Where to Meet New People in Singapore

The best places to meet new people in Singapore are the ones that bring the same faces together regularly: community club activities on onePA, libraries with talks and workshops, free shows at Esplanade and Gardens by the Bay, volunteer roles on Giving.sg, group hikes, and social or singles events on Meetup and Eventbrite.

1. Community clubs and onePA events

The People's Association runs more than 100 community clubs, and onePA is where you will find their courses, interest groups, activities and events. Alongside classes, there are neighbourhood events that anyone can turn up to, such as the Tanjong Pagar–Tiong Bahru Sing-Along Festival 2026.

Neighbourhood events are underrated for meeting people. Everyone lives nearby, so it is easy to bump into the same people again at the market or the MRT.

2. Libraries

Libraries are not only for quiet reading. The National Library Building at 100 Victoria Street, a short walk from Bugis, is free and open 10am to 9pm daily, and NLB libraries run talks and workshops across the island.

For a change of scene, library@harbourfront in VivoCity, by HarbourFront MRT, has around 200,000 volumes, reading lounges with yellow deck chairs and a sea view towards Sentosa. It opens 11am to 9pm daily. Note that library@orchard is currently closed for renovation, so check the NLB site before you head there.

3. Free performances and the arts

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay promotes free performances every day, which makes it an easy, no-cost evening out. Sit near the front, chat to whoever is next to you during the interval, and you have an instant shared topic.

If you are a Singapore Citizen aged 18 or above, you also have $100 of SG Culture Pass credits to spend by 31 December 2028 on workshops, talks, tours and performances. Hands-on workshops are the best for meeting people, because you are working alongside others rather than sitting in the dark.

4. Parks and gardens

Outdoor spaces work well because there is no pressure and plenty to talk about.

• Singapore Botanic Gardens is free and open 5am to midnight daily. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 and is the only tropical botanic garden on the list.
• Garden Rhapsody at the Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay is a free light and sound show, daily at 7.45pm and 8.45pm.
• The Southern Ridges link Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill and Kent Ridge parks along a route of about 10km, crossing Henderson Waves. It makes a scenic route for a group walk.

5. Volunteering

Giving.sg, backed by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, lists volunteering roles you can filter by cause, location and time. Volunteering is one of the most reliable ways to meet like-minded people, because everyone in the room already shares at least one value with you.

Choose something with a regular rota so you see the same people each time.

6. Social events on Meetup and Eventbrite

Meetup and Eventbrite both list social events in Singapore. Browse by interest, whether that is board games, languages, networking, walks or food, and see what is coming up near you.

A few tips to get more from them:

• Read the event description and any reviews of the organiser first.
• Choose smaller events. It is easier to talk to ten people than a hundred.
• Check the refund policy before you pay.
• Go to the same group twice before deciding whether it is for you.

7. Singles events in Singapore

If you are specifically looking to date, singles events are easy to find. Eventbrite lists speed dating sessions in Singapore, including events aimed at particular age groups such as singles aged 50 and beyond, and Meetup has Singapore-based singles groups, including ones run by dating agencies that host speed dating and themed meetups. You will also see Valentine's season parties and activity-based mixers.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development says its work includes helping singles gain skills to build stronger relationships, so it is worth keeping an eye on official channels too.

Activity-based events, such as cooking classes or walks, tend to feel more relaxed than a strict rotation of five-minute chats. Whatever you choose, keep safety in mind. ScamShield advises never transferring money or gift cards to anyone you have not met in person, and to be wary of anyone who declares love quickly or keeps avoiding a meeting.

8. Hobbies and sport

Sport gives you a built-in reason to come back each week. Look for social leagues, run clubs, climbing gyms, dance classes and group fitness sessions near where you live or work. Social formats where teams are mixed each week are especially good if you are joining on your own.

9. Find people open to the same thing

Sometimes the hardest part is knowing who is actually up for meeting. On Now I'm Open you post a short "Open to…" card for exactly what you fancy, such as "Open to a board game night, Bugis, Fri evening", in Ideas, Friends or Date mode. Visibility is mutual and opt-in, location only shows at area level, and a chat opens only when you both say yes.

Making the most of any event

• Go alone at least once. People approach solo attendees more readily than groups.
• Arrive early. The first 15 minutes are the easiest time to start a conversation.
• Ask open questions. "What brought you here?" works almost anywhere.
• Swap contacts before you leave, then follow up within a few days with a specific plan.
• Meet in public for the first few one-to-one meetups, and let a friend know where you are.