My 16 Favorite Nighttime Activities In Singapore

Singapore is a gorgeous city at night. The sun goes down, the heat and humidity dissipate, and it’s time for strolling. There are tons of interesting things to do in the evenings, lively hawker centers, Michelin-starred restaurants, gardens galore, and beautiful views from the water, the quays, and the air. There is something for everyone to do, see, and experience.

We easily could write a list of 50 things to do, but we’ve narrowed it down to the top 16.

1. Have A Cocktail In The Clouds At Marina Bay Sands

Everyone who has thought about visiting Singapore has seen a photo of Marina Bay Sands Hotel. It is an iconic and engineering marvel with the world’s highest and longest infinity pool. If you are not staying there, stop by for cocktails at sunset and you will be treated to unparalleled views over the bay as the sun sets slowly over the Singapore River.

2. Take A Night Safari

The Singapore Zoo Night Safari is a unique experience for everyone, especially children. Being in the zoo at night means hearing the lions roar and seeing the otters running about. You can take a tram ride, walk the trails around the park, or go early and do both. We recommend making time to see the Creatures of the Night Show.

If you get there early enough, you can take the tram twice — once as the light is fading and again in the dark after the Show.

3. Enjoy The Gardens By The Bay And Supertrees Light Show

We love the Supertrees at Gardens By The Bay. The trees are 16-stories-high, vertical gardens, and impressive to view during the day. At night, they are beautifully lit up. There is a short music and light show that we always make time to see. The trees have observation decks and a walkway. 

Pro Tip: You can’t see the light show from the observation deck but there are plenty of places to view the trees in the park.

4. Watch The Marina Bay Sands Spectra Show

The Spectra Show at Marina Bay Sands is a wonderful experience. The fountains, lights, and music show is choreographed beautifully. If you watch from the lower level, you feel the mist from the fountains (and may get your camera wet). It’s our favorite place to watch. Get there early for the best spot.

5. Appreciate The Views From The Esplanade

An evening stroll along the Esplanade is a magical experience with the best views of the iconic Marina Bay Sands and the Art Science Museum. You can also see the Merlion from a distance. If you are lucky, there will be a free outdoor concert in the amphitheater. Check out the performances — some free, others not — at Theaters on the Bay.

Chong Fah Cheong’s chang kuda sculpture at night (Photo Credit: Regina Ang Travel For Life Now)

6. Revel In The Botanic Gardens

Most people go to the Botanic Gardens during the day. A little-known fact is that the gardens are open until midnight. Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy a stroll through the gardens. The fragrance of the garden is particularly enticing at night.

7. Spend Time In Little India

Fancy Indian food? Singapore has some of the best (outside of India, of course). Go to one of the restaurants in Little India for dinner and then top it off with a shopping trip to Mustafa Centre — an iconic Singapore experience. Mustafa’s is open 24 hours a day and it could take that long to peruse all that it has. Stop by the supermarket on the second level to stock up on Indian and other Asian spices.

8. Shop In The Boutiques On Haji Lane In The Kampong Glam

Kampong Glam is the home of the Sultan Mosque. It is a beautiful mosque and the center of the Muslim community in Singapore. Stop by to admire and take some photos. A few short blocks away, you’ll find Haji Lane, one of the hippest areas of the city. Bars, restaurants, boutiques, and some amazing street art. It’s a great place for cocktails and strolling.

9. Dine Over The City In A Cable Car

For an entirely unique experience, have dinner in a cable car while riding over Singapore. You’ll see Mount Faber, Sentosa, Keppel Bay, and more from 100 meters in the air. The three-course meal complete with champagne or sake is almost as good as the view. Cable Car Sky Dining is a unique way to enjoy an evening as the sun starts to set.

10. Catch The Sunset At West Coast Park

West Coast Park is a sprawling 50-hectare park located at the southern part of the island. The park faces the south harbor and is very peaceful, quiet, and serene. You will find many joggers, families with kids, or dogs enjoying an evening run or stroll. Given its location on the island, it is one of the better places to watch the setting sun as it descends in the distance. Shipping is one of the most important industries in Singapore — you’ll see some of the container ships docked in the harbor.

