Month guide · Singapore
Singapore in May
What May is really like in Singapore: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: LN9267, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 26°C (79°F), about 14 rainy days and roughly 12.2 hours of daylight. One of the hottest months; plan outdoor sights early in the morning and indoor ones in the afternoon.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days
- About 14
- Daylight
- About 12.2 hours
- Sea temperature
- 30°C (86°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 3rd-warmest month in Singapore: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 26°C (79°F). Rain falls on roughly 14 of its 31 days. Compared with April (32°C (90°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:55
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:06
- Daylight
- About 12.2 hours
- Sea
- 30°C (86°F)
Northeast monsoon (December–early March). The wet phase from November to January brings long afternoon rain and breezy, slightly cooler days; the drier phase from late January usually gives the sunniest weeks of the year.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is December at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in September). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Vesak Day — Buddhist temples hold processions and offerings (usually May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Religious site · Chinatown
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Cover shoulders and knees (shawls are provided), then cross to Maxwell Food Centre for lunch.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Gallery · Civic District
National Gallery Singapore
The former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings were joined under a single canopy to house the world's largest public collection of modern Southeast Asian art, with strong galleries of Singaporean painting.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Views
Museum · Civic District
Asian Civilisations Museum
Combine it with a walk along the river to Boat Quay for lunch or a drink.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Civic District
National Museum of Singapore
Singapore's oldest museum occupies a domed 1887 building near Fort Canning and tells the island's story from Temasek and colonial Singapore through the Japanese occupation to independence in 1965.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
The sea averages 30°C (86°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Singapore.
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 26°C and 14 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Singapore?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, February–April and July–August are better overall. Compare every month.
Singapore in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Singapore?
It is a shoulder-season month. One of the hottest months; plan outdoor sights early in the morning and indoor ones in the afternoon.
+How warm is Singapore in May?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Singapore in May?
Expect rain on about 14 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.