If I had to nominate one cliche that rings all-too-true in Singapore, it would be “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”.
Sure, we know you’re annoyed by the recent news that car park charges are going to rise, but after offering our condolences we’d like to reassure you that there are still some car parks where parking is free-if only for a little while.
Plaza Singapura
Free parking from Monday to Friday (excluding PH and eve of PH) for first hour between 10am to 5:59pm. $0.32 per subsequent 15 min or part thereof.
Photo: PLAZA SINGAPURA
The Plaza Sing carpark is one of the cheaper ones on the Orchard stretch, which is why you always see a long line of cars stuck on the slope queuing for dear life. Just note that the ERP gantries will be on in full force after 12pm so you might end up paying more than if you were to just park on the Prinsep side.
Mustafa Centre
First hour free daily, $1 per subsequent 30 minutes or part thereof.
Photo: The Straits Times
Not only does Mustafa Centre offer cheap groceries and some of the best money changing rates in town, you also get free parking for an hour. Yay. Great if you just want to stop by for a quick prata meal nearby. The only thing you want to avoid doing is actually shopping at Mustafa, since that’s going to take at least 10 years.
Far East Plaza
Free parking daily for first hour from 8 to 5pm. $2.14 for next hour and $0.70 for subsequent 30 minutes
Almost nobody knows that Far East Plaza offers an hour of free parking. Looks like they’re getting really desperate ever since the ah lians started shopping on ASOS instead.
IKEA Tampines
Free parking daily.
Photo: The Straits Times
While the Alexandra branch requires you to spend money at IKEA in exchange for free parking hours, Tampines is still ulu enough to offer parking space completely free.
The Grandstand
Free parking daily.
Photo: THE GRANDSTAND
We’re noticing a pattern here. The more ulu or inaccessible a place is, the more likely you are to enjoy free parking.
West Coast Park
Free parking daily from 6:30am to 8:30am, then $0.0167 per minute
Photo: The Straits Times
Parking at East Coast Park may no longer be free, but there’s still West Coast Park… although this applies only if you’re the disciplined type who can haul yourself out of bed early in the morning to exercise.
Clarke Quay
Free parking from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, $2.14 for first two hours afterwards.
To make people feel better about the fact that they’re about to get ripped off, Clarke Quay tries to lure the lunchtime crowds by offering free parking. We just hope that helps subsidise the cost of your $20 beer.
Gillman Barracks
Free parking on Saturdays from 11pm to 7pm, then $2 per entry.
If you’ve never even stepped into the Gillman Barracks (who cares about art, right?), you might be interested in the fact there are some restaurants there… and that parking is free on Saturdays.
Sim Lim Square
Free parking daily for first hour from 6 to 10pm, then $2 per entry.
Since you’re almost certainly going to be ripped off by the computer / handphone shop, it’s only fair that Sim Lim Square offer free parking.
IMM
Free 2-hour parking daily for first entry only, $0.30 per subsequent 15 minutes.
Photo: The Straits Times
IMM’s got a lot of competition from the other Jurong East malls these days, which is probably why they’re the only ones who still offer free parking after JCube decided to withdraw the privilege.
Jurong Point
Free parking from Monday to Thursday (excluding PH) for two hours between 12pm to 2pm, $1.07 per subsequent hour or part thereof.
Photo: The Straits Times
Each time I enter Jurong Point (which is, admittedly, not often), I feel like I’m Mufasa falling into that wildebeest stampede. But with a rather generous two hours of free parking, Jurong West dwellers might be encouraged to brave the crowds and head there for lunch.
Big Splash
Free parking on Mondays to Fridays from 12am to 5pm, $1.50 per hour thereafter
Just when you’d lost all hope because parking at East Coast Park stopped being free, big Splash stepped in and saved the day. If you’re going for a seafood lunch or a run at ECP on your day off, park here.
Singapore Flyer
Free parking from 12pm to 2pm on Monday to Friday (no PH), subsequently $2 per hour or part thereof
Office workers in the area can park for free at the Singapore Flyer during lunchtime. Even if the only time you bother to venture that close to the giant ferris wheel is during Beerfest, this is a pretty attractive incentive to try out the restaurants in the area.
Chinese Gardens
Free parking daily for first hour between 6am to 6pm, then $1 per subsequent hour
This place is like Haw Par Villa minus the ten courts of hell and uh, all the other bizarre statues. Exotically oriental, cheap to visit and filled with mosquitoes.
The article first appeared on MoneySmart.
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