Date Night Activities in Singapore

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Published: July 18, 2024
Young couple taking a selfie on a date in Singapore

The sheer variety of activities in Singapore makes it an ideal choice for romantics in search of the perfect date night. This diminutive diamond-shaped island is full of heart – and that’s not all. Stunning gardens, world-class spas, hipper-than-thou indie cinemas, swoonsome sunsets and stunning street food are just some of our ideas for date night activities in Singapore (though admittedly you may want to avoid leaning in for a cheeky smooch too soon after that plateful of chili crab). Swipe right for our pick of the most romantic nights out in town, including:

  • A Singapore sightseeing river cruise
  • Cocktails at the iconic Raffles Hotel
  • Couples’ massage at the Banyan Tree Spa
  • Traditional tea for two
  • The best steamboats and hotpots in town
  • Sunsets to make you swoon!

Go on a Singapore River Cruise

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Nothing says romance quite like bobbing gently along the river on a cute Singapore bumboat – stop sniggering at the back please! Take to the water with your boo on a sightseeing cruise that ticks off a number of the city’s bucket-list attractions, including Marina Bay Sands, the Old Parliament House and the legendary Raffles hotel. Cruises run well into the evening, so hopeless romantics can catch the golden hour as the sky turns flamingo pink and burnt orange at sunset and lights twinkle on across town.

Sip a Singapore Sling at Raffles

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A Singapore institution of some 135 years standing, the colonial-style Raffles Hotel has hosted a who’s who of glamorous household names down the years: Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin, Christian Louboutin, Rudyard Kipling and even Queen Elizabeth II, to name-drop a few. In other words, you’re in pretty good company. The hotel’s signature Singapore Sling, that punchy tropical cocktail of cherry brandy, gin, grenadine, pineapple lime and bitters, was invented right here in 1915. Toast your date with one (or two) on a romantic date in the hotel’s legendary Long Bar.

Soothe your Soul at the Banyan Tree Spa

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Singapore date night activities don’t come much better than this: a pampering experience par excellence at the top of the Marina Bay Sands Resort. Here, 55 stories up in the Banyan Tree Spa, couples can surrender themselves to complete serenity thanks to an extensive menu of Balinese, Thai and Oriental massage complemented by fresh fruit, soothing pots of jasmine tea and sky-high views of the bay and Singapore skyline.

Get Hot and Steamy over Dinner

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If you’ve been to Singapore and haven’t tried hotpot, have you really been to Singapore? Also known as steamboat, these boiling broths are served with a variety of thinly sliced meats, fish and vegetables for dipping and sharing at your table. You’ll find all sorts of broths out there, from spicy Sichuan to – for the bold gourmand only – stinky tofu. Dip ingredients including marinated wagyu beef, freshly caught shrimp, pickled cabbage and smoky shiitake mushrooms for the win. A steamy evening is guaranteed.

Tea for Two

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That Queen Elizabeth sure got around, didn’t she? Not content with drinking the bar dry at Raffles, here she is again at Tea Chapter, a celebrated Singapore tea house she visited for a spot of Imperial Golden Cassia with hubby Phil back in 1989. Treat your queen (or king) to a date to remember in this lovingly converted three-storey pre-war shophouse, a zen haven of ornate Chinese architecture where you too can indulge in a tea appreciation ceremony. Rest assured that the blends you’ll sample will also be made using tea leaves that are – quite literally – fit for a queen.

Date Night at the Movies

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Singapore isn’t short of great movie theaters, with options for catching all the latest Hollywood blockbusters or – if Scarlet Johansson and The Rock don’t float your boat – cool arthouse cinemas for the in-the-know in-crowd. The huge GVMax screen (once the biggest in Asia, fact fans) at the Golden Village VivoCity multiplex is a good bet for the hottest new releases. Head to Projector X: Riverside for under-the-radar indie flicks paired with cool cocktails or to the futuristic ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands where a curated selection of arthouse films, documentaries and Hollywood classics is screened in its state-of-the-art cinema. Now, pass the popcorn.

Go Wild on a Night Safari

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You may find yourself playing third wheel when your boo falls for the Night Safari’s Sunda pangolin, a super-cute crepuscular critter that seems engineered to steal the heart of anyone who lays eyes on it. Operated by the same group that runs the wildly popular Singapore Zoo, this fun nighttime experience is the first of its kind to be 100% devoted to nocturnal animals. Step inside the 86-acre reserve and wander its zones (or hop on the complimentary tram) to spot Malaysian tapirs, Asian elephants, white African lions and more as they go about their nightly business.

