Things to do in Singapore when it's hot out

By Dom Bewley
Published: July 18, 2024
The rooftop infinity pool at the top of the Marina Bay Sands hotel

Heat. Often it's what we seek when we head off on vacation. But sometimes, it can be overwhelming, forcing us to take shelter in the cold and dark. If you've suffered enough of the sun on your trip to Singapore, here are our picks of the best things to do in Singapore when it's hot out!

Including:

  • Marina Bay Night Bicycle Tour
  • Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin
  • Virtual Room Singapore
  • Sentosa 4D Adventureland
  • Madame Tussauds Singapore
  • and more!
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Enjoy a Marina Bay Night Bicycle Tour

One of the best ways to avoid the heat is to head out when the sun's gone down. No sun - no intense UV heat; a rule we should all live by. So if you want to see more of Singapore but don't want to sweat buckets, take an evening tour of Singapore's beautiful Marina Bay.

With an experienced tour guide in tow, you'll pass plenty of Singapore's blissful landmarks, from the Gardens of the Bay to the SuperTrees, and along the Kallang River. And if you want to know more about each place, your guide will be more than happy to drop some knowledge bombs on your trip.

If you're looking for things to do in Singapore when it's hot out, a nighttime cycle around the beautiful bay might be just the ticket.

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Experience a Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin

Or, why not brave the sun but embrace the cooling power of water? It's one of our favorite elements, easily beating out bottom-placed wind. The wind is fine, but it doesn't have the same fun factor. Anyway, with water in mind, why not take a splash on a nature kayaking adventure at Pulau Ubin?

Located just off Singapore's northeastern coast, Pulau Ubin is one of Singapore's last remaining villages. As such, they live life a little in the past. And that means plenty of untouched natural beauty, clean air, and good vibes. As you set off on your kayak adventure, you'll take in Pulau Ubin's thriving mangroves, which are home to a variety of flora and fauna like herons and kingfishers.

Of course, the whole thing is guided by an expert, so they'll be able to fill you in on the village's way of life, as well as the different species that call Pulau Ubin home. Good stuff.

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Enter Virtual Room Singapore

Want an even better way to avoid the heat when it's hot out? Why not look for things to do inside? There are plenty of fun things to do indoors in Singapore. You could even enter another reality if you like. And what better reality to enter than a virtual one?

At VirtualRoom, you'll find an award-winning VR experience like no other. Fully immerse yourself in high-definition, three-dimensional gameplay as you interact with your surroundings, walk, talk, and solve problems. Each adventure lasts 40-50 minutes, but in the delightfully air-conditioned building, you won't feel a single bead of sweat.

Play in your own dedicated room as you collaborate with other players in groups of two, three, or four. Then, solve puzzles, complete activities, and try to achieve sweet, sweet victory.

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Or fly a jet at Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience

Or, if you prefer your indoor, virtual entertainment with an injection of delicious adrenaline, then why not take to the skies in a VR fighter jet?

Embody the spirit of Maverick as you swoop past some of the biggest landmarks in America. Fly by the Golden Gate Bridge? Not a problem. Descend into the Grand Canyon and pull off some sweet trench maneuvers? Go get 'em, champ.

Even newbies can get involved, with an experienced instructor on hand to get you settled and show you the ropes. Take off, spins, drifts, and all the other terrifying maneuvers will be drilled into your brain before you're launched into the sky to do your thing. And, of course, you'll be surrounded by sweet, sweet air-con.

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Visit Sentosa 4D Adventureland

For more inside fun to dodge the heat, why not enter the 4th dimension? At Sentosa 4D AdventureLand, you'll discover that the 4th dimension isn't time. Really, it's fun! Who knew?

Pick two of the four rides on offer, and escape to another world entirely. On the Journey 2: The Mysterious Island ride, you'll relive some of the crazy sequences from the hit film, all while being splashed and feeling objects and insects fly past your face. Wild.

Or, take the plunge on the Extreme Log Ride, saddle up on the Desperados ride, or dodge ghosts and other spooky somethings on the Haunted Mine ride. Whatever floats your boat, Sentosa 4D Adventureland is sure to tickle your fancy. That's why it's one of the best things to do in Singapore when it's hot out!

