NYE

New Years Eve in Singapore

By Cara Merren

By Mia Russell

Singapore shimmers with bright lights and buzzing energy and is one of the best places to ring in the New Year. With extravagant fireworks displays, dazzling parties, and glittering celebrations, Singapore packs a punch when it comes to saying goodbye to one year and welcoming in the next.

From fabulous fine dining at some of the world’s best restaurants to sipping cocktails at the top of the Marina Bay Sands, here are some ideas for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Singapore.

  1. Marina Bay

Image of Fireworks, Lighting, City, Urban, Light,

Marina Bay is where it all happens on New Year's Eve there’s no better way to ring in the New Year than from the SkyPark Deck on the top of the Marina Bay Sands. Based on the 57th floor, this stunning spot offers the most incredible views of the sunset-silhouetted cityscapes and Marina Bay.

Book a table at the CÉ LA VI SkyBar to get front-row seats of the breathtaking fireworks to display at the stroke of midnight. Enjoy a five-course menu with standout dishes and use your pass to enjoy a free drink. Watch the fantastic Share the Moment light projection show that illuminates the façades of the Fullerton Hotel Singapore and the Merlion hotels while resident DJs will be spinning dance-hall-infused hits all night long.

  1. Star Island

Image of Building, Cityscape, Urban, Outdoors, Nature, Scenery, Sea, Water,

Say hello to the new year with a musical extravaganza of live entertainment and spectacular fireworks at Star Island. Expect 80 minutes of dazzling lights, sound, and color with larger-than-life pyrotechnics, world-renowned DJs on the decks, and specially designed-fireworks.

There is also plenty of pre-show entertainment and family-friendly activities at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza, including food and drinks booths and meet-and-greets with some of Sanrio’s most beloved characters.

  1. The Great Bay Fiesta

Join the family-friendly festivities at the Great Bay Fiesta. Taking place at the Bayfront Event Space for the entire month of December, you’ll find a host of fun, family-friendly activities to enjoy from a circus show and a food festival to a colorful carnival.

Feast on delicious local and global fare from 35 different food stalls and take a trip back in time on Flying Dumbo and Bumper Cars rides at the Great World Carnival. Make snow angels and build your own snowman; try ice skating, ice bowling, and ice curling; and watch acrobats perform death-defying stunts at the Great Cirque des Cascades.

  1. Skechers Sundown Festival

Hit the beach for an epic New Year countdown event and dance your way into the new year. Head to Palawan Beach Sentosa for Skechers Sundown Live, a one-night music event featuring headline DJs and other Asian acts. There’ll also be loads of family-friendly activities like face painting, scratch art, film screenings, and a food village.

Make your way to Sentosa Island with a fun ride on the Singapore Cable Car and use your pass to soar over Singapore’s skyline to the island.

  1. LAVO New Year’s Eve Party

    Image of Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Landscape, City, Fireworks, Cityscape, Urban, Panoramic, Water, Waterfront,

For a glitzy and glamorous countdown party, head to LAVO Italian Restaurant & Bar at the Marina Bay Sands. Located on the 57th floor of the luxurious hotel, the restaurant serves contemporary Italian-American cuisine and an inventive craft cocktail menu against a backdrop of spectacular views of Singapore’s glimmering city skyline.

Relax over post-dinner drinks in the luxurious lounge to the tunes of international DJs before the midnight countdown in Marina Bay. Watch the fantastic Share the Moment light projection show illuminates the façades of the Fullerton Hotel Singapore and the Merlion hotels, followed by the world-famous fireworks display Singapore is famed for.

  1. Party at the MARQUEE

Welcome to the new year with an unforgettable carnival experience at one of Singapore’s nightlife superstars: MARQUEE. Spread over three floors with 30-meter-high ceilings, the mega club features a giant indoor Ferris wheel, three-story slides, and four thematic bars. Party to a line-up of highly talented resident spinners and international DJs against a backdrop of stunning visuals and state-of-the-art lighting.

  1. 665°F and Mr. Stork at Andaz Singapore

Take to the sky to ring in the new year with award-winning cuisine, fine wines, and spectacular views at 665°F and Mr. Stork at Andaz Singapore. Begin the evening with a special New Year’s Eve five-course tasting menu at sky-high steakhouse 665°F at Andaz Singapore.

