat first, then walk the estate together on the National Heritage Board's self-guided trail, which starts at the market.

• Where Tiong Bahru, about ten minutes on foot from Tiong Bahru MRT.
• Best for a slow weekend breakfast.
• Tip Look for the curved horseshoe block at Moh Guan Terrace and Guan Chuan Street, built in 1939 and 1940.

Kampong Gelam after sunset

Kampong Gelam is one of Singapore's oldest urban quarters, set around the golden dome of Sultan Mosque. Haji Lane has the street art, and the side streets mix new boutiques with traditional eateries.

Wandering these streets is better with someone to point things out to.

• Where Kampong Gelam, a short walk from Bugis MRT.
• Best for an evening, once the heat drops.
• Tip To visit Sultan Mosque, cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off; cover-ups are provided at the entrance.

Little India and Tekka Market

Serangoon Road, one of Singapore's earliest roads, runs through Little India past temples, garland stalls and spice shops. Tekka Market, by the MRT station, is a market and hawker centre in one.

There is a lot to take in, and it is more fun to compare notes over a spread of curries and breads.

• Where Little India; Little India MRT or Jalan Besar MRT.
• Best for a hungry evening.
• Tip For the story behind the street, visit the Indian Heritage Centre on Campbell Lane.

Katong and Joo Chiat

Katong and Joo Chiat are the home of Peranakan culture in Singapore, with heritage shophouses and kueh in every colour. The pastel shophouses on Koon Seng Road date back to the 1920s.

An afternoon here is mostly snacking and photos, and someone has to take the photos.

• Where the east; Marine Parade MRT is the closest station to Koon Seng Road.
• Best for a lazy weekend afternoon.
• Tip Keep your voices down by the Koon Seng Road shophouses, as people live in them.

Outdoors: parks, trails and islands

Plan outdoor days for the morning. The Meteorological Service notes that rain falls most often in the afternoon, when the sun is strongest.

The Southern Ridges and Henderson Waves

The Southern Ridges link Kent Ridge Park, HortPark, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Mount Faber Park. The highlight is Henderson Waves, a 274-metre wooden bridge shaped like a wave and the tallest pedestrian bridge in Singapore.

A long walk leaves plenty of time to talk, and the curved ribs of the bridge double as shaded alcoves for a rest.

• Where Kent Ridge Park, near Kent Ridge MRT, to Mount Faber, near HarbourFront or Telok Blangah MRT.
• Best for early mornings, or evenings when the bridge is lit.
• Tip Walk east to finish on the Marang Trail, a 700-metre path and stairway down to the road by Seah Im Food Centre.

MacRitchie and the TreeTop Walk

MacRitchie Reservoir Park leads into Singapore's largest nature reserve and its 20-plus kilometres of trails. The prize is the TreeTop Walk, a 250-metre suspension bridge 25 metres up, between the reserve's two highest points.

The loop that takes in the bridge is about 10 kilometres, so company keeps the pace going.

• Where MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Thomson; Caldecott MRT is the nearest station.
• Best for a cool morning with nothing else planned.
• Tip The TreeTop Walk keeps its own opening days, so check NParks first; the easy 3-kilometre Prunus Trail is the backup.

A picnic in the Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens are Singapore's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 82 hectares of greenery dating back to 1859. Walk in at one end and out at the other.

Bring a mat and snacks to share, and a picnic stretches into a long, slow morning.

• Where Tanglin; Botanic Gardens MRT is by the Bukit Timah Entrance and Napier MRT is by the Tanglin Entrance.
• Best for a slow morning before the heat.
• Tip Leave the frisbee and the kite at home, as ball games and kites are not allowed in the Gardens.

Pulau Ubin by bumboat

Pulau Ubin is an island off Singapore's north-eastern corner, ten minutes by bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Rent bicycles in the village and ride to Chek Jawa, a wetland with boardwalks and a 21-metre tower.

Bumboats usually leave once twelve passengers are aboard, so a group of friends fills one quickly.

• Where Changi Point Ferry Terminal, Changi Village; bus 2 from Tanah Merah MRT or bus 29 from Tampines MRT.
• Best for a dry day, starting early.
• Tip Rent helmets with the bikes, and push them where signs ask you to dismount on steep slopes.

Kites on the Marina Barrage roof

Marina Barrage helps protect low-lying parts of the city from floods, and its green roof faces the skyline. PUB, which runs it, describes the roof as a space for kite-flying and picnics.

A kite needs one person to run and one to hold the line. Stay until the city lights come up.

