What to Do in Singapore When It Rains
Tropical downpours are part of the deal in Singapore, but they're rarely a reason to write off the day.
Rain in Singapore isn't a matter of if, but when. The hot, humid climate means showers tend to arrive fast, hit hard and clear within an hour, but sometimes they settle in for the afternoon - and in a city where everything outside is beautiful, you might feel like it’s a good day for a bath and room service. The good news is that Singapore has just as many rich cultural activities to do inside, as there are outside. Here’s what we’d suggest.
Disappear into a museum
Singapore's museum scene deserves more than being a rainy day fallback plan, but a long downpour is the perfect excuse visit those spots you keep putting off.
The National Gallery, housed in the former Supreme Court and City Hall, is home to the largest public collection of Southeast Asian art in the world and you could easily spend three hours here without seeing everything. Meanwhile, the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands is worth visiting for the building alone, a lotus-shaped structure right on the waterfront - its teamLab Future World exhibition has been drawing visitors for years.
For something quieter, the Asian Civilisations Museum on the Singapore River is smaller and less crowded, with a beautifully curated collection spanning trade, religion and migration across the region.
Book a spa afternoon
When it's grey and heavy outside, there's no better time to disappear into a treatment room. Raffles Spa is the obvious choice if you want to make a day of it: the vitality pool, aroma-steam rooms and private treatment suites are as grand as you'd expect, and you can follow it with afternoon tea downstairs.
Something a little more local is Joya Onsen Café in Jurong, which brings a slice of Japan to Singapore with communal baths, private onsen rooms and a cafe to settle into afterwards. It's not somewhere most visitors would find on their own, but you may find yourself soaking alongside Singaporeans.
Eat something warming
A rainy afternoon is the best excuse to sit down with a bowl of something hot, but in a city like Singapore, the choice is overwhelming. Singapore's hawker centres are the first place to head: covered, busy, full of steam and noise, with stalls ladling out laksa, bak kut teh (a pork rib broth) and prawn noodle soup for just a few dollars.
Maxwell Food Centre near Chinatown and Old Airport Road Food Centre are two of the best, and the experience of eating surrounded by locals will soon make you forget about the rain hammering the roof. If you want something more refined, a table at one of the city's many hot pot restaurants is ideal for a long, indulgent lunch.
Walk through the Cloud Forest
If you haven't already visited Gardens by the Bay's Cloud Forest, the best time to go is when it’s drizzling. The conservatory is entirely enclosed and climate-controlled, built around a 35-metre indoor waterfall with mist-covered walkways winding through the canopy. It's cooler and quieter on wet days, when many tourists are holed up elsewhere.
Catch a film or a show
For something off the usual trail, The Projector is an independent cinema tucked inside a heritage building on Beach Road. The programming leans towards arthouse, foreign and cult films, with a bar and rooftop space for before and after. In contrast, the Esplanade runs a regular programme of free and ticketed performances, from jazz to classical to contemporary theatre, and the waterfront building is striking even in the rain - just be sure to check what’s on, as popular shows often sell out.
If all else fails, default to our first suggestion - getting cosy at the hotel spa or having a long in-room soak with some room service. Singapore’s luxury hotels are the kind you don’t need to leave, so you might as well maximise your stay.
