Despite being a small island country, there’s definitely no lack of things to do in Singapore. This vibrant city-state is often buzzy with pop-up events and exhibitions that engage locals and tourists.
From dining at the newest cafes, restaurants and hawker centres to museum hopping, you’ll definitely find activities to do for the weekend. Read on for our picks on what to do in Singapore in March 2023.
What to do in Singapore – March 2023
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Ever wondered what it’d be like to see the majestic artworks by celebrated artist Vincent van Gogh come to life? Give your senses a treat at Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience in RWS. Seen by more than five million visitors worldwide since 2017, the exhibition finally makes its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore.
Experience the iconic Dutch painter’s works including Starry Night and Sunflowers through a mix of stunning replicas, cutting-edge digital projections, Virtual Reality (VR), and mesmerising atmospheric light and sound across thematic zones like ‘About the Artist’, ‘Anamorphose’, and ‘Japonisme’ (a first for the exhibition).
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience happens daily except Tuesdays from March 2023. Tickets start from SGD15 for children and SGD24 for adults.
It’s The Ship 2023
Eat, sleep, rave, repeat. Sounds like a dream, but you can temporarily fulfil this lifestyle over three days onboard The Genting Dream Cruise-themed It’s The Ship. Sailing for the first time since 2019, this year’s edition proves to be its most jubilant one yet. Party hard to renowned acts like Galantis, Vini Vici, Kid-Ink. Single and available? You can have the chance to find a soulmate with the help of Sima Taparia from Netflix’s Indian Matchmaking too.
It’s The Ship 2023 happens from March 8-10 onboard The Genting Dream Cruise.
Have a Nordic sauna holiday with IKEA x Marimekko’s BASTUA collab
You don’t need to travel far to relax in a Nordic environment. All you need is to tweak your home with some furnishings from the IKEA x Marimekko collaboration. This limited collection, named BASTUA, celebrates the pleasure and joy of self-care rituals. Definitely much needed after a hectic work week. Of course, Marimekko’s iconic prints cover vibrant items ranging from rhubarb leaf-printed trays and lounge kimonos to matching birch bench-side table sets and water ripple-inspired glassware.
IKEA x Marimekko’s BASTUA limited collaboration collection is now available at all IKEA Singapore stores.
The Marmalade Pantry’s International Women’s Day-themed Afternoon Tea Set
Give the significant ladies in your life a treat to show your appreciation. Not just for a day only on International Women’s Day, but frequently. The Marmalade Pantry supports this by offering their specially-curated Lavender Bloom Afternoon Tea Set for two months. You can also plan a surprise with either a takeaway or delivery option (pictured above) too.
This spread includes a selection of sweet and savoury treats in hues of purple – one of the official colours of International Women’s Day, representing justice and dignity. Enjoy new creations like Mini Honey Blueberry Cupcake, Blackcurrant Macaron, and Meringue Lollipop alongside fragrant Monogram tea.
The Lavender Bloom Afternoon Tea Set is available till April 30 at all The Marmalade Pantry locations for dine-in, takeaway, and delivery. The Marmalade Pantry Petite Bugis also offers a Petite Lavender Bloom Afternoon Tea Set for dine-in only.
Raikan Cahaya Ramadan – Ramadan Bazaar at Kampong Gelam
The Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. But Ramadan itself is important too as Muslims fast from dawn to sunset and break this fast for the evening meal, which is known as Iftar.
Raikan Cahaya Ramadan is a month-long activation that encapsulates the classic Ramadan bazaar with spectacular lights displays, delicious food, and a 10-day charity drive to celebrate the culture, family and Kampong spirit. Also, the festival’s mass Iftar will be happening on 1 April.
Raikan Cahaya Ramadan 2023 starts on March 15 at the Kampong Gelam precinct.
Purple Afternoon Tea at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore
Held for the fifth consecutive year, Purple Afternoon Tea – an annual initiative that contributes to the fund-raising efforts for women’s empowerment – returns to The Fullerton Hotels Singapore. You can do good while savouring a medley of handcrafted purple-hued creations like Cajun smoked duck with macadamia and butterfly blue pea flower gel, cassis caramel white chocolate ganache tart, and more. Guests who come dressed in any shade of purple will receive a complimentary purple cocktail too.
SGD5 nett from the proceeds of each adult’s purple-hued Afternoon Tea set will be donated to United Women Singapore, a non-profit organisation that aims to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment by promoting STEM.
Purple Afternoon Tea happens at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore till 31 March.
Chivas Regal F.C. Budding Programme Creative Showcase
The phrase ‘I Rise, We Rise’ differs for every individual. For Chivas’ REGAL F.C. mentors Jackson Aw (Mightyjaxx), Tobyato and Ng See Min (Henndrawn) and their mentees, it’s about the power of community. Organised by Chivas Singapore, the Scotch whiskey brand’s inaugural Budding Programme provides a collaborative space for them to create projects for a showcase at Chye Seng Huat Hardware.
Experience nostalgia with Team Mightyjaxx’s ‘Rise of the Snacks’ installation; follow ChiChi’s journey in Team Tobyato’s ‘Climb. Copy. Celebrate. Community.’ via a card game, and explore your state of mind with Team Smxne’s ‘Making The Unseen Visible’ visual display. This futuristic digital-assisted exhibition spotlights creativity and is definitely an Instagrammable hot spot as you sip on Chye Seng Huat’s coffee.
Chivas Regal F.C. Budding Programme Creative Showcase happens until March 12 at Chye Seng Huat Hardware, 150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207563. Admission is free.
Martell Noblige Swift Party
Get ready for an audacious night out and raise your glass of Martell as the iconic cognac brand celebrates exclusive Martell Noblige collaborations this March. Held at a secret location (revealed upon registration), you can taste unique Martell Noblige and coffee creations created by award-winning bartender Peter Chua of Night Hawk and coffee experts from local favourite Five Oars Coffee Roasters at an experimental cocktail bar.
Treasure also awaits in secret rooms as you marvel at the Martell x Amos Ananda collaboration collection up close. After this, join the bash and revel alongside performers such as Gen Neo, DJ Farah Farz, and DJ Inquisitive.
Martell Noblige Swift Party happens on March 30. Tickets are priced at SGD30 per pax (inclusive of 3 free drinks) and can be purchased at mar.tl/swiftparty. Location of the party will be revealed only after purchasing a ticket.
BE:FIRST’s One Man Tour BE:1 online concert archive stream
While K-pop is currently having its moment globally, discerning music lovers are still keeping tabs on J-pop too. Many contemporary Japanese pop songs are trending and having a viral moment thanks to TikTok. So, we wager that the genre will rise from the ashes. Among many promising young Japanese pop artists, BE:FIRST is a standout.
Although fresh from their debut in 2021, the seven-member dance and vocal group has already made waves domestically by sweeping number-one spots on various charts even before their debut. They also recently topped the Billboard Japan charts at #1 with their first comeback song of 2023, ‘Boom Boom Back’. This song’s accompanying dance #bbbチャレンジ (translated to bbb challenge) went viral on TikTok and attracted 38.2 million views.
As part of the group’s ‘One Man Tour BE:1’, BE:FIRST’s first arena performance at Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium is now available internationally via archive streaming. Witness their rise first-hand through these energetic live performances and you may end up rooting for them as a stan.
BE:FIRST’s One Man Tour BE:1 archive livestream happens till March 26. The online ticket costs JPY 3850 (roughly SGD 38.50).
29Rooms: Lost and Found (Singapore)
Ever wondered what it feels like to be part of an artwork? Experience interactive art when the multi-sensory and experiential exhibition 29Rooms arrives in Singapore. Executed by American media company Refinery29, the Singapore edition will see both international and local artists (like StephTCreates and Dawn Ng) conceptualising the respective 29 spaces.
The theme for the Singapore stop is ‘Lost and Found’, inspiring visitors to rediscover, reimagine and redefine the meaning of possibilities.
29Rooms: Lost and Found (Singapore) happens till April 16 at Gardens by the Bay – West Lawn. Tickets are priced from SGD35.
