Asia

Singapore in December

Peak rain meets peak festivity: Orchard Road's Christmas lights, holiday crowds, and higher rates. Pack for downpours and enjoy the indoors, which Singapore does better than anyone.

TradeoffsThe wettest month, highs near 86F (30C)

The domes of Gardens by the Bay, Singapore — SingaporePhoto: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

December is a month of real tradeoffs in Singapore. Peak rain meets peak festivity: Orchard Road's Christmas lights, holiday crowds, and higher rates. Pack for downpours and enjoy the indoors, which Singapore does better than anyone.

Weather: The wettest month, highs near 86F (30C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What December is like in Singapore

December is the wettest month, with highs near 86F (30C) and frequent downpours. It is also the most festive: Orchard Road's Christmas lights are in full glow, and school holidays bring crowds. Prices climb, especially near Christmas and New Year, and hotels around Orchard Road and Marina Bay fill early.

It suits travelers who want holiday cheer and do not mind rain. Singapore's indoor attractions, malls, and food halls make wet days easy. If you want dry days for outdoor sights, choose February or March instead. Families should expect busy attractions, since local school holidays run through the month.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Singapore this month.

Christmas on Orchard Road

One of Asia's great holiday light displays runs the length of the shopping district.

Indoor adventures

Jewel Changi's waterfall, the Cloud Forest, and the museums are perfect rainy-day plans.

Holiday hawker feasts

Hawker centers stay open and busy through the holidays, a cheap way to eat well.

What to pack for December

A sturdy umbrella
Quick-dry clothing
Waterproof sandals
A light layer for air-conditioning

Our timing tip

Book hotels early for the Christmas to New Year week, and visit Sentosa or the zoo on weekdays when local families are less likely to be there.

Book Singapore for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Singapore
Opens a hotel search for Singapore in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Singapore
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Singapore
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Singapore for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Christmas on Orchard Road

Mid November through December

One of Asia's great holiday light displays runs the length of the shopping district, rain or shine.

Things to do in Singapore

Full guide

Gardens by the Bay

The Supertree Grove light show runs nightly and is free; the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories are air-conditioned mid-day salvation.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A hawker center crawl

Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat, Old Airport Road, Tiong Bahru: pick two per day, follow the longest local line, and share tables like everyone else.

Tickets and tours →

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark and the bay loop

The skyline walk around Marina Bay at dusk, capped with the light-and-water show, is the city's signature evening.

Tickets and tours →

Singapore Zoo and Night Safari

Consistently ranked among the world's best zoos; the Night Safari is a genuinely different experience worth the second admission.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Chinatown, Kampong Glam, and Little India

Temple-hop the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sultan Mosque, and Sri Veeramakaliamman in one day; each district peaks during its own festival season.

Tickets and tours →

Sentosa Island

Universal Studios, beaches, and the SkyHelix. Weekday mornings beat weekend crowds; regional school holidays fill it fast.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Structure every day around the equatorial clock: outdoor sights at morning opening, air-conditioned museums and malls through the afternoon storm window, and the bayfront after dark.
Visit Gardens by the Bay's conservatories at opening or after 6pm; midday brings both the tour groups and the heat.
Check the F1 race weekend in September before booking; hotel prices citywide can double for those dates.
Sentosa and the zoo are weekday-morning plays; Singapore's own families fill them on weekends and during June and December school holidays.

Know before you go

Chinese New Year (late January or February) closes some family-run shops and hawker stalls for one to three days, especially in Chinatown; malls, attractions, and most restaurants carry on.
There is no seasonal closure anywhere: every attraction runs 365 days a year, which is exactly the point of Singapore. Public holidays bring crowds, not shutters.
The F1 weekend in September closes downtown roads around Marina Bay for the street circuit; getting around the affected zone takes longer for several days.
Afternoon thunderstorms briefly close outdoor cable cars, the Sentosa beaches' water activities, and open-air decks; everything reopens once lightning passes, usually within the hour.