As someone who enjoys festive celebrations with family and friends, I always find peace in the cheer that the Christmas season brings, especially here in Singapore. It’s nice to see people being joyful in selecting gifts for their loved ones. 

While only 18.9% of the country’s population are Christians, everyone in Singapore still celebrates the joyous occasion and gives their all in showing respect for the tradition. During the Christmas season, you will find decorations and lights around the city. 

The elegant and grandiose displays are everywhere on the island. You can see it from Punggol to Harbourfront and Boon Lay to Changi. 

The great thing is that the decorations are changed every year, so there is something different for you to see on your visits. 

Although I wouldn’t call Singapore’s celebration unique in any way, there are still plenty of things that make the Garden City an enjoyable place to visit during the Yuletide season. 

Allow me to show you the fantastic way Singaporeans celebrate Christmas and give you a peek inside the hidden gems you can visit that only the locals know about!

What is Christmas like in Singapore? 

Christmas in Singapore is colorful in a way that most of the city is decorated to fit the festive season. However, you will rarely find any activity that honors the significance of the occasion. 

As I have mentioned before, the way that Singapore celebrates Christmas doesn’t stand out from the rest of the world albeit having plenty of decorations and lights during the season. 

Christmas in Singapore is highly commercialized and it is rarely celebrated for its intended purpose since only a small percentage of Singapore are Christians. 

The yuletide season poses significant effects on three major areas of Singapore: the economy, people, and tourism. 

For the Economy

56% of Singapore’s population believes that Christmas is all about the spirit of giving. This thought alone drives a significant amount of sales for different businesses that take advantage of the Yuletide season. 

Retail sales in Singapore have a notable 7.4% increase whenever Christmas day approaches. 

For the People

Only 16% of the people in Singapore celebrate Christmas for its religious significance and go to church as a celebration. 

The rest of the population (39%) who celebrate the holiday says that they prefer to share a meal with their family and friends. Their dish of choice during this season is a mix of local and Western cuisine. 

For Tourism 

Tourism in Singapore increases by 17% during the holidays. What draws the tourists in are the glamorous and breathtaking lights and decorations. For a country whose majority doesn’t celebrate Christmas, you will find plenty of decors on the streets. 

The decorations, events, and shopping deals during Christmas help increase tourism around the area. 

Where to Go for Christmas in Singapore

The best places to visit in Singapore during Christmas are: 

• Orchard Road 
• Garden by the Bay 
• Christmas Wonderland
• Changi Airport 
• Jewel Changi Airport 
• FunVee Christmas Light-Up 
• Universal Studios Singapore

These places are some of the most recommended by the locals since they offer glamorous Christmas displays and activities you can find in the city. 

Take a little trip around Singapore and find out what these Christmas destinations have to offer in celebration of the Yuletide season.  

Orchard Road 

Location	Cost	Best Attractions
Tanglin Road to Orchard Road	Free	Main Arch Christmas Village  Interactive Displays  Night Performances  Night Market

The Christmas display on Orchard Road is available for viewing starting late November to the second day of January. The decorations stretch to over 3.1km along Tanglin Mall down to Plaza Singapura. 

Orchard Road is what New York is to America. It is a prime destination for shopping and for witnessing the best displays that the country has to offer. 

For over four decades, Orchard Road has managed to put up quite a respectable array of Christmas decorations, ranging from traditional displays to something inspired by cartoons and even classic tales.

You will find plenty of immersive displays that you can interact with along with musical entertainment to give you the best experience. 

Before you head out to Orchard Road, be sure the check the schedule since the opening date can change every year. For reference, it starts either in late November or early December. 

The themes, decorations, and interactive displays also change every year, so be on the lookout for new activities when you get there. 

The best time to visit Orchard Road is at night between 6 PM to 11 PM. This is when most of the live performances start and it is also the perfect time to see the light display. 

As for fees, you are free to walk around Orchard Road and view the displays for as long as you want. The decorations usually go around the entirety of Great Street (Tanglin Road to Orchard Road). 

Garden by the Bay 

Location	Cost	Best Attractions
18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953	Flower Dome and Supertree: $20 to $30 Flower Dome and Cloud Forest: $35 to $53	Main Arch  Christmas Village  Interactive Displays  Garden Display Seasonal Flower Exhibit

Garden by the Bay’s Christmas display opens from early November to January 2. It features a display of different seasonal plants such as poinsettias and foliage. 

The Garden by the Bay is the perfect place for you to visit if you are someone looking for a little bit of outdoor fun. Plant lovers will also enjoy their time in this area since it features a wide array of flowers to bring Christmas cheer. 

Although the other plants around the dome will remain undecorated and undisturbed, you will find plenty of displays such as flowers encased in icicles around the garden. 

It is best to visit the Garden by the Bay Conservatory during the day since it is when you can truly appreciate the view of the flowers under natural light. 

For the fees necessary to enter the park, you can use the table below as a reference: 

Garden by the Bay area	Citizen price	Non-resident price
Flower Dome and Supertree	$20	$30
Flower Dome and Cloud Forest	$35	$53

Government-facilitated establishments like the Garden by the Bay often offer a lower entrance fee to its citizens compared to tourists, so be sure to prepare your identification card before you visit this beautiful spot. 

Christmas Wonderland 

Location	Cost	Best Attractions
18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953	Starts at $8 per ticket	Lights  Food and Drinks Christmas Village Christmas Shops Live Performances

Christmas Wonderland is a Christmas-themed festive market that is open every December 2 to January 1. 

Every year, Christmas Wonderland presents a different decoration arrangement. In 2022, it divided the wonderland into 6 different zones: St. Nick’s Square, Gingerbread Grove, Merry Lane, ELFresco, Mistletoe Alley, and Games Village. 

St. Nick’s Square has a massive Spalliera with over 103,000 light bulbs designed magnificently to replicate a church. Meanwhile, Gingerbread Grove has a kinetic light display along with the popular rainbow walk of light. 

The Merry Lane is all about the Arctic with its illuminated igloos, polar bears, and fake snow. By the Mistletoe Alley, you will see rows after rows of Christmas shops where you can grab a gift or two for your loved ones. 

ELFresco is a European-style display where you can find all kinds of foods and drinks. 

Finally, the Games Village is where all the action is at. You will find interactive games here like pyramid smash, fishy, ring toss, and high striker. 

The best time to visit Christmas Wonderland is on weekday nights. The place is less crowded during these times and you will be able to enjoy the light displays. 

The entrance can cost as low as $8. For more information about the event including themes, opening dates, and ticket selling, you can visit the official website.

Changi Airport 

Location	Cost	Best Attractions
Airport Blvd., Singapore	Free	Carnival Food Stalls Christmas Shops and Sales Changi Experience Studio

The airport might not be the first destination you will think about when you plan a Christmas trip, but Changi’s display might just change your mind. Every year, Changi Airport sets up interactive attractions. 

The display opens starting the first week of November to January 2. It is mostly concentrated on terminal 3 around the park area. 

Unlike other Christmas destinations, the displays in Changi Airport don’t always have anything to do with the holidays. Most of the time, they just feature movie characters from the most popular shows of the year. 

The best time to visit Changi Airport for the Christmas display is around 5 PM onwards since most of the attractions and games would be open by this time. 

Take note that some of the activities like the Changi Airport night camp could only be visited during late hours. 

The entrance is free, but you need to pay for tickets for certain activities like the shooting games and the camp night. 

You can purchase your tickets directly from the stalls and shops or visit Changi Airport’s website for ticket selling. Every activity costs differently, so be sure to ask the employees for the price list once you get there. 

Jewel Changi Airport 

Location	Cost	Best Attractions
78 Airport Blvd., Singapore 819666	Free	Christmas Tree Food StallsChristmas Shops and SalesChangi Experience Studio

The Jewel Changi Airport display opens from late November to early January. It features Christmas decorations with natural elements. 

Right at the Shiseido Forest, you will find a giant Christmas tree that reaches up to the roof of the airport. 

Once you enter, you will see multiple light and sound displays that are appropriate to the specified theme of the year. 

One of the popular activities during Christmas at the Jewel Changi Airport is the Glampicnic where beautifully decorated tents are set up. 

You can dine inside the tents and enjoy the glimmering lights around you for only $200. 

The best time to visit is during the evening when all the lights are on and every activity is open for you to enjoy.   

The fun part is that it costs nothing to explore Jewel Changi Airport and look around. However, some of the activities require a fee that you can pay for in the stalls and the designated stations.  

FunVee Christmas Light-up

Location	Cost	Best Attractions
Nicoll Hwy, Singapore	$49	Open Top Bus Tour Christmas Light Displays City View

The FunVee Christmas Light-Up is an open-top bus tour that will take you around the city during the night to explore and see all the light displays around town.

This activity is perfect for those who don’t like walking around and simply want to enjoy the city view with their loved ones. 

The tour costs around $49, but you can grab a discount using a promo code from citytours.sg.

Every tour can take up to an hour, so be sure to bring some snacks with you before you board the bus. 

The best time to book your tour is at night so you can see the lights open.

Booking can be scheduled a few days before your actual tour or a few hours before you plan to board the bus. The availability of seats would depend on how many people booked the tour, so be sure to secure your ticket early. 

The ticket for a 1-hour night tour on the open-top bus costs $49. For morning tours, the ticket only costs $24.

