I often tell people that Singapore has two seasons: hot and wet, and hotter and wetter. As a tropical country on the equator, Singapore's weather is very changeable – blazing hot one minute, and then raining buckets the next. For travelers, sightseeing in Singapore can be a little frustrating if you are not prepared for sudden rain; always make some wet weather plans just in case! I’ve put together my recommendations for tourists on things to do in Singapore when it rains that still let you get that quintessential Singaporean experience!
Singapore’s Chinatown in the rain. Photo Credit: Lily Banse (Unsplash)
These tips are based on my own experiences from living in Singapore all my life. I’ve also been giving virtual experiences around Singapore’s tourist areas and have had to make plans on the fly when it suddenly rains in the middle of my tours! Most other articles about indoor activities in Singapore give you rather generic things to pass the time, but as a fellow traveler I know that visitors who have come all the way here from their home countries still want to see what makes Singapore special. These are suggestions on how I think you can sightsee in Singapore while mitigating the rainy weather.
TIPS ON SINGAPORE WEATHER
Small delays: The good news is that rainfall in Singapore tends to be heavy for just a short period, and we usually don’t get that misty non-stop rain throughout the day (what I call London weather). It usually pours suddenly and heavily, and is quite humid right before and after the rainfall, so you don’t usually need to cancel any plans completely but just wait out the worst bits.
Carry an umbrella: Carrying a small foldable umbrella with you is useful both for sudden rainfall or when the sun gets way too hot in the mid afternoon. Our tropical sunshine will burn you, so learn from the local aunties and cover up to protect your skin!
Check the weather: Your best bet to figuring out the weather is to check out the NEA website (there is an Android / iOS app called myENV that you can download to your smartphone) and look at the cloud cover / movement to estimate whether it will rain – check in the hour or so before your activity, anything earlier may not be particularly accurate in my experience.
Carry a light jacket: I also suggest carrying a light jacket or scarf around with you as well because here in Singapore, it’s colder indoors than outdoors. Our air-conditioning tends to overcompensate for the tropical weather and shopping malls or theaters especially are pretty chilly, especially if you’re dressed for the outdoor weather.
Not in Singapore, but a pic of me with a random frilly umbrella I bought last minute because of the rain in Taiwan.
MARINA BAY
Marina Bay is a popular tourist attraction for its iconic skyline and there is plenty to do, rain or shine.
Getting there: take the MRT to Bayfront Station on the Circle Line (CE1) or Downtown Line (DT16) – you have a sheltered walk to Gardens by the Bay or directly linked to Marina Bay Sands.
Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay aerial shot. Lots of outdoor spaces but you still have things to do if it rains! Photo Credit: Hype Digital via STB
GARDENS BY THE BAY
One of my favorite wet weather plans for travelers in Singapore is to head to Gardens by the Bay to check out the cooled conservatories. The climate in the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are what Singapore wishes its weather was like – pleasantly cool and dry. This is a failsafe wet weather plan that lets you dry and cool while exploring one of Singapore’s top tourist attractions and enjoy a little bit of our garden city.
My tip: Start with the Flower Dome and work your way up to the more impressive Cloud Forest with its indoor waterfall. Photo Credit: Gardens by the Bay
Cloud Forest dome waterfall – take the lift to the top and slowly make your way down. Photo Credit: Singapore Tourism Board
You can get your tickets directly from Gardens by the Bay, but they only let you book 10 days in advance, whereas Klook’s Gardens by the Bay ticket lets you book up to two months ahead. Usual price of entry to both domes is SGD28 (for tourists) and SGD20 (for Singaporeans). The Supertree Observatory costs SGD14 / SGD10 while the OCBC Skyway costs SGD8 for all.
WHEN IT STOPS RAINING
- Head outside to check out the alien-esque Supertree Grove (if you’ve watched Crazy Rich Asians, that’s where the wedding took place!) – there is a 15-minute music and light show in the evenings called Garden Rhapsody at 19:00 and 20:45 that’s quite popular with tourists, many people pop by a little early to get a good seat underneath the trees.
- Beyond the domes, there are plenty of outdoor gardens at Gardens by the Bay to explore with some cool giant art sculptures amidst the greenery.
- The OCBC Skyway that takes you up to the canopy of the Supertrees is a nice way to look out over the park. I personally think this is more interesting (and cheaper!) compared to the Supertree Observatory, but I haven’t tried the latter for myself.
