'Crazy Rich'? Singapore Can Be Affordable Too!

When assessing the richest countries in the world, Singapore always ranks high. Therefore: Singapore is expensive! Therefore: I prefer not to make a stopover during an Asia vacation. Wrong, because: Singapore can also be enjoyed on a budget. Here are some tips:

Let's get the most unpleasant point out of the way first. While there seems to be no upper limit in Singapore, backpackers will struggle to find a cheap place to stay. However, the standard of accommodations in Singapore is extremely high, so hostels here are usually very clean and chic.

A night in a dorm costs between 10 and 40 euros. Meanwhile, hostels also frequently offer private rooms, some with private bathrooms. Prices there start at around 30 euros. A good overview is available on Hostelworld.

When you step off the plane in Singapore, you won't encounter traffic chaos and hustle like in Bangkok. Singapore is very relaxed. It also has a fantastic public transportation network. A single ride costs less than a euro.

Tourists are often recommended the Singapore Tourist Pass. This costs 10 SGD (about 6.20 euros) for one day, 16 SGD (about 10 euros) for two days, or 20 SGD (about 12.45 euros) for three days. With the pass, you can ride buses and trains as often as you like.

However, you will likely stroll through the streets on foot. So, follow the locals and get an EZ-Link Card. It costs 12 SGD (about 7.50 euros), and already includes 7 SGD (about 4.35 euros) worth of travel credit. You can top up the card at all train stations and selected 7-Eleven stores. You only pay for the rides you actually take.

Tip: Be sure to log out with the card when leaving the train station or bus, or else your ride will cost more than necessary.

Don't worry if it gets late and you'd rather take a taxi back to the hotel. Taking a taxi in Singapore is quite affordable, and a ride in the downtown won't cost you more than 6 to 10 euros. If you want to be sure, you can use the taxi fare calculator.

Although Singapore is the smallest state in Southeast Asia by area, it is incredibly diverse culturally. You can wander through different neighborhoods as if you are traveling from country to country.

In Little India, it's especially colorful and bustling. There are numerous stalls where colorful garlands are braided. You can buy Indian food and lots of trinkets in the malls and streets.

In the Arab district, you'll find the Sultan Mosque with its large, golden domed roof. It's well worth a look inside, and it's free of charge. Right next door is the trendy Kampong Glam area with many lovely boutiques and cozy cafes. Perfect for window shopping and people watching!

At the entrance to Chinatown stands a colorful Hindu temple, the Sri Mariamman Temple. Entry is free. A small fee is charged only if you take photos with a large camera. As you stroll among stalls full of wondrous medicines, traditional art, and a lot of kitsch, you'll reach the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the heart of Chinatown, which you can also visit for free.

If you want to learn more about the various ethnic neighborhoods, you can take a Free Walking Tour from Indie Singapore. The tip you give at the end of the tour is up to you. Generally, the tours are free.

Singapore has many buildings, architectural masterpieces, and attractions that leave us speechless. At the forefront are the Gardens by the Bay. The two domes house botanical gardens. But even if you want to save on entrance fees, you can be enchanted in the nearby Super Tree Grove.

The Super Trees are steel frameworks covered with climbing plants, standing between 25 and 50 meters tall. They serve, among other things, the cultivation of rare plants and are lit with solar energy. Rainwater is collected in their funnels to water the plants, and some of the trees serve as cooling towers for the greenhouses' cooling systems. You'll feel like a dwarf among the gigantic trees.

Tip: Come in the evening because every day at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM, there is an unforgettable light and music show here.

Probably the city's most famous pool is located on the iconic Marina Bay Sands building. A visit to the pool is reserved exclusively for hotel guests, and the drinks on the rooftop bars are pricey. However, you don't have to miss out on your Marina Bay Sands experience.

From the Merlion Statue, Singapore's landmark, you have a fantastic view of the skyline and Marina Bay Sands. Every evening at 8:30 PM, there's a laser show that you can watch particularly well from here.

If you thought until now that Singapore was just skyscrapers and shopping malls, you were greatly mistaken. You can experience everything from peaceful city gardens to jungle walks through treetops to traditional island life here.

