Christmas Lights in Singapore 2023

We may not exactly wake up on the 25th of December to snow falling outside our windows, but Singapore is no less of a Christmas wonderland, especially with the myriad of Christmas lights ready to ring in the season.

In fact, technology these days has even made the ever popular seasonal frozen precipitation a possibility — you just have to know where to look!

In this article, we share with you exactly where to go with your family to experience the mesmerising spectacle of Christmas lights, festive cheer, and even some magical winter snow, from our iconic Orchard Road to the ever-enchanting Gardens by the Bay.

And as a special bonus to all our drivers, we’ll also let you in on the secrets to the most affordable parking (under $4!) around Marina Bay and Orchard Road, so you can enjoy all the glittering lights and still have money for those Christmas treats!

So get ready to drive to those Christmas lights, and dive into the Christmas cheer!

Christmas Wonderland 
Gardens By The Bay

1 December to 1 January

It seems almost a holiday tradition for us by now, and a magnificent one at that. Gardens By The Bay’s Christmas Wonderland makes its comeback this year for its landmark 10th edition — can you believe it’s been 10 years?

Of course the highlights are back once again, with the towering Italian handcrafted castle-inspired light architecture ‘Spalliera’ serving as the gorgeous backdrop for the very rare times it “snows” in Singapore (‘Blizzard Time’ on the programme).

And the Supertrees will again join in the merrymaking with their own lights, dancing to Christmas classics in their nightly Garden Rhapsody show.

Make sure you learn how to adjust the settings in your camera to capture the stunning light displays, because the 24-metre-long whimsical Holly Roger ship, glimmering with more than 125,000 light bulbs, and the giant snowflake light installation beckon to be added to your IG feed.

This year’s edition of the Walk of Lights just got even longer, with a 65-metre-long tunnel full of 75,000 kaleidoscopic lights. Romantic, even with kids!

Speaking of the little ones, this mesmerising fairground also features Lumiland, an illuminated playground with brightly lit seesaws and swings, the classic carnival games and amusement rides we all love, and a new Gingerbread Grove, with a glowing gingerbread house and candy canes that children will instantly recognise — no witches in this one, we promise!

No kids? Furbabies are welcome too, on special ‘Pet Night’s on 5 and 12 December!

Indeed, what started out as a small festive market all those years ago has now become an enchanting Christmas tradition for many families. With performances by local community groups, gift options offered by local entrepreneurs in the Christmas market, and culinary delights from local food outlets, what a wonderful way it is for locals and visitors to Singapore to celebrate a Merry Christmas together!

For more info & tickets: Christmas Wonderland Singapore

Source: MoneyDigest
(https://www.moneydigest.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1.-Ice-Magic-PE-NEW-1194x556-1.png)

Ice Magic: Winter Wonderland
Bayfront Event Space

9 December to 21 January

Not everyone gets to jet off to the Swiss Alps for winter skiing, but we’re the lucky ones because the mountain actually comes to us! The fantastic Ice Magic: Winter Wonderland indoor winter playground experience revisits our sunny shores once again, popping up at the Bayfront Event Space.

Walking into that tall tent will thrust you into a completely different atmosphere, so you best don those winter coats and gloves, because things are gonna be chilly! In fact, the subzero temperatures (as low as -15 degrees Celsius!) mean you can’t stay in there too long, so each session lasts a maximum of 2 hours and 45 minutes.

For those seeking some icy thrills, skiing down Singapore’s longest snow slope promises an unforgettable experience. At an impressive length of 98 metres and featuring a drop of 6.5 metres, conquering this slope will be a feat worth boasting about.

Family-friendly thrills come in the form of tubing down a snowy slope, spinning around while floating on ice on a winter edition merry-go-round, and racing each other side-by-side down an illuminated ice slide.

If you just want to revel in the magical snowy atmosphere, consider making snow angels in the fluffy snow, soaking in the fantastical Arctic winter lights (a once-an-evening special), or just filling your tummy with festive treats from frosty corndogs to mulled wine.

It’s not very often that winter comes to Singapore, so take advantage of this opportunity to have a White Christmas for once!

For more info & tickets: Ice Magic: Winter Wonderland

Where to Park around the Marina Bay area:

Gardens By The Bay has a few car parks, but the rates are all the same at $2.10 per hour. That’s actually fairly decent compared to Marina Bay Sands’ $14 for the first hour!

The Marina Bay Open Carpark is conveniently located just next to the Bayfront Event Space but it’s usually $4 per hour. To pay less here, try and park during one of the cheaper windows where it’s $1.60 per hour — weekdays after 6pm and Saturdays after 1pm.

If you don’t mind a short walk under 15 minutes, here are some cheaper parking alternatives:

Christmas on a Great Street
Orchard Road

16 November to 1 January

Orchard Road is the OG place to be for Christmas lights, long before all these newer festive attractions popped up. It was the place our parents took us “to see the lights,” and it’s where we now take our children “to see the lights.” It’s simply a time-honoured tradition that must be respected!

There are many ways of taking in the festive atmosphere along Orchard Road, of course. You can simply drive down the entire stretch of glittering lights, hop onto a special Christmas edition open-top bus ride (until 23 Dec), or simply walk the 3 km distance from Tanglin Mall all the way to Plaza Singapura (and burn off the extra calories from those festive treats!).
 

The Mall Highlights

Walking the Orchard Road belt means you’ll be able to step into each of the malls to check out what they have on display as well. Here are some highlights worth stopping for on the route:

[Maybe include a map of Orchard Road with dots on the map for each of these malls]

Tanglin Mall
Source: Flickr

Tanglin Mall — The original place to go to experience the magic of snowfall in Singapore. From now until 1 Jan 2024, come dressed in your mittens and scarves for some fun in the snow every evening from 7.30pm-9pm. Every weekend in December, there’s  also storytelling, carols and live performances, and a chance to meet Santa and his elves.

Shaw House — One of the three featured Christmas Villages along Orchard Road, this particular village features a double-storey carousel and ferris wheel.

ION Orchard — Christmas gets luxurious here at ION, with a towering Louis Vuitton Christmas tree decked out in handbags and the iconic LV patterns.

Wisma Atria
Source: The Smart Local

Wisma Atria — Carrying on Orchard Road’s Christmas lights theme of “A Child’s Dreamscape”, the underwater reef installation at Wisma, with its soft blue and pink lights and corals, creates possibly the dreamiest “under the sea” atmosphere ever.

Ngee Ann City — The second of three Christmas Villages, this one features carnival rides, arcade games, food trucks and stage performances.

Paragon — Who says we don’t have snowmen in Singapore? A ginormous 6-metre Olaf says otherwise, together with a magical Frozen-inspired illuminated blue Christmas tree.

Orchard Central — Walking through the giant toy factory conveyor belt installation here will make Mariah’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” make sense for you as you recognise your family and friends as your most precious gifts this Christmas!

The Centrepoint — From 12-17 December you can glide in the mall instead, with their very own atrium ice-skating rink.

Plaza Singapura — This third Christmas Village features a giant bouncy castle with inflatable slides, balloon dome, and enchanted lightway.

Christmas Eve Street Party

If malls aren’t your thing, don’t worry, Orchard Road has planned something big that will take place right there in the streets instead!

The Great Christmas Eve Street Party is happening on Sunday 24 December 2023 from 8pm to past midnight, right on the stretch of road between ION Orchard and Ngee Ann City.

When there’s an official road closure on Orchard Road, you already know it’s gonna be something big. Expect: live music and dance performances, Christmas shopping, Santa Claus, carollers, magicians and balloon sculptors, a festive  DJ street party, and a Christmas countdown with special Augmented Reality (AR) effects.

For more info: Christmas on A Great Street 2023

Where to Park around the Orchard Area:

Assuming that you’re in town for the Christmas lights experience, you’re probably looking at parking after 6pm, whether on a weekday or weekend. We’ve detailed the cheapest car parks (under $4!) to consider when taking the family on this Christmas lights ritual.

Starting the route from Tanglin Mall:

Starting the route from Plaza Singapura:

Parking on Orchard Road itself:

For the Christmas Eve Street Party:

It naturally costs more to park along Orchard Road on Sundays, and many car parks charge extra for parking once it goes past midnight.

Considering the street party features a Christmas countdown, you’ll want the clock striking midnight to chime in lovely Yuletide feelings, and not heart pain from the sudden spike in your parking fees.

Here are a few parking options to consider with the cheapest Sunday parking rates that will allow you to park past midnight without any worry.

For more information and parking rates on Orchard Road: LTA Parking Rates

Whether you choose to celebrate Christmas around our gorgeous Bay area or along the lit-up streets of Orchard Boulevard, we know that you’ll enjoy the festive atmosphere that descends on our little island towards the end of every year.

And we hope that with our cheap parking tips, you’ll not only be able to save some money but also enjoy peace of mind not worrying about parking, so you can truly appreciate a lovely Christmas experience with your family.

From all of us at Direct Asia, have a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!