Evening is a popular time to visit for the lightshow at the Supertree grove. Photo Credit: Maksym Kozlenko via Wikicommons
ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
When it rains in Singapore, museums are your best option to stay dry and learn about the local culture, and the ArtScience Museum is quite a popular one with both locals and tourists. The permanent exhibition Future World: Where Art Meets Science with its interactive digital art pieces by TeamLab is a favorite for the Instagram crowd and you’ve probably seen many of these pictures online already. In general the exhibitions at the ArtScience Museum tend to be more popular and accessible to the public, so it’s a great way to entertain families as well.
The ArtScience Museum entrance isn’t sheltered, but it’s a short dash over from MBS! Photo Credit: Marina Bay Sands
Standard adult tickets for Future World cost SGD21 (for tourists) and SGD18 (for Singaporeans) on the ArtScience Museum website with discounts if you’re a Sands Rewards Member, ArtScience member or they are running any promotions. The ArtScience Museum ticket on Klook doesn’t seem to differentiate between tourist and local price (SGD18 for standard adult), so it might be a cheaper option for tourists!
WHEN IT STOPS RAINING
- Take a walk along the promenade area outside, especially in the evening when the building lights are on. It makes for a lovely view, but do note that many of the lights will switch off around 9-10pm onwards, so don’t leave your night shots till too late.
- Most tourists like to go up to Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck for a birds eye view – make sure you go up only on a clear day.
- Every night there is Spectra – a light and water show which involves some fancy fountains and lasers in the bay right in front of the hotel at 20:00, 21:00 with an additional 22:00 show on Friday and Saturday. If you’re short on time and want to see the Garden Rhapsody show as well, I’d suggest heading to Garden Rhapsody first, and then leaving a little early so you can catch Spectra right after as the walk in between isn’t too far.
The Helix bridge connects MBS to the Esplanade area
MARINA BAY SANDS SHOPPES
The Marina Bay Sands Shoppes is connected to the MRT station and an expansive luxury shopping mall built by famous architect Moshe Safdie. Most people know of the hotel because of the Sky Park Observation Deck and infinity pool 50+ storeys up on the roof – I don’t advise going up there if the weather is poor as there won’t be much of a view. The mall itself is nice enough for a wander around in while waiting out the downpour but things here do tend to be more expensive.
One of Singapore’s fancier shopping centers. Photo Credit: Singapore Tourism Board
- Admire the swirling whirlpool that is officially called the Rain Oculus by Ned Kahn in collaboration with Moshe Safdie and see for yourself why some locals colloquially call it the ‘toilet bowl’
- There are 15-minute sampan rides within the mall that you can take that might make for fun photos though personally I think it’s a really short ride, but it does bring you under the Oculus
Sampan rides typically cost SGD13/person and Sky Park Observation Deck entrance is SGD26 (for tourists) and SGD18 (for locals) – you can buy your tickets direct or via Klook
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE
The National Museum of Singapore (NMS) is Singapore’s oldest museum dating back to 1887, and if you only have time for one museum to learn about the history of Singapore, this is where you should go. Despite its age, it’s not a stuffy old museum at all – the exhibits are updated, interactive and quite engaging for all ages. The permanent exhibits trace Singapore’s key history from its island roots through the British colonial period, Japanese occupation and finally independence and more modern times.
The Neo Palladian style architecture also makes for great photos both inside and outside. Photo Credit: National Heritage Board
Fort Canning Park is right on the doorstep of the museum and has lots of smaller parks and WWII historical sites worth checking out.
Clarke Quay is on the other side of Fort Canning Hill. It’s a popular tourist spot and has lots of bars and restaurants to chill out in, and if the weather’s clear you could take a Singapore River Cruise to explore the sights along this historic river.
Orchard Road with its multitude of shopping malls is not too far away – the nearest mall is Plaza Singapura and you can take the MRT to Somerset or Orchard if you’d rather not walk too much.
The National Museum of Singapore is free for Singaporeans and costs SGD15 for tourists with additional costs for special exhibitions. You can get your National Museum ticket from NMS directly or from Klook where you might get discounts – there’s currently a 10% discount on tickets.
NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE
Spend your rainy days perusing Singapore’s largest collection of modern art works by premier Singaporean and Southeast Asian artists at the National Gallery Singapore like Chua Mia Tee, Wu Guanzhong, Liu Kang and Georgette Chen just to name a few. It’s a fun visual way to learn about Singapore’s history and culture through art. For those with families, the kid’s section is quite interactive and cool as well.
