Free experiences in Singapore: how the SingapoRewards program worked
Singapore regularly appears in rankings of the world's most expensive cities. A night in the center and dinner for two can easily eat up a traveler's daily budget. But in 2023, tourists had a rare opportunity to see the city almost for free.
The Singapore Tourism Board launched the SingapoRewards program. International visitors chose one experience from a large list and got it for free: from a tour of Changi Airport to a gin masterclass. The program has ended, but its logic is still useful today. You pay for the flight and hotel, and you discover the city itself through walking routes.
Below we break down what this program was, who participated, how booking worked, and what experiences it offered.
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What SingapoRewards was
The program was launched by the Singapore Tourism Board on March 7, 2023 (according to the Singapore Tourism Board). It gave international visitors one free experience from a list of nearly 40 options. The goal was simple: show tourists not only Marina Bay, but also lesser-known neighborhoods and local businesses.
Before the global launch, the program was tested from October 2022 to March 2023 in Australia, India, and Indonesia (according to the tourism board's press release). After the pilot, the list was expanded, and participation was opened to most short-term visitors to the country.
💡 In short:
- SingapoRewards gave one free experience from nearly 40 options.
- Short-term tourists who flew to Singapore by plane could participate.
- The program ran in 2023; its terms no longer apply in 2026.
- Status and list of experiences: 09/2026, verified on the official Visit Singapore website.
© Irwan Shah Bin Abdullah / https://ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/Singapore · CC BYPhoto: Irwan Shah Bin Abdullah / https://ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/Singapore, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsWho could participate
The program was open to short-term visitors to Singapore. The main requirement: arrive in the country by plane and not be a local resident (according to the Singapore tourism office). Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and Long-Term Pass holders were not eligible.
You could use the offer only once per trip. You also couldn't book an experience for someone else: the booking was tied to a specific guest.
- The catch: the choice was limited to one experience, and the most popular slots went quickly.
© *angys* · CC BY-SAPhoto: *angys*, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsHow booking worked: four steps
Booking was done online, through the VisitSingapore app or the program's website. The process was as follows:
- create a Visit Singapore account;
- choose an activity and book it;
- enter your travel dates and purpose of visit to get a ticket;
- present the ticket before the activity starts.
The earlier you booked a date, the more open slots remained. Formats like a dinner river cruise were booked well in advance, so you shouldn't have put off choosing until the last day.
© Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SAPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsRescheduling dates and times
If plans changed, the booking could be rescheduled. This was allowed no later than two days before the start (according to Visit Singapore). After that, rescheduling was unavailable: you lost both the slot and the right to the free experience itself.
It was not worth booking an activity for the day of arrival. A flight delay ate into the time, and rescheduling was no longer possible.
Categories and examples of activities
The list of almost 40 experiences was divided into four groups. The largest number of options was in the "Novelty and excitement" category.
Category | Options | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Wellness / health and relaxation (Wellness) | 3 | aroma workshop, aqua spinning |
Food and dining | 9 | river dining cruise, Brass Lion Distillery |
Sustainability | 8 | S.E.A. Aquarium, Changi Airport walking tour |
Novelty and excitement | 18 | bike tour of historic districts, Instagram walk |
The number of options in the table is based on organizer data.
Wellness / health and relaxation. Here you don't just watch, you make something with your hands. The program included the Singapore Flora Heritage Room Diffuser Workshop: guests assembled their own aromatic sachet from local plants. The second format: an Aqua Spinning Workout Class on bikes right in the pool.
© Diego Delso · CC BY-SAPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsFood and dining. A category for those who travel to Singapore for the food. The list included dinner aboard the Singapore River Dining Cruise and a tour of Brass Lion Distillery with gin tasting. It also included a Singapore Sling cocktail masterclass, breakfast at the Singapore Zoo, a tea ceremony, and a farm-to-table session.
Sustainability. The most practical block. It included the Pleated Bag Making Workshop, the S.E.A. Aquarium + Behind The Panel Guided Tour of the aquarium, and the Jewel Connection walk through Changi Airport and the Jewel Changi complex. The same group included kayaking near Pulau Ubin and a night bike tour of Marina Bay.
Novelty and excitement. The leader in the number of activities. It included bike rides through historic neighborhoods and an Instagram walk through Bugis, Waterloo, and Kampong Gelam. Guests were offered an immersive game about India and a quest in Chinatown. Creative types got a perfume masterclass and an art workshop with live cats.
Similar tours and masterclasses in Singapore are now sold as paid experiences. You can find them on GetYourGuide.
The program has ended: what this means in 2026
SingapoRewards was designed as a 2023 campaign (according to the tourism board). In 2026, there are no free giveaways from the organizers, and you should not count on a free tour covered by the Tourism Board.
That doesn't mean Singapore has become unaffordable. The biggest expenses are flights and accommodation, while a walk through the old neighborhoods and along the waterfront costs nothing. If you're visiting for the first time, check out our overview of first impressions in the city and book a centrally located hotel in advance so you don't have to spend money on taxis: compare prices on Trip.com.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
Is SingapoRewards available in 2026?
No. According to the agency's data, the program was designed for 2023 and has not been renewed since. Free experiences from the organizers are no longer available. If you see an offer for a "free tour under the program," check the date and terms on the official website.
Who could participate in the program?
Short-term tourists who arrived in Singapore by plane (according to the official Visit Singapore portal).
How many experiences did one guest receive?
Exactly one from a list of nearly 40 options (according to STB data).
Could you reschedule a booking?
Yes, no later than two days before the activity.
What should you do if you want free experiences now?
Build your itinerary around walking tours and new neighborhoods, and pay for guided tours and tickets selectively, only where they're truly needed. Before your trip, check the current terms on the official Visit Singapore website so you don't rely on outdated roundups.
In short: what's worth booking
The city itself opens up almost for free: the old neighborhoods, the waterfront, and the markets can all be explored on foot. It's worth paying for things that save you time and energy.
- If you're visiting for the first time: book a hotel near an MRT station so you don't have to spend money on taxis.
- If you want guided tours: compare paid tours in advance, since free giveaways are no longer available.
- If you're traveling with kids: plan parks and the aquarium as a separate day with extra time built in.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.