Make a Dinner Date with a Difference

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If dinner with a view doesn’t quite set your date’s heart aflutter, these sky-high dining experiences just might. Soaring to a dizzying 541 feet, the Singapore Flyer is one of the planet’s tallest observation wheels with showstopping views of the bright lights of Singapore and Sentosa. Two rotations of the wheel is just enough time for a private dinner in your pod with a glass of champagne and, who knows, maybe even a proposal of marriage. Equally fun is dinner and drinks on board a private cable car across the bay as you and your partner fall in love all over again on the ride from Singapore to Sentosa. Again, two rotations ensure there’s no need to rush dessert.

Watch the Sunset Together

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Trying to identify the best sunset spot in Singapore is like attempting to find the best chili crab in town, i.e. near impossible – there are just so many great places to choose from! Our pick? Head for Marina Barrage next to the Gardens by the Bay. Here, not only can you watch the extraordinary free nightly light show in Supertree Grove thanks to those panoramic 360-degree views, you can also catch some of the most spectacular technicolor sunset views in town. Take a picnic blanket, a bottle of bubbly and some fresh passion fruit with you and that perfect Singapore date night is all but guaranteed.

Save on date night activities in Singapore

Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Cycling Singapore
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Best Cycling Routes in Singapore

By Mia Russell Beautifully green and pristinely clean, Singapore is a city that begs to be explored. And what better way than on two wheels? While there are myriad ways to explore the ‘Garden City,’ hopping on a bike and riding around on its Park Connector Network (PCN) is a great way to experience the city and get active at the same time. Home to spectacular gardens and parks, beautiful beaches, and awe-inspiring architecture, the ‘Lion City’ is packed with incredible places to explore. Feel the wind in your hair as you meander past beaches and wind your way through gardens. You’ll find plenty of places around the city that offer bike rentals. Use your pass to rent a Gogreen Bicycle and hit the road. Remember to keep your pass handy to gain entry to many of the city’s top attractions along the way. Let’s take the road less traveled and discover the city’s hidden secrets on these top cycling routes in Singapore. Southern Ridges Loop Difficulty level: Moderate Distance: 9 km The Southern Ridges are a beautiful part of Singapore and are ideal for exploring by bike. Spanning 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), the Southern Ridges comprise five parks and lovely green spaces crisscrossed with a network of trails. Start at South Buona Vista Road and make your way towards the Alexandra Arch, an 80-meter-long pedestrian bridge known as the ‘Gateway to Nature.’ Meander along the Forest Walk and take in the tranquil beauty of the dense secondary forest of Telok Blangah Hill Park. Stop at the famous Henderson Waves, the architecturally-striking 274-meter-long pedestrian bridge that connects Telok Blangah Hill Park to Mount Faber Park. Keep an eye out for rare birds such as the Drongo and Yellow Oriole. Make your way up to Mount Faber for some spectacular views of the bay and the bustling waterfront district of Harbourfront. Treat yourself to hill-top dining against a backdrop of stunning views and if you don’t feel like riding back, hop on the Singapore Cable Car with your pass and soar over Singapore’s skyline to Sentosa. Mandai Loop Difficulty level: Moderate Distance: 35 km (21 miles) This inner-city cycling route will take you through the Mandai Reserve, home to the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari, and past the Old Ford Factory. Start your ride at Rats Corner on Orchard Road and head north towards the Mandai Reserve. The reserve has several renowned mountain bike tracks, including the famous Track 15 (T15), one of the easiest trails in Singapore. Have some fun on the dirt tracks or use your pass to gain free entrance to the Singapore Zoo. Spend a few hours meeting the 300 species that call the zoo home. When you are done at Mandai, complete the loop southwards towards the city, along Bukit Timah Road. Make sure to swing past the Old Ford Factory, the historic site where Singapore surrendered to Japan in 1942, before returning to Rats Corner. Eastern Coastal Loop Difficulty level: Moderate Distance: 20 km (12 miles) to Changi, 27 km (16.7 miles) to Marina Bay Escape the city with an adventure along the East Coast of the island on this fantastic cycling route. Connecting East Coast Park and Pasir Ris Park, the Eastern Coastal Loop will take you past beautiful beaches, dense rainforests, lush wetlands, and