Feast on delectable bites like Boston lobster, Kaluga caviar, blue cod bouillabaisse, and winter black truffles. Sip the world’s finest champagnes and pair your meal with a selection of curated wines. After dinner, head up to Mr. Stork to soak up Singapore’s iconic skyline against a backdrop of tunes from a live DJ.

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festivals in singapore
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Festivals in Singapore

Singapore is a melting pot of so many beautiful cultures, so it's no surprise you'll find dozens of festivals there throughout the year. If you're visiting this beautiful country and want to join in the festivities, you'll need to know when they are, what they're about, and what you can expect to do and see during them. So, let's talk about festivals in Singapore. We've run our fine-tooth combs through the wealth of offerings to find the very best ones you won't want to miss. So, without further ado, this is our guide to the best festivals in Singapore! And by the by, this list is in chronological order. So you'll find your early-year ones at the top and your later-year ones at the bottom! Enjoy! Including: Pongal Chinese New Year Thaipusam Lantern Festival Hari Raya Puasa and more! Pongal When: January 15 - January 18, 2023 This four-day festival is widely celebrated by the Indian population of Singapore, as it originated there. Dedicated to the Hindu god of the sun, Surya, Pongal is honored to bring wealth and a rich harvest to the people. Head to Singapore's Little India, and you'll find it ablaze with lights, celebrations, and events. It's customary to exchange gifts and wear new clothes during Pongal, so bear those in mind if you want to get in on the festivities. Chinese New Year When: January 22, 2023 Chinese New Year is celebrated all over the world, and in Singapore, it's no different. In 2023, the big day falls on January 22, so expect Chinatown to be full of fun and fancy! This year is the Year of the Rabbit, and people born in these years are said to be witty, ingenious, and vigilant. You can be all of those things, too, believe it or not. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Expect to find plenty of red and gold decorations, dancing in the streets, and lively processions to boot. And, like with many of these festivals in Singapore, gifts are often exchanged. Because gift-giving is fun, and fun is all we have in this cruel, cruel world. Thaipusam When: February 5, 2023 'Thai' is a month in the Tamil calendar. 'Pusam' is the name of a star in the night sky. What do you get if you combine the two together? Thaipusam, of course! And you can bet your stars that Singapore's burgeoning Tamil population will celebrate it with abandon! Over the festival, you'll see those taking part walk from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, carrying all sorts of symbols of divinity, but the celebration itself actually takes place over two days. Lantern Festival When: February 5, 2023 Taking place on the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival is unsurprisingly celebrated by lighting paper lanterns and letting them drift up into the sky. It's one of the most popular festivals in Singapore, so if you're visiting at the beginning of February, you're sure to see some of these bright tributes floating in the air. Head to Chinatown to get the best views of the festivities. If you've never seen countless lanterns lighting up the sky, you're in for a treat. Hari Raya Puasa When: April 21 - April 22, 2023 Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. So it's no surprise that the following day is called the 'day of celebration'! Following a month of fasting, you can understandably expect plenty of delicious food making the rounds. On the holy side of things, many Muslims also flock to local mosques, visit the graves of their forebears, and wear new clothes to signify the purity and renewal that comes in the wake of Ramadan. If you're a Muslim and visiting Singapore at the back end of Ramadan, you'll be pleased to know you can share Hari Raya Puasa with others! Vesak Day When: May 5, 2023 Don't worry, Buddhists, we see you. And thankfully, you're catered to too here, thanks to Vesak Day. For those that don't know, Vesak Day marks the enlightenment and death of Buddha. And, given its melting pot of cultures, you'll find many Buddhists celebrating Vesak Day in Singapore. Meditation and charity are the name of the game here, which gives believers a chance to look inward and take part in some nice self-reflection. Duanwu Festival When: June 22, 2023 More commonly known as the Dragon Boat Festival around the world, Duanwu Festival is another celebration of Chinese origin. Falling on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calendar, it's been celebrated for thousands of years. As you may expect from the Dragon Boat Festival, it primarily consists of dragon boats racing one another. Pretty cool! Even onlookers can enjoy the day, thanks to the food and rice wines often consumed from the sidelines. Hari Raya Haji June 28 - July 2, 2023 Another Muslim festival, Hari Raya Haji is dedicated to the character of Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his first-born son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah. Sacrifice plays a huge role over Hari Raya Haji, with volunteers from mosques sacrificing goats, sheep, and cows on the holy day. A third of the meat from these animals is given to people that need it most. The rest is given to the families of those who sacrificed their animals. Singapore National Day When: August 9, 2023 No matter your religion or cultural background, August 9 is a special day for Singaporeans. It's the country's National Day, and it draws massive crowds from all over the world every year. Expect massive parades, choreographed dance, and plenty of other festivities to enjoy! Diwali When: November 12, 2023 And finally, we end our guide to festivals in Singapore with Diwali, the biggest celebration in the Hindu calendar. Marking the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom, it represents the triumph of good over evil. But what does it mean for you, oh traveler? Well, plenty! Plenty of fireworks, bright clothes, and dancing. Little India will be buzzing all day, so make sure you go down there and check it out! And that rounds out our guide to the best festivals in Singapore! Looking for more fun things to do on your vacation? Go City's got you covered. With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can experience the best of Singapore for one low price, and fit them around your festival itinerary!
Dom Bewley
extreme sports activities in singapore!
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Extreme Sports Activities in Singapore