• Where Marina South; Gardens by the Bay MRT is a few minutes away on foot.
• Best for a breezy late afternoon into sunset.
• Tip If it rains, head indoors to the Sustainable Singapore Gallery at the barrage.

Coney Island by bike

Coney Island Park, off Punggol, has boardwalks, cycling paths and five themed beaches. You enter on foot or by bike from Punggol Point at one end or Lorong Halus at the other.

There are no car parks on the island, so everyone arrives the slow way, with time to talk.

• Where Punggol; Punggol Coast MRT is the nearest station.
• Best for a dry morning or late afternoon.
• Tip Wear long pants and covered shoes against sandflies, and keep plastic bags and bottles out of the monkeys' sight.

A beach day on Sentosa

Sentosa's three main beaches each have their own feel. Siloso is for people-watching, Palawan has family attractions and Tanjong is the quieter stretch, with coastal paths for walking or cycling between them.

A beach day works best as a group, with someone always minding the bags.

• Where Sentosa; HarbourFront MRT is the nearest station on the mainland.
• Best for a sunny morning or a late afternoon.
• Tip Head for Tanjong Beach when you want a long, unhurried chat.

Rainy days: indoor activities

Singapore averages about 171 rainy days a year, and storms often roll in during the afternoon. The games further down work in the rain too.

National Gallery Singapore

The National Gallery fills two national monuments, the former Supreme Court and City Hall, with modern art from Singapore and Southeast Asia. The buildings are worth seeing in their own right, from the domed rotunda to the roof garden.

Art is easier to talk about than to look at in silence. Split up, then meet to show each other one favourite.

• Where Civic District; City Hall MRT.
• Best for a wet afternoon.
• Tip The self-guided Must-See Artworks tour covers eight works in about an hour, a good start for a group.

National Museum of Singapore

Singapore's oldest museum tells the story of the nation through its galleries and exhibitions. It shows how the city you live in came to be.

Everyone finds a piece of their own family's story here, and that starts conversations over coffee afterwards.

• Where Stamford Road; Bras Basah MRT is a few minutes' walk away.
• Best for a rainy weekend.
• Tip Fort Canning Park is a short walk away, for when the rain stops.

Asian Civilisations Museum

The Asian Civilisations Museum sits by the Singapore River, with art and objects from across Asia. Its collection includes cargo salvaged from a Tang dynasty shipwreck.

The galleries spark the kind of "where next" talk that turns into a holiday plan.

• Where Empress Place, by the river; Raffles Place MRT.
• Best for a rainy afternoon that may clear later.
• Tip When the rain stops, the Merlion is a short walk along the river.

Jewel's Rain Vortex

Jewel Changi Airport wraps an indoor forest around the Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall, which falls 40 metres. Trails climb the Forest Valley towards the Canopy Park at the top.

It feels like a day out somewhere else, and nobody minds the weather.

• Where Changi Airport; from Changi Airport MRT, take the link bridges on level 2 of Terminal 2 or 3.
• Best for a rainy evening, when the waterfall becomes a light and music show.
• Tip Walk up through the Forest Valley rather than taking the lift; the eastern trail passes rocky falls.

Things to do in Singapore at night

Evenings are cooler and the light shows start after dark, so you can fill a whole night without going near a bar.

A walk around Marina Bay

Start at the Merlion, follow the waterfront past the Esplanade and loop round to Marina Bay Sands. Finish at Marina Bay Sands for Spectra, its light and water show on the bay.

It is an easy stroll, and when the conversation runs out, the skyline fills the gap.

• Where Marina Bay; start near Raffles Place MRT and finish near Bayfront MRT.
• Best for just after sunset.
• Tip Check the Spectra show times on Marina Bay Sands' website before you set off.

Garden Rhapsody at Supertree Grove

Garden Rhapsody is the light and sound show at the Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay. The Supertrees light up in time to music, and the music changes through the year.

Find a patch of ground in the grove and watch it together.

• Where Gardens by the Bay; Bayfront MRT exit B, then the underground link and the Dragonfly or Meadow Bridge.
• Best for after dinner nearby.
• Tip Look up the timings first, as extra shows are added in festive seasons.

The Night Safari

The Night Safari calls itself the world's first nocturnal wildlife park. More than 900 animals live along its four walking trails and tram route.

Walking the trails in the dark is more fun with someone to whisper guesses to.

• Where Mandai; the Mandai Khatib Bus runs from Khatib MRT.
• Best for a dry evening.
• Tip Wear comfortable shoes and walk at least one trail as well as riding the tram.

