Top 10 Places to Count Down to New Year in Singapore

1The Marina Bay waterfront

The classic. Merlion Park, the Esplanade waterfront, the Promontory and the Marina Bay Sands promenade put you right in front of the fireworks, with the skyline as the backdrop. It's free, and the atmosphere at midnight is electric.

Insider tipThe best zones have regulated entry and close once full, often hours before midnight. Arrive by early evening, bring water and a small mat, and expect some MRT exits near the bay to close.

Skip it ifYou hate crowds or have small kids who'll be asleep by ten. Getting out after midnight takes a long time.

2Gardens by the Bay East

Across the water from the city, Bay East gives you the full skyline and the fireworks in one wide view, with grass to sit on and far fewer people than the main waterfront.

Insider tipBring a picnic and set up along the waterfront promenade facing Marina Bay Sands. It's a longer walk out afterwards, so plan your route home.

Skip it ifYou want to be in the thick of the party. It's a viewing spot, not a celebration.

3Marina Barrage

The grassy roof of Marina Barrage is Singapore's favourite picnic lawn, and on New Year's Eve it becomes a relaxed spot to watch the fireworks from further back. Families love it.

Insider tipGet there before sunset to claim a patch of grass, and bring snacks, since food options nearby are limited.

Skip it ifYou want the fireworks up close. You're watching from a distance.

4The Kallang countdown

Kallang has run its own countdown in recent years, with carnival activities and a long fireworks show over the Kallang Basin that starts well before midnight. Last year's show came in bursts from 9pm, perfect if your kids can't stay up.

Insider tipThe Stadium Riverside Walk is the spot for the fireworks. Arrive early and eat at the Kallang Wave Mall before the crowds arrive.

Skip it ifYou want the Marina Bay skyline in your photos. This is a different show, in a different place.

5Siloso Beach, Sentosa

Sentosa runs a beach countdown at Siloso, which in recent years has included its own fireworks, a live concert and plenty of space to spread out on the sand. The beach clubs along Siloso and Palawan throw ticketed parties too.

Insider tipGetting off Sentosa after midnight is the hard part. Check the extended Sentosa Express and bus times, or plan to walk the Sentosa Boardwalk back to VivoCity.

Skip it ifYou need to be home early. Everyone leaves at once.

See tickets on Klook →

6Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck

Fifty-six storeys up, with the bay laid out below you. On New Year's Eve the Observation Deck usually runs special countdown tickets, which means no fighting for a spot on the ground.

Insider tipCountdown tickets sell out early and cost far more than a normal visit, so decide in November. The fireworks are launched near Marina Bay Sands, so you're looking down onto parts of the show rather than straight at it.

Skip it ifYou're on a budget. You're paying a lot for a view you can get for free downstairs.

See tickets on Klook →

7The Singapore Flyer

Counting down in a glass capsule 165 metres up is a fun way to see the New Year in. The Flyer usually sells special countdown flights, sometimes with champagne, timed so you're near the top at midnight.

Insider tipOnly the countdown flights are timed for midnight. A regular ticket that evening may well have you on the ground when the fireworks start.

Skip it ifHeights make you nervous, or you want to celebrate with a big crowd.

Singapore Flyer tickets on Klook →

8A rooftop bar facing the bay

Lantern at The Fullerton Bay Hotel, LeVeL33 and CÉ LA VI at Marina Bay Sands are some of the bars with a view of the bay. On New Year's Eve, most of them switch to ticketed countdown parties with a set price.

Insider tipAsk whether the package includes drinks, and how close your table is to the edge. A bar "with fireworks views" doesn't always mean every table sees them.

Skip it ifYou don't want to pay party prices. Expect minimum spends or ticket prices well above a normal night out.

9A hotel room with a bay view

The comfiest way to watch: your own window, your own bathroom, and no crowd to fight through afterwards. Hotels around Marina Bay, such as The Fullerton Bay, Mandarin Oriental and Marina Bay Sands, have rooms facing the fireworks.

Insider tipBook a room that specifically faces Marina Bay (it's often called "bay view" or "harbour view"), and book early: these rooms go first for 31 December, and prices climb fast.

Skip it ifYou want to be out in the crowd. This is the cosy, private option.

Check rates on Agoda →

10Your neighbourhood countdown

Not everyone needs the big show. In recent years, Singapore has run community countdowns in the heartlands alongside the Marina Bay celebration, with stage shows and sometimes their own fireworks. It's a relaxed, very local way to see in the year, and you can walk home.

Insider tipCheck your town council's or community club's notices in December to see what's on near you.

Skip it ifYou want the skyline and the big fireworks. This is smaller and simpler.

How to survive New Year's Eve in Singapore

• Go early, leave late. The best spots fill hours before midnight. After the fireworks, waiting 30 minutes for the crowd to clear beats queuing at the MRT.
• Take the MRT. Trains usually run late on New Year's Eve, but roads around Marina Bay close and taxis are hard to find.
• Bring water and a power bank. You'll be standing around for hours, and your phone will die filming the fireworks.
• Doing Christmas too? See our guide to Christmas in Singapore.