Do you have the need for speed? Do you yearn for the feeling of adrenaline pumping through your veins? Of course you do, or you wouldn't be here. So let's discuss extremes, specifically, extreme sports. Such activities have only grown in popularity in recent years, with the likes of Tony Hawk becoming household names throughout the world. But what about Singapore? Does this fine country cater to the wilder ones in the audience? Why yes, it does, you lucky devils! So what kinds of extreme sports activities can you try in Singapore? Let's take a look. Including: Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin AJ Hackett Sentosa's Giant Swing and Skybridge Bungee Jumping MegaZip Adventure iFly Singapore and more! Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin The sea is an unforgiving beast. So much of our oceans are still unexplored, so really, there's no telling what horrors could lie beneath the waves. But don't worry yourself with any of that existential dread! Instead, takes to the seas in a kayak on this adventurous tour of Ketam Island! Located just off Singapore's northeastern coast, Pulau Ubin is famous for its traditional way of life. Given it's known as one of the last surviving villages in the country, it's no surprise you'll feel like you've been transported back through time. To a calmer, simpler time. For this reason, the island enjoys relatively undisturbed natural scenery. As you set off on your kayak adventure, you'll take in Pulau Ubin's thriving mangroves, which many plants, flowers, and exotic animals call home. Is that not extreme enough for you? Don't worry; we're just warming up. Image courtesy of Mr.Cherdsak/Shutterstock AJ Hackett Sentosa's Giant Swing and Skybridge Remember swing sets? As a kid, you'd feel like you were flying off the ground when in reality, you were only a few feet off the floor. Hopping on a swing as a worn-down, tax-paying adult just doesn't have the same joy to it. But what if the swing was suspended over 130 feet above the Earth? Welcome the Giant Swing at AJ Hacket Sentosa. Either alone or with a daring partner, you'll be hoisted far into the air. Once you've taken in the amazing views, prepare to swing. Pull the chord, and you'll soar through the sky at over 70mph. Then, you'll swing back again. Exhilarating stuff. If you want to capture your daredevil antics, you needn't put your phone at risk. 16HD cameras will record and snap the whole ordeal. Once you've attained proof of your bravery, check out the Skybridge, where you can take in the views, including straight beneath your feet, thanks to the see-through portions of the bridge. Extreme! Bungee Jumping No list of extreme sports activities would be complete without bungee jumping, so if you're looking for bungee-adjacent thrills, Singapore has you covered. And it doesn't get much better than this. AJ Hackett Sentosa is the location once again - do you dare go bungee jumping after riding the giant swing? Thanks to the trained instructors monitoring every jump, even newbies will feel safe before taking the plunge. You can even choose where to jump and how you want to fall. Presumably, they're all a variation on 'down'. Bungee jumping is easily one of the best extreme sports activities you'll find in Singapore. That is, if you dare to jump. Image courtesy of DerekTeo/Shutterstock MegaZip at Mega Adventure Park Want to ride in style? Why not zipline? These zippy, liney beauties are the new cool thing to do. And if even a former prime minister of the UK can look cool doing it, so can you. More suitable for the little ones if you're planning a family vacation, MegaZip Adventure Park is packed full of action-packed fun for the whole fam. Suspended nearly 250 feet in the air, you'll zip down for nearly 1500 feet while the wind ruffles your hair. Then when you get off and the screaming stops, you'll want to do it all over again. iFly Singapore Ever wanted to try skydiving, but the thought of traveling 30,000 feet into the air and jumping out is just too extreme for you? Don't worry; we've got skydiving at home, thanks to iFly Singapore. Thanks to scientific breakthroughs in fan technology, they're now strong enough to lift up two fully-grown adults and mimic the thrills and spills of falling from the sky. So suit up, hop in, and get falling. Newbies can take it easy and get used to the sensation, and professionals are free to flip, spin, and do other cool, extreme things as they go. And who knows, maybe it'll inspire you to hop on a plane and try it for real? Image courtesy of Hafiz Bin Ismail/Shutterstock Wakeboarding Water lovers rejoice! We're returning to the murky, terrifying depths for more extreme sports activities in Singapore! Wakeboarding is the game, and Singapore Wake Park is the name. But this time, you don't even need the winds on your side, because this is wakeboarding on cables. Hook yourself up, step atop your board, and enjoy the thrill ride as you make your way over ramps and around obstacles. Both newbies and veterans are welcome, with courses of varying skill levels on offer. Skyline Luge Ever played Mario Kart and hoped to do it for real? Step up Skyline Luge, Singapore's most extreme kart/luge fusion. With gravity driving you forward, your luge/kart vehicle must best hairpin turns, travel beneath tunnels, and down myriad slopes as you aim for the finish line. If you've got some friends with you, all the better. You can take a luge each and see who comes out on top, or pair up for some two-person action. Will you win? Probably not? Will you at least try? We hope so. Surf Cove And finally, why not try your hand at some artificial surfing? After all, the sea is a scary place. You must never forget. There's no telling what horrors call it home. Sadly, Singapore doesn't get much in the way of waves, so in an effort to bring the surf to their shores, they created Surf Cove. This state-of-the-art tech will let you feel like you're really riding the waves. Extreme! And best of all, you won't risk waking the Great Old Ones. They will take you without a moment's notice, so why not just avoid any of that unpleasantness and go surfing in a more safe environment! Extreme! And those were our picks of the best extreme sports activities in Singapore! Looking for drier activities to fill out your vacation itinerary? Check out Go City. With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can pick and choose the best of Singapore for one low price.
Dom Bewley
Sentosa Cable Car
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A Full Guide to Sentosa Island, Singapore

Sentosa is Singapore’s playground: a tiny island resort just off the main island’s south coast with enough attractions and activities packed into its two square miles to keep you occupied for at least a week. Read on for our full guide to Sentosa Island, Singapore. Getting to Sentosa Island Getting yourself over to Sentosa is all part of the fun, with several different ways to cross Keppel Harbour. Quickest and easiest of these is the inexpensive Sentosa Express monorail. Board on level three of the VivoCity mall above HarbourFront MRT station and you’ll be at your destination (Resorts World, Imbiah or Beach station) in just 3–5 minutes. There’s also a pedestrian boardwalk with a separate lane for cyclists, and a road link means you can even arrive by cab or hire car. But it’s the Sentosa cable car that’s hands-down the most fun (and most scenic) way to arrive on Sentosa, and definitely worth doing at least once, assuming you have a head for heights. The 30-minute ride departs HarbourFront cable car station and cruises across the harbor at heights of around 200 feet above sea level. After arriving on Sentosa, you can easily walk to Imbiah station for cable car connections to the beaches. You’ll find that the monorail and cable car stations drop you close to the majority of Sentosa’s main attractions. A free beach shuttle also operates between the sandy Palawan, Tanjong and Siloso beaches along the island's southwest coast. Resorts World Sentosa There are so many things to do on Sentosa that it can be difficult for a newbie to know where to start. The sprawling Resorts World complex is as good a place as any though, encompassing several of the island’s best attractions, plus luxury hotels, restaurants and more. Undisputed star of the show here is Universal Studios Singapore (USS), where a whole bunch of themed zones offer entertainment for kids and grown-ups alike. Even the most difficult-to-please teen won’t fail to be charmed (and soaked) by The Lost World zone’s Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, in which friendly families of stegosauruses and gently meandering rivers may well lull you into a false sense of security before you hit the rapids, stalked by hissing velociraptors and a hungry escaped T-rex. Yikes! The most adrenaline-pumping rides are to be found in Sci-Fi City, where the dueling Battlestar Galactica rollercoaster is the tallest of its kind on the planet, and the 3D Transformers ride is guaranteed to leave your heart pumping and nerves jangling. The popular Far Far Away zone offers an altogether calmer (but no less fun!) experience for younger kids, featuring rides based on characters from the Shrek movie series. Take flight over the forests aboard Donkey’s beloved Dragon on the Enchanted Airways ride, and go in search of Mother Goose’s golden eggs on Puss in Boots’ Giant Journey. No less thrilling is Adventure Cove water park, where heart-stopping rides include the Riptide Rocket and Spiral Washout, both every bit as terrifying as they sound. Brave souls grip their floats for dear life as they enjoy/endure gravity defying loops, hairpin bends and hair-raising drops before being flushed out (at very high speeds) into a huge pool at the bottom. For those who like their water-based entertainment a tad more sedate there’s the Adventure River, where you can drift oh-so-gently through 14 different zones in your enormous donut, taking in tranquil grottoes, verdant jungle gardens and marine life along the way. Don your snorkel and get even closer to native tropical critters at Rainbow Reef, home to over 20,000 colorful fish, or pop to the resort’s S.E.A. Aquarium, home to over 100,000 marine creatures including manta rays, bottlenose dolphins and a giant Pacific octopus. Sentosa Beaches The trio of man made beaches along Sentosa’s southwest coast offer opportunities for the lazy sunbather and adrenaline junkie alike. Siloso is the liveliest and most popular of the three, with opportunities for history buffs, adventurers and sun seekers along its sandy, palm-lined length. Fort Siloso saw action in the Battle of Singapore during World War II and is now a museum that provides a fascinating glimpse into the country’s military history. The fort can be reached via an elevated walkway that’s easily accessed from the beach and takes you on an epic adventure through the treetops, with bird-eye views of the fort. Siloso is also home to thrilling luge tracks, a bungee rope and a huge swing that soars high above the beach. Or, you know, you could always just enjoy the feeling of the warm sand between your toes and indulge in a little gentle snorkeling in the emerald-green waters that lap the shores of all three beaches. Sentosa Restaurants Thanks to the proliferation of attractions and hotels here, there are plenty of dining options available, whether you’re after a romantic fine-dining banquet for two, or something much more casual with the kids. On Siloso Beach, Coastes is a relaxed beach bar that’s all rustic woods in marine blues and sandy tones. Kids can play in the sand while grown-ups linger over a languid weekend brunch of fruit-laden waffles, fluffy pancakes and smoked salmon with poached eggs and avocado. Yum! Just along the coast, FOC Sentosa serves up chilled Mediterranean vibes on laidback Palawan Beach. Resorts World Sentosa is the hub for some of the best big-name brands and fast food joints on the island. We’re talking the Hard Rock Café, Krispy Kreme, McDonalds, Starbucks and more. In other words: plenty to keep the kids happy. Hit up Din Tai Fung to make all your dumpling and dim sum dreams come true, or make for the underwater Ocean Restaurant, where the magnificent rays and other marine creatures peering in at you may make you reconsider that fish starter. Date night is best enjoyed at the W Hotel in Sentosa Cove, where Woobar provides a sultry setting for pre-dinner cocktails including the rum-laced Seaside Queen with mangosteen and the zingy Lesser Known Spice, shot through with tequila and mace from the Sentosa forests. Your resulting double vision will likely do nothing to help you decide whether to opt for a rare grilled steak with all the trimmings at Skirt, or international cuisine at The Kitchen Table. 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

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