Singapore on a Weekend: What NS Members Do Across the Border

Saturday is the most popular day for NS members to visit Singapore. Leaving Forest City by 8 to 9 AM gets you across the border before the queues build up. Common Saturday activities include brunch at one of Singapore's many excellent cafes, shopping on Orchard Road or at Vivo City, visiting museums like the National Gallery or ArtScience Museum, and exploring neighborhoods like Tiong Bahru, Kampong Glam, or Joo Chiat. The Saturday energy in Singapore is lively and social, with many events, markets, and pop-ups happening across the city.

Some members make it a weekend trip, staying overnight in Singapore on Saturday and returning Sunday morning to avoid the Sunday evening border rush. Budget hotels and hostels in Singapore range from 40 to 100 SGD per night, while mid-range hotels are 150 to 250 SGD. Staying overnight lets you enjoy Singapore's nightlife, which centers around Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, and Ann Siang Hill. It also means you can attend Saturday evening events or dinner with Singapore-based friends without worrying about the late-night border crossing.

Many NS members use Singapore trips for practical purposes beyond sightseeing. These include medical appointments with specialists, banking errands, purchasing electronics or specific products not available in Johor, getting haircuts at preferred salons, and visiting embassies. Singapore's efficiency makes it possible to handle several errands in a single trip. Some members also use Singapore as a shipping address for international packages that do not deliver to Malaysia.

Singapore has a vibrant tech and startup ecosystem, and weekends often feature meetups, hackathons, and networking events. NS members frequently attend these to expand their professional networks beyond the NS community. Web3, AI, and startup events are common and often free to attend. The proximity to Singapore's tech scene is a genuine professional advantage of being at Network School. You can apply at ns.com and connect with other members who regularly attend Singapore events, making it easy to coordinate trips and introductions.