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Image courtesy of nhumster/Shutterstock

Immerse yourself at Madame Tussauds Singapore

They say you should never meet your heroes. After all, celebrities have a tendency to quickly shatter the illusion you have in your head. You live long enough to see yourself become the villain and all that. But what if your favorite celebrity couldn't talk? What if they couldn't move? How could they ever tarnish the idea of them? They couldn't, which is why you should head to Madame Tussauds Singapore and snap some photos with your favs.

From David Beckham to Taylor Swift, you're sure to find someone famous you like around there. And with rides and other fun things to do, it's definitely worth a visit during your vacation!

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Image courtesy of Saiko3p/Shutterstock

Discover the National Museum of Singapore

Want to learn more about Singapore's culture and history while dodging the heat? Head over to the National Museum of Singapore and get some of that sweet knowledge in you.

Wander through multiple galleries that chart the course of Singapore's history, delve into its myriad cultures, and explore the stories of its residents throughout history. Learning about another culture is one of the joys of vacationing abroad, so you've got no excuse.

Plus, thanks to the air conditioning, it's easily one of the best things to do in Singapore when it's hot out!

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Venture out on a Night Safari

And finally, let's end on another evening adventure. On this night safari, you'll get the chance to see a variety of exotic species like lions, tigers, hippos, and hyenas during the darker hours, just like in those nature documentaries!

And best of all, at night, you can bet the temperature will be much cooler and more bearable.

And that's our list of the best things to do in Singapore when it's hot out! Looking for more experiences to make your trip special? 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
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to do Alone in Singapore
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Things to do Alone in Singapore

Sometimes, you just need some time away from people. Interaction is great and all, but getting some space to be alone and clear your head is necessary once in a while. It's the same with vacations. Some may be fun to spend with friends and family, while others might be better off alone. So, if you're visiting Singapore this year by yourself and want to know what's good, we've got you covered. In this list of the best things to do alone in Singapore, we'll cover all of the city's best bits while riding solo. And who knows, you might even meet a special someone along the way. Including: City tours by bus, boat, or bike Gardens by the Bay Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience Singapore Zoo and more! Image courtesy of Towfiqu ahamed barbhuiya/Shutterstock Big Bus Singapore If you're traveling alone, the thought of solo sightseeing probably fills you with giddy glee. Without the hindrance of human connection, you're free to soak up all the culture and landmarks with quiet contemplation and a keen ear. And where better to see all of Singapore's best bits than on a bus tour of the city? Thanks to the hop-on, hop-off nature of the tour, you can get off at any landmark, explore, and then hop on the next bus to move on. Your audio guide will fill you in on all the history of each stop, giving you insight into the era they were built. If you're interested in the melting pot of cultures present in the city, take the red line to see the likes of Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam. Or, if you're in it for the spectacle, take the yellow line to see Singapore's most famous attractions like the Gardens by the Bay, Orchard Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore Art Museum, and Raffles Hotel. Historical Singapore Bicycle Tour If you prefer your sightseeing on two wheels with a dollop of adrenaline, then why not take a bike tour of the city instead? With your expert guide in tow, you'll visit many of Singapore's