Bumboat tour of the Singapore River (Photo Credit: Regina Ang Travel for Life Now)

11. See The City From The Singapore River

Give yourself a different perspective of Singapore from the river by taking an evening bumboat ride. Feel the evening breezes from the river and see the skyline light up as you cruise the Singapore River, passing by Clarke and Boat quays, and Marina Bay Sands. You will also learn about the history of the Singapore River and its contribution to trade in the 18th century.

12. Take In The Atmosphere At CHIJMES

CHIJMES, known previously as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Middle Education School started life as a Catholic Convent back in the 18th century. Town Convent, as it was called, was founded in 1854 by an order of French nuns. Today, parts of the building are designated as a national monument. Now, it’s a full of cafés and restaurants. You can lounge on the “mini” lawn, play games, and enjoy the atmosphere. During Christmas and the Holidays, there is a lovely light show on the interior buildings.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Photo Credit: Sue Davies Travel for Life Now)

13. See And Sense Chinatown At Night

Chinatown after dark is a different experience than during the day. Restored shophouses are transformed into bars, bistros, and speakeasies. This is the place to go to for a late supper — especially if you have been out partying and hungry at 1 a.m. This is also the area to find LGBTQ+ nightlife.

Look up, sometimes the bars are housed in the upper levels of a shop house and may not be obvious from street level. We stumbled upon a gay bar, Dorothy’s, when we caught sight of the flying rainbow flag hanging over the 2nd floor balcony above a plant shop.

14. Walk The Lights Along Orchard Road

If you are in Singapore during Christmas, take a walk along Orchard Road to see the annual

Christmas light-up. There is a different theme each year. In 2022, it was Christmas in Bloom. In addition to getting some shopping done, you’ll see thousands of strings of lights (estimated to be over 42 miles long) along Orchard Road. Starting in mid-November, the lights are usually lit for about 7 weeks. 

15. Enjoy A Romantic Dinner And A Stroll Along Clarke Quay

Located at the mouth of the Singapore River, Clarke Quay (pronounced “key”) served prominently in the 18th century as a loading quay with warehouses serving the bustling trade activity. Today, these charming shophouses are historically conserved and converted into restaurants, with tables spilling out onto the sidewalk for an alfresco dining experience.

The evening breeze cools you while you enjoy Singapore famous dishes like chili crab, washed down with Tiger beer, a home-grown brew. If you’re in the mood for international cuisines — Mexican, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and Greek — you’ll find it here as well.

There are plenty of other activities in the Quay. If you are an adrenaline junkie, try the Slingshot or the Extreme Swing over the Singapore River. If yoga’s more your thing, take an evening outdoor yoga class in the Quay.

16. Take In The View From The Swissotel — The Stamford

Unable to get a reservation at any of the bars and restaurants up on the rooftop of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel? The next best alternative is to get a drink at the SKAI Bar up on the 70th floor of Swissotel — The Stamford. The hotel is one of the tallest in Singapore with amazing views of the harbor and financial district.

Pro Tips

The Asian Civilization Museum and the National Gallery are both located within walking distance of Clarke Quay. Plan to spend a few leisurely hours looking at current exhibits and then take a water taxi or cruise around the Singapore River before ending up along the Quay for dinner.

You can combine the Supertrees show, and the Marina Bay Sands show in the same evening. They are walking distance apart and a crowd usually walks from one to the other. Check the timing as it may change. 

Check the schedule for the Marina Bay Sand Spectra Show before you go — the show has been on hiatus due to COVID-19.

There is so much more to do at night in Singapore — the Skyline Luge and Wings of Time Show at Sentosa, the Singapore Flyer, roller skating, axe throwing, prawn fishing, evening bike tours, and much, much more. Our advice — get out and explore. You’ll be rewarded with fantastic experiences.

For more unique experiences in Singapore and around Asia, check out these stories: