Things to do in Singapore When it Rains

By Adam Fraiel
Published: July 18, 2024
Indian Heritage Centre in Singapore

Rain, rain go away! Come to Singapore another day, preferably when you’re not on vacation. However, if you do find the days a little moist, worry not. There are plenty of places to escape the downpour. We’ve put together a list of activities so you won’t miss a minute of action during your Singapore vacation.

  • Shopping at the mall
  • National Museum of Singapore
  • National Gallery Singapore
  • Asian Civilizations Museum
  • Indian Heritage Center
  • Floral Fantast
  • Tea Chapter Chinese Teahouse
  • Madame Tussauds Singapore
  • Trickeye

Enjoy Some Retail Therapy

It’s raining and you’re feeling a little blue. What better way to cheer yourself up than with a little retail therapy? The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands contains a world-class hotel, casino, shops, restaurants, bars, and other attractions providing entertainment for all the family.

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You’ll find a vast casino, cinemas, theaters showing award-winning productions, over 80 restaurants, close to 300 shopping outlets, indoor river rides, and spectacular waterfalls. And best of all? You’ll be nice and dry.

Explore the Museums of Singapore

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National Museum of Singapore

The nation’s oldest museum, it brings history to life with exciting visual exhibitions and internationally renowned festivals. The National Museum of Singapore embraces technology to share traditional culture, stories, and history through displays, artifacts, plus innovative events.

National Gallery Singapore

A stunning 64,000 square meter building in the heart of the Civic District, see the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian modern art at the National Gallery Singapore. If you get a little hungry from all the exploring, stop for a bite in one of the MICHELIN-starred restaurants.

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Asian Civilisations Museum

Discover the rich history of Asia, with exhibits dating back to 830 AD. The varied cultures of Asia have an interconnected history, and the Asian Civilisations Museum presents it through artifacts, exhibits, plus a giant shipwreck to explore. You’ll also find a variety of artwork from the various major religions, all of which passed through this vital port town.

Indian Heritage Centre

The Indian Heritage Center offers a chronological timeline of the Indian influence in Singapore. Using galleries, exhibitions, archived footage, and interactive, educational spaces, you’ll learn of the first Indian settlements, through the growth and development of the Little India district to the tourist hotspot it is today.

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The Battlebox

Venture underground and explore this authentic command center 9 meters underground - the same space where Lieutenant-General Percival and his senior officers directed the Battle of Singapore in World War II. After the 30-minute tour you’re free to wander alone, navigating the labyrinth of corridors as you watch footage of the war raging above. An essential experience if you want to truly understand the history of Singapore.

Stop and smell the roses

Floral Fantasy is an indoor section at Gardens by the Bay that will blow your mind and your senses. Thousands of freshly cut, dried, and preserved flowers decorate the ceiling, while flowers, artistic expression, and technology combine to create a sensational sensory experience below.

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Divided into four diverse landscapes, Dance, Float, Waltz, and Drift, you’ll forget all about the rain outside. Dance features a mesmerizing display of swaying plants, Float contains stunning water features, Waltz is home to waterfalls and a frog vivarium, while Drift is an enchanting cave with beautifully lit rock formations.

A Cup of Tea

Wait out the rain with a nice, hot cup of tea. Tea is more than just a drink in Singapore. It’s a part of the long, multicultural history of the country, including China, India, the British Empire, and Japan.

Experience the full spectrum of tea in the country with a trip to a teahouse. Tea Chapter is the largest and oldest Chinese teahouse in Singapore. Fit for royalty, receiving Queen Elizabeth II in 1989, it continues to inspire and educate visitors from around the world about the ceremony and ritual behind making, pouring, and serving the perfect cup.

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Complete your experience with a lovely cup of Indian chai in Little India, or Japanese matcha green teas in The Maccha House Singapore.

Ready for some selfies?

Madame Tussauds Singapore

Pose alongside your favorite Hollywood, Bollywood, TV, and sports stars, like Serena Williams, Taylor Swift, and Johnny Depp. It’s not just selfies though. Madame Tussauds Singapore offers an edutainment aspect too, with the chance to sing and dance alongside famous Bollywood stars, and explore Singapore’s rich culture with the Spirit of Singapore Boat Ride. Definitely an excellent rainy day activity.

