Things to do this weekend in Singapore with friends, including new ones

The best things to do this weekend in Singapore with friends, especially new ones, are activities with a shared focus and room to talk: a free evening light show, a morning walk or run, a hawker crawl, a volunteering session or a group dinner. Below are evergreen ideas by vibe, free and paid, that work whether you are seeing old friends or meeting people for the first time.

What makes a good weekend plan with new people

When you are meeting people you do not know well yet, some plans work much better than others:

• Something to do, not just somewhere to sit. An activity fills silences and gives you an easy topic.
• A clear start and finish. A two-hour walk is easier to commit to than an open-ended night out.
• A natural "after". Plans that end near food or drinks let the people who are clicking stay on.
• Public and easy to reach. Close to an MRT station, with plenty of people around.

If you want something free

Evening light shows

• Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove runs daily at 7.45pm and 8.45pm, and it is free. Lie back under the Supertrees, then walk to the waterfront. Ticketed events occasionally take over the grove, so check before you go.
• Spectra, the light and water show at Marina Bay Sands' Event Plaza, is free and lasts about 15 minutes. It runs at 8pm and 9pm daily, with an extra 10pm show on Fridays and Saturdays.

Pair them for a classic Marina Bay evening: Garden Rhapsody at 7.45pm, a walk across, then Spectra at 9pm.

Gardens and parks

• Singapore Botanic Gardens are open from 5am to midnight and free to enter. Only the National Orchid Garden charges, at S$5 for local adults. A Saturday morning walk followed by breakfast near Botanic Gardens is a gentle first meet-up.
• MacRitchie has forest trails and boardwalks that suit a morning group walk, with plenty of chances to chat. See the MacRitchie area page.
• East Coast Park suits a group cycle or a long, flat walk ending at a seafood or hawker dinner.

Museums

Singapore citizens and PRs get free admission to National Heritage Board museums all year round. A museum is a surprisingly good place to get to know someone: you always have something to talk about. Visitors should check each museum's admission prices.

If you want something active

• Join a run club. Most Singapore run clubs are free and meet on weekend mornings, often ending with kopi. See running groups in Singapore.
• Play badminton or table tennis. ActiveSG courts are cheap, and doubles is ideal for groups of four. Our guide to badminton and table tennis partners explains booking.
• Walk the Southern Ridges. Start near HarbourFront and cross Henderson Waves for city and sea views.
• Day trip to Pulau Ubin. Bumboats leave Changi Point Ferry Terminal once enough passengers gather, usually about 12. A September 2025 guide put the fare at S$4 or more per person, plus S$2 for a bike, with bicycle hire on the island from about S$8 a day. Bring cash: there are no ATMs on the island. Start from Changi.

If you want food at the centre

• Hawker crawl. Pick three stalls across one or two hawker centres and share everything. Tiong Bahru Market is a classic weekend breakfast, while Lau Pa Sat's Satay Street and Chomp Chomp in Serangoon Gardens come alive in the evening. Our guide to makan kaki has ideas by area.
• Group dinner with strangers. Timeleft runs dinners in Singapore on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7pm, and a coffee meet-up on Saturdays at 3pm. You need a membership, and food is extra. See dinner with strangers in Singapore.
• Cook together. A potluck or a hands-on cooking class gives everyone a job, which helps shy people relax.

If you want something chill

• Board games or a quiz night. Meetup lists Singapore game-night groups that welcome newcomers.
• Book clubs. Many meet on weekend afternoons. See book clubs in Singapore.
• A café morning. Low stakes, short and easy to extend if it is going well.

If you want to give something back

Volunteering is one of the most reliable ways to meet kind people. Giving.sg, run by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, lists opportunities you can filter by cause, experience level and time commitment. Regular weekend roles put you on the same team again and again, which is how acquaintances become friends.

If you are on your own this weekend

Going solo is not a barrier. Many of the ideas above, including run clubs, Meetup groups and Timeleft, are designed for people who arrive alone. If you would rather enjoy your own company, try our guide to things to do alone in Singapore.

Planning tips

• Check the weather. Have an indoor back-up for afternoon storms.
• Book ahead for anything with limited places, from classes to courts.
• Keep the group small. Four to six people is enough for one conversation.
• Agree on costs up front, especially for shared food.

Meeting new people safely

Choose busy, public places for first meet-ups, tell a friend where you will be, and make your own way there and back. Keep personal details private until you know people better. Never send money or gift cards to someone you have not met in person. If something feels wrong, leave, and call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799 if you are unsure about a request.

A new option: Now I'm Open

Now I'm Open is a new, free web app from Singapore, launched in October 2026 for adults 18 and over. It is new, so there are few members for now.

It is built for weekend plans. You post a short "Open to…" card, such as "Open to the Southern Ridges walk, Sun 8am, then breakfast", in Friends, Ideas or Date mode. You see like-minded people nearby by area only, and you connect only when you both say yes. Signed-in members see each other's photos, selfie verification gives a Verified badge, and you can leave a reference after you meet. Visiting from abroad? Traveller check-ins cover 46 cities.

Find your style with the one-minute quiz, or see where to meet people in Singapore.