The former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings joined together. Photo Credit: National Gallery Singapore
WHEN IT STOPS RAINING
- National Gallery is in the Civic District, former government district during our British colony days, so lots of preserved British colonial architecture like the Victoria Theater and Victoria Concert Hall, Fullerton Hotel and the Arts House in the former Parliament Building
- If museums are your thing, the Asian Civilisations Museum has more exhibitions about Southeast Asian cultures worth checking out
- The historic Singapore River is where trade first flourished in Singapore, lots of interesting things to see along the river like the national monument bridges and Boat Quay across the river
General Admission adult tickets to National Gallery’s permanent exhibitions cost SGD20 (for tourists) and free (for locals) – special exhibitions cost SGD25/SGD15. You can get your tickets directly from the National Gallery site, though as of writing the standard price of the National Gallery ticket on Klook is SGD15 for tourists which is cheaper!
CHINATOWN
If you happen to be in Chinatown when it starts raining, hide out in Chinatown Complex and do a little local food tour of your own to pass the time. The food center on the 2nd floor is the largest in Singapore with 226 stalls of amazing food to choose from. Most famously, it’s home to the 1-Michelin Star Hawker Chan stall where you can enjoy some of the cheapest Michelin food in the world! But in my opinion, there are many other fantastic food options in Chinatown Complex which are less hyped up – when in doubt, just follow the long queues. ieatishootipost and Johor Kaki have some great recs.
Yip Yew Chong’s Letter Writer mural near the entrance along Smith Street
The first level has dried goods and sundries which is interesting enough for a walk about or some kitschy souvenirs, and if you’re there in the morning you can pop down to the basement to check out the fresh produce at the wet market. Keep an eye out for several wall murals that can be found all around the ground floor level of Chinatown Complex.
Guided walking tours around Chinatown will give you more context to the history and culture of one of the oldest neighborhoods in Singapore – check out this walking tour with a local. For foodies, consider the Chinatown food tasting and walking tour or the hawker snacks tour to get a taste of the local food scene.
Chinatown has several great hawker center options besides Chinatown Complex – Maxwell Food Center is famous for its chicken rice stalls, Amoy Street Hawker Center on the Telok Ayer side has two floors of cheap good food while Hong Lim Food Center is a neighborhood favorite.
INDIAN HERITAGE CENTER
The Indians are the 3rd largest ethnic group in Singapore and super diverse, so there’s a lot to learn about the different subgroups and their practices. The Indian Heritage Center is quite an unusual building in the Little India district mostly because of how starkly modern the building looks in comparison to everything else around it. Inside this modern structure is a well-curated interactive museum documenting the history and culture of Indians in Singapore through interactive exhibits – it’s quite kid-friendly for families, and also casual enough that the general layman won’t feel like it’s too stuffy either.
The modern lines of the Indian Heritage Center against the traditional shophouses
Indian Heritage Center Tickets cost SGD8 for tourists and are free for Singaporeans. You can get your tickets at the door or via Klook online pretty much instantly.
TEKKA MARKET & FOOD CENTER
Exterior of Tekka Market & Food Center along Buffalo Road
Tekka Market and Food Center has quite an interesting history first as Kandang Kerbau Market, set up in the 1900s for the cattle trade that the Indian’s managed in this area. Today it’s one of the more popular markets in Singapore and has a sprawling wet market on the first floor, a good way to see daily Singaporean life and food.
When it gets to wet for walking, take that time to do a little Singaporean food exploration! Tekka Food Center is an amazing hawker center with a good selection of cheap and good Singaporean hawker favorites, and of course Indian food since we’re in Little India after all – Allauddin’s Briyani, Temasek Rojak, and Sri Tiffin are good places to check out local Indian favorites!
A guided tour around Little India will give you more context to this colorful neighborhood. Check out this Little India Walking Tour
WHEN IT STOPS RAINING
- Check out the many wonderful street art and murals all around Little India – most of these are a result of the annual ArtWalk Little India art festival
- Peek into the many Indian temples around the area like the Sri Veeramakaliaman Temple or the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to get a glimpse of Hindu rituals – you can also spot many flower garland stands near the temples as you typically buy these fresh garlands as offerings when praying
- The rainbow colored Tan Teng Niah House is an old style Chinese villa that’s very popular with the Instagram crowd for its colorful facade
This guest post is contributed by Jaclynn from theoccasionaltraveller.com
