One of the advantages of visiting Singapore in January is that most attractions continue operating normally despite the rain. Travelers can comfortably combine outdoor sightseeing with indoor experiences such as museums, malls, aquariums, and cafes. The rain also keeps Singapore’s gardens and parks looking especially green and fresh during this time of the year.
During January, Singapore experiences the Northeast Monsoon season. While rainfall is common, the heaviest downpours usually occur in November and December, with January receiving comparatively lighter showers. You should still carry an umbrella or light rain jacket while exploring the city, since rain can arrive unexpectedly during afternoons or evenings. These regular tropical showers are also one of the reasons Singapore remains so lush and green throughout the year.
Average Temperature in Singapore in January
With around 18 rainy days during the month, temperatures usually range from 24°C to 30°C. January typically sees a mix of sunshine, cloudy afternoons, and short rain showers rather than continuous storms. An average rainfall of around 238 mm is recorded during this period.
Is January a Good Time to Visit Singapore?
January is still a good time to visit Singapore despite the higher rainfall. Temperatures remain warm and fairly consistent throughout the month, and most attractions, shopping malls, gardens, and theme parks continue operating normally. Rain showers are usually short-lived, so travelers can comfortably explore outdoor attractions alongside indoor experiences.
The cooler post-rain atmosphere can actually make sightseeing more pleasant compared to Singapore’s hotter and more humid periods later in the year. January is also lively because of New Year celebrations, Chinese New Year preparations, cultural festivals, and seasonal events happening across the city.
Places to Visit in Singapore in January
1. Rainforest Lumina
Part of the much loved Singapore Zoo, Rainforest Lumina is a night-time exploration of a one-kilometer stretch of the tropical rainforest zone inside the zoo with neon illumination and be treated to a stunning audio-visual multimedia show. One can choose from eight different animals or Creature Crew members to accompany them on the walk. The slightly wet and windy weather of January gives the rainforest a washed, fresh and green look which adds to the lovely experience.
2. Chinatown
Leading up to the Chinese New Year in January (or February), Chinatown in Singapore comes alive with thousand lights and lanterns, numerous stalls and a feisty celebration with dragon dances. You can visit Pagoda Street for souvenir shops, the Chinatown Complex with the country’s most impressive hawker stall collective, or the Siang Cho Keong Temple on Amoy Street to make a wish at the wishing well, or the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which allegedly holds Lord Buddha’s left canine tooth within a stupa made of solid gold.
3. Singapore River Safari
Singapore River Safari brilliantly replicates the geospheres of the world’s seven most important rivers and houses and breeds the creatures in a near-perfect natural habitat. Noteworthy exhibits are the alligators and paddlefish in Mississippi, Indian gharials in the Ganges, African dwarf crocodiles of the Nile, catfish of the Mekong and the alligators of the Yangtze. Take time with the Amazon, as there will be not only the usual freshwater creatures but also piranhas, manatees, arapaima and pacu fish, which are especially found in this ecosystem.
4. Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay stretch for 101 hectares over reclaimed land adjacent to the Marina Reservoir and is divided into three zones - south, east, and central. There are multiple biodomes, replicating particular climatic conditions and together housing more than 800 different species of flora. The garden area surrounding the domes is dotted with art installations and 18 Supertrees rising, ranging between 25 metres and 50 metres in height. They become an even more magnificent spectacle when lit up as part of the Garden Rhapsody light-and-sound show every night between 07:45 PM and 08:45 PM.
5. Bird Paradise
Bird Paradise, which replaced the former Jurong Bird Park, is Singapore’s modern bird park attraction featuring immersive aviaries, themed habitats, waterfalls, and hundreds of bird species from around the world. The lush greenery and cooler rainy weather in January make daytime exploration more pleasant compared to hotter months.
Festivals in Singapore in January
1. New Year’s Day
The 1st of January is a national holiday in Singapore. It is marked by impressive countdown shows at different venues, the best of which is the spectacle put up at Marina Bay Sands. The Esplanade, Clarke Quay and Sentosa Island also rank among the best ones. The celebrations on January 1 begin with fireworks at midnight and they continue throughout the day in the form of special extravagant meals, champagne brunches and high teas in the afternoon held by many cafes and eateries across the country.
2. Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, usually falls between mid-January and mid-February. Singapore’s Chinatown is decked out in bright street lights, beautiful red lanterns, and other extravagant decorations. There are lines of stalls selling Chinese trinkets and homemade dishes, and the local Chinese community celebrates with the famous Dragon Dance and Chingay Parade.
3. Pongal Harvest Festival
Pongal is a festival tied to Indian heritage and is the celebration of agricultural prosperity, where the farmers thank the Sun God or Surya Dev, the Rain God or Indra Dev and the Holy Cow for their blessings of a rich harvest. Little India in Singapore comes alive during the four days of Pongal every year during mid to late January, and there are live performances, a brilliant display of lightings, interesting workshops to partake in, and stalls selling everything essentially Indian, from artefacts to spices to handmade gifts.
4. Thaipusam
Thaipusam, which is celebrated either in late January or early February, is a Hindu festival largely celebrated by Indians of Tamil descent in Singapore. It is dedicated towards the South Indian deity Lord Murugan or Lord Subramaniam, who represents virtue, youth and power. Thaipusam is celebrated with an elaborate procession with the statue of the Lord on a chariot, that starts from Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road and ends at Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple at Keong Saik Road.
5. Singapore Art Week
Singapore Art Week is the annual celebration of visual arts in the country, with exhibitions taking place in multiple galleries, museums, art precincts and other similar venues across the Lion City. Artists and cultural connoisseurs from around the world come together to enrich the art scene of Singapore for a week and create a perfect ambience for the art lovers and enthusiasts to soak in during the first month of the year.
6. Singapore Fringe Festival
Fringe Festival celebrates the local art scene with a vision to promote it at the core. It celebrates not only fringe theatre and other performing arts like music, dance, and pantomime but also paintings, sculptures, and art installations of various kinds.
What to Pack for Singapore in January
- Light cotton clothing
- Umbrella or light rain jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes or sandals
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Portable water bottle
- Light extra layer for heavily air-conditioned malls and attractions
Being a tropical destination, Singapore experiences rainfall throughout the year, and January is no exception. However, the weather usually remains manageable for sightseeing, shopping, and exploring the city comfortably. With lush greenery, festive celebrations, and slightly cooler post-rain temperatures, January can still be an enjoyable time to experience Singapore.
~This article is written by Nidhi Khurana and Anwesha Nag~
