The Ideal time to sightsee Singapore
Singapore is quite different from your other holiday destinations. In Singapore there is no perfect time for sightseeing or holidaying, as the weather is perfect at all times of the year.
However, there are certain holidays and events that attract a lot of visitors. This increase in visitors usually leads to a corresponding increase in the price of hotels and other suitable accommodation.
The weather in Singapore tends to be fairly consistent all year round, and you really don’t have to bother about high humidity and heat during your stay. The winter periods are usually wet, although this shouldn’t deter you from planning your holiday during this period as there isn’t much difference between the dry and the wet seasons. However, if you want to really enjoy your sightseeing it would be best if you do not visit from May to September most especially from May to June. This is because the heat around this period is usually at its highest and the haze and smoke from burning fires may lead to throat and eye irritation. Irrespective of the time of the year you visit, it is always ideal you get up very early in the morning so you can get ahead of the crowd. It is also ideal you leave the house before it hits peak temperatures for the day. You might want to begin your day by paying a visit to places like the Singapore Zoo or the Jurong Bid Parks. In the afternoon when the temperature rises you could decide to head to one of the several air-conditioned malls like the Ngee Ann City. For your evening stroll you could revert back to the usual outdoor activities.
The ideal time to go on a shopping spree in Singapore
Singapore is known to be a shopping heaven. However, the ideal time to go on a shopping spree is when the annual Singapore sale is on. During the sale, items are sold for discounts which rises to as high as 70%. It’s quite similar to “Black Friday”, which is very popular in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and other countries. Not, only do you get discounted prices but you can also get to shop for a longer period of time. How awesome is that!? The extended shopping period usually runs from the end of May till the end of July. If for any reason you are unable to make it during this period you have nothing to worry about as there is the post-Christmas and New Year sales which offers great discounts as well. For those who intend to visit Chinatown for their shopping, the ideal time would be during the late hours of the afternoon or early hours in the evening. You can also visit during January or February just before the Chinese New Year. During this period, the city is usually filled with bright lights and ornaments. The streets and stalls are filled with various kinds of goods from clothes to pottery to a wide variety of household items.
The Ideal time to take a ride on the Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer is the island’s version of the London Eye, the Flyer is considered to be the largest observation wheel in the world. It is about 550 feet in height and offers a well-rounded view of the island’s landscape from the Marina Bay. A lot of tourist are of the opinion that the view of the Formula 1 circuit is most certainly the best thing they have seen. I would suggest the Flyer be one of the first places you go to while in Singapore. This would enable you get an idea of the layout of the island from the above. Take your ride just before the sunsets, and you would get a magnificent view of the entire line of skyscrapers while they are dimly lit.
The price of the Singapore Flyer ranges between $20-$35.
It operates daily from 8:30am – 10:30pm.
Ideal Travel Seasons in Singapore
High Season Singapore (November through early January, June and July)
There are no well-defined high and low seasons in Singapore, although the island tends to witness a lot of visitors during the holidays. During this period, the cost of accommodation is quite high and trying to negotiate a discount would be futile. The winter period is accompanied with more rain, although you probably won’t get to notice the difference in weather irrespective of the time of year you visit. The number of visitors also increases again from June till July during the great Singapore Sales, with hotels and accommodation becoming fully booked. However, during this period you could experience throat and eye irritation due to haze and smoke which are results of clearing fires.
Shoulder Season Singapore (mid-January through May)
In actually sense, there shouldn’t be what we call a “Shoulder Season” in Singapore; although from the middle of January till the end of May falls in between the highs and lows. Although April is usually considered a good time to be in Singapore, because there are no holidays during this period and it doesn’t fall within the monsoon season. However be sure to expect humidity and heat all year round.
Low Season Singapore (August through October, except mid-September)
During the late summer period and the early fall, there is a reduction in the number of tourists that visit Singapore, however this number picks up again in mid-September during the Singapore Grand Prix. During this period, the Southwest Monson occurs but it is a lot less than the Northeast. The temperatures are also somewhat higher than what is normally obtainable during other period. Accommodation during this period remains relatively high, although you could easily negotiate favourable prices.
Conclusion
The ideal time to visit the region is usually between March and October, when rainfall is reduced and the humidity is low as well. Although, there are the forest fires that cause air pollution and could lead to cancellation of flights in some cases. N otwithstanding the rains in January and February, this period is usually ideal for visit as there are a lot of activities and events happening during this period. Deciding to pay a visit after the rains could also be rewarding as you would get to have a feel of the best of both worlds. If you make your visit in May you would be able to experience the Sabah fest, which is a celebration of the Sabah culture that holds for a week. In June the Gawai Festival could be worth your while as well.