awe-inspiring coastal landscapes. Begin your journey at East Coast Park and ride to Changi Beach Park, one of the oldest coastal parks in Singapore. Located at the northern tip of Changi, the 28-hectare beach park still retains the kampung atmosphere of bygone days and is a fantastic place to have a swim and relax. Grab a delicious meal of Goreng Pisang (banana fritters) and nasi lemak (coconut rice) at the Changi Village Hawker Centre. Make your way back to East Coast Park. If you haven’t had enough, continue riding in the opposite direction and wind your way through Gardens by the Bay. Marvel at whimsical sculptures, gigantic high-tech trees, and misty biodomes in this fantastical world of green. Use your pass for admission to the Cloud Forest home to the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and the Flower Dome. Northern Eastern Riverine Loop Difficulty level: Easy Distance: 26 km (15 miles) This incredible trail meanders for 26 kilometers (15 miles) through the spectacular parks and waterways of Punggol. Start at Punggol Park and make your way toward the Sungei Pinang footbridge and the Coral Plant. Cross the Sungei Pinang footbridge and admire the amazing views of the scarlet-colored Coral Plant. Head towards the Punggol Promenade and enjoy the greenery and biodiversity flourishing along the seafront as you pass by. Ride to the Lorong Halus Wetland, a scenic stretch of land on the eastern banks of the Punggol-Seletar reservoir that is home to shimmering ponds and thick reed beds. Detour past Punggol Waterway Park to see its beautiful reservoirs and impressive suspension bridges. Watch the sunset from Adventure Bridge and soak up some stunning views. Central Urban Loop Difficulty level: Moderate Distance: 36 km (22 miles) Explore the neighborhoods in the heart of Singapore and get a glimpse into the everyday life of Singaporeans. Begin your trip in Toa Payoh Town Park and make your way through Kallang Park and the Whampoa connector. Along the Whampoa Park Connector, stop by Balestier Road to sample some of the amazing food from the street hawkers. When you get to Bishan, take a break in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Set on the banks of the Kallang River, the park is one of the biggest on the island and is the perfect place for a picnic lunch. Northern Explorer Loop Difficulty level: Moderate – Challenging Distance: 11 km (7 miles) Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and venture into Singapore’s Northernmost region to take in the beauty of Woodlands, Yishun, and Sembawang. Start from Lower Seletar Reservoir Park, a natural sanctuary of dense forests and tranquil waterways. Make your way through the five-kilometer (three-mile) Mandai Park Connector that runs alongside the beautiful Central Catchment Nature Reserve. Keep an eye out for cheeky, long-tailed Macaques who call the reserve home. The next stop is Admiralty Park, a lovely hilly park in Woodlands bisected by the Sungei Cina River. The 20-hectare park is home to a myriad of fauna and flora and offers some challenging hills if you are feeling energetic. Ride on to visit Woodlands Waterfront, one of Singapore’s longest coastal jetties, and end your adventure with a swim at the natural sand beach in Sembawang Park. Western Adventure Loop Difficulty level: Moderate – Challenging Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles) If you feel like an off-the-beaten-track adventure, then the Western Adventure Loop is perfect! This challenging route takes you through the wild west of Singapore. Start at Choa Chu Kang Park, a lovely green space with old fruit tree plantations, small streams, and an array of bird species. Cycle through the bucolic Pang Sua Park and along the Bukit Panjang Park Connector, keeping your eyes on the tree line to spot birds. Pass by the rugged terrain and untouched vegetation of Zhenghua Nature Park and cycle into the Dairy Farm Nature Park. This park is famous for its breathtaking landscapes and excellent hiking and rock climbing. Ride on to your final destination at Bukit Batok Nature Park where you’ll find a tranquil quarry pond surrounded by high cliffs. It’s the perfect place to end the day with a refreshing swim in the cool quarry waters. Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Trail Difficulty level: Moderate Distance: 36 km (22 miles) Experience all of Singapore’s diverse landscapes on this challenging 36-kilometer (22-mile) trail across the island. Beginning in the Jurong Lake Gardens in the west, you’ll make your way across the island to Coney Island Park in the northeast. The trail takes you through the Lornie Nature Corridor near the center of the island and some of Singapore’s most beautiful parks like Bukit Batok Nature Park and Hindhede. You’ll end your journey on the charming Coney Island.
Cara Merren
Fireworks over Marina Bay in Singapore
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Singapore in December