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Trickeye @ Southside Singapore

Fill your social feed with mind-bending optical illusions while playing with augmented reality in this virtual world playground. Swim with sharks and dance with mermaids in this interactive augmented reality environment.

Save on Admission to Top Singapore Attractions

Explore the best things to do with a pass for Singapore by Go City®. Select from top attractions with our All-Inclusive and Explorer passes, where you’ll enjoy access to galleries, museums, tours much more.

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Adam Fraiel
Go City Travel Expert

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Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Singapore

There’s no denying it: meat is big business in Singapore. A short stroll through any of the legendary hawker centers or wet markets confirms it, and many vegetarians will quail at the sight of ducks roasting on the spit, or stalls that advertise their wares by displaying a dangling pig carcass or two. But that’s just one side of the story. Singapore has come a long way in recent years, with vegan and vegetarian restaurants popping up faster than bunnies in a cabbage patch, meaning there’s plenty of choice nowadays for the increasing number of people who favor a plant-based diet. Read on for our pick of the best vegetarian restaurants in Singapore. Whole Earth Awarded the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand for six years running (2016–2022), Whole Earth is fast becoming a Singapore institution. This cute downtown eatery styles its menu as “vegetarian cuisine for non-vegetarians” and, truly, even the most dedicated carnivore might be hard-pushed to tell the difference. Or, as one impressed punter gushed in their 5-star Tripadvisor review: “Vegetarian? Nah. Can’t be.” Thai and Peranakan cuisines are king here, with highlights that include fiery sambal chili, sweet and sticky honey lotus roots and crispy monkey head mushrooms in teriyaki sauce (NB: no monkeys were harmed in the preparation of this dish). Wash it all down with a zesty lime ice jelly and warming lemongrass tea. Yum. Find it: 76 Peck Seah St, Singapore 07933 Original Sin Can vegetarian food really be ‘sinful’? You bet it can! We’re talking sunny Mediterranean fare that includes the likes of creamy burrata, hearty lentil moussaka, crispy truffle fries and great slabs of devilishly indulgent tiramisu. Stuff yourself silly in the smart interior with its patterned banquettes, pretty glass murals, crisp white tablecloths and romantic candlelight. Or take it up a notch and dine al fresco beneath the stars at cute mosaic-tiled tables on the terrace. Easily one of Singapore’s best vegetarian dining experiences. Find it: #01-62, Blk 43 Jln Merah Saga, Chip Bee Gardens, Singapore 278115 Boneless Kitchen Looking for a casual Korean dining experience with stacks of delicious vegetarian sharing plates? Boneless Kitchen is the one for you. Grab a group of friends and head to this airy eatery in the Joo Seng area of Singapore, where all ingredients are sourced direct from Korea for authenticity and sauces and dishes are created from scratch on the premises. Order up the sundubu-jjigae (a smooth and spicy Korean broth), perfectly plump kimchi dumplings, gochujang-spiked bibimap and colorful kimbap (a bit like Japanese sushi rolls) and get stuck in! Find it: 1 Irving Place #01-31, The Commerze@Irving, Singapore 369546 Analogue Analogue – in its noble mission to save the planet – really doesn’t do things by halves. That eye-catching cerulean-blue bar that dips and flows like the ocean? It’s fully 3D printed from 1,600kg of recycled plastic bottles. The beer mats? Also recycled. If that’s