Who says Singapore is boring? We’re anything but, especially if you’re in-the-know about what to do and where to go. So we’ve taken the liberty of rounding up out-of-the-ordinary date ideas around town that have nothing to do with your usual dinner-and-movie or dinner-and-drinks combo. (Although if you really must watch a movie, at least go for breezy outdoor cinemas.)
For those on a budget, check out the free and affordable ways you can romance your other half. And if you’re feeling generous, you can always pop open your wallet and go the extravagant route to pamper yourself and your main squeeze. After all, memorable experiences are priceless, right?
Before you scroll through our list below for suggestions, consider surprising your other half with a non-mainstream fried chicken bouquet before your romantic night out.
Free
Battle it out at trivia night
To show off your collection of random facts and mostly useless tidbits of life, challenge your couple friends with a double (or triple) date for trivia night organized by groups like Singapore Quizmaster, Be Inquizitive, and SG Tipsy Trivia at pubs across town, including Molly Malone’s and Prince of Wales.
It’s fun and boisterous, and there’ll never be a dull moment because you’ll be too busy knocking back beers and recalling everything you ever read on Wikipedia.
Various dates and times and various locations. Free to $5/person.
Gaze at the stars in the night sky
Every Friday night, the Science Centre Observatory opens its doors to welcome anyone interested in stargazing. But if you’re dreaming of an idyllic evening under the twinkling sky, you should know that it’s more like waiting in line for a couple minutes to look through the telescopes at planets, stars, and the moon. Not exactly a fairytale date, but definitely ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.
Every Fri (except public holidays) from Jan to mid-Nov, 7:45pm-10pm at the Science Centre Observatory.
Huff and puff your way up the TreeTop Walk
We’ve got quite a few parks and nature reserves for couples who love luxuriating in the great outdoors, but none quite so breathtaking as the TreeTop Walk that places you on eye-level with the towering trees in MacRitchie Reservoir.
Sure, the long and exhausting round trip hike to the free-standing suspension bridge will take you at least three hours, but hey, the couple that sweats together stays together.
Tues-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am-5pm at MacRitchie Reservoir.
Swing by farmers’ markets
Farmers’ markets have become quite the thing in Singapore, where it’s cool to stock your kitchen with local produce, artisanal goods, and seasonal offerings. So if you’d like to spend the weekend checking out indie brands and their homemade/handmade items, take your partner out to ones like Kranji Countryside Farmers’ Market, Farmers’ Market at Loewen Gardens, and Social Market at Open Farm Community.
Take an evening stroll at picturesque spots
Yep, we promised you non-cliché date ideas, but a romantic walk at sunset isn’t quite so stereotypical when you’re sauntering along a glow-in-the-dark path – like the 100m luminescent test track at the Rail Corridor.
Alternatively, there’s the scenic Woodlands Waterfront Park, with a 1.5km-long promenade and views of the Straits of Johor, or the Henderson Waves Bridge, an architectural structure with the honor of being the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore at 36m above ground.
Affordable (under $50)
Be at one with nature
Escape the concrete jungle of the CBD and spend the day with your sleeves rolled up among the flora and fauna of Singapore. To show off your adventurous side, get up close to farm animals at Farmart Centre, glimpse a typical day in the life of a goat at Hay Dairies, head over to Jurong Frog Farm, tour the greenery of Bollywood Veggies, or take your date to Orto, the one-stop Yishun spot that offers everything from prawning and longkang (drain) fishing to paintball games and a trampoline park.
Create your own version of Prison Break (sort of)
We’ve got a ton of escape rooms in the country, with all sorts of intriguing themes and mind-boggling puzzles for you to solve. It’s the kind of date where you have to rack your brains to decipher clues, which will inevitably have you working closely together with your date (and other strangers/couples). Have a go at places like Lost SG, The Escape Artist, Xcape, Trapped, and Lockdown.
From $19/person.
Gear up for a fast and furious race
Strap on for a thrilling ride and live your best Vin Diesel/Dominic Toretto life at go-kart arenas across the island. You may not be Formula One material, but a little friendly competition never hurt a relationship. Just don’t go bumping your beau off the track in your eagerness to win. Zoom past the finish line together at places like KF1 at Singapore Turf Club, The Karting Arena at Bukit Timah, and Maximum Drift at Orto.
Prices from $15/session.
