8 Best Places to See Christmas Lights & Where to Park (2024)
Surely Christmas tunes have been playing in your head by now, because ‘tis the season to be jolly indeed! Singapore certainly wakes up with wonder in the holiday season, and it’s one of those fun festivities that we welcome with open arms.
But with every mall and street corner fighting for eyeballs and foot traffic, which ones will you spare your precious weekend hours for?
In this article, we highlight 8 best places to see the Christmas lights in Singapore, including some traditional must-do Christmas experiences, and some new 2024 specials that will appeal to the kids, and the adults. And of course, where you can experience SNOW SNOW SNOW in Singapore — a truly white Christmas!
Bonus: We’ll even share with you our recommendations for the cheapest places to park! (A big hurrah to saving some money on parking so we can spend it on merry Christmas delights instead!) ;)
The Christmas Classics
1. Orchard Road
41 years! That’s how long-running celebrating Christmas on a Great Street has been. Walking along Orchard Road and appreciating the twinkling Christmas lights is simply a rite of passage for all Singaporeans, young and old.
You’ll find two exciting Christmas Villages along the shopping belt this year:
- Shaw House: Featuring an old-school carousel and other carnival rides and games, and Christmas stalls decked with merch and festive noms
- Ngee Ann Civic Plaza: Featuring food trucks, carnival rides and games, pop-up stores, and live musical performances on Fridays and Saturdays
Hilton Singapore Orchard this year is also blending holiday cheer with technology, with a spectacular 3D and AR projection show that you can be a part of with your smartphones.
And if it’s “snowfall” you want to experience, then it’s Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza you want to be at for daily snow at 8pm and 9pm.
Finally, ring in Christmas Day in true Orchard Road style with The Great Christmas Eve Street Party on Tuesday, 24 December 2024, from 8pm to past midnights. The roads will be specially closed so you’ll be able to dance in the street to live DJs amidst the enchanting lights and Christmas decorations, and countdown with the rest of your fellow Singaporeans while Santa Claus is (apparently) busy leaving presents in our HDB flats!
Best Places to Park Along Orchard Road:
| Parking Location | Price Per Entry | Weekdays & Weekends |
| The Cathay | $3 | After 6pm |
| Plaza Singapura* | $3.25 | After 6pm |
| Far East Plaza | $3.50 | After 5pm |
| Forum The Shopping Mall | $3.50 | After 5pm |
| Shaw House | $4 | After 6.01pm |
* Note: All parking locations above are suitable for the midnight countdown party on Christmas Eve, except Plaza Singapura which charges extra past 11.59pm.
2. Tanglin Mall
Many of us grew up associating Tanglin Mall as the only place in Singapore where you could experience “snow”. And that snowy experience is still there, even a whole generation later.
Snow splendours take place in the outdoor area in front of the mall from 7.30pm to 8pm (weekdays) / 9pm (weekends), until 1 January 2025.
Always the mall to promote imagination and fantasy in little ones, Tanglin Mall has also organised many merry activities like meeting Santa Claus, and storytime, puppet and ventriloquist sessions to entertain kids of all ages.
Best Place to Park Near Tanglin Mall:
| Parking Location | Price Per Entry | Parking Period |
| Tanglin Mall | $3.50 | Weekdays: After 5pm Saturdays: After 1pm Sunday: All day |
| Forum The Shopping Mall | $3.50 | Daily: After 5pm |
3. Gardens By The Bay
It’s the 11th year that Christmas Wonderland returns to Singapore’s homegrown attraction, Gardens By The Bay. It’s probably one of the largest and most immersive Christmas extravaganzas in Singapore.
Where else can you find a double-storey handcrafted Venetian horse carousel, fully illuminated reindeer-led sleigh, Santa’s lodge, toy train, Christmas carollers under a gazebo, dancing elves, enchanted forest path, and so much more, all in one Christmassy place?
This year’s Christmas celebrations at GBTB also include an epic ‘Northern Lights in the Borealis’ show, which will take place every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
Not to forget, the perennial favourite, Blizzard Time — the surreal feeling of “snowfall” against the magnificent backdrop of the Spalliera, glowing in a myriad of colours. Blizzard Time takes place daily after each Garden Rhapsody light and sound show at 7.45pm, 8.45pm and 9.35pm.
Note: Christmas Wonderland is a ticketed event, and tickets are cheaper when booked in advance. Get your tickets here.
Best Places to Park Near Gardens By The Bay:
| Parking Location | Price | Parking Period |
| Marina One | $3.24 per entry | Weekdays: After 7pm Weekends: All day |
| Marina Bay Link Mall | $3.21 for 4 hours | Weekdays: After 6pm Weekends: All day |
| Marina Barrage | $1.20/hour | Daily: After 6pm |
| Marina Bay Open Car Park (Next to Red Dot Design Museum) | $1.60/hour | Weekdays: After 6pm Saturday: After 1pm Sunday: All day |
| Gardens By The Bay | $2.10/hour | Daily |
Christmas For The Kids
4. VivoCity
For a Hasbro-themed Christmas
This Christmas, VivoCity is working with Hasbro to deliver family fun at a scale that’s larger than life! The centrepiece of VivoCity’s festive decorations is none other than a gigantic Monopoly-styled Christmas tree, even with that little doggy playing piece we love! The enchantment only increases with snow display sessions around the tree take place daily except Monday at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
Around the mall, interactive game stations bring some of our favourite characters back into the limelight, like My Little Pony and Transformers, and there are even mega-sized tubs of Play-Doh and Hungry Hungry Hippos! Fun for the kids, and nostalgia for the parents!
Best Place to Park Near VivoCity:
| Parking Location | Price | Parking Period |
| VivoCity | $3.20 per entry $3.80 per entry | Weekdays: After 6pm Weekends: After 6pm |
| Marang Road Car Park | $1.20/hour | According to HDB/URA parking rates and guidelines |
| Seah Im Car Park |
5. Jewel Changi Airport
For a Disney-themed Christmas
We may not have Disneyland Singapore, but it’s not stopping Mickey and pals from having a Christmas party at our beloved airport! In celebration of Disney Cruise Line sailing from our Singapore shores in 2025, Jewel Changi Airport’s Canopy Park has transformed into a magical Disney-esque experience.
Attempt to find the Sorcerer’s Apprentice in the hedge maze, or take photos with your favourite characters such as Elsa and Anna, Iron Man, and Baymax. Make sure you pick up your free Captain Mickey head visor, and have fun collecting all seven medallion stamps to redeem an exclusive poster, plus the chance to win a cruise vacation aboard the all-new Disney Adventure!
The nightly highlight comes in the form of magical snowfall – don’t miss the timings here.
Best Places to Park Near Jewel Changi Airport:
Jewel Car Park / Terminal 1 ($0.65/15 min block)
6. Marina Square
For a Peppa Pig-themed Christmas
“I’m Peppa Pig! (Oink!) This is my little brother, George! (Oink oink!)”
If you’ve heard this one too many times before, then you most definitely have kids who are Peppa Pig fans, making a trip to Marina Square this Christmas a must!
Peppa Pig and George Pig are in town to say hello to all their little friends in Singapore — Meet-and-greets are on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until 22 Dec 2024. Kids can also participate in colouring activities, shop Peppa Pig school supplies, and skate on Singapore’s first-ever Peppa Pig-themed ice-skating rink! (Min. 5 years old)
And of course, gather the whole family around the ginormous Christmas tree and experience enchanting snowfall daily (timings here), or hop onto Grandpa Pig’s iconic train and capture holiday memories with the rest of Peppa Pig’s family!
Best Places to Park Near Marina Square:
| Parking Location | Weekday Parking Price (Mondays to Thursdays) | Weekend Parking Price (Fri, Sat, Sun, PH) |
| Marina Square | $2.25 per entry After 5pm | $2.44-$2.86/hour |
| Mandarin Oriental Hotel | $2.25 per entry After 5pm | $2.44-$2.86/hour |
| Suntec City | $3 per entry After 5pm | $2.60/hour |
| The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore | $3 per entry After 6pm | $2.80/hour |
Millenia Walk (Basement) | $3 per entry After 6pm | $2.80/hour |
Christmas For The Adults
7. Universal Studios Singapore & Resorts World Sentosa
For a Wicked-themed Christmas
Now this is one that’s gonna be “pop-pu-uu-ler” with the adults who are big fans of the musical Wicked! If you thought that stepping into Emerald City could only happen in your dreams, think again.
The fantastical city comes alive in Universal Studios Singapore, where you can meet your favourite characters like Elphaba, Glinda, and the mysterious Wizard himself! You can even receive an Elphaba- or Glinda-inspired makeover at “The Emerald Beautification Salon”.
Outside USS, Resorts World Sentosa also celebrates a Wicked-themed Christmas with enchanting light displays, musical performances, carnival fun, iconic Yuletide setups, Christmas carollers, cotton candy and cookie giveaways… and of course, “snow”! (Timings here)
Best Places to Park Near USS/RWS:
| Parking Location | Price | Parking Period | How To Get to USS/RWS |
| VivoCity | $3.20 per entry $3.80 per entry | Weekdays after 6pm Weekends after 6pm | Take the Boardwalk (Free) or Sentosa Express ($4) |
| Sentosa Beach Station or Imbiah Station | $1.20/hour $2.40 per entry | Daily, until 5pm Daily, after 5.01pm | Take the Sentosa Express from Beach Station to Resorts World Station (Free) |
| ** Sentosa car/taxi entrance fee not included | |||
8. The Promontory @ Marina Bay
For a European Christmas
Can’t travel to Europe to experience traditional Christmas markets? Well, they’re coming to you this year, with the first-ever World Christmas Market happening at The Promontory @ Marina Bay until December 25. Inspired by the cherished tradition of Christmas markets in European cities, this inaugural market is where you can pick up handcrafted Christmas gifts, and international festive treats like German bratwursts, Belgian waffles, Hungarian chimney cakes, and cups of eggnog. Meanwhile, the kids will love the Christmas toy train, gingerbread bouncy castle, singing Christmas tree, dancing nutcracker performances, and field of illuminated white roses.
Best Places to Park Near The Promontory @ Marina Bay:
| Parking Location | Price | Parking Period |
| OUE Bayfront | $3.75 per entry | Weekdays: After 6pm Saturday: After 3pm Sunday: All day |
| Marina Bay Financial Centre (Towers 1, 2 and 3) | $3.21 for 4 hours | Weekdays: After 6pm Weekends: All day |
| Marina Bay Link Mall | $3.21 for 4 hours | Weekdays: After 6pm Weekends: All day |
| One Raffles Quay | $3.21 for 4 hours | Weekdays: After 6pm Weekends: All day |
| Marina Bay Open Car Park (Next to Red Dot Design Museum) | $1.60/hour | Weekdays: After 6pm Saturday: After 1pm Sunday: All day |
Even if you’re somewhat of a homebody, Christmas is definitely one of the most beautiful times to take a trip into town and experience how your home city lights up in festive wonder. From all of us here at DirectAsia, wonderful holiday wishes and a happy new year!
