The best things to do in Singapore in October 2025

Singapore Biennale 2025 is back from October 31 with five months of art taking over the city. This year’s theme, Pure Intention, uses SG60 as a backdrop to explore how art shapes Singapore’s evolving story. Expect over 100 works by more than 80 artists, spanning exhibitions, films, talks and workshops across the Civic District, Orchard Road, the Rail Corridor and SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Highlights include poetry by migrant workers, an open-air library at Wessex Estate and kinetic installations in unexpected spaces. Public activations are free, while entry to SAM costs from $15 (locals) with early bird discounts till October 30.

Here’s one for the whisky lovers (and the whisky-curious). The Macallan 360 Experience is landing at The Singapore EDITION from October 17 to 19, 2025, bringing the brand’s world-famous single malts to life in style. The showcase celebrates the refreshed Double Cask and Sherry Oak, now given a bold new look by iconic designer David Carson. Expect striking visuals, immersive installations, and a deep dive into how sherry-seasoned oak casks shape The Macallan’s unmistakable taste. And yes, you’ll get to enjoy a dram of The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old and Sherry Oak 12 Years Old as part of your ticket (from $28). 

Check out available daily timeslots and make your booking here. And if you can’t get enough, visit The Macallan House for an intimate guided tour and bar experience. 

Swap your usual Thursday night plans for something a little more dramatic. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is dialling up the drama on October 16 at the Esplanade Concert Hall with an evening that blends passion, virtuosity and pure musical storytelling. SSO's Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf leads the show with the Asian premiere of Ghosts, a striking Concerto for Orchestra co-commissioned by some of the world’s top ensembles. Next, brace yourself for jaw-dropping brilliance as celebrated French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard takes on Bartók’s notoriously complex Piano Concerto No. 2. And just when you think you’ve caught your breath, Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet will hit you with all the romance, tragedy and passion of Shakespeare’s iconic love story. Whether you’re wooing someone new or just treating yourself, this is one cultural experience worth dressing up for. Tickets start from $15 – get yours here.

Book tickets

Print isn’t dead – and the Singapore Art Book Fair is here to prove it. Returning this year at Whitestone Gallery in the New Art Museum Singapore, the fair brings together a vibrant mix of local and international vendors hawking everything from zines and photobooks to risograph prints and indie mags. Beyond browsing and collecting, you can also roll up your sleeves at workshops on French link stitch binding, linocut printing and coptic binding. With so much to explore, this is one fair you’ll want to linger in – perfect for discovering fresh voices in the world of print.

Shopping without shopkeepers? That’s the future, and it’s landing at Kallang Wave Mall from October 2 to 19. RED LABEL flips the script on retail with 10 edgy brands spread across three zones: Street & Style, Outdoor Essentials, and Lifestyle & Living. Think exclusive drops, limited-edition gear, and lifestyle finds you won’t scroll past on your feed. No pressure – just you and the goods. There’s even a playful side: take part in interactive games, rack up loyalty points, and spin the Gachabot for a shot at prizes. 

Shop at RED LABEL at L1 Atrium at Kallang Wave Mall – it’s open daily and admission is completely free. Follow @redlabelsg to find out more. 

Japanese cinema goes far beyond the enchanting worlds of Studio Ghibli. The Japanese Film Festival returns this year to celebrate the breadth and depth of the country’s filmmaking, with screenings at Golden Village Suntec City and Oldham Theatre.

The line-up spans tender coming-of-age tales, thought-provoking dramas and everything in between. Opening the festival is Hayakawa Chie’s Renoir, an intimate and ethereal sophomore feature – made even more special with the director herself attending for an exclusive Q&A and masterclass. Other highlights include Cells at Work!, 6 Lying University Students, A Girl Named Ann and many others.

It’s official: Singapore Oceanarium has opened its doors and it’s three times bigger than the former aquarium. With 22 immersive zones and hands-on experiences like fossil digs, sea jelly tours, and deep-sea adventures, this refreshed next-gen aquarium is now the latest must-visit destination in Asia. Explore towering coral reefs, walk beneath a life-sized whale skeleton, and snap stunning shots of moon jellies, manta rays and more. You can even take on a walking net experience suspended over a 9th-century ship replica. With so much to explore, it’s worth setting aside a full day to take it all in. Find out more here.

