The Best Time to Visit Singapore

What Is the Climate Like in Singapore?

Singapore lies in the tropical belt between Malaysia and Indonesia, so humidity is fairly high year-round. The tropics also come with a good amount of rain — the average risk of rain and thunderstorms is around 40 percent.

That makes Singapore not exactly a paradise for sun-seekers, but temperatures stay pleasantly warm between 77 and 91°F (25–33°C) throughout the year. T-shirts and shorts are always the right call.

Unlike Europe’s four seasons, Singapore’s year is divided simply into wet and dry seasons.

These seasons are driven by two main monsoons that bring most of the rain. During the Northern Hemisphere winter, Singapore experiences the Northeast Monsoon, which brings the heaviest rainfall. From late June, the Southwest Monsoon kicks in, also bringing a fair amount of rain.

Interestingly, the wetter Northeast Monsoon is split into a “wetter phase” (December and January) and a “drier phase” (February and March).

During the wet phase, moderate to heavy rainfall is common in the afternoon and early evening. The dry phase is cooler and more pleasant, with comparatively little or no rain.

The Best Time to Visit Singapore

That naturally leads us to the question of when you should actually go to Singapore.

Honestly, there’s no truly bad time to visit. Even in November and December — the rainiest months — it’s warm and the rain is usually limited to just one or two hours a day. It can pour down hard, but for the rest of the day you’ll still have great weather.

We’ve been to Singapore in December ourselves and only experienced one afternoon rain shower out of four days total.

If you prefer drier conditions and want to play it safe, you’re better off traveling during the dry season from March through September. On average, there’s less rain, but it does get hotter.

On two separate visits — once in March and once in May for a stopover in Singapore — it was dry almost the entire time.

March, April, and May are the driest months of the year, though humidity still hovers around 80–85%. These months are ideal for a classic tropical vacation, with sunshine, beaches, and everything that comes with it.

During this time, though, you’ll also need to expect higher prices and fully booked hotels in Singapore, as this is the most popular travel season.

Our Tip: Avoid the Weekends

Most travelers combine a stay in Singapore with a trip to another country in Southeast Asia. If you’re only spending a few days in Singapore, try to make them fall on weekdays.

On weekends, most locals have time off and thousands of them flood the shopping malls and popular Singapore attractions like Marina Bay Sands, the zoo, or Sentosa Island. On top of that, many Asian tourists take short trips to Singapore over the weekend.

So if you can manage it, try not to arrive in Singapore on a weekend.

The Cheapest Time to Visit Singapore

One thing upfront: Singapore is not a bargain destination.

That said, the general rule is: the drier the weather, the more visitors flock to Singapore. Accordingly, hotels are more in demand — and more expensive — during the dry season from March through September.

If you don’t mind packing a rain jacket and umbrella and want to save some money, visit Singapore during the winter months from October through February.

A trip to Singapore is a bit more affordable then, and you can actually find the occasional deal. More rain means fewer tourists, which means not only cheaper accommodations but also shorter wait times at the city’s many attractions.

Singapore Weather by Month

Since Singapore has two rainy seasons and one dry season throughout the year, we’ve broken the travel weather down into three periods:

Weather in Singapore from November to February

The Northeast Monsoon season in Singapore brings more rain. November and December are among the cooler and wetter months — if you can even call 86°F (30°C) cool.

It rains almost every day, usually in the afternoon and evening. If you choose these months for your Singapore trip, it can be worth starting your days early to get ahead of the rain.

January and February, the second part of the monsoon season, are less rainy and less oppressive. Of the winter months, these are the better ones for a visit to Singapore.

Weather in Singapore from March to May

Dry season is here! That means only a few rain showers during these months. Expect plenty of sunshine each day with temperatures up to 91°F (33°C).

There’s sometimes even a pleasant breeze during this period, which is fairly rare the rest of the year.

That said, we still can’t promise you a completely rain-free trip, because Singapore is never truly dry.

We spent ten days in Singapore in April ourselves and had one day with more than six hours of rain — though that’s quite unusual for this time of year. There was one more evening with about two hours of rain, and the remaining eight days were rain-free.

Typical for this time of year is a heavy half-hour downpour in the afternoon that also cools the hot air down a bit.

Weather in Singapore from June to September

In late June, the Southwest Monsoon sets in and brings the typical monsoon showers with it.

“Sumatra squalls” are common during this period. These are a series of thunderstorms that develop over Sumatra at night, move along the west coast of Malaysia, and reach Singapore in the early morning hours. It then rains for one to two hours before clearing up again.

Even so, the summer monsoon brings less rainfall overall than the winter months, so these months are still a great time to visit Singapore.

Bargain hunters, take note: Thanks to the Great Singapore Sale, which offers discounts of up to 70%, visitor numbers and hotel prices spike again in June and July. But if you love shopping, you’ll save big on purchases.

Best Time to Visit Singapore by Activity and Event

Singapore has exciting events going on all year long, and there are also some public holidays you should factor into your travel planning.

During certain events, the entire city is booked out and accommodations are priced accordingly. Here are the most important events and holidays to know about.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year falls in early February, and occasionally late January, depending on the full moon.

Officially, the celebrations last 15 days, but the days around New Year’s Day are by far the most intense. Most Chinese people take a full week off, and quite a few of them travel to Singapore during this time. Dragons, lion dancers, and spectacular decorations light up beneath the lanterns of the night market in Chinatown.

Accommodations are more expensive than usual at this time, but Chinese New Year is also a truly exciting experience. Fourteen days after New Year’s Day, the Lantern Festival takes place, lighting up Chinatown in a brilliant glow.

The dates for New Year’s Day in the coming years are as follows:

• February 17, 2026
• February 6, 2027
• January 26, 2028

Dragon Boat Race

The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, which puts it in June. The dragon boat race, featuring boats from all over the world, takes place at Bedok Reservoir.

Traditionally, dumplings — sticky rice dumplings — are eaten during this time, which is why the festival is also known as “The Dumpling Festival.”

The dates for the race in the coming years are as follows:

• June 19, 2026
• June 9, 2027
• May 28, 2028

National Day

Singapore in a festive mood! August 9 is Singapore’s National Day. It celebrates independence and national unity.

Expect a spectacular parade, dance performances, and a breathtaking fireworks show. The whole city is out and celebrating through the night.

Mid-Autumn Festival

This festival is a holiday for Chinese families and transforms the city in September into a sea of lion dancers and lanterns.

The highlight is the Children’s Lantern Parade, featuring hundreds of children walking through the streets of Chinatown with their lanterns.

The dates for the Mid-Autumn Festival in the coming years are as follows:

• September 25, 2026
• September 15, 2027
• October 3, 2028

Formula 1 Grand Prix in September

The Formula 1 race is one of the biggest events of the year and takes place in mid-September.

Among Formula 1 fans, the Singapore race is considered one of the most spectacular on the calendar. What makes it especially unique is that it’s held late in the evening and the circuit runs right through the heart of the city. The cars thunder past Marina Bay, among other iconic spots.

If you’re not into Formula 1, you should avoid the area around race weekend. Hotel prices skyrocket and some parts of the city are blocked off and can’t be visited as usual.

In 2026, the race takes place on the weekend of October 9–11. The exact date is always announced at the beginning of the year, but in recent years it has consistently been the third weekend in September.

Deepavali

The Festival of Lights is an important Hindu holiday in October or November. The streets and temples in Little India are decorated with lights and garlands, and visitors from around the world watch devout Hindus walk barefoot over hot coals.

The dates for Deepavali in the coming years are as follows:

• November 8, 2026
• October 28, 2027
• October 17, 2028

New Year’s Eve

Singapore rings in the (Gregorian) New Year with big parties, often on the city’s beaches. Marina Bay puts on a spectacular fireworks display, and hotels offer champagne brunches and lavish multi-course dinners.

Singapore is a wonderful New Year’s Eve destination, though rooms are relatively expensive at this time of year.