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Top Free Study Spots in Singapore Where You Won’t Get Chased Away
When I was in university, I spent a lot of time trying to look for free study spots in Singapore just so that I could save a little more. I may be a coffee lover, but buying drinks each time I need a quiet space to study is just too much for my budget.
Plus, I didn’t want to deal with baristas chasing me away because I was taking up a table meant for more paying customers. Safe to say, cafes became a no-no for me during exam week.
Luckily, there are many free study spots in Singapore. I personally vouch for their cleanliness, productive atmosphere, comfortable study areas, and lack of baristas (or librarians) that chase you away!
The National Library
Address: 100 Victoria St, Singapore 188064
Contact Details: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
As a Singaporean, I benefit from free membership at the iconic National Library. With over 600,000 items, it’s a scholarly haven and was one of my favourite free study spots in Singapore when I was still in university.
As a member, I can borrow up to 16 physical books and 16 eBooks for 21 days. Plus, I can reserve study areas and access printers, copiers, and scanners throughout the library.
If I need deeper research, the librarians are always ready to assist. For foreigners and visitors, a partner membership of $43.60 per year is available, so you can access the same privileges as I enjoy in the National Library!
| Tip: Looking for a coffee fix? You’ll find a cafe on Level 3 of the National Library! |
library@Orchard
– From amandavaniakiat
Address: 277 Orchard Rd, #03-12 / #04-11 Orchardgateway, Singapore 238858
Contact Details: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Orchard Road is synonymous with shopping, but as a student, my focus was on its hidden gem: library@Orchard. Though not as grand as the National Library, it provided the peace and quiet essential for completing my papers.
Located inside the Orchard Gateway Mall, this library spans only two floors, operating in sync with the mall’s hours. Typically, I’d stop by on weekend mornings or afternoons, as my classes often ran late into the evening on weekdays.
What I liked most about this place was that I didn’t need to reserve a study desk to get some work done. There are separate conference rooms for more privacy and if you want to bring some friends along with you for some study time!
| Tip: I recommend heading straight to the top-floor seating area for stunning views while you study, as it tends to fill up quickly with other students. In my experience, the best time to drop by is as soon as the mall opens on a weekend! |
Our Tampines Hub
Address: 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523
Contact Details: +6563403636
Opening Hours: Open 24/7
Our Tampines Hub is a community centre, but I would often drop by for more than just their community activities and excursions. The centre actually has a free study spot inside their Chill Zone, which is located on the 4th floor of the building.
The space is relatively quiet, save for the quiet conversations of other students chilling or studying there. There’s free Wi-Fi, study tables, and power outlets to charge your study tools and devices.
Our Tampines Hub’s Chill Zone prioritises students, so you’re free to enter so long as you abide by their rules. No eating or making loud noises, so treat it like you’re studying in a library (that includes blasting study music!).
| Tips: Our Tampines Hub is usually crowded with other students in the afternoon, so I highly recommend dropping by in the morning or late at night to avoid the crowd. Most of the study corners at Our Tampines Hub are shaded but are located next to railings overlooking the rest of the centre. If you prefer more privacy, I recommend staying by the Beanie Zone and snagging a quiet corner at the back! |
Tampines Regional Library
Address: Lobby H, 1 Tampines Walk, #02-01 Our Tampines Hub, Singapore 528523
Contact Details: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Another spot in Tampines Walk that I highly recommend for studying is the Tampines Regional Library. This library is open to the public and is well-equipped to host students of all ages and backgrounds to get some studying done in a clean and quiet place.
The library has an extensive collection of books for children, teens, and adults for anyone to use and enjoy while studying. There are 24-hour book drops, as well as co-working lounges, multimedia stations, and a study lounge for you to use.
My favourite spot is actually one of the reading sofas facing the Our Tampines soccer stadium. Sometimes, there were soccer matches when I was there for study sessions, so I got front-row seats to the match while I read!
| Tips: Do you have a bunch of stuff with you? The library has reservation lockers accessible around the clock. Just chat with a librarian, and they’ll point you to a spot where you can stash your belongings securely! There are water coolers in the Tampines Regional Library where you can refill your water jugs and keep yourself hydrated while you study. Never forget to care for yourself! |
Toa Payoh Public Library
Address: 6 Toa Payoh Central, Singapore 319191
Contact Details: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Toa Payoh Public Library is the second-oldest public library on the island, but studying in this iconic building never gets old for me and my friends. In fact, this library was where my parents would hang out to read books and study together back in the ‘80s!