Get high at a playground in the air
At Airzone, the world’s first indoor suspended net playground, you’ll be flying through the air on a major adrenaline rush. Together with your date, you can be a kid for a day and practice your trust falls in the ball pit, challenge one another to get through the maze, scream your lungs out on the slides, and do the moon walk at the free play zone.
Daily 11am-9pm at City Square Mall. $20/person.
Glow with the flow at cosmic bowling
So what if you can’t bowl a strike to save your life? Orchid Bowl’s cosmic bowling sessions offer a fun alternative to the nightlife scene here, with a glow-in-the-dark atmosphere and themed nights such as K-pop, J-pop, Malay pop, and Latino. Besides, with your bowling shoes laced on, you can always impress your date with your dance moves instead.
Every Saturday from 7pm at various Orchid Bowl outlets. One hour of unlimited bowling: $28/lane for members, $32/lane for non-members.
Groove to the tune of live bands
Those who can’t carry a proper tune can live vicariously through professional musicians serenading both of you (and everyone else in the crowd). For a casual night out, pop by Wala Wala, Crazy Elephant, or any of Timbre’s myriad outlets. And if you’re willing to shell out a little more, get your live music fix at Monti, Lulu’s Lounge, or Bob’s Bar.
Hop on the world’s first vintage Vespa sidecar tour
To journey through the streets of our garden city in style, book a vintage Vespa sidecar tour with Sideways and discover areas like Joo Chiat, Katong, Kampong Glam, and Chinatown together. You’ll charm the socks right off your date with this quaint way of pretending to be tourists for a day.
From $30/person for 30 mins.
LOL at slapstick jokes and all things inappropriate
Life’s too hard to take everything seriously. So avoid awkward date moments and get in on some side-splitting action at comedy shows around town, with stand-up comedians who’ll have you in stitches with risqué wisecracks and rib-tickling one-liners.
From Comedy Masala and The Comedy Club Asia to Comedy At Canvas and Central Perk’s Chandler Comedy Night, you’ll be giggling and guffawing and rehashing all the jokes for the rest of the night.
Tickets from $15.
Ninja Warrior your way through a trampoline park
Throw on your workout gear and make a date at indoor fitness arena Bounce, where you’ll get comfy with one another sweating it out at zones like Slam Dunk, The Wall, and the free jumping arena.
To keep the adrenaline rush going, take the Leap of Faith off a high tower, challenge one another to a game of Trampoline Dodgeball, or attempt to take on obstacle course X-Park to make all your Ninja Warrior fantasies come true.
Mon-Thurs 10am-10pm, Fri 10am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm at #09-01 Cathay Cineleisure Orchard. $25/person for first hour, $20/person for each additional hour.
Quench your thirst at a crazy cheap pub crawl
At the cheapest pub crawl in one of the world’s most expensive cities, you get complimentary shots and drink deals at four bars along the Singapore River, as well as free entry to a nightclub on Wednesdays… all for the price of $5.
Pros: Liquid courage. Cons: Your date may or may not see you absolutely hammered by the end of the night.
Singapore $5 Pub Crawl is on every Wed from 7:30pm, meet at Fat Pigeon Statue, UOB Plaza. $5 for Wednesdays, $15-$25 for Fridays and Saturdays.
Relive your teenage years on the ice
There’s no better excuse to grab your partner’s hand (especially if it’s your first date) than for safety reasons at an ice-skating rink. Never mind if you’re more of a wobbler than a skater – let your smooth, suave ways make up for you looking like a hot mess on the ice.
P.S. We’d recommend the newer, Olympic-sized rink at JCube than the rundown one at Kallang Ice World – it also hosts the occasional event like Disco Night on Ice.
Opening hours vary at #03-11 JCube. $21.50/two hours.
Smash your way through a rage room
Let’s face it – if your other half can love you at your worst, he/she is definitely a keeper. And what could be worse than watching your partner Hulk out and annihilate the contents of a room?
So grab your baseball bat at The Fragment Room and relieve all the stress in your system by bashing two crates of stuff to the tune of a killer playlist.
Daily 1pm-10pm at 3 Balestier Rd. $75/two people for 30 mins.
Splurge
Conquer outdoor obstacles together
Embark on a calorie-burning journey across a treetop obstacle course at the newly revamped Forest Adventure, where you’ll get to challenge one another to climb platforms, navigate crossings, and zip line across Bedok Reservoir.
Alternatively, take a day trip to Sentosa for a high ropes adventure course, free fall simulator, and zip wire at Mega Adventure Park, or satiate your thrill-seeking side at AJ Hackett’s Singapore outpost, which features a Vertical Skywalk, a Giant Swing, and a Bungy Jump.
Forest Adventure: $50/person for the Grand Course; Mega Adventure Park: From $15/person; AJ Hackett: From $49/person.
Dine in the dark
For the ultimate blind date, book a seat at the pitch-black dining room of Nox, where you’ll rely on your other senses to taste what you’ve been served by visually impaired wait staff.
Besides trusting them with helping you find your way around the table, you’ll probably spend a good chunk of time figuring out what’s on the 12-dish, three-course mystery menu, which makes for a pretty entertaining and enlightening experience.
Daily 6pm-late at 269 Beach Rd. $88/person for the prix fixe dinner.
Embark on a day of island-hopping
When you’ve seen all that Singapore has to offer, hop on board a ferry and cruise the waters to any one of our country’s myriad offshore islands. Tropical paradise awaits at St John’s Island, Lazarus Island, Kusu Island, and Sisters’ Islands, where you can explore the land, pack a picnic, and lay by the beach.
Nearer to the mainland, you’ll find Coney Island (a walking distance from Punggol Point Park) or Pulau Ubin, a 10-minute $3 ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal.
Round trip ferry tickets start from $18/person.
Immerse yourself in a night of theatrical dining
Escort your partner into the mysterious world of Andsoforth, where interactive dramatic dinner theatre takes on entertaining and enigmatic themes, from Alice’s whimsical Wonderland to the eccentric Disco David to fairytale-like Adventures in Grimmsneyland. If you’re a sucker for secretive and unpredictable dates, this is one evening of merrymaking you won’t soon forget.
Tickets from $88/person.
Nosh on seafood at a modern floating kelong
Forget regular seafood restaurants. To truly impress the one you’re romancing, take him/her out to Smith Marine on the waters between Changi Village Ferry Terminal and Pulau Ubin. With idyllic views, fresh seafood, and a whole lot of peace and quiet, it’s quite the unconventional experience at Singapore’s first floating kelong restaurant.
Daily 10am-7pm (closed alternate Mondays) at Pulau Ubin Coastal Area.
Savor an evening in the wild
Cable car or Ferris wheel dining is so yesteryear. Why settle for the familiar city skyline view when you can get up close and personal with the creatures of the Night Safari?
The wildlife park’s dining experiences include romantic options such as a cocktails and canapes tram ride, a candlelit dinner on board the safari express, and a trip to a secret lakeside location where you’ll be served a four-course dinner and free-flow wine.
From $80/person.
Share a tent in style
To indulge in a luxe staycation by the sea, hit up Glamping Society. All you have to do is rock up to East Coast Park, and your lovely fairy-lit tent will be waiting, stocked with a double bed, down feather pillows, floor cushions, soft rugs, and complimentary drinks and snacks. If you’d like to crank the romance up a notch, throw in an extra $150 for a flower-themed picnic set-up, a bottle of sparkling juice, flower baskets, and more.
For a daytime picnic without the sleepover, get in touch with the experts behind Picneeds and customize your own elegant alfresco meal – from the décor to the food.
East Coast Park. From $160/night.
Soar above the waters
Okay, so technically your feet won’t touch the water (unless you wipe out) when you’re attempting to jetpack or jetblade at Ola Beach Club, but it’s a pretty damn cool experience to share, being elevated above the waves with a water-propelled jetpack.
For another type of flying experience, cough up cash for iFly to execute all kinds of flips and somersaults as you skydive in a wind tunnel.
Jetpack/jetblade: $198/45 mins at Ola Beach Club. Skydive: From $89/one skydive at iFly Singapore.
Take flight (with your feet still on the ground)
The Singapore Flyer may not be the coolest hangout around, but it’s home to Flight Experience, where you and your partner can try out what it’s like to fly an airplane (through a simulator, of course). From checking in to meeting your real-life pilot instructor to strapping in on the captain’s seat for take-off, it’s quite the unique airborne journey.
Daily 10am-10pm at #02-06 Singapore Flyer. From $175/person for 30 mins.
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Vikran says
One thing that bothers me is what happened to a midnight swim at the local pool? The only way to get in nowadays without get serious consequences are several bucks later and a booking in advance.
https://www.ted.com/profiles/8790892