Staying Cool in Singapore
Tips and Tricks for Beating the Heat
By Abigail Strauss
Now, we all know that Singapore is hot—I’m talking really hot. At only 80 miles from the equator, it’s not only hot, but humid too. The lowest temperature on record is 19.4°C—that’s 66°F! So, I’ve gone ahead and created a list of ways to beat and survive the sweltering temperatures of Singapore. Enjoy.
First up, we have the typical ways of staying cool: sweating, fanning yourself with a brochure, wearing light clothing, staying hydrated, panting (for dogs, at least), or maybe getting a summer haircut to cool down. But that’s all newbie stuff. I’ve got the real way to do it—and it’s not only fun, but effective too! So skip past all the boring stuff, and let’s get cold.
Air conditioning: This, as you all know, is essential to surviving a hot day. But when you're out and about, you can’t exactly stay home with the fan on. So how do you do it? Easy. There are a few ways. Here are some of my all-time favorites.
Browsing: Just mosey on into a store and spend half an hour looking at the options before leaving with nothing. To avoid getting kicked out, if you're with someone else, put on a show of really wanting something—only to be vetoed.
Taking your time: Get a drink or a light snack and spend an hour eating or sipping. If the waiters start getting pushy, just ask for the check and leave. This usually gives you ample time to rehydrate and soak up some cool air.
All inclusive: Find a free museum and take your time. They don’t rush your experience, and with amenities like bathrooms and chairs, they’re great places to relax at your own pace.
Speed up, slow down: This is just a brief moment of respite, but still works on its own. When walking down a sidewalk, slow down when passing open doors with AC escaping, and speed up in between. This works well on a street lined with storefronts. This technique can also double as a shade hopping trick.
Ball at the Mall: In Singapore, they take great care to heavily air-condition their malls, and they can become an oasis in the heat. Since many of them are large, you can hang out there for a while before moving on.
Consumables: By this, I mean food and drinks. If you can find the right ones, you can stay relatively cool while walking outside, without having to hide in air-conditioned spaces. Here are a couple of good things to get while on the move in Singapore.
Sugarcane juice: This stuff is delicious. Vendors take fresh sugarcane and grind it to extract the juice—often with ice cubes and lemon slices. It’s sweet, fresh, and perfect for a hot day. Soursop juice is amazing too!
Boba tea: I personally think that America has ruined boba tea. I used to hate it, but after trying it in Singapore, I became a convert. It’s delicious and usually cold—another great drink to have on a hot day.
Açaí: While in Singapore, we found a spectacular açaí place. It was called Berry Spot, located across the river from the Lotus. There’s only one of them, but they serve it in a cup. You can customize your açaí, and we went twice. It’s a delicious and cold alternative to the next option.
Ice cream: This is a classic go-to and always works well, though it’s a bit boring. Still, a good backup plan.
Hotel time: All hotels in Singapore are relatively upscale and can be great to hang out in. There are a lot of ways to avoid the hottest part of the day by using your hotel. Here are some suggestions for waiting out the heat.
With a splash: Most hotels have a pool, and they’re great for relaxing after a long day. We used ours almost daily. They can get crowded, so go during meal times for fewer people.
All you can eat: Our hotel had a club that served meals all day, so we could stay in to eat rather than going grocery shopping or eating out. We still did that plenty, but it’s always a good idea to have a place where you can stay inside to eat.
Hanging out in the lobby: This doesn’t necessarily need to be your hotel. You can pop into lobbies for a little bit, and the air conditioning can feel great. Just be discreet.
All in all, Singapore can be a hot place, and planning ahead is one of the best things you can do. This goes for everywhere. Planning ahead doesn’t hurt—and often, it prevents it. One last thing: don’t forget to wear sunscreen! You’ll regret it.
Personal Note:
Singapore was awesome! We did so many cool things there. Yes, the heat was oppressive, and yes, the humidity was NOT fun; but I still had an amazing time. I saw the super trees, tried boba, did a NIGHT SAFARI! I loved every bit of it, and got to see and try so many things. We even went to a hawker market, and I had something called fried maggie. We also went to a hot-pot restaurant, visited the science and art museum, and saw the fountain show twice. Singapore is such an interesting city, from the architecture, to the human-created land.