highlights, including Chinatown, the Singapore River, Boat, Clarke & Robertson Quays, Kampong Glam, The Museum District, and more. They'll make sure to keep you in the loop with the history, culture, and big events that have taken place in each area. And, over the course of the four-hour tour, you'll work up a nice sweat to boot - the perfect remedy to your calorific evening excursions! Singapore River Cruise And to round out our sightseeing portion of the day, if bikes and buses don't quite cut it, see the city from a different perspective on a Singapore river cruise! Board a traditional bumboat, and you'll float in style past famous sights like Old Parliament House, Raffles' Landing Site, Fullerton Hotel, Esplanade, The Merlion Park, and Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort. Just make sure your phones or cameras are at the ready - you'll want to snap dozens of pictures to the envy of everyone else. Gardens by the Bay One of the best things to do alone is to experience nature in its most peaceful form. And in Singapore, you've got the Gardens by the Bay, one of the most recognizable green spaces on the planet. Over 101 hectares and filled with 1.5 million plants from all over the world, you'll explore indoor and outdoor gardens, lakes, conservatories, huge sculptures, artwork, and more. Its beauty is so widely known that you might even recognize it - many films and TV shows have filmed scenes amid its luscious flora. Be sure to check out the Flower Dome, the world's largest glass greenhouse. Inside, you'll find displays representative of five continents, including 1000-year-old olive trees. And if you want to add a cinematic sheen to your visit, check out Avatar: The Experience at Cloud Forest. This immersive experience will transport you to Pandora and allow you to marvel at its cascading waterfalls, spiraling walkways, and fantastical creatures. Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin This is the second time on this list we'll be heading onto the water. But this time, you're free to go at your own pace. Well, to a degree. Ketam Island is one of the last villages in Singapore, so go exploring on this kayak adventure! You and a few others will join an expert guide as you roam the waters around Pulau Ubin, home to Ketam Island. Alongside the rustic village, you'll find plenty of untouched natural beauty, good vibes, and fresh air to fill your lungs with. And your guide will be happy to fill your withered brain with sweet, sweet knowledge about all the flora, fauna, and culture you'll find. If you're looking for relaxing things to do alone in Singapore, this kayak adventure should be top of your itinerary! Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience If you've ever wanted to take to the skies in a fighter jet, you can do the next best thing with this VR Fighter Jet Experience! Perfect for solo travelers, you'll get basic training from a qualified instructor. Then, you'll hop in the virtual cockpit and be pulling corkscrews, loops, and flashing past American landmarks like the Grand Canyon to the Golden Gate Bridge. All that without ever leaving the ground. Nice. Then, when you're done, you can attempt landing a multi-million dollar piece of tech. Good luck. Singapore Zoo And finally, we'll end our exploration of things to do alone in Singapore with a little visit to the animal kingdom. At Singapore Zoo, you'll have the chance to meet thousands of exotic animals from across the globe. If you like orangutans, lions, giraffes, cheetahs, crocodiles, monkeys, rhinos, and zebras, you'll be in your element. But this isn't any old zoo. It's more of an open concept, landing somewhere between a zoo and a safari. That means more space for the animals and happier animals as a result. And that's everything you need to know about things to do alone in Singapore! Looking for more fun things to do on your vacation? 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. Even things to do with others, if you happen to meet someone on your solo travels!
Dom Bewley
Woman exploring colorful buildings in Singapore's Little India neighborhood
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Things to do on a Weekend in Singapore