December heralds the beginning of Singapore’s northeast monsoon season. This, as festive vacation planners will no doubt be delighted to learn, is the season’s ‘wet phase’, when heavy persistent showers are all but guaranteed to sweep in and ruin your stroll in the late afternoons and early evenings. In spite of this, the last month of the year remains a popular time to visit the Garden City, largely thanks to its epic Christmas lights and awesome New Year’s Eve celebrations. Read on for our whistlestop guide to what to expect of Singapore in December. Visiting Singapore in December Temperature: 77–85°F • Average Rainfall: 25 days/month • Average Sunshine: 6 hours/day The temperature in Singapore remains pretty uniform all year round. We’re talking hot days and balmy nights. December brings higher humidity and monsoon downpours into the mix, meaning choosing which outfits to pack can be a little like learning to play the ancient Chinese game of mahjong for the first time. In short: tricky. Light cottons and linens are your friends and Singapore’s proliferation of covered walkways and air-conditioned megamalls probably means you can leave the novelty umbrella hat at home. But do pack a pocket poncho and a light hoodie or sweater to see you through those wetter/cooler moments. If you’ve never experienced a Singapore monsoon before, you’re in for quite the treat. Usually heralded by darkening skies and a brisk breeze, the rains move in fast. And boy, can they be vicious. It’s not unusual to spot newly arrived tourists bounding frantically across rapidly rising puddles like Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain, but without the slick Hollywood moves. If you are planning to visit Singapore during its glittering festive season, we’d recommend you get your flights and accommodation booked as far in advance as possible. In spite of the rains, this is a very popular time of year and booking early can often (if not always) help to beat the December price hikes. Things to do in Singapore in December It’s all about Christmas in Singapore in December. Well, almost. Certainly, you’d be forgiven for thinking the entire planet’s electricity supply is being channeled into the festive light displays here, which are so bright they might well be visible from the planet Zork. See some of the most extravagant Christmas decorations in town on an evening stroll along Orchard Road, Singapore’s most famous luxury shopping thoroughfare. The street’s strangely titled ‘Christmas on A Great Street’ boasts not one but three Christmas villages crammed with carnival rides, games, street food stalls and, of course, pop-up gift stores. There’s even a full-on street party on Christmas Eve, complete with live music and dance, carol singers and a huge Christmas market. The evergreen Gardens by the Bay turns the charm offensive right up to eleven in December with its annual Christmas Wonderland event. Take a romantic stroll along the Walk of Lights which, with somewhere in the region of 75,000 light bulbs, more than lives up to its name. Swap rain for snow at the Blizzard Time exhibit, visit (but please don’t nibble) the life-size gingerbread house in Gingerbread Grove, and try your luck on the carnival game stalls in Frosty’s Fairground. Heck, you can even get your festive kicks at the airport. As anyone who has ever traveled through it will tell you, Changi is no ordinary airport, with attractions such as a butterfly garden, a three-story slide, a Pokémon center and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall making it a tourist destination in its own right. No surprise then that it also hosts one of the city’s finest Christmas villages. We’re talking candy-themed rides and games, a snow house with ice sculptures, and luges and marching bands – it’s the stuff Christmas dreams are made of! What’s on in Singapore in December? Of course, it’s not just Christmas and monsoon-dodging that make Singapore a fun place to visit in December. The island’s other annual end-of-year events are designed to appeal to as broad a church as possible. First up is the Singapore Marathon, which takes place (almost) without fail on the first Sunday of December. The epic route (all 26.1 miles of it) takes in some of the city’s finest sights, including a sprint through Marina Bay, a shuffle past Merlion Park and a shimmy within sight of the famous Sentosa cable car. You’ll need to register (and train) to take part and, for those who prefer their runs a little… shorter, half-marathon, 10km and even 5km routes are also available on the day. The entertainment juggernaut that is Comic Con also rumbles into town during December for two extraordinary days of toy-, game- and comic-based events at Marina Bay Sands. Book your spot for the chance to ogle rare vintage toys and comics, as well as the opportunity to meet your favorite comic book creators, Marvel movie stars and more. Marina Bay is also the location for Singapore’s epic New Year countdown and fireworks. Of course you can see the flamboyant pyrotechnic display from just about anywhere across the city, but Marina Bay is where it's at for ringside seats and the best Insta snaps as the colorful display kicks off and an epic, soul-soaring soundtrack booms out across the water. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Flamingos at Bird Paradise
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The Ultimate Singapore Face-Off: Bird Paradise or Gardens by the Bay?

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