Satay Street at Lau Pa Sat

Lau Pa Sat is a cast-iron market completed in 1894, Singapore's oldest market structure. In the evening, satay carts fire up on Boon Tat Street beside it and tables spill onto the road.

Satay is ordered by the stick, so it is made for sharing. In the middle of the CBD, it is an easy place to meet straight from work.

• Where Raffles Quay, CBD; Downtown, Telok Ayer, Raffles Place or Shenton Way MRT.
• Best for a weekday evening.
• Tip Grab a table first, then send one person to order for everyone.

Night cycling at East Coast Park

East Coast Park runs for about 13 kilometres along the coast, with smooth paths for cycling and skating. Bike and skate rental shops are in the park.

Riding side by side in the sea breeze is an easy way to catch up.

• Where East Coast; Siglap MRT is the closest station to the East Coast Lagoon Food Village end of the park.
• Best for evenings, once the heat has gone.
• Tip Finish with supper at East Coast Lagoon Food Village, a hawker centre in the park.

Fun things to do in Singapore with friends: games and sport

Some days call for a bit of competition, and all of these happen indoors.

Badminton at an ActiveSG hall

ActiveSG, Sport Singapore's network of public facilities, has badminton courts across the island that you book online. Pick the hall nearest to everyone.

Doubles needs four players, a ready-made reason to round up the group.

• Where ActiveSG sport halls island-wide, such as Heartbeat@Bedok, a short walk from Bedok MRT.
• Best for weekday evenings, rain or shine.
• Tip Book the court before you invite everyone, then share the slot in the group chat.

An escape room

An escape room locks a team in a themed room with puzzles to solve against the clock. You only get out by working together.

You find out who stays calm and who panics first, and you will still be arguing about it over supper. Groups of four to six tend to work well.

• Where across the island; book one near an MRT station that suits everyone.
• Best for a rainy afternoon or a weekday evening.
• Tip Ask how many hints you get before the clock starts.

A board game afternoon

Board game cafés keep shelves of games and staff who explain the rules. A box at someone's flat works just as well.

Board games give quieter friends an easy way in. Pick a co-operative game if the group is very competitive.

• Where cafés around town, or at home; choose somewhere everyone can reach by MRT.
• Best for a long, rainy afternoon.
• Tip Warm up with a short game before the long one.

Karaoke

A karaoke room is private, with a long song list in several languages. Rooms come in different sizes, for small groups and big ones.

Nobody needs to sing well, because the point is singing together. Duets get shy friends to take the mic.

• Where karaoke rooms across the island; pick one near an MRT interchange so everyone gets home easily.
• Best for a rainy afternoon or a birthday.
• Tip Book a room ahead for Friday and Saturday nights.

Bouldering

Bouldering is climbing short walls without ropes, over thick mats, on routes marked by colour. Beginners start on the easiest colours and work up.

Friends cheer each other up a route and work out the moves together.

• Where climbing gyms across the island; check which is nearest your MRT line.
• Best for a hot or wet day indoors.
• Tip Book a beginner session first, so someone shows you how to fall safely.

Learning something together

A class gives the group a reason to meet again next week.

A course at your community club

Community clubs run courses for all ages, from sport and fitness to lifestyle and lifelong learning, and list them on onePA, the People's Association's site. The Association pitches its courses as a way to pick up new skills and make new friends.

Signing up together turns a one-off meet-up into a weekly habit.

• Where your nearest community club; onePA has a search to find it.
• Best for a weekday evening routine.
• Tip Start with a short course, so nobody is stuck in a long one they stop enjoying.

Kayaking with PAssion Wave

PAssion Wave is the People's Association's water-sports network, with outlets at Marina Bay, Jurong Lake Gardens, Bedok Reservoir, East Coast, Pasir Ris and Sembawang. The Marina Bay outlet suits beginners learning to kayak, dragon boat or pedal boat.

A double kayak only goes straight if you talk to each other. A dragon boat needs a whole crew, so bring everyone.

• Where the Marina Bay outlet on Rhu Cross, about ten minutes on foot from Tanjong Rhu MRT.
• Best for a weekend morning.
• Tip Some rentals need a certificate, so start with a beginner course and book equipment ahead.

A heritage trail in Toa Payoh

The National Heritage Board's Toa Payoh Heritage Trail is a self-guided walk through one of Singapore's pioneering HDB towns. Stops include Block 53, the "VIP block" visited by prime ministers, presidents and monarchs, and the terrazzo Dragon Playground from 1979.

Everyone has an HDB story, and the trail draws them out.