If you want a quick break in the greenery, the Chinese and Japanese Botanical Gardens are perfect. Between pagodas and bonsai gardens, you can take a deep breath during a pond break.

You have a fantastic view over the city and Sentosa Island from Mount Faber. There's also a wooden bridge called Henderson Waves up here. It's an incredibly cool-looking structure, great for some Instagram photos.

The Henderson Waves are part of a roughly nine-kilometer-long hiking trail called Southern Ridges. It blends urban and rural scenes. You walk on high bridges through the jungle canopy, and suddenly skyscrapers are within arm's reach again.

Go even deeper into the jungle at MacRitchie Nature Reserve. During a multi-hour hike, you reach the Treetop Walk, a suspension bridge high in the jungle trees.

See how people lived hundreds of years ago in Singapore on Pulau Ubin island. From western Changi Point, you can take a bumboat to the island for just 3 SGD (about 1.90 euros). On Pulau Ubin, you'll find stilt houses, mangrove forests, and lonely beaches.

You can also enjoy a beach vibe without a boat ride by heading either on foot or by train to Sentosa Island south of Singapore. After leaving the Universal Studios and all the jazz behind, only palm trees and beach await you. Get a cool drink at 7-Eleven and stick your toes in the sand.

You'll find an even broader beach on the way to the airport. Here lies East Coast Park. Along the promenade, there are numerous restaurants and cafes where you can find affordable deals.

If you ask Singaporeans what one should do in the city, they usually say: 'Eating and shopping!' Eating is therefore one of the most important activities on the island. You can eat most affordably, authentically, and deliciously at one of the many Hawker Centers, which are a kind of alternative food court. Here, there are various 'food stalls' offering cheap eats. On average, a dish costs 6 SGD (just under 4 euros), with lunch deals available at even lower prices.

Michelin-Star Cuisine for 2 Euros: Chan, the owner of Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, received a Michelin star in 2016 for his chicken rice, essentially the iconic Singapore dish. Yet his chicken noodle dish still costs only 2 SGD (about 1.60 euros).

A visit to the Hawker Center Lau Pau Sat in the evening is a real happening. Cars are banned from the road during this time, and tables and stools are set up. Here you'll find the world's best satay skewers.

Alcohol is exorbitantly expensive in Singapore. It doesn't matter much whether you order a beer, a wine, or a mixed drink. The cheapest options cost about 11 SGD (around 7 euros). It's slightly cheaper at Five Izakaya Bar, where small beers start at around 3 euros, or at Ice Cold B's @ SMU, where a pitcher of beer costs 11 SGD (about 6.90 euros).

Rooftop bars in Singapore are quite pricey. Just the entrance fee might break your beverage budget. Women have better chances, as Wednesdays are Ladies' Night in Singapore, and women don't have to pay entry in many clubs.

Partying is cheaper at Clarke Quay. There are numerous bars and clubs here. Happy Hour usually runs from 5 PM to 7 PM, and many bars offer buy-one-get-one-free deals. Plus, there are clubs here that don't charge entry.

Why travel far to shop at H&M and such again? Doesn't make sense, right? Exactly! So spend your money in Chinatown instead. There are always great deals at the market stalls there.

The Tiong Bahru neighborhood offers a more urban vibe. The area has evolved into a small hipster district in recent years. There are great cafes and unique stores like Books Actually. Upfront you can buy books, and in the back, you might find a deal in the vintage store.

Unlike in many Asian countries, the tap water in Singapore is impeccable. You can safely fill your bottles with tap water.

Scrounge your way through the casino! At Marina Bay Sands, there's a casino in the mall. Locals have to pay an entry fee, but it's free for tourists. Just sit down at the slot machines and toss in a few coins. Before you know it, someone will offer you coffee and soft drinks for free.

As your journey continues, don't fear that you'll spend too much money at the airport out of boredom. Entertainment is a big deal here. Besides a pool (which would cost 17 SGD, about 11.60 euros, to enter), there are butterfly, orchid, and sunflower gardens to relax in.