What to wear & pack
What to wear and bring in Singapore, today and by season
Hot, humid and quick to rain, with air-conditioning that runs cold. The list below is what's in Ollie's bag for your area right now, built from live NEA readings; the seasonal guide follows.
What's in Ollie's bag today
The year in four seasons
Northeast Monsoon, December to early March. The wettest weeks of the year fall in November to January, with prolonged rain on some days rather than the usual afternoon burst; January and February can bring a few days of windier, slightly cooler weather in the mid-20s. Pack the umbrella every day.
Inter-monsoon, late March to May. Hot, still and humid, with the year's highest afternoon temperatures and short violent thunderstorms. Sumatra squalls — lines of storms that cross the island from the west before dawn — are most common now and again from June to September.
Southwest Monsoon, June to September. Drier on average and a good time to visit, but this is when transboundary haze is possible; check the air page before long outdoor days in August to October and carry an N95 mask if PM2.5 is elevated.
Inter-monsoon, October to November. Thunderstorms return in the afternoons and evenings; mornings are usually clear and the best time for anything outdoors.
What actually works here
- Fabrics: linen, cotton, merino or technical synthetics in loose cuts; anything that clings will show it within an hour.
- Colours: light colours outdoors; dark, dressier pieces for dinner, where the air-conditioning makes them comfortable.
- Shoes: sandals or mesh trainers that dry overnight; leather soles and suede suffer after one storm.
- Umbrella over raincoat: a raincoat traps heat; a compact umbrella is what locals carry, and every mall and MRT station sells one.
- Sun: the UV index is high to extreme most days from 10 am to 4 pm, cloud or not. Sunglasses, SPF 30 or higher, a hat for the ridge walks, Gardens by the Bay and the beaches.
- Indoors: a cardigan, light shirt or scarf for malls, cinemas, museums and trains.
- Water: a refillable bottle; the tap water is safe and refill points are common.
- Mask: only if the 1-hour PM2.5 is above NEA's normal band — the live list above says so when it applies.
- Modesty: a light cover-up for shoulders and knees for temples and mosques.
Questions
What is the best month to visit Singapore for weather?
February to April and June to August are the driest stretches on average, though showers happen in every month. November to January is the wettest and slightly cooler; August to October carries the highest haze risk in dry years.
Do I need a jacket in Singapore?
Outdoors, never. Indoors, often: malls, cinemas, offices and MRT trains are cooled hard, and a light long-sleeve layer makes a long dinner or a film far more comfortable.
Is the tap water safe?
Yes. Singapore tap water meets WHO guidelines; refill points are common in parks, malls and the airport.
Is there a dress code for temples and mosques?
Cover shoulders and knees at Hindu temples, Buddhist temples and mosques; remove shoes where asked. Sultan Mosque lends robes at the door.