Universal Studios Singapore

Location	Cost	Best Attractions
8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269	$98	Grand Parade  Snow Park  Photo Stations  Mascot Parade  Live Shows Treats Christmas Shops Food Stalls

Universal Studios presents a fabulous Christmas theme park every late November to early January. The entrance costs around $98 per person. 

This theme park is known all over the world for its unique rides. 

Aside from its regular attractions, Universal Studios also transforms the whole area into a magically festive place with plenty of lights and decorations during the Yuletide season. 

The theme park usually opens from 11 AM to 8 PM on both weekends and weekdays. 

But you can confirm the schedule on its official website. Be sure to arrive early on the day you booked so you can get the most out of your visit. 

What to Do in Singapore during Christmas

There are plenty of activities you can do in Singapore during Christmas. 

These include visiting the park, buying gifts, planning dinner, and visiting fairs and amusement parks 

Visit parks with special Christmas lights and decorations.

Bayfront Event Place 

If you enjoy the crowd and the thrill of carnival games, Bayfront Event Place is the best place for you to visit during the holidays. Find out all about it below: 

Park/Event Place	Location	Fee	When
Bayfront Event’s Place	12A Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018970	Starts at $76	December 1 to January 1

The Bayfront Event Place is where the great bay fiesta is held every year and I can personally vouch for a great experience in this park. You can find all kinds of attractions and activities as you explore. 

Some of the things my friends and I did were walking around Marina Bay, taking a cruise, playing carnival games, and eating street food. We also enjoyed watching magic shows around the festival. 

Garden by the Bay 

Garden by the Bay is the ideal place to visit if you are looking for a magical location to celebrate Christmas. This place has everything from activities to decorations to magnificent views.  

Park/Event Place	Location	Fee	When
Garden by the Bay	18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953	$20 to $53	November 10 to January 2

As we have mentioned before, Garden by the Bay is one of the best destinations you can explore if you want to walk around a park during Christmas. You can find plenty of light and decorations around this area.

This park has different foliage and blooms specially designed to fit the Christmas motif. 

Some things you can do around the park include tasting the food from the Christmas stalls, buying souvenirs, and interacting with the displays.

St. Andrew’s Cathedral 

Get the full yuletide experience and find the true meaning of the holiday as you listen to the choir playing Christmas carols on the streets. Attend the mass and get the spiritual engagement you are looking for this season: 

Park/Event’s Place	Location	Fee	When
St. Andrew’s Cathedral	11 St Andrew’s Rd, Singapore 178959	Free	December 1 to 25

As a Christian myself, I love hearing Christmas carols whenever the holidays roll around the corner. If you are anything like me, you will absolutely love the treasure that is St. Andrew’s Cathedral. 

St.Andrew’s Cathedral is an amazing place to visit if you are looking to listen to cheerful Christmas carols. Every December, the church choir prepares a few pieces to play for the public. 

You can drop by and feel the spirit of the holiday through the live performances. 

Buy gifts for loved ones in Christmas markets and shopping malls.

Even as a kid, nothing hypes me up more than opening presents on Christmas day. It is always nice to discover what your family and friends got you and in turn, see their smiles as they open your gifts to them. 

Prepare a gift or two for your loved one as you celebrate the holidays. 

Gifts don’t have to be expensive. Just think about what your friends and family would like based on their hobbies, personality, and preferences. 

As for where you can get your gifts, I have a few places in mind — online shops and the best malls in the country. 

If you don’t have time to go out, you can shop online through Shopee and Lazada, which are two of the most popular online marketplaces in Singapore. However, if you are not too busy, we recommend checking out the malls. 

Our recommended malls to visit are the ION Orchard, VivoCity, and Paragon Shopping Center. These malls have everything from luxurious boutiques to affordable trinket shops perfect for gift-giving.  

Plan an exciting menu for Christmas dinner. 

A Singaporean family’s Christmas dinner often looks like a mix of traditional dishes and Western cuisine. By this we mean there is ham and laksa on the table and not much else. 

Unlike other countries, Singapore doesn’t put too much effort into preparing Christmas dinners. There is no feast, just enough food for a satisfying meal in celebration of the occasion.   

Aside from eating at home, a lot of people, especially couples, love eating at restaurants on Christmas Day. 

Food establishments like Lawry’s and Raffles often prepare Christmas-themed dishes which bring out the cheer for the season. 

A popular dessert to have during the holidays in Singapore is the Christmas log cake that you can find in bakeries such as Henri Charpentier and Queic by Olivia. These cakes are decorated with the prettiest Yuletide motifs.  

Visit Christmas fairs and amusement parks.

Amusement parks are perfect for family bonding, especially during the holiday season. Plenty of establishments are decorated to fit the Christmas theme, which makes the occasion all the more special. 