Presented by local wellness platform Half, the Museum of Hidden Objects and Feelings invites you to pause and reconnect with the quieter parts of yourself. The exhibition unfolds across eight interactive booths, showcasing personal items like sketchbooks and childhood keepsakes – each carrying the emotions and memories of its owner. Through these everyday objects, the museum highlights how things can anchor meaning and spark connection, whether you relate to someone else’s story or see your own experiences in a new light. Visitors can also contribute: upload a photo and short write-up of your chosen object, anonymously if you wish.

Calling all sake lovers: Sake Matsuri Singapore is back for its 11th edition and this year, it’s taking over Jewel Changi Airport’s Changi Experience Studio from October 31 to November 2. Expect the festival’s biggest line-up yet, with over 150 breweries and more than 400 labels on pour, from premium Junmai Daiginjo and fresh Namazakes to funky Doburoku brews, Bodaimoto sakes, and even shochu. Each session (two or three hours) comes with unlimited tastings and a keepsake glass, plus exclusive bottle deals. Hardcore fans can splurge on VIP passes for extra sessions, lounge access and limited-edition sake cups. Tickets start from $55.

You might have heard whispers of Pulau Ubin’s spooky past, but whether those tales are true is another story. If you’ve got the guts, why not see for yourself? X Camp Halloween is taking over the island with a 3D2N adventure, and it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Over the weekend, you’ll venture through abandoned kampongs, forgotten shrines and winding quarry trails, alongside guided paranormal investigations – and yes, ghost-hunting gear will be provided so you’ll be fully kitted out for your supernatural encounters. When the sun sets, gather round the campfire with your fellow ghost busters for barbeque dinners before turning in for the night in tents under the stars.

Halloween hits hard this year with the final edition of Haw Ror Villa at Singapore’s infamous Hell Museum. Spanning three immersive zones, expect survival challenges, paranormal investigations and a puzzle hunt from ‘hell’. Kick off with a terrifying scare house, dodge an ancient cult, then switch gears in a guided mystery tour where you’ll interrogate malevolent spirits. The finale? A ritual-laden puzzle race that could unlock the Ten Courts of Hell. If that’s not spine-chilling enough, step into the Rebirthing Room and climb into a coffin – a ritual experience said to cleanse bad karma.

For the fourth edition of Crack the Case, The Dreamcatcher follows Kamil Noor, a scientist in the fictional city of Ikanpura, who becomes a prime suspect after a device he planted at an undisclosed location.

This immersive mystery experience is a fun way to bond with your friends while racing against the clock, as it fuses theatre with escape-room elements, inviting audiences to solve puzzles, uncover clues and piece together Kamil’s plans before time runs out. Don’t expect to sit back and watch the action unfold onstage, as everyone is encouraged to move around the theatrical set, explore the cinematic space and interact with the environment.

Prost to the start of Oktoberfest. Kicking things off is German beer brand Erdinger, bringing the lively Bavarian spirit straight to Singapore’s streets. Every Friday from now till October 17, Lau Pa Sat will transform into a festive beer haven, complete with dancers in traditional German outfits, stein-holding contests to test your strength and stamina, and Erdinger-themed keepsakes to take home as mementoes of the night.

The celebrations don’t stop there. Over at Haji Lane, the fun continues on October 10, 11, 17 and 18 from 6pm. There’ll be festival-style games and challenges to play with your pals, plus a roving brass band playing infectious tunes.

Can’t jet off to Japan just yet? No worries, the Japan Rail Fair is back at Guoco Tower, bringing railway culture straight to Singapore. With 23 booths, the fair features quirky merch, collectible station stamps and tasty Japanese snacks usually only found across the tracks in Japan. Play the stamp collection game for a shot at daily lucky draws, with prizes like round-trip flights on Japan Airlines, JR East Passes, and omiyage snack boxes from Japan Rail Club.