Singapore Weather in January: Travel Tips for First-timers

January falls in the hot, rainy season in Singapore, with high temperatures and high humidity. In January we suggest visiting Clarke Quay, the Peranakan Museum, the Singapore Flyer, and going on a food tour. Read on to find out more about travel and weather, including temperatures, rainfall, humidity, and tips for January.

Singapore Weather in January: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 24–31°C (75–88°F)
• Daily high feels like: 44°C (111°F)
• Rainfall: 22 cm (9 inches)
• Rainy days: 13
• Sunshine hours/day: 6
• Humidity: around 84% (very humid)

Singapore is very hot all year around, and January is no different. While actual high temperatures are around 31°C (88°F), due to humidity the average temperature high feels like 44°C (111°F).

January also falls in monsoon season, with high rainfall. Altogether, January sees around 13 rainy days, with approximately 84% humidity on average. There are approximately 6 hours of sunshine per day in January.

The Best Places to Visit in Singapore in January

Singapore is a great place to visit year-round, with hot weather due to its location close to the equator. It has a tropical climate, and while January falls at the end of the rainy season (monsoon), January is still a good and popular time of the year to visit. We recommend having a few indoor places on your itinerary for when it rains.

1. Explore Clarke Quay and See the World-Famous Merlion

Clarke Quay is a fun neighborhood along the Singapore River, home to restaurants and lots of nightlife venues. It is also the city's historical riverside quay, where boats have always come in and out of the city from. Today, you can take a riverside cruise along the Singapore river from there, and learn a little more about the history of the neighborhood, and follow it up with a stroll along the restaurants until you find a good spot to eat at!

Not far from Clarke Quay, at the mouth of the Singapore River, is the Merlion, a statue of a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The symbol represents Singapore's origins as a fishing village (the fish body), and the city's original name Singapura ('Lion City' in Sanskrit). Lion City is also Singapore's nickname to this day.

The statue has water spouting from its mouth, and is one of the top sights in the city. It was unveiled in 1972, and has been relocated to today's Merlion Park, just in front of the Fullerton Hotel, overlooking Marina Bay. Getting a picture there is a must for any visitor to Singapore.

2. Learn about Peranakan Culture at the Peranakan Museum

The Peranakan Chinese are an ethnic group of mixed Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage in Singapore, dating back to the 15th century. They are the children of Chinese traders who married local women in either Malaysia or Indonesia, and moved back to Singapore.

Today, you can learn more about this important part of Singaporean history at the specialized Peranakan Museum, which combined beautiful permanent galleries with objects and exhibits, as well as temporary displays and explorations of identity through interviews.

Even the building itself is worth visiting, as it was formerly a school built in the eclectic classical style in 1912. The museum itself had some recent renovations completed in 2023, and makes for the perfect way to spend a rainy day (or a sunny day, given its air conditioning!).

3. Catch Iconic Singapore Skyline Views on the Singapore Flyer

Singapore is always looking to expand boundaries with modern architecture and attractions, and the Singapore Flyer is no different, being one of the largest observation wheels in the entire world. The entire rotation on the wheel takes approximately 30 minutes.

From one of the capsules on the wheel, you will be able to see Marina Bay, the iconic Singapore River, Raffles Place, and Merlion Park. If you have a clear day, you will be able to see as far as Changi Airport and into Malaysia from the very top, because the wheel is around 165 meters high (541 feet).

We suggest visiting in the early mornings if you want to ensure that there is no crowd, or visiting at sunset if you're keen to catch the skyline in both the daytime and the nighttime. Buying tickets online can also help you avoid crowds.

4. Sample Authentic and Delicious Singaporean Food

Singapore is known throughout the world for its incredible food, and you can't leave without trying it for yourself. We suggest going on a food tour to make sure you don't miss anything great. Asia Highlights can help you arrange this if you're interested. Just let us know what you'd like to try, or leave it up to our experts to arrange a tour for you. Enjoy a food tour of Singapore.

We recommend trying chicken rice, a dish that traditionally came from Hainan in China, which sees succulent poached white chicken served on rice with some light soy sauce. Usually, you also get some sesame oil and cucumber with it.

For seafood fans, there is chili crab, which is a dish of stir-fried crabs cooked in a chili sauce of varying levels of spice and sweetness. This is often described as Singapore's national dish and is not to be missed.

At breakfast time, we suggest checking out kaya toast, which is toast with butter and kaya, a typical coconut jam made of coconut cream, eggs, white sugar, and pandan leaves. This makes the toast sweet and delicious. It's often served alongside soft-boiled eggs and kopi (coffee in Malay). This is bound to set you up for a successful day of exploring.

Low Season (Except New Year's Eve): Less Expensive and Fewer Crowds

January is not peak tourist season in Singapore (which is between July and October), meaning it is a little less busy and slightly less expensive. However, given that Singapore is generally visited year-round, we do suggest still booking ahead, particularly if you're hoping to go during New Year's (January 1), which is a busier time of the year and also a national holiday in Singapore.

Singapore also celebrates Pongal in January, a holiday originating in Southern India, due to Singapore's large ethnically Indian population. The festival is a thank you to the sun god following harvest, and you'll find decorations in Little India during this time. It's celebrated annually between January 14 and 17.

What to Wear in January

Singapore is hot all year round, and January is no different. We suggest wearing natural fabrics and light colors such as linen trousers or cotton t-shirts to avoid overheating. Taking regular breaks and drinking enough water is also important.

Due to the sun we do recommend bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. An umbrella is also not a bad idea for January, when there is a high chance of showers, which are sometimes heavy.

Recommended Tours for Singapore in January

We have a variety of different tours including Singapore, with two that work well in January listed below. Whether you're interested in only visiting Singapore, or also going to Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, we have some great customizable itineraries:

• 4-Day Private Singapore Sightseeing Tour
• 18-Day Private Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand Tour

(Bali and Singapore is not such a popular combo in January as it's in the middle of Bali's wet season.)

If you need some help planning your trip to Singapore or want to do something different to the tours listed above, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our team of Singapore experts can help you plan your transportation, accommodation, local knowledgeable tour guides, and any other help you might need. Contact us to arrange your trip to Singapore.