• Where Toa Payoh; start from Toa Payoh MRT.
• Best for a dry afternoon.
• Tip Keep the trail page open on your phone as you go, since it lists every stop.

A hands-on workshop

Pottery, terrarium-making and baking classes all end with something you made yourselves. Look for ones that welcome complete beginners.

Working side by side at a wheel or a bench makes the conversation easy.

• Where studios across the island; pick one close to an MRT station.
• Best for a rainy weekend afternoon.
• Tip Ask how long your piece takes to finish, since pottery is often fired and collected later.

A plan for the day

This route runs from lunch in Chinatown to supper in the CBD, almost all on foot.

1. Lunch at Maxwell Food Centre. Meet at Maxwell MRT, beside the food centre, and share a few plates.
2. The Asian Civilisations Museum for the hot afternoon. Walk up Telok Ayer Street past Thian Hock Keng, Singapore's oldest Chinese temple, then through Raffles Place to the river, about 20 minutes in all.
3. Sunset around Marina Bay. The Merlion is a few minutes along the river from the museum. Follow the waterfront past the Esplanade to Marina Bay Sands for Spectra.
4. Supper at Satay Street, Lau Pa Sat. Take the Downtown Line one stop from Bayfront to Downtown, then walk a few minutes to the market.

To step inside the temple, cover shoulders and knees. If it rains, stay longer at the museum and do the bay walk later.

With a companion

Some plans need more people than you have to hand. An escape room needs a team, and a hawker crawl needs someone to share plates with.

Friends get busy, and if you are new to Singapore your circle may still be small. Our guide to making friends in Singapore covers how to grow it. Until then, a companion can make up the numbers.

Rentbaby is a social marketplace where you book time with Darlings, adults who offer their company for meals, outings, events, hobbies, games and video calls. Everything on Rentbaby is platonic.

Darlings are 18 or over, and the Rentbaby team reviews and approves each one before their profile appears. Every account, yours included, is confirmed with a one-time code sent to your phone or email, or a Google, Facebook or TikTok sign-in.

Booking takes three steps.

1. Browse Darlings and filter by location, gender and type of service. Each profile shows what they offer, when they are available and their reviews.
2. Send a request with the date, the time and a note on what you would like to do. The Darling accepts or declines.
3. Once they accept, pay in credits in the app. The credits are held until the meetup is done, and you can leave a review afterwards.

When you meet, the Darling shows a QR code in the app for you to scan, which confirms that the meetup has started. If a Darling does not show up and support confirms it, reported within 24 hours, you get a full refund to your wallet.

Before a first meetup, run through this list.

• Meet first in a busy public place, such as a hawker centre, a museum café or a mall.
• Keep the chat and the payment in the app.
• Tell a friend where you are going and when you expect to be back.
• Agree on the plan in the chat beforehand: where, how long and what you will do.
• If anything feels wrong, leave first. Then report the chat in the app and tell Rentbaby support.

To plan one of these ideas with company, browse Darlings near you at rentbaby.com/for-you and send a request with the plan in mind.

Questions

What activities can I do with my friends in Singapore?

Start with food, since hawker centres are made for sharing, then add something that suits the weather. Save walks for the morning and museums for wet afternoons, and finish at Marina Bay after dark. Badminton and escape rooms work any time.

Where should I hang out with my friends in Singapore?

Most people meet at hawker centres, parks, community clubs and malls. Pick somewhere on an MRT line that suits everyone, and keep an indoor backup in case it rains.

What can I do in Singapore tonight?

Walk around Marina Bay for the Spectra light and water show, or watch Garden Rhapsody at the Supertree Grove. The Night Safari is another good choice, and Satay Street at Lau Pa Sat sorts out supper.

What are good things to do alone in Singapore?

Most of these ideas work solo too, from the Botanic Gardens and the museums to a heritage trail. A community club course is a good way to meet people. For company on a meal or an outing, you can book a Darling on Rentbaby.

What is Singapore's signature dish?

There is no official one. Visit Singapore calls chicken rice an iconic Singapore dish and chilli crab an iconic staple of local cuisine. Hawker culture is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, so a hawker centre is the place to start.

What can we do in Singapore when it rains?

Head indoors to the National Gallery, the National Museum, the Asian Civilisations Museum or Jewel. Escape rooms, karaoke, bouldering and board games suit groups too. Rain falls most often in the afternoon, so keep outdoor plans for the morning.

What are fun activities for young adults in Singapore?

Bouldering, escape rooms, karaoke and badminton suit groups and work in any weather. Outdoors, try night cycling at East Coast Park, a bike ride on Coney Island or kayaking with PAssion Wave.