November is the beginning of holiday season. The crowd usually gets bigger towards the end of the month, as vacationers flock to Singapore for year-end holiday.
The school holiday in Singapore starts from 18 November 2023 to 31 December 2023. The second half of November will be the busiest in November.
The Deepavali Festival falls on Sunday, 12 November 2023. The following day, 13 Nov, will be a Public Holiday. The Deepavali Light-Up takes place at Little India for the entire month of October and November.
This year, Christmas Light Up starts on 16 November 2023 along Orchard Road. There will be not one, but THREE Christmas Villages on Orchard Road. Woohoo, I’m looking forward to the Christmas season already!
If you’re planning for a trip to Singapore in November 2023, I highly recommend that you book your tickets and hotels as soon as possible because flight and hotel prices usually get very expensive during the year-end holiday.
Singapore’s Weather in November
Historically, November is the second wettest month of the year, with the wettest being December. On average, it rains 19 days out of 30 days.
Rain occurs occasionally in the afternoon and early evening. It’s best to bring an umbrella if you’re planning for outdoor activities.
I recommend that you bookmark Singapore’s weather website, which is a very useful website to see current rain area & intensity, and to check the rain forecast for the next 4 days.
November’s temperature hovers between 24.6 to 31.2 degrees Celsius (76.3 to 88.2 degrees Fahrenheit). Generally, the temperature in Singapore doesn’t differ much from month to month.
In November, the sun rises between 6.46am (1 Nov) to 6.51am (30 Nov) and sunset occurs between 6.50pm (1 Nov) to 6.54pm (30 Nov).
Travel Advisories
Merlion Temporary Closure
The Merlion will be undergoing repair works for 11 weeks, from 25 Sep 2023 to 13 Dec 2023. During the closure, photo-taking is not possible because the statue will be covered in scaffolding.
If you really want to take photo with Merlion, there’s a “Merlion Cub” nearby the main Merlion. And there’s also another Merlion at Mount Faber!
Have any questions about traveling in Singapore? Join All About Singapore Travel FB group, I'll be there to answer your questions!
Things to do in Singapore in November 2023
1. Deepavali Light Up
On 12 November 2023, Singapore will be celebrating Deepavali (or Diwali), the festival of lights. It is a public holiday. However, the festivities start as early as 30 Sept 2023!
The streets at Little India are decorated with colorful arches and bright lights. The Deepavali Light-Up will take place from 30 September 2023 until 3 December 2023, along Serangoon Road and Racecourse Road.
At the Deepavali Festive Village (located on Campbell Lane), you can shop for colorful decorations, traditional snacks and deserts, bright apparels among many other festive items.
Feeling hungry after exploring Little India during Deepavali season? Head to Deepavali Food Bazaar located at Poli@Clive Street where you can find delectable Indian cuisines. The bazaar is open at 2-10pm daily, from 25 September to 11 November 2023.
The two most popular temples to visit for Deepavali are Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple.
There will be a wide array of events and activities being organized (such as Tamil rap competition and treasure hunt). You can check Deepavali official website to find details of the activities.
2. Christmas Light-Up
Many places in Singapore, especially shopping malls, will begin decorating for Christmas in mid November. You won’t be able to see the complete light-up this month, but you can definitely start to feel the Christmas vibes.
Here are the places where you can see Christmas Light Up:
- Orchard Road
- Gardens by the Bay
- Universal Studio
- Changi Airport and Jewel
3. Singapore Writers Festival
The Singapore Writers Festival is one of Asia’s premier literary events held each year in November. This year, SWF will be held from 17 to 26 November 2023. If you love reading and writing, you don’t want to miss this.
There are more than 200 in-person programmes held all around Singapore, featuring about 250 local and international presenters. This year’s festival theme is “Plot Twist” so expect the unexpected combinations and unlikely connections.
From conversations on hip hop, punk rock and combat sports, to food-themed programmes and DIY-rap sessions that highlight the possibilities of the written and spoken word, get ready for a literary journey of twists and turns for SWF 2023.
Date: 17 to 26 November 2023
Admission: Festival Pass costs $30/person. Some events are free to enter.
Address: Multiple places
4. Avatar: The Experience
Avatar: The Experience is an immersive walk-through experience based on the movie AVATAR. Set at Cloud Forest, the exhibition will feature five different zones. Read my AVATAR experience here.
Visitors will be able to be immersed in bioluminescent environments and meet face to face with mystical creatures like Ilu, a new marine creature from the upcoming movie Avatar: The Way of Water.
Date: 28 October 2022 to 1 January 2024
Admission: From S$27 onwards
Venue: Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay
Address:18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953 (location on map)
5. Chrysanthemum Charm Display at Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay
From 29 September to 13 November 2023, the Chrysanthemum Charm floral display at Flower Dome will showcase over 80 diverse chrysanthemum varieties, including 10 new ones debuting in Southeast Asia, set in a landscape reminiscent of Mongolia’s lush grasslands.
This exhibit, presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Mongolia in Singapore, also features elements of Mongolian culture, including a life-sized Mongolian ger (aka a ‘yurt’ in English), offering a glimpse into the traditional nomadic lifestyle of Mongolians.
Date: 29 Sep 2023 to 13 Nov 2023
Admission: From S$20 onwards (include Supertree)
Venue: Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
What else to do in Singapore
If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend that you read my guide on the best things to do in Singapore. In that article, you’ll find 60+ ideas to make your trip to Singapore a memorable one.
If you have any questions about traveling in Singapore, join All About Singapore Travel Facebook group and post your questions there to get a faster response from me and other members.
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