Cool Travel Blog visited the small city-state of Singapore or aptly called the Lion City. Home to about 6 million people that comes from multi cultural races, Singapore is a huge hub to discover culture, food, modern architecture and technology!

We didn’t plan to visit Singapore in the first place due to the fact that we really don’t like concrete jungles. Our first notion of Singapore is that the place is expensive to visit and there wouldn’t be anything else to do.

After a month living in Phuket and having my work permit approved, I have decided to have my wife’s non-immigrant Thailand visa filed in Singapore since you have to file it at the Thai consulate or embassy outside the country.

We went and spent 4 days in Singapore for the filing and approval of my wife’s visa so read along our Cool Things to do in Singapore in 4 days on a budget!

Things to do in Singapore

1. ) Stroll around the city at night!

We stayed at the busy area of Boat Quay near the business district where a multitude of expats, Singaporean workers converge to work day in and day out. We got a really great hostel in Boat Quay with excellent customer service at the 5foot way inn. The first thing to do in Singapore is explore the central district! The hostel is just 10 minutes away from Merlion park where you can also literally walk going to the marina bay sands passing by the esplanade, bridge and unto Marina Bay sands light show. A heaven of photo opportunities not to be missed along the way!

2.) Eat at a Singaporean Hawker Center

Singapore is synonymous with Singapore Chili Crab, your thing to do in Singapore list wouldn’t be complete without EVER trying this dish. Singapore cuisine has lots to offer for the palate like flavors from the Malay, Indian, Chinese, Western and yes FILIPINO. Sweet Tangy and Spicy, Chili Crab is the most popular and well enjoyed food in Singapore greatly shared and enjoyed with families and friends, pair it up with some bread or PAO (as what we call it) and a bowl of Char Kway Teow or Laksa and you are all good! There’s a good hawker center Makan Sutra just beside the esplanade if you happen to pass by going to marina bay sands where you can see a great view of the bay.

3.) Discover “Art Street” of Singapore and its vicinity

Haji lane on Kampung glam is a great spot to take some art enthusiast, hipsters and street artists with its quirky, colorful and small shophouses lining up with some bargain finds. This area is predominately muslim wherein you can see about 3 or more mosques in the area such as the Masjid Sultan. A quick walk will also let you reach Bugis area or district where there are lots of budget hotels, restaurants and a favorite local shopping destination.

4.) Walk around Singapore Botanical Garden

A UNESCO heritage site, Singapore Botanical Garden is a tropical garden founded on 1859! This place is great for outdoor walks when you get tired looking at buildings and the city. A good thing about this place is FREE! There are lot of areas to visit within the Garden such as the orchid gardens, a Rainforest and more. There are also several species on Singapore Botanical Garden the freely roams so better get ready with your cameras or yourselves so that you won’t get surprised seeing monitor lizards around the bushes! This place is great for relaxing, having a picnic with your friends and families as well as jogging or walking your dog. Just do bring water since it is going to be a long walk around this massive area.

5.) Sightseeing in Sentosa Island

Why wouldn’t we miss putting in Sentosa Island on our things to do list? The island has tons of attractions such as the Universal studios, Resorts World, trickeye museum, white sand beach where everyone and anyone can enjoy! Although most of the places has entrance fees you still can get your moneys worth since all of the different experience, food, restos, shops are good!

Bonus: Lucky Plaza shopping in Orchard Road for pasalubongs #kabayan

Being in Phuket Thailand for about a month, we started to miss pinoy food, the best area to eat pinoy food is at Lucky Plaza. If on a budget, there is one Barrio Fiesta carenderia that offers set meals for about $5. If you want jolibee one can go to the top floor and enjoy your craving of chickenjoy, jollispaghetti or yum! Lucky plaza also houses tons of cheap finds for pasalubongs like chocolates, shirts, souvenirs, electronics so we suggest that you try to choose and scrutinize what shop to buy from and haggle before paying. Good to see lots of Kabayans at this joint.

Although at first we don’t like visiting concrete jungles, we were quite wrong about Singapore. The things to do on our list was well spent and it just cost us a “few” baht being in Singapore a first world country.

A clean city, disciplined citizens, great food options of chinese, western, Mediterranean available all around 24/7, infrastructures and the busy rush hours made our trip in Singapore a “fine” one as my eyes for detail lit up wandering around this fine city and what it offered.