The best places to see Christmas lights and decorations in Singapore

Christmas in Singapore isn’t complete without Orchard Road’s annual street light-up, with 2025’s edition stretching a total of 3.1km, all the way from Tanglin to Dhoby Ghaut. Apart from wreaths and whimsical ribbon-style arches creating a sparkling canopy across the shopping belt’s lamp posts, this year’s Christmas on a Great Street features not one but two Christmas villages: a kid-centric funfair at Shaw Plaza, and another event square at Ngee Ann City with carnival games, rides, market stalls, and live music performances on weekend evenings. As you’re strolling along, you’ll also be treated to a hard-to-miss light show projected on the facade of Hilton Singapore Orchard.

Did someone say “flying Santa”? That’s what you’ll be spotting in the sky at this year’s Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay – Singapore’s largest Christmas market and carnival. The magical outdoor event with its signature 20-metre-high Italian Spalliera illuminations won’t just be returning to its usual spot at the Supertree Grove; it’ll also be spread across The Meadow this time, so expect a celebration that’s even livelier than the last. You know the drill: head down for your dose of carnival games like ring toss, Santa meet-and-greets, carolling, and festive nosh from a European-style food village. One brand-new highlight to keep a lookout for? The 16-metre-tall German-style Christmas pyramid – a stacked ensemble of gingerbread men, elves, and snowmen that form a tree.

Christmas Wonderland isn't the only attraction at Gardens by the Bay worth checking out this holiday period. Remain dry from year-end drizzles at the Flower Dome, where the Christmas Train Show returns for a second edition following last year's roaring debut. Once again, detailed, visually accurate model trains will chug through American landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and Grand Central Terminal – all set against vibrant Christmas botanicals like poinsettia and holly. Since it’s SG60 this year, there’s an added local element with a mini SMRT train passing through replicas of our dragon playground, Supertrees, and other familiar icons.

Ahoy, Disney fans – the world’s best airport is all decked out in your favourite characters. In celebration of the new Disney Cruise Line voyage embarking from Singapore, this year’s Christmas decorations at Changi Airport are nautical-themed, and you’ll find them spread across Terminals 1 to 3 as well as Jewel Changi. From a 16-metre-tall tree with Mickey-shaped ornaments at the Forest Valley, to stained glass installations featuring the Princesses at the Canopy Park, and even a rare Duffy and Friends photo spot at Terminal 2 – uncovering everything in store is almost like going on an airport-wide treasure hunt, but hey, that’s what’s fun about it.

Christmas fairytale dreams come to life at Marina Bay Sands, where a forest of floating trees awaits. Alongside that is an ode to the yuletide story of The Nutcracker, where 88 nutcracker butlers – inspired by MBS’s own troop of dedicated butlers – stand tall in full regalia around the luxury mall and hotel. Come night, the magic dials up a notch with The Nutcracker Butler’s Concerto, an epic nightly light show with LED animations projected across 16 screens at the gravity-defying forest. It happens for just five minutes at 7.30pm and 8.30pm, so plan your dinner strategically to catch this spectacle. 

It hasn’t been long since Weave officially opened, but the new lifestyle hub is already the heart of Resorts World Sentosa’s Christmas celebrations. At the centre of it all stands a 10-metre Christmas tree, setting the backdrop for a host of free-to-join programmes suitable for the whole family. These include bubble shows, clown circus acts, different genres of live music, including funk, jazz, and festive music, and photo opportunities with none other than Santa Claus. During this period, there will also be extended hours at the Singapore Oceanarium, as well as the food outlets and attractions in the area.

For a dose of irresistibly kawaii festive cheer, make a beeline to various Far East Malls around the island for Sanrio-themed decorations. Most notable are the set-ups at Orchard Central and One Holland Village. The former is bakery-themed, with a walkway full of Christmas treats and gingerbread houses leading to a pink tree adorned with Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, and more. The latter is styled like a Christmas village, also sporting the same level of Sanrio cuteness and life-sized character installations. As the cherry on top, both locations, along with Clarke Quay Central, are home to Sanrio Christmas pop-up stores featuring limited-edition merch.