not enough to get the conversation flowing, there’s also a long list of quite stunning planet-based cocktails. Try the Cactus with its smoky mezcal notes and refreshing hit of pink dragon fruit, prickly pear, and aloe vera. Or send yourself into orbit with a Spaceman, a delectable punch of gin, campari, peanut butter and sweet Kyoho grapes. The food menu at Analogue is equally enticing, with hearty jackfruit tacos, eggplant curry and a must-try fermented sourdough ice cream that may have you questioning whether you’ll ever feel the need to eat meat again. Find it: 30 Victoria Street, #01-31 Chijmes, Singapore 187996 The GoodBurger “Saving the world... one burger at a time” is the motto at The GoodBurger, a popular plant-based burger truck at the Coronation Shopping Plaza. Do your bit for the planet by tucking into some of the best Impossible burgers you’ll ever taste. Try the aromatic One Night in Bangkok for a spicy taste of Thailand. Or go high end with The Black Tie, with posh truffle, aioli and rocket. The Happy Days burger comes crammed with onion rings and smoky BBQ sauce, while What The Cluck – crispy Southern-fried chicken with cheese, pickles and garlic – will have you convinced you’re eating the real thing. Unmissable. Find it: Coronation Shopping Plaza, 587 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269707 Joie Vegetarian fine dining is very much the vibe at Joie (pronounced ‘joy’). Set in the tranquil surroundings of Orchard Central’s verdant rooftop garden, this sleek 11th-floor restaurant has panoramic views of Orchard Road, Singapore’s shopping mecca. Inside the bright dining room, bronze lights, plush velvet armchairs and cozy banquettes set the scene for imaginative dishes such as Japanese kelp broth with tofu, truffle risotto and warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Find it: 181 Orchard Road Orchard Central #12-01 Orchard Central, Singapore 238896 Herbivore Herbivore is an unassuming Japanese joint in the Fortune Center inside which, in fact, vegan and vegetarian dining options abound. Perhaps the pick of the bunch, Herbivore’s sushi dishes do a very convincing impersonation of the real thing, with salmon pieces that both look and taste like actual fish. Grilled chicken and freshwater eel taste just like, well, chicken and eel, and there’s an extensive selection of zingy noodle and ramen dishes to pick and choose from. Colorful, flavorsome salads and moreish desserts complete the line-up at this veggie favorite. Find it: Fortune Center, 190 Middle Road, Singapore 188979 Hawker Centers While many vegetarians may balk at wandering through these traditional Singaporean street food emporia – due to the vast number of meat products on display – there are some fine veggie options to be found if you know where to look. And the atmosphere in these places, bustling with hungry locals, the air thick with steam and heavy with the aromatic scents of fragrant pan-Asian cooking, is something that should really be experienced by all visitors to the Garden City. Check out Victor Veggie at the Circuit Road center for his sticky satay skewers. Or hit up 33 Vegetarian in the Teck Ghee Market & Food Centre for the best poultry-free chicken and rice in town. There’s even a handful of hawker centers where vegetarian eateries can be found in abundance; try Bendemeer Market and Food Centre, Kim San Leng Food Centre or Redhill Market and Food Centre for a plant-based party in your mouth. Find them: Everywhere! There are over 100 hawker centers in the city. 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
Smartly dressed man having chest measurements taken in a tailor's shop.
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Best Places to get a Suit Made in Singapore

You’re a fashionable guy, right? You like to make an impression when you walk into a room, dontcha? Heck, you want the place to be stunned into silence the second you step through the door, with only the odd admiring coo, sigh or (go on, admit it) phwoar to break the awed hush. In which case, you’ve come to the right place! So step inside sir, let us take that all-important inside leg measurement and get you kitted out in the very finest tailor-made togs in town. Here, then, is our expert guide to 10 of the best places to get a suit made in Singapore... ***Note: prices quoted are in Singapore Dollars (SGD)*** CYC The Custom Shop Established in 1935, CYC The Custom Shop is a CBD stalwart and one of the oldest and best-loved tailors in town. Good enough to clothe ministers, diplomats and even Singaporean presidents over the last near-century, their bespoke suits and shirts are probably good enough for you, too. This is the place to come if you like to dress to impress or are looking to add a bit of extra pizazz to that up-and-coming wedding function or all-important job interview. Shirts start from a little over $100 for single-ply cotton and from $750 to north of $3,000 for that dream suit. Edit Suits Co. You’ll find getting a tailored suit made anywhere in Singapore will generally take from three weeks to 15 weeks, depending on your specifications and whether you’ve insisted it be spun from the finest unicorn silk or not. But Edit Suits Co. claim to be the fastest in town, with a lead time of just 3–4 weeks on their modern garments, perfect for that shotgun wedding or client meeting you’d completely forgotten about. They’re cost-effective, too, with prices for a two-piece suit ranging from around $750 to $1800. Complete the look with accessories including pocket squares, ties and cufflinks. Oooh, suits you sir. Perfect Attire The clue’s in the name at this downtown tailor, where everything – from pattern-making to garment construction – is done in house. So you’ll know who to blame if your trousers fail to account for your one leg that’s an inch longer than the other. Seriously though, the suit you’ll get from a fitting at Perfect Attire is going to look super-stylish, whether you're a racing-green houndstooth or sober gray gingham kind of guy. We recommend combining your appointment with lunch in nearby Chinatown, though perhaps have your waist measurement taken before tucking into that vast mountain of salty, soy sauce-infused chicken rice. Kevin Seah Bespoke Olde-world tailoring meets contemporary chic at Kevin Seah’s boutique riverside emporium in the CBD. This bright and airy space is a joy to visit; a place where you’re as likely to have your head turned by the colorful rows of shoes, belts and other accessories as the masses of fabric choices, including some exclusive limited editions created by Seah in collaboration with traditional woollen mills in the United Kingdom. Country squire? City gent? Victorian dandy? It’s likely this smart boutique has the look you’ve been searching for. Prepare to dig deep though: prices here start somewhere in the region of $6,800 for a two-piece suit. But what price quality? Ehkay Corner Tailors If your budget is a little more restrictive, you’d do well to drop by Ehkay Corner Tailors on Orchard Road. Suit makers of some pedigree, these dapper chaps have been around since the 1980s and will have you suited and booted in rather more affordable tailored suits in no time. Prices here start from a more palatable $400, leaving you plenty of wonga to accessorize to your heart’s content and walk out looking snappier than an alligator. Q Menswear Another tailor that’s dangerously close to Chinatown so, you know, take it easy on the dumplings if you’re heading for your fitting straight after lunch. Established in 2011, Q Menswear is a relatively young label on the Singapore suits scene, bringing contemporary style to the masses from their home inside a charming heritage shophouse on bustling Telok Ayer Street. Drop by for a fitting and to browse the hundreds of fabrics available from Europe and Asia, including well-known brands like Liberty London and Italy’s Tessitura Monti. Prices for a two-piece suit start from just under $1,000. The Bespoke Club Styled after a classic Savile Row boutique, the Bespoke Club is all leather sofas, elegant fireplaces and umbrella stands casually stuffed with smart gents’ brollies. Step inside to have your vital statistics taken down and to start designing your own suit from somewhere in the region of 5,000 – yes, that’s FIVE THOUSAND – imported European fabrics. Trust us when we say you’ll be grateful for those great big comfy armchairs by the time you’ve gone through the lot to find your perfect pattern. Suit prices start from around $1,350. Raffles Tailor Raffles Tailor promises royal blue carpets, a glittering chandelier and a name that nods to Singapore’s always smartly turned-out founder, Sir Stamford Raffles. Suffice to say then that you’re in for a fairly luxurious experience here, where the tailoring is treated like precision architecture. No wonder then that the great and good, including Singapore TV personalities galore, have visited Raffles to enhance their screen presence with a smart bespoke suit or two. And now you too can become a sartorial success story. Prices start from $1,350. Dylan & Son Previously known as Oriental Tailor, a stalwart of late 20th-century tailoring in Singapore’s CBD, this family-run boutique shop on Telok Ayer Street was rebranded as Dylan & Son when Dylan took over in 2010. Who knows, perhaps the ‘Son’ of the current name will do the same in years to come. Anyhoo... expect a modern take on English elegance with a dash of Italian style when you have your suit designed here. Joe’s Tailoring Another old school tailor near Chinatown (anyone sensing a pattern here?), Joe’s blends four decades of experience with a verve for contemporary tailoring. Artisans produce and cut fabrics in the dedicated factory and there is no request too big or small to accommodate (well, probably). Certainly, if what your heart desires is a matching suit for you and your dog, Joe’s is the place to go. You’d be barking not to! 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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