Where to Watch New Year's Eve Fireworks in Singapore

As someone who’s been living here for over 16 years, I have watched Singapore’s new year’s eve fireworks numerous times. Each time I did, I always felt dazzled by its sheer magnitude.

It always feels like the fireworks transport me from the old me to the new me. It’s that magical! If you’ve been contemplating whether Singapore is a great place to celebrate New Year’s Eve, you know my answer.

In this post, you will find information about all the best places to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks in Singapore in 2023 from a long-time resident’s perspective.

TL;DR:
– Main Fireworks: Marina Bay (12-min long)
– Heartland Fireworks: Tampines, Boon Lay, Marsiling, Nee Soon, Choa Chu Kang, Macpherson, Marine Parade
– Use Crowd@MarinaBay to check Marina Bay’s real-time crowd levels, area closures, alternate walking paths. This portal will be online from 6pm on 31 Dec 2023
– Pedestrian access to Marina Bay will be closed when crowd level has reached the limit
– Roads around Marina Bay will be closed from 6pm-2am, it’s highly recommended that you take MRT and not take bus
– MRT operating hours will be extended

1. Marina Bay Waterfront

Singapore Fireworks — View from Marina Bay Waterfront (Credit: Canva Pro)

Have any questions about traveling in Singapore? Join All About Singapore Travel FB group, I'll be there to answer your questions!

Hands down, Marina Bay Waterfront is the most happening place during the New Year’s Eve Countdown. During the countdown, fireworks will be displayed above the Marina Bay.

The waterfront area is huge and includes places like Esplanade Bridge, Esplanade, Jubilee Bridge, Helix Bridge, Sheares Bridge, Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sand, The Promontory, Clifford Pier and Merlion.

There’s no ticket required to watch fireworks at Marina Bay waterfront! Anyone can watch for free!

Because it’s the best place to watch fireworks, the waterfront area is also the most crowded place on 31st December. To manage the crowd, the organizer will close certain sections if there are already too many people in that section.

That means, if you arrive late (like after 10pm), you won’t be able to get to the waterfront because the access is already closed.

So, my best tip is to arrive really early, like 4pm or 5pm, and choose your spot. Any spot that gives you unobstructed view of the water area is a great spot, don’t go anywhere else! Bring your dinner or snacks.

If you need a toilet break, chope your sitting spot and ask your buddy to ensure your seat is not taken by other people.

If you don’t like to chope seats and prefer to walk around, there are many events at or near Marina Bay waterfront during on 31 December 2023 which you can consider, such as:

Brightening Lives at Waterfront Promenade (light projection shows on the facade of Fullerton Hotel Singapore, the ArtScience Museum and the Merlion)
Esplanade Come Together Concerts at The Esplanade Concourse & Esplanade Outdoor Theatre (live performances by various artists)
Mediacorp’s Let’s Celebrate 2024 at The Promontory (live concerts, carnival games, lucky draw, and other fun activities)
Ice Magic: Winter Wonderland at Bayfront Event Space (pop-up winter playground with snow slope, ice slide, ice sculptures, carnival rides, and F&B)
TurboCharged at Bayfront Event Space (immersive go-kart experience)

How to get to the waterfront: Take MRT to any of these stations: City Hall, Promenade, Bayfront, Downtown, Raffles Place. Then, walk to Marina Bay. The following map shows places you can watch fireworks for free.

Where to Watch NDP Fireworks 2022 - Marina Bay Waterfront (2) — Marina Bay Waterfront

Marina Bay Countdown Map 2024 — Map showing events during NYE2024 Countdown at Marina Bay (Source)

For information about Marina Bay Countdown, visit the official website: https://www.marinabaycountdown.sg

2. Marina Bay Sands Skypark & Restaurants

Where to Watch NDP Fireworks 2022 - MBS Skypark — View from MBS Skypark (Source)

Instead of watching fireworks from the ground, consider watching it from Level 57 of Marina Bay Sands for an entirely different experience.