Sneakertopia
After successfully launching in Los Angeles, the sneaker-centric experiential and street culture exhibition will make its Asia debut in Singapore. Founded by Emmy Award-winning producer Steve Harris and Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur Steve Brown in 2019, Sneakertopia will showcase more than just limited edition hyped kicks (we’re talking more than a hundred pairs).
There will also be close to 50 murals, installations, designs and displays from 13 renowned American creatives such as McFlyy, Michael Murphy, and Mimi Yoon, which explore American street and pop culture. The spotlight will also shine on Singapore and Southeast Asia’s creative practices. This dedicated section showcases works by 16 Singaporean and locally-based creatives including artists Jahan Loh, Sam Lo, Soph O, and contemporary art and design collective PHUNK.
Sneakertopia happens from Feb 25 to July 30 at ArtScience Museum Singapore. Ticket prices start from SGD18.
Chatuchak Singapore
You wouldn’t need to travel to Bangkok, Thailand to experience the bustling vibes of the famed open-air market Chatuchak as the Singapore pop-up returns to the Grandstand at Turf Club Road.
Operating as a night market, it will feature a curated mix of local and Thai exhibitors offering food, handicrafts, and fashion. The latter, part of Thailand’s ‘One Tambon (sub-district) One Product’ program, brings in unique native-made products from selected sub-district in Thailand.
Chatuchak Singapore happens till April 2 from Tuesdays to Sundays at The Grandstand South Carpark, Turf Club Road. Admission is free.
ARTBOX Singapore
Experiential market ARTBOX Singapore returns after a three-year hiatus and will be held in an indoor air-conditioned hall for the first time. Co-organised with SGAG, more than 20 of the distinctive shipping containers in the 10,000 square feet space will host a slew of activities entertaining visitors of all ages.
Get ready to capture Instagrammable art installations by JELILO artist Lester Lim and vibrant lifestyle brand tokidoki as they tell a tale of hope, courage and inner strength from ARTBOX’s theme, ‘Vision’.
ARTBOX Singapore happens from Feb 24 to 26 and March 3 to 5 at Singapore Expo Hall Six. Tickets are priced from SGD5.
Les Jardin du Sofitel at Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Experience Art de Vivre, or ‘the art of living’, at Sofitel Singapore City Centre’s lobby bar 1864. Held in conjunction with and celebration of the global Vogue X Sofitel collaboration, 1864 will be transformed into a botanical wonderland offering a unique all-day dining menu featuring edible flowers and fashion elements.
The floral oasis is crafted by luxury floral design studio The Floral Atelier which includes Louis Vuitton, Dior, Saint Laurent, Cartier, and Valentino as its clients. Marvel this blooming installation while you savour the botanical afternoon tea set. Available daily, it features delectable bites like Light Truffle Duck Rillettes Croquette with Apple Lavender and Creamy Crab Meat with Lemon Chamomile.
Les Jardin du Sofitel happens from Feb 13 to Apr 9 at Sofitel Singapore City Centre.
Circular Futures: Next Gen
Sure, circularity closes the loop in sustainability. But we should aim to maximise resources and minimise waste too. Circular Futures: Next Gen demonstrates this by tapping into design and technology for smart solutions.
Showcasing 3D artworks (like prototypes of chandeliers) printed with recycled PET bottles, this exhibition highlights the capabilities of circulatory systems with custom designs that are otherwise impossible to produce via traditional manufacturing methods.
Circular Futures: Next Gen happens from now till Apr 9 at National Design Centre Singapore. Admission is free.
Singapore Biennale 2022
Now in its final months, Singapore Biennale continues to provoke thoughts and conversations with its progressive contemporary artworks scattered across the country. This seventh edition, named Natasha, prompts artists, collaborators, and audiences to re-discover ways of seeing and relating to the world.
Featuring over 50 artists and collaborators, marvel at multimedia installations and immersive experiences in Singapore Art Museum or exhibits beyond the mainland at the Southern Islands like Sentosa Cove Village, St. John’s Island, and Lazarus Island.
Singapore Biennale 2022 happens till Mar 19 at various locations.
