Singapore in February

By Jo Cooke
Published: July 18, 2024
Panorama of the Singapore skyline as sun rises with green space, the river and Marina Bay Sands
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Sigh...The truth is that, in the Western hemisphere at least, February can seem a bit...bleak. The holiday season is a distant memory and spring has not yet sprung. But don’t despair! With kids the world over back in school, it’s a particularly good month to plan an adult break. And especially to escape to the equator and sun-soaked Singapore!

Whatever part of the world you come from (and frankly whatever the time of year) you can look forward to a mesmerising mix of green environments, bustling cityscapes, futuristic architecture and exciting attractions.

Wondering what to do in Singapore in February? Hold tight and we’ll share all the top tips, including:

  • Weather in Singapore in February
  • Chinese New Year
  • Thaipusam
  • Best things to do in Singapore
    - Gardens by the Bay
    - Singapore Cable Car
    - Universal Studios Singapore
  • Exploring Singapore
    - Singapore Bicycle Tours
    - Singapore Big Bus Tour
    - Singapore River Cruise
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What's the weather like in Singapore in February?

Is it warm all year round in Singapore? Yaaay! It’s a yes. Pack your sunhat. The average temperature in February in Singapore is a delicious 31oC (87oF) with evenings dropping to a pleasant 24oC (75oF). You’re unlikely to need your umbrella either as, with the end of the Northeast Monsoon season, February is Singapore’s driest month. The only place you might want to pop on your sweater is for the air-conditioning blasting out in malls and public places.

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Chinese New Year

Depending on the timing of the first full moon of the year you might be lucky enough to be in Singapore for Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year). The 15 day festival is celebrated all over the world and, in Singapore, whilst some local shops and markets will close for the celebrations, you’ll find major malls, tourist areas and entertainment attractions open and buzzing with noise, colour and beautifully blazing lanterns.

Whatever you do, don’t miss the Chingay parade in Marina Bay, perhaps the year’s most dazzling display of Singapore’s multi-cultural heritage, celebrated with enthusiasm not only by Chinese but by Malay, Indians and Eurasians too. Pick your spot and thrill to spectacular floats, colourful costumes dancing dragons and staggering stilt walkers.

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Then dive into the whirlwind streets of Chinatown where temples open their doors, stalls sell everything from raw fish to unique home decor, and decorations glow under the lanterns of the night bazaar. Late afternoon and evening are the best times to soak up the atmosphere and bag a bargain in the markets around Smith Street. And since the best part of any festival is the food, don’t forget to cram in as many delectable sweet and savoury treats as you can!

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After all that excitement you might want to stop for a nice cup of tea. Kick off your shoes and ease into the tranquility of an authentic tea appreciation experience at Tea Chapter, the largest and oldest teahouse in Singapore. Find your zen amid ornate architecture, relax to traditional Chinese music and savour tea fit for a queen - Queen Elizabeth II and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh were also served a pot of Imperial Golden Cassia so you’re definitely in good company.

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Thaipusam

The festivities continue, since the Hindu religious festival Thaipusam also falls in January or February, depending on the date of the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. This time you’ll need to stake out your viewing spot in the historic streets of Little India to watch the colourful chariot procession wind its way through the streets to Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple at Keong Siak Road. Devotees carry milk pots and heavy wooden ‘kavadis’ decorated with flowers and peacock feathers in honour of Lord Murugan, Hindu god of war. Some pierce their tongues or other body parts with skewers and hooks, requiring elaborate prayer and preparation.
Less painfully, let’s talk about some of the best sights in Singapore, like...

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Gardens by the Bay

Have you even been to Singapore if you’ve not visited Gardens by the Bay, the stunning natural park that has become perhaps the country’s most recognisable symbol?

Immerse yourself in the intriguing Cloud Forest and marvel at the eighteen 50m-high sustainable ‘Supertrees’. Not only does their vertical planting provide a wildlife habitat but they harvest solar energy, collect rainwater and serve as air exhausts.

It’s tough to know when to visit. As one of the city’s most popular attractions, morning is the best time to beat the crowds and explore the 101 hectares of indoor and outdoor gardens, lakes, sculptures and artwork. But there again, it would be a crime to miss the Garden Rhapsody light show that wows the crowds at 7.45PM and 8.45PM every day.