The rooftop at Marina Bay Sands is one of the best places to watch New Year’s Eve Countdown Fireworks without the crowd. There are a couple ways to secure a spot at the rooftop during the Countdown Fireworks:

Stay at Marina Bay Sands on 31 Dec and you’ll get free access to the Skypark and Infinity Pool at the rooftop
Be a guest at CÉ LA VI Singapore (which is located at the rooftop of MBS). Minimum spending applies, you can reserve a dinner slot or a countdown party slot.
Purchase a ticket to Skypark dated 31 December 2023 (Cost: S$128, already sold out)

The cons of watching from MBS Skypark is the cost. Operators/restaurants are charging higher than usual price because it’s a special event.

3. Bay East at Gardens by the Bay

Where to Watch NDP Fireworks 2022 - Bay East Garden — View from Bay East Garden (Source)

So, you really want to watch fireworks but you dread the crowd? You can’t image being sandwiched among thousands of people just to watch a fireworks. And you don’t want to pay either.

I get you. Don’t worry, I’m not going to suggest that you stay in and watch fireworks from the TV or YouTube. In fact, there are many places where you can watch fireworks without the crazy crowd!

One of that places is Gardens by the Bay East. It’s different from the usual Gardens by the Bay that has Supertrees. This Bay East Garden is just a stretch of field location opposite the usual GBTB. This is the location on google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/ni3SLqKWNrLhuPub7

But, because this is a park and not a promenade, there is no place to sit down. You need to stand on the narrow pavement, which is shared between pedestrian, cyclists and scooter users. So, be very careful.

I won’t guarantee there will be no crowd. There will still be a crowd, but the size of it is definitely smaller than the crowd at Marina Bay waterfront.

Depending on where you stand at Bay East Garden, the fireworks that you see may or may not be partially blocked by the Marina Bay Sands.

How to get to Gardens by the Bay East: Take the Thomson East Coast Line MRT to Gardens by the Bay Station and walk about 1.5km to the Bay East.

4. Marina Barrage

You hate crowd, you hate paying, and you hate walking. So the above options are out for you. But you still want to watch a fireworks for free. Well… we have to find a middle ground, and that is Marina Barrage!

Because Marina Barrage is quite a distance away from Marina Bay, the view is not as great as what you’ll get at Marina Bay waterfront. Depending on where you stand or sit at Marina Barrage, the fireworks that you see may or may not be partially blocked by the Marina Bay Sands.

At Marina Barrage, there will still be some crowd but it will not be as much as that at Marina Bay. The best place to watch fireworks at Marina Barrage is at the top of the sloped roof.

Marina Barrage is quite a popular place to watch fireworks, so you want to go there early to get a good spot.

How to get to Marina Barrage: Take the Thomson East Coast Line MRT to Gardens by the Bay Station and walk about 500m to Marina Barrage.

5. Singapore Flyer

Singapore Flyer Champagne Experience (Source)

Looking to enter the new year in style? You’ll probably love the New Year’s Eve Champagne Experience by Singapore Fl y er.

Ticket costs SGD 180 per person in a shared capsule. You’ll be welcoming the new year with a spectacular view of the bay and glass of premium champagne.

Boarding starts at 11.30pm on 31 December 2023. Each ticket allows guest with one rotation (30 minutes) on the Singapore Flyer, priority boarding to skip the queues, a glass of champagne, Chocolate bonbons from the award-winning Singapore pastry chef, Janice Wong, and party pack for you to celebrate the new year!

6. Fireworks at Heartlands

For people who love fireworks but dread being stuck at Marina Bay area and not able to go home without squeezing with the crowd, the good news is: you can watch fireworks at heartlands!

These heartland fireworks may not be as grandeur as the one at Marina Bay, but it’s no less an awesome way to ring in the new year of 2024! Plus, if the fireworks location is near your home, you’ll get to go home in less than 30 mins!

Here are the 7 heartland places where you can watch the Countdown Fireworks: