10 Things to Do in Singapore When it Rains

Ok, so perhaps not the best bet if you want to stay completely bone dry (you’ll get a bit wet if you stand right up close), but the world’s tallest indoor waterfall – as well as the rest of the ‘Cloud Forest’ it’s housed in – is easily one of the best ways to spend a rainy day in Singapore.

Take the elevator up to the top of this huge manmade greenhouse and make your way down the spectacular ramps, noticing the vegetation and flowers evolve with the altitude just the way they would if you were making your way down a real tropical mountain. Cloud Forest, as well as the adjacent Flower Dome, are both climate-controlled, meaning you’ll stay cool as well as dry!

Hitting up the shops is an obvious choice for when it rains in Singapore, and the best place to do it is at the word-famous Orchard Road. Not only does this giant shopping avenue have a huge choice of malls, but many of the best ones are all connected to one another with underground walkways (containing more shops, of course!). This means you don’t even have to set foot outside to switch malls.

One of the most popular malls - ION Orchard - is connected to Ngee Ann City and Wisma Atria and you can also directly access ION, Plaza Singapura and 313 Somerset directly from either Orchard or Somerset MRT Station. Alternately, if you’re towards the west of the city center and want to escape the rain by shopping, head to Bugis + and Bugis Junction, which are both connected and have direct MRT access.

Everybody knows it’s ok to drink in the daytime when you’re on vacation, and you have even more of an excuse if it’s raining outside. Not only that, but many bars, restaurants and bistros, especially around Clarke Quay, run tempting all-day happy hours. Plenty of the bars around here open from 1pm and they are all under the cover of a huge, futuristic roof, meaning you can go bar-hopping day or night and stay dry.

Head to Fremantle Seafood Market for S$5 beers and wines (12pm–late, Little Saigon for 50% off drinks until 8pm, Bungy Bar for S$9 pints (1pm–9pm) and soak it all up with free pizza (with drinks orders over S$15) at Verve Pizza Bar.

Singapore has a long list of superb museums that are all great for when the weather’s fine (but even better for when it’s raining). The 2 most popular are the Asian Civilizations Museum and the National Museum, which are both as comprehensive as the next and each cost around S$10 to get in. The former encompasses all corners of Asia, whilst the latter inevitably focuses more on Singapore’s fascinating (but relatively short) history.

Other recommended spots are the modern Singapore Art Museum, the flamboyantly-designed ArtScience Museum, the poignant Changi Prison and, for a look into Singapore’s rich cultural history in more depth, head to the Chinatown Heritage Center or the Malay Heritage Center.

When it’s rainy in Singapore, you’ll feel much less guilty about treating yourself to an afternoon at the spa and not being outside, exploring the city. Luckily, Singapore is home to some superb, often award-winning spas, and most of the best hotels will offer massage and spa services either in-room or in a designated center.

Our recommendations include CHI, The Spa which is set in the lush tropical gardens of the Shangri-La Hotel, as well as Renewal Day Spa at The Next Millenium and Esthetica, conveniently located on Orchard Road for some post-shopping stress relief.

Raffles Hotel is famed as the place which invented the cherry flavored cocktail called The Singapore Sling. If the weather prevents you from going outside, head to the Long Bar within the hotel and enjoy the colonial charm which has changed little in over 100 years. A tradition of the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel is the peanut shells that cover the floor. Boxes of monkey nuts can be found on tables and visitors are encouraged to drop the casings  

Once taxes have been added, a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel costs almost S$30, but it is money well spent, and experiencing such nostalgia is great fun. This is on everyone’s list when they visit and it is worth experiencing at least once.

Though their open-air rooftop might be off limits when it rains in Singapore, The Screening Room in Chinatown is a great spot to come for dinner, cocktails and a private movie screening, all in the same building.

Located on the hip Ann Siang Hill, the Middle Eastern-themed restaurants serves up flavors from Iran, Morocco, Türkiye and Lebanon and the third-floor movie theater comes with comfy (but limited) seating and a large projection screen. Reservations are definitely recommended in advance and you can check their website or phone to see what’s showing each night.

Singapore’s international buffet scene is booming at the moment and, when it’s raining outside, there’s even more excuse to really make the most of what’s on offer by going back to that buffet counter for thirds, fourths or fifths...

A long list of 5-star hotels lay on all-day dining buffets, importing some of the finest ingredients from around the world, as well as having expert chefs cook fresh local and Asian flavors right in front of you. 

For a completely unique experience in Singapore, head to the Flight Experience center on Raffles Avenue to fly your very own Boeing 737-800, albeit in an ultra-realistic simulator. As well as some pre-flight training, you get your very own licensed pilot to guide you through the take-off, cruise and landing, which can last up to 90 minutes.

Visitors have a whopping 24,000 airports to choose from, and you can fly over some iconic cities either at night or day, including the famously nerve-wracking descent into Hong Kong’s harbor airport or over the spectacular Manhattan skyline into New York JFK. Thirty-minute packages start from S$175, whilst you can pay just over S$400 for an hour and a half. Bookings are needed in advance.