Today, I still visit Toa Payoh Public Library not just to study but for a sense of nostalgia. There are reading nooks for students to curl up and read textbooks in peace, as well as study desks available for rent if they need more space.
The library isn’t as spacious as other newer public libraries in the city, but there are far fewer crowds here during the day. My favourite spot is the study area on the 3rd floor because that’s where the Fiction section is located!
| Tips: Need a little more privacy when studying at Toa Payoh Public Library? The most secluded study area is located at level 2 near the lifts. There are only four study cubicles there compared to the rest of the floors which have up to 22! The library is wheelchair accessible, so don’t be afraid to ask for assistance from the librarians or staff members near the entrance! |
Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre
Address: 30A Yishun Central 1, Singapore 768796
Contact Details: +65 6235 4901
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
My little brother raved about Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre so much because of their Power Bank station. The station is designed as a study centre where students of all ages and levels can study, work, and hang out for free!
There are power outlets, comfortable tables and study desks, water coolers, and free Wi-Fi in the Power Bank. Students are also free to drop by and stay as long as they want, so long as they don’t stay past 10:00 pm (their closing time).
The best part is that you don’t need to book or reserve a spot before heading inside. The Power Bank is free for anyone to use, but be sure to be mindful of your surroundings and keep all activities you do inside conducive to study and productivity.
| Tips: Because there are no bookings required, the Power Bank at Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre runs on a first-come, first-served basis. I recommend dropping by as soon as they open or late in the evening to avoid large crowds. In line with their mission to remain environmentally friendly, many of the spaces, including the Power Bank, are not air-conditioned. It doesn’t get too hot inside (there are fans), but if you’re sensitive to the heat, I recommend coming by at night! |
Punggol Regional Library
Address: 1 Punggol Drive One, #01-12, Singapore 828629
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Punggol Regional Library is Singapore’s biggest public library and holds a massive collection of books and an extensive space for students to study, work, and read all day long.
I’ve visited the library numerous times, and its cleanliness, spaciousness, and peaceful ambience always boost my productivity during midday work sessions. It boasts impressive study areas, complete with power outlets, desks, and comfortable seating.
There are multimedia rooms, nursing rooms for working mothers, a cafe, a co-working space, and even calm pods for anyone who needs to unwind and relax during a study break. There’s almost everything you need here to get productive, day and night.
| Tips: If you don’t want to study in an area that’s often crowded with people, I recommend booking a study table on level 2 near the Mother Tongue Collection. There are only 5 seats in the study area there, so make sure to book a seat in advance! The Punggol Regional Library has a large children’s play area on the ground level, which can cause a lot of noise when it’s full. I suggest sticking to a study zone far away from the ground level to keep noise distractions at a minimum. |
Woodlands Regional Library
Address: 900 S Woodlands Dr, #01-03 Civic Centre, Singapore 730900
Contact Details: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
If you reside in the northern region of Singapore, consider visiting Woodlands Regional Library for a productive study session. The library stays open until a relatively late hour (9:00 pm), so whenever I needed a last-minute study break, I paid this place a visit.
With multimedia stations, meeting rooms, and a cafe offering refreshments, it’s a convenient spot to study. I made sure to secure a spot at the Study Lounge in advance (especially on weekday afternoons).
With power outlets and free Wi-Fi available across its four floors, you can basically study anywhere in the building. I personally stuck to the Quiet Reading Room because not a lot of kids stay there (they can get rowdy sometimes).
| Tips: While many study tables at Woodlands Regional Library are communal, if you prefer solitude while studying, you can retreat to the magazine area, which offers a small seating area for tranquillity and focus. There’s a cafe inside the Woodlands Regional Library if you need a quick caffeine fix, but if you’re looking for something more filling, there’s a hawker stall located by the entrance. You can’t bring the food inside though, so eat up before you head inside! |
Singapore Changi Airport
Address: 60 Airport Blvd., Singapore 819643
Contact Details: +6565956868
Opening Hours: Open 24/7
Who would’ve guessed that the world’s best airport could also be one of Singapore’s prime study spots? The best part is that access to the airport’s numerous study spaces is completely free and stays open 24/7!
