Best time to visit Jewel (time of day and time of year)
Jewel is open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. This allows anyone in transit through Changi Airport at any time of year or any time of day to visit Jewel. I put this guide together to help anyone answer what is the best time to visit Jewel?
The best time of day to visit Jewel is early morning, around 11am when the waterfall opens. At this time the waterfall and restaurants are less crowded meaning. Around 5pm is also a good time to visit for the same reason.
Late January to early February is the best time of year to visit Jewel, in the lead up to Chinese New Year. Jewel has special promotions to celebrate all the major cultural festivals celebrated in Singapore, however the Chinese New Year one is the biggest.
I’ve included more detail about the best time of day and best time of year to visit Jewel in my guide below:
Best time of day to visit Jewel
Early morning, around 11am is the best time of day to visit Jewel if you are avoiding crowds. The waterfall opens to fanfare at 11am and restaurants aren’t yet crowded for lunch. I recommend watching the waterfall open, take some pictures, and then find something for lunch.
Early evening, around 5pm is also a good time to visit Jewel. Here is my recommended itinerary:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5:00pm to 5:30pm | Browse options for something to eat |
| 5:30pm to 7:30pm | Eat dinner |
| 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Head to the waterfall and take pictures |
| 8:00pm to 8:15pm | Watch the light & music show |
There is a second showing of the light & music show at 9pm if you’re running late. Check out my full list of timings for key events at the end of this guide.
My preferred places to view the light & music show are amongst the green spaces you can walk up to from level 1, or from the canopy park level viewing area. You can also buy a ticket for the canopy bridge to get a good view.
Not sure what to eat at Jewel? I wrote a whole section on dining options as part of my guide on all the things you can do at Jewel. Check it out here: reachingsingapore.com/jewel-fun
Can’t visit Jewel at these times? A lot of visitors I work with have fixed times within which they can visit Jewel (usually the few hours before their next flight). For some ideas of the things you can do at any time of day at Jewel, check out my highlights in the table below:
| Time of Day | Things to do |
|---|---|
| Morning: 8am to midday | Visit local chain Toast Box for an authentic Singapore-style breakfast |
| Afternoon: Midday to 4pm | Fun activities on the canopy park level including giant bouncing nets suspended over empty space below |
| Evening: 4pm to 8pm | Eat dinner at one of the Singaporean restaurants dotted around Jewel - homegrown favourites include Putien, Paradise, and Jumbo |
| Night: 8pm to midnight | Catch the light & music show at the waterfall, shows are at 8pm and 9pm |
| Overnight: Midnight to 8am | Book a space to sleep at the Yotelair transit hotel, or check out the Starbucks Reserve which is open 24-hours a day |
Another late night activity I like recommending is to catch a movie at the Shaw cinema. On Friday and Saturday nights they have late screenings of movies that can be a great way to pass time between flights.
I like the idea of trying to stay overnight in Jewel - it feels like a Night at the Museum experience in my mind - but I also know from experience it’s never fun staying overnight waiting for the next flight. If you’re in this situation and you have more than 8 hours until your next flight, I highly recommend heading into Singapore proper to at least try some of the food that the city has to offer - Simpang Bedok for exmaple is open late into the night and located near the airport.
At the end of this guide I’ve listed the opening hours of all the key attractions and things you can do at Jewel.
I recommend allowing at least 4-6 hours between flights if you plan to visit Jewel. When I spoke to Singapore’s immigration authority (ICA)
Best time of year to visit Jewel
Jewel is open 365 days a year and does not slow down for any major festivals or cultural events (unlike my home country of Australia which doesn’t do anything between Christmas and Australia Day).
Jewel can be visited at any time of year for a consistent experience. As it is open every day, as well as being fully enclosed to protect it from the weather, there is no time to avoid visiting Jewel. Jewel was also built to handle large crowds, so even peak holiday seasons are not significantly more crowded than at other times.
Celebrations can occur at Jewel for certain festivals though, and usually the big ones are around Christmas and Lunar New Year. At these times, Jewel often has special events, decorations, and promotions to celebrate the time of year.
What next
Opening hours for key activities and things I like to recommend to visitors (last updated summer 2024):
| Activity | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Waterfall | 11am to 10pm |
| Waterfall (light & music show) | 8pm and 9pm |
| Canopy Park attractions | 10am to 9pm |
| Food Republic (hawker food) | 7:30am to 10pm |
| Starbucks | 24 hours |
| Toast Box | 8am to 10pm |
| Changi Lounge | 6am to 10pm |
| McDonald’s | 6:30am to midnight |
| Luggage storage | 24 hours |
The above times are daily. Some things open an hour later on Friday nights, weekends, and public holidays.
Restaurants and hawker stalls tend to stop selling food 15-30 minutes before the official closing time.
Not sure all the things you can do at Jewel? Check out my guide here for a complete list of over 16 things you can do at Jewel: reachingsingapore.com/jewel-fun
Remember to fill out your SG Arrival Card if you are going through passport control in Singapore. It is required even if you only intend to spend a few hours visiting Jewel. Find out more on the official government website here: https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/