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Singapore Cable Car

Maybe you’ll follow the pattern of many visitors and split your time between the city and the delights of Sentosa Island. Soar over the city skyline aboard the Singapore Cable Car and take plenty of snaps of the unforgettable views as you travel from Mount Faber on the main island, to Sentosa, which means ‘island of tranquility’.
If you time your trip to be back at the Mount Faber cable car station after dark you can also enjoy Miraculous 2, a kaleidoscopic, multi-media light show exclusive to cable car ticket holders.

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Universal Studios Singapore

Aside from the sandy beaches, the main event on Sentosa island is surely Universal Studios, Singapore, guaranteed to thrill visitors of any age with its wild coasters, family rides and interactive shows, all themed to your favourite movies. Explore seven themed areas: Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away and Madagascar. Get your white-knuckle kicks on Accelerator and Revenge of the Mummy, brave the world’s tallest duelling coasters themed on Battlestar Galactica and prepare to get wet as you escape the dinosaurs on the Jurassic Park Rapids. There are plenty of family favourites too with rides, shows and character meets from favourites like Shrek, Minions and Sesame Street.

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Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience

Do you feel the need for speed? Whilst we’re talking thrills, Singapore offers the rare opportunity to enjoy a fast and furious experience learning to fly a (virtual) F-15 or F/A-18 military jet. Attend your pre-flight briefing, then don your headset, before blasting off on a memorable mission over some familiar American landmarks.

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Ways to explore Singapore

In the heat and humidity of the summer months you might not have the energy to explore, but, as the beginning of the dry season and before temperatures rise too much, February is an ideal month for outdoor activities.

Cycling around the sunny island is a great way to enjoy the sights and green spaces. Singapore is one of Asia’s most bike-friendly cities with a well-connected network of cycle paths, so get on your bike, not forgetting that helmets are mandatory.
A four hour Historical cycle tour of Singapore ticks off loads of city highlights including Chinatown, the Singapore River, Boat and Clarke Quays and the Museum District... Best of all, being accompanied by an expert guide allows you to see the city from a local perspective, including visiting a residential area, checking out a lively market and sampling tasty local cuisine.

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Or perhaps you’ll prefer to pedal your way to some stunning evening panoramas on a two hour Marina Bay bicycle night tour. There are stunning photo opps all along the way, from the Supertrees, to the Singapore Flyer observation wheel, to the Formula One Pit Building.
Wheel around the business district where charming historical buildings jostle with gleaming skyscrapers. Look out for the famous floating football pitch at Marina Bay. If you’re lucky you might even catch a live music performance in the Esplanade entertainment area.

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If you’re feeling less energetic maybe you’ll choose to cruise, drifting along on a Singapore River Cruise. Climb aboard a traditional bumboat (yes, you heard right) to glide past sights like Old Parliament House, the Merlion Park and Marina Bay Sands Resort. Or simply hop on (and off) a Big Bus tour and take in all the landmarks at your own pace with a day ticket and pre-recorded commentary in your choice of 12 languages. For a more original experience, an hour-long Singapore DUCKtour, in an amphibious vehicle, splashes into the bay for a sail around the beautiful harbour before exploring the Civic district on land.

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However you choose to get around, remember, not only in February but year round, Go City is the best choice for maximum savings and flexibility for all your Singapore sightseeing. What are you waiting for? Enjoy your adventures!

Jo Cooke
Go City Travel Expert

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Natural Attractions in Singapore

Think of Singapore and you’ll likely conjure up images of shimmering glass-and-steel superstructures; a dense forest of urban activity with soaring skyscrapers that jockey for position as they reach ever further heavenwards. But that would be to overlook the vast swathes of green space and unspoiled natural habitat that has earned this island nation the nickname ‘the Garden City’. Read on for our guide to some of the finest natural attractions in Singapore, including: Singapore Botanic Gardens The Gardens by the Bay MacRitchie Reservoir Lazarus Island Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve The Southern Ridges Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Pulau Ubin The Gardens by the Bay Yes we know: the massive durian-shaped hothouses at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay are very plainly not the work of Mother Nature. But it’s what’s inside that counts, right? And what’s inside is nothing short of a nature spectacular. Expect an absolute riot of sights, scents and sounds in the Flower Dome, where carpets of colorful blooms emit a quite dizzying array of perfumes and a thousand-year-old olive tree forms the centerpiece of the pretty olive grove. Meanwhile, the humid Cloud Forest promises sweet-smelling orchids, jungles of ferns and trailing vines and a tall, tranquil waterfall. The Southern Ridges Six miles of jungle trails and elevated walkways connect Mount Faber Park, Labrador Nature Reserve and more along the epic Southern Ridges. Tiptoe through the treetops and shutterbugs may just sneak a snap or two of some of the abundant wildlife here: red-whiskered bulbuls, banded bay cuckoos, orange-bellied flowerpeckers and other such tropical critters await. The trail also includes a section that crosses Henderson Waves, an undulating architectural masterpiece that also happens to be the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore at a whopping 36 meters above terra firma. Don’t look down! MacRitchie Reservoir Completed in 1868, MacRitchie is the oldest reservoir in Singapore and has become both a thriving nature reserve for native wildlife and huge natural playground for locals and tourists alike. Spot macaques and monitor lizards on the seven-mile hike around MacRitchie Trails or get a birds’ eye view from the Treetop Walks, a 250-meter suspension bridge that links the reserve’s two highest points. Take to the water and spend the day kayaking or lace up your running shoes and hit one of the excellent cross-country trails here. Lazarus Island Like your beaches secluded? Lazarus Island is the place for you! One of Singapore's Southern Islands, it’s connected to neighboring Saint John’s Island by a causeway. You’ll need to catch a ferry to Saint John’s and walk the 15 minutes or so to get there but, trust us, it’s well worth the effort. Bone-white sands, swaying palm trees and tropical turquoise waters that are great for swimming and snorkeling await the intrepid traveler. Get there early enough and, who knows, you may even find you have the whole place to yourself! Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Twitchers rejoice! One of the finest natural attractions in Singapore, the unspoiled Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a thriving habitat for native birds and a crucial stopover for migratory species including the long-legged Asian dowitcher and distinctive Pacific golden plover. Across more than 300 acres of mangrove forest, mudflats and ponds, you might also spot monitor lizards, lobsters, mudskippers, water snakes and big, beautiful Atlas moths. The occasional saltwater croc has even been known to put in an appearance from time to time. Take the two-hour loop trail around the reserve to get the most from your visit. Singapore Botanic Gardens This sprawling 200-acre tropical oasis on the edge of Singapore’s Orchard Road Shopping district has been around since 1859 so to describe the gardens as ‘mature’ would be something of an understatement. Admire colorful and aromatic plants in the aptly named Ginger Garden, take a stroll around Swan Lake, snap a selfie at the iconic bandstand, and enjoy the rare experience of wandering through a rainforest within the city limits of a vast metropolis. The gardens are open from 5AM until midnight so you'll have plenty of time to get lost among the vines, blooms and tree-lined walkways. Best of all, entry is free, though a fee applies for access to the thousands of eye-popping blooms inside the National Orchid Garden, the park’s star attraction. Pulau Ubin Boomerang-shaped Pulau Ubin is an island off Singapore’s northeast coast, where lush uncharted jungle is dotted with traditional kampongs and disused granite quarries, now reclaimed by nature, teem with diverse flora and fauna. Pick ripe, pungent durians along the cycle paths – and try one if you’re feeling bold enough or hungry enough to brave a bite! There’s an observation tower and looping walkway at the island’s otherwise wild Chek Jawa Wetlands, where you’ll hear the melodious call of the bulbul and, if you’re lucky, maybe even catch sight of the electric-blue flash of a kingfisher diving for its supper. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Last but most definitely not least in our rundown of Singapore's greatest natural attractions is the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, slap-bang in the middle of the island. One of very few designated reserves in the country to have remained untouched by timber merchants, it’s a sprawling green space containing some 400 acres of tropical rainforest as well as, at over 500 feet, the highest hill in the country. The reserve is, perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the finest treasure troves of biodiversity to be found in all of Singapore, with animal species including flying lemurs, crab-eating macaques, reticulated pythons and endangered Sunda pangolins to be found among the dense forests and thick undergrowth. There are many superb walking trails here, with options available for everyone from the amateur ambler to the hardened hiker. Head up to the peak for 360-degree views across Singapore and beyond. Save on attractions and 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
Singapore skyline showing the Marina Bay Sands Resort
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Singapore in November

It’s hot, it’s humid and it’s often wet. But in reality, Singapore’s climate is pretty uniform year-round, with very few weather extremes to worry about. November heralds the start of monsoon season so yeah, you can expect a few short, sharp downpours in the afternoons and evenings, but nothing a small umbrella or pocket poncho can’t handle. You’ll find it pleasantly warm the rest of the time, so be sure to pack light cottons and linens, floppy sun hats and sunscreen as you would for any vacation in the tropics. Oh, and don’t forget the mozzie repellent – those bitey little blighters just adore that sweet Singapore humidity! As ever, booking well in advance is the best way to lock in cheap prices on flights and accommodation but, as this is low season, you can also expect late deals as hotels push to fill rooms. Either way, November is one of the best times of year to grab a Singapore bargain. Things to do in Singapore in November Mandai Wildlife Reserve Nature lovers need look no further than Singapore’s premier wildlife reserve. This vast expanse of jungle, rainforest and wetland north of the city boasts not one but four distinct parks. Bird Paradise, the newest addition at time of writing, is a colorful cornucopia of pretty plumage and sweet birdsong; an enormous aviary where you can get up close to pink flamingos, turacos, toucans, rockhopper penguins and all manner of other feathery critters. The reserve is also where you’ll find Singapore Zoo and the famous Night Safari, as well as the awesome River Wonders attraction, where water-loving beasts of the world – manatees, piranhas, Indian gharials, giant pandas and more – live their best lives. Sentosa Island A day trip to Sentosa is a quintessential part of any Singapore experience. Heck, you could spend at least a week on this fun-packed south coast resort island, and still not have enough time to see it all. Start with the quite excellent cable car ride from the main island, easily Singapore’s most scenic ride, before diving into everything else this tropical playground has to offer. We’re talking the epic Universal Studios Singapore, SEA Aquarium and Adventure Cove water park. And that’s just for starters! Hit up Siloso Beach for powdery white sands, balmy waters and, um, forest luge tracks, or take the scenic route to Fort Siloso – an elevated Skywalk that takes you high above the forest canopy. Foodie Fantasia All that activity making you hungry? Singapore’s hundreds of world-class food courts and hawker centers have your back. Dodge the afternoon downpour to while away a few hours in old-school favorite Lau Pa Sat, a Singapore landmark with street food so exquisite it might just prove life-changing. The sheer variety of international cuisines here – Vietnamese, Filipino, Malaysian, Korean, Indonesian – is mind-boggling, so you’re sure to find something to tickle those tastebuds. Our advice? Look for the stalls with the longest lines and gorge on small plates from as many vendors as you can manage. Think umami chili crab (the Singaporean national dish), delicious sambal-laced laksa, red-hot rendang curry and – for the truly adventurous (and unsqueamish) only – fried pigs’ fallopian tubes in kung pao sauce. Yum! Get Some Culture Singapore’s galleries and museums are second to none. Start by immersing yourself in thousands of years of Asian history at the epic National Museum of Singapore where trying to decipher the enigmatic Singapore Stone is just one of the many fun activities available. The National Gallery houses more than 9,000 contemporary and modern artworks from Singapore and southeast Asia, with highlights including Georgette Chen’s evocative series of family portraits and Singaporean Choo Keng Kwang’s woodcuts and oil paintings. Hit up the futuristic ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands for immersive exhibitions and a gallery that’s packed with eye-popping VR artworks. The museum’s in-house cinema screens a curated selection of classic movies, documentaries and arthouse films for Singapore’s hip crowd. What’s on in Singapore in November? Visitors to Singapore in November – especially late November – will find a city already gearing up for the festive season. Never anything short of spectacular, the gorgeous Gardens by the Bay ramp things up to the all-singing all-dancing max with their awesome Christmas Wonderland event. Get your snow fix at Blizzard Time, visit Frosty’s Fairground for all manner of prize-winning opportunities, and enjoy a romantic stroll beneath the 75,000 festive bulbs that illuminate the aptly named Walk of Lights. And if it’s lights you want, you’ll find some of the very best along Orchard Road, which also just happens to be home to the finest (and largest) malls in town. This popular annual attraction, titled ‘Christmas on A Great Street’, more than lives up to its boastful name, with oodles of street food stalls, pop-up gift stores and more carnival rides and Christmas villages than you can shake a candy cane at. November is also when the Singapore International Film Festival rolls into town, giving fans of (mostly) Asian and world cinema a rare chance to catch exclusive screenings, as well as attending industry workshops, discussions, director Q&A\s, awards ceremonies and more at glittering venues across the city. It’s always worth going along, even if just for the celeb-spotting opportunities alone! 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

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