Looking for things to do on a weekend to Singapore? While 48 hours is never going to be enough time to soak up everything this space-age metropolis has to offer, it’s plenty to get a flavor of the Garden City and its many intoxicating sights, sounds and smells. From sightseeing strolls through Chinatown and Kampong Glam to lazing on tropical beaches and sampling Singaporean specialities in the lively hawker markets, here’s our pick of some of the finest ways to while away a weekend in Singapore, including: Gardens by the Bay Epic bike rides and city sightseeing strolls Amazing nature reserves Foodie fave hawker centers Sentosa’s top beaches Cinemas and cocktails Fabulous free light shows Gardens by the Bay Instantly recognizable thanks to its iconic supertree structures that dominate the bay, Gardens by the Bay is one of Singapore’s top attractions – and with good reason! But did you know you can visit many parts of this iconic 250-acre park for free? That’s right, a stroll between the trunks of the majestic Supertree Grove is absolutely gratis, though you’ll have to cough up a few dollars if you want to explore the elevated walkway. There are certainly worse ways to spend a Saturday morning than by grabbing a coffee and breakfast roti and finding a quiet spot to relax with a good book in the tranquil Bay East Garden, with its manicured lawns, pretty flower gardens and sweeping views of the Singapore skyline. Get on Your Bike Singapore has a world-class cycling infrastructure, with dedicated bike lanes downtown and dozens of routes for escaping the bustle of the city and exploring the rest of the island. There are plenty of cycling tours around the city’s main attractions but we recommend renting some bikes and going it alone. The Central Urban Loop provides a (literal) breath of fresh air as you pedal your way out from beneath the skyscrapers and into a network of paths that traverse the city’s many excellent parks, gardens, waterways and woodlands. Or, if you’re feeling particularly sprightly one Sunday morning, you could even consider taking on a section of the epic Round Island Route, a 150-kilometer coastal trail that takes in some of the best ocean and bay views in the country. Take a Sightseeing Stroll A weekend wander from Chinatown to Little India (or vice versa) rewards even the most jaded traveler. Chinatown’s labyrinth of narrow streets is an Instagrammer’s dream, packed with ornate temples, bustling markets and, of course, steaming grills and pots heady with the aromas of Peking duck and kung pao chicken. Wander east to Kampong Glam, Singapore’s vibrant Muslim district, where the mosque’s huge golden dome and countless colorful Peranakan shopfronts in cactus greens, turmeric yellows and chili reds make for more great photo opportunities. Then make for Little India where a well-earned lunch of spicy fish-head curry awaits. Get Back to Nature Weekends are made for communing with nature, right? And where better to do so than on an island that’s made up of more than 50 per cent green space. Head over to the MacRitchie Reservoir nature reserve where you can spot abundant native wildlife including monitor lizards and macaques, and get a birds’ eye view from the dizzying 250-meter suspension bridge that forms the Treetop Walks. You can easily while away a lazy Sunday here, whether kayaking on the reservoir, or lacing up your running shoes for a gentle jog along one of the scenic cross-country trails. Enter a Foodie Fantasy World Bodyswerve the ubiquitous international pizza and burger chains and go straight to the heart of the action in Singapore’s bustling hawker centers, where the sensational scents of sizzling satay and spicy coconut soups are enough to make a grown man weep. There are over 100 of these open-air food courts around the city, meaning delicious, cheap, freshly cooked Indian, Chinese and Malay cuisine is yours to enjoy on demand, day or night. Try local favorite satay bee hoon, in which spicy hot sauce is smothered liberally over rice vermicelli, and served with meat, fish or vegetables of your choice. The national dish of zingy chili crab is another absolute must-try. And, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, why not give turtle soup, live octopus or century egg a spin? Hey, don’t knock them 'til you’ve tried them! Be a Beach Bum Reachable from the main island via monorail and cable car, Sentosa Island is one great big playground with thrill rides, an aquarium, Singapore’s Universal Studios outpost and, of course, several fantastic beaches. Think bone-white sands, turquoise lagoons and swaying coconut palms and you’ll be halfway there already. A free shuttle operates between the resort’s sandy Palawan, Tanjong and Siloso beaches, so all you need to remember is your bathing costume, a bottle of sunscreen and a giant pair of Jackie O sunglasses. Have a go on the adrenaline-pumping giant swing that soars high above Siloso Beach if you dare! Swig a Singapore Sling A Singapore institution of some 135 years standing, the colonial-style Raffles Hotel has hosted a who’s who of glamorous household names through the decades: Elizabeth Taylor, Christian Louboutin, Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin and Queen Elizabeth II, to name-drop just a few. So you’ll be in good company when you pop by this Garden City icon for an equally iconic Singapore Sling, the tropical cocktail for which the hotel, in spite of its many celebrity guests, is best-known. This boozy blend of gin, cherry brandy, pineapple, grenadine, lime juice and bitters is the perfect start to your Saturday night. Movie Night Weekend activities don’t get much better than sinking into a comfy seat in a hushed cinema theater with the smell of freshly popped corn hanging in the air. Singapore has plenty of cinemas to choose from. Head for the huge GVMax screen at the Golden Village VivoCity multiplex for the latest Hollywood blockbusters, or mosey over to Projector X: Riverside or the ArtScience Museum if under-the-radar indie flicks and documentaries paired with trendy cocktail lists are more your thing. But remember: no-one is too old or too cool to enjoy a bucket of sweet and salty popcorn with their movie. See the City Lights There’s a duo of splendiferous light shows in the bay every evening. The light and music spectacular at the Gardens by the Bay kicks off every evening around 7:45PM and sees the iconic supertree structures burst into colorful life. Over at the Marina Bay Sands resort, the Spectra light and water show features dancing fountains as well as dazzling visual projections, lasers and mist effects, all backed by a rousing orchestral soundtrack. There are shows at 8, 9 and 10PM on Friday and Saturday nights, making this a great weekend activity when visiting Singapore. Best of all, both shows are completely free! 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
Mother and Son in Singapore
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