Personally, visiting fairs is one of my favorite things to do during Christmas. 

The rides and the games look extra cheerful during this time and there are plenty of shows and performances that you wouldn’t witness on a regular day. 

The best fairs and amusement parks to visit in Singapore during Christmas are the following: 

Amusement Park	Location	Fee
Universal Studios	8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269	$98
Adventure Cove	8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098269	$34
SEA Aquariums	8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098269	$41

Universal Studios is popular for featuring movie and cartoon-themed rides. Meanwhile, Adventure Cove is perfect for those who want to splash around by the pool. 

SEA is ideal for an aquarium outing with your family.   

Visit the Christmas tree displays in Singapore.

The Christmas tree is the highlight of every display in Singapore and you will find plenty of it around the city. Some of them are towering high while other trees stun visitors with their colorful look.  

You can find some of the best Christmas tree displays in Singapore at the following locations: 

Ion Orchard Mall 

Every year, Ion Orchard Mall erects a Christmas Tree with a different theme. This tree is over 18.5 meters tall and is made up of at least 15km worth of light strips regardless of the design. 

The Christmas tree is one of the main attractions in Orchard Road every holiday season and it has become somewhat of a tradition for people to take pictures right in front of it as a sign of a lasting relationship with loved ones. 

The Christmas tree display opens its light at 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM starting on the first week of November to early January. 

Capitol Singapore

The Christmas tree for Capitol Singapore is often displayed at the center of the marketplace. It stands at around nine meters and is often decorated with different unique accessories to fit the theme of the year. 

You can visit this tree starting late November to January 2 depending on the decision of Capitol Singapore’s board. The tree is lit up between 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM. 

Wisma Atria 

Although slightly smaller than the Christmas tree display of the two previous shopping centers, Wisma Atria’s tree invites a sense of happiness with its rich colors and decoration. 

The tree is only 4 meters tall but there is plenty of display surrounding it, making it appear as part of a bigger showcase. The tree itself is considered the perfect photo op for those who want to post a pic on their social media. 

Wisma Atria turns on the Christmas lights for the displays from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The decorations are available for viewing for the whole month of December. 

Where to Buy Christmas Decorations in Singapore

One of the things that make Christmas special and enjoyable is the decoration. It never hurts to give your home a little bit of color with wreaths and ribbons. 

If you love a bit of decorating, you will enjoy exploring Singapore’s holiday stores that feature all kinds of Christmas accessories, lights, and displays.  

You can find the highest quality and most unique Christmas decorations in the stores below: 

Mason’s 

Christmas Shop	Location	Contact	Opening Hours
Mason’s	5 Pereira Rd, #04-01, Singapore 368025	+6588502755	11:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Mason’s is the largest Christmas store in Singapore. This shop features over 100 different decorations, ranging from ribbons to fairy lights to tree toppers. 

Everything you can think of using as a decoration can be found here. There are even different themes and colors for you to discover to create a stunning display for your home. 

Plenty of people visit Mason’s for its complete selection of decorations. Aside from that, it also offers some of the best quality products.  

Tangs 

Christmas Shop	Location	Contact	Opening Hours
Tangs	310 Orchard Road Tang Plaza, Singapore 238864	+6567375500	10:30 AM to 9:30 PM

Tangs is a shop located inside malls like Tang Plaza and VivoCity, so you can drop by it after you go Christmas shopping for gifts. What’s great about it is its selection of decors that range from different themes and colors. 

You can find wreaths, ornaments, tree toppers, Christmas trees, and other home accessories. Plus, there is also an option to purchase a pre-arranged tree so you don’t need to waste time decorating. 

SKP 

Christmas Shop	Location	Contact	Opening Hours
SKP	304, 03-24 Orchard Rd, Lucky Plaza, Singapore 238863	+6567386929	10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

SKP is an affordable option for you to consider if you want to go shopping for your Christmas decorations. This is a no-frills shop so you can find anything you need like snow globes, tinsels, and even Christmas trees. 

You can find this store anywhere around Singapore, but its most popular and biggest store is located in Lucky Plaza by Orchard Road. 

Urban Li’l

Christmas Shop	Location	Contact	Opening Hours
Urban Li’l	18 Boon Lay Way, #04-138, Singapore 609966	+6596562609	10:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Urban Li’l is the best place to go to if you are on the lookout for unique ornaments and the most festive-looking wreaths. 

This shop is famous for its decoration themes like the Disney Christmas tree featuring all your favorite characters.   

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Singapore is a wonderful place to celebrate the holidays, especially if you are someone who indulges in looking at plenty of light displays and shows. The Christmas shopping experience is also noteworthy if you are looking to splurge for the holidays. 

The country never fails to amaze with how carefully it decorates the city to reflect the Yuletide cheer.  

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