What to pack for Singapore in December: heat and rain

In December, Singapore runs from about 24 to 31 °C (75 to 87 °F), humid, with rain on about 19 days as the northeast monsoon begins. Pack light, quick-dry clothes, sandals that can get wet, a compact umbrella, and a thin long-sleeved layer for the cold air-conditioning in malls, trains, and cinemas.

The story

You land at Changi at seven in the morning, and the air outside the terminal feels like a warm towel. It’s 25 °C before breakfast. By the time you reach your hotel, your cotton T-shirt is stuck to your back, and you change into a quick-dry one that you’ll wear, wash, and wear again all week.

The first morning you walk to Gardens by the Bay. The sky is bright, the Supertrees throw a little shade, and you’re glad of the hat and the sunscreen. Just after two, the clouds go dark over the Marina, and the rain comes down so hard you can’t see across the water. You wait it out inside the Cloud Forest dome, where it’s cool and green, and an hour later the paths are steaming in the sun.

Then you take the MRT back to town, and the cold hits you. The trains, the malls on Orchard Road, and the cinema are air-conditioned hard, and after the heat outside you shiver within minutes. The thin long-sleeved shirt in your bag, useless at noon, is the thing you reach for most.

In the evening you eat at a hawker centre: chicken rice, satay, a cold lime juice, each from its own stall. A packet of tissues on a table means someone has already claimed it; you find a free seat, then queue. Some stalls take only cash, so you keep a few Singapore dollars in your pocket.

After dinner you walk down Orchard Road under the Christmas lights, still in sandals and a T-shirt, with the umbrella in your bag just in case. On the last day you ride out to Sentosa for the beach, swim between two showers, and dry off in twenty minutes.

Singapore in December is hot, humid, and wet, with heavy showers on most days and freezing air-conditioning indoors. Pack light, quick-dry clothes, shoes that don’t mind puddles, an umbrella, and one warm thin layer for inside.

What to pack for Singapore in December

Pack for heat and rain outdoors, and for cold air indoors.

Clothes

Light, quick-dry tops and shorts or skirts: cotton stays damp in the humidity.
A thin long-sleeved shirt, cardigan, or light jacket for the air-conditioning on the MRT, in malls, and in cinemas.
Light long trousers or a long skirt, and something that covers your shoulders, for temples and mosques.
Swimwear for Sentosa or the hotel pool.
A smarter outfit if you plan a rooftop bar or a nice restaurant.

Shoes

Sandals that can get wet and dry fast: the streets flood briefly in a downpour.
Comfortable walking shoes that breathe, for long days on foot.

For the rain and the sun

A compact umbrella: it works for sudden rain and for shade.
A light poncho for Sentosa or the zoo, where you’re outside for hours.
Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat: the sun is strong between showers.
A water bottle to refill.
Insect repellent for the parks and the evenings.

Documents, money and tech

Passport, valid for at least six months.
A card for most payments, and some cash in Singapore dollars for hawker stalls.
A Type G plug adapter if you need one, and a power bank.
An eSIM for Singapore, for maps and the weather radar.

Good to know

Weather: by the Meteorological Service Singapore’s 1991–2020 averages for the Changi climate station, December runs from about 24 to 31 °C (75 to 87 °F), with about 332 mm (13 in) of rain on 19 days and an average humidity of 85.5%. It’s the wet first half of the northeast monsoon: monsoon surges, usually from December to early January, bring longer spells of heavy rain, at times with winds of 25 to 35 km/h (16 to 22 mph).
Air-conditioning: trains, buses, malls, museums, and cinemas are kept cool. Carry a layer all day.
Getting around: the MRT goes almost everywhere, and you can tap a contactless bank card at the gates. Eating and drinking aren’t allowed on the trains.
Hawker centres: most stalls are cheap and fast; some take cash only. Bring tissues, and return your tray when you’re done.
What you can’t bring: e-cigarettes and vapes, and chewing gum, are on the prohibited list. Check ICA’s page on what you can bring, including for prescription medicines.
Plugs: Type G, the three-pin plug used in the UK, at 230 V.
Money: Singapore dollar (SGD).
Entry: your passport must be valid for at least six months. Submit the free SG Arrival Card within three days before you arrive, and check whether your passport needs a visa (checked October 6, 2026).
Heat and daily rain somewhere else? What to pack for Thailand in the rainy season.

Questions

Does it rain a lot in Singapore in December?

Yes: December is one of the wettest months, with about 332 mm (13 in) of rain on 19 days. Many showers are short and heavy, and monsoon surges can bring longer spells of rain, usually from December to early January.

Is Singapore hot in December?

Yes, about 24 to 31 °C (75 to 87 °F), and humid. Indoors it’s the opposite: the air-conditioning in trains, malls, and cinemas is cold, so carry a thin layer.

What should I wear in Singapore in December?

Light, quick-dry clothes and sandals that can get wet, with a thin long-sleeved layer for the air-conditioning. For temples and mosques, cover your shoulders and knees.

Can you bring e-cigarettes to Singapore?

No. E-cigarettes and vapes are on the prohibited list, and so is chewing gum; check ICA’s page on what you can bring before you pack.

What do I need to enter Singapore?

A passport valid for at least six months and the SG Arrival Card, submitted free within three days before you arrive. Check whether your passport also needs a visa.