My friends and I spent a few all-nighters finishing our papers at Changi Airport a couple of times, with Jewel Changi being our favourite spot across all of the airport’s terminals. Other notable study spots are the Recreation Club and Terminal 3.
There’s free Wi-Fi throughout the airport, benches and tables lining the terminal hallways, and unlimited access to power outlets scattered around the airport’s waiting areas and study spots.
When we needed a breather, we strolled around Jewel Canopy Park!
| Tips: If you’re in need of rest, Singapore Changi Airport offers Snooze Lounges where you can catch up on sleep. These lounges provide charging docks nearby so you can juice up your phone and devices while you recharge yourself with a nap! Access to Singapore Changi Airport’s free Wi-Fi is limited to three hours. |
The LLiBrary
Address: 11 Eunos Road 8 #03–02, via, Lobby B Lifelong Learning Institute, Singapore 408601
Contact Details: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:30 am to 10:00 pm
If you’re seeking a library with extended hours, LLiBrary is your go-to spot. The library is open daily, and I used to stay until 10:00 pm to get some late-night studying done when I was still in university (I still do, but mainly for work now!).
In collaboration with the Lifelong Learning Institute, the LLiBrary is known for its self-service technologies, making resource access a breeze. While studying here, I got full access to collections and multimedia stations (I didn’t use them much, though).
The quiet study areas are equipped with power plugs, ensuring my devices stay charged all day long (which I really appreciate). Although primarily designed for working professionals, LLiBrary is still a prime choice for students to catch up on their studies.
| Tips: The LiBrary has an al fresco reading area in case it gets too cold inside or if you need to take a breather from your studies. I like dropping by here in the evening when it’s chilly and getting a few minutes to stretch my legs and get a breath of fresh air before heading back to work. The LLiBrary is relatively small compared to other libraries on this list. I recommend dropping by early in the morning or late in the night to secure a quiet spot inside. If you don’t, you’ll have to sit outside in the al fresco reading areas! |
Central Public Library
Address: 100 Victoria St, #B1-01 National Library / Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, Singapore 188064
Contact Details: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
After a major makeover, the Central Public Library reopened this year on Victoria Street, drawing my brother and me to explore its facilities and collections. One of the first new things I noticed was the spacious lobby and dedicated study section.
The study sections at the old library weren’t very spacious, so I was happy about this new arrangement. Murals covered the walls surrounding the library, plus a new reading zone, courtyard, and exhibition area for workshops and more.
What impressed me the most were the revamped reading areas. They added more cushions and zones dedicated to children and adults (the children’s section was much larger, but there’s ample space for adults to sit on the benches too!).
| Tips: The Central Public Library was revamped to make it more child-friendly. The caveat to that is that many kids roam around and play, making the atmosphere noisier than it used to be. You don’t need to reserve a study desk to sit in the designated study areas, but I highly recommend dropping by when it opens or late into the evening to snag a seat. It’s also less busy on weekdays! |
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
Address: 90 Yishun Central, Singapore 768828
Contact Details: +65 6555 8000
Opening Hours: Open 24/7
First an airport, and now a hospital?
But Khoo Teck Puat Hospital is not like other medical institutions on the island, as the building has a garden that’s open for visitors to work, study, or unwind while taking in the lush greenery around them.
It’s completely al fresco, so you’re at the mercy of the Singaporean heat and weather, but there are benches with tables covered by tree canopies. Not a lot of people know about this free study spot, so it’s always quiet whenever I drop by!
| Tips: If the weather is distracting you from your studies, there’s an indoor seating area at NTUC FoodFare if you want to cool down. You also have the option to buy snacks if you’re famished! Entrance to the hospital is free, but I suggest giving priority to patients needing medical care. If the place looks full of people, I suggest coming back a little after the lunch break. |
