The first time I properly understood Hari Raya in Singapore, I was standing on a pavement in Geylang Serai at about ten at night, holding a paper cup of sweet bandung and being gently steered out of the way by a grandmother carrying four tubs of cookies. Everything around me glowed. Strings of lights ran over the street, the stalls were three deep, and somewhere a speaker was playing a festive song that every person within earshot seemed to know by heart. Nobody was in a hurry, and yet nobody was standing still. That is the feeling I want to give you in this guide: a city that slows down for family and speeds up for food.
If you are a visitor, Hari Raya is one of the best times to be in Singapore, and also one of the easiest times to get it slightly wrong. Shops close earlier than you expect, some roads are packed, and the best invitations cannot be bought. So this page is the longer, more honest version of what I would tell a friend flying in from abroad. It covers what the festival actually is, how the dates work, where to go, what to eat, what to wear, how to behave if you are invited into a home, and how to organise the practical bits such as entry rules, a data connection and getting about.
A quick word on names before we start. Singaporeans say "Hari Raya Puasa" for the festival that ends the fasting month of Ramadan, and you will also hear "Hari Raya Aidilfitri" and "Eid al-Fitr". They are the same celebration. There is a second festival, Hari Raya Haji, which falls about two months later, and I will explain the difference further down so you do not turn up on the wrong weekend.
What Hari Raya Puasa really is
Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, the month during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. For thirty days or so, the day is organised around two meals: the pre-dawn meal and the one at sunset that breaks the fast. When the new moon is sighted and the month is declared over, the mood changes completely. The morning begins with special congregational prayers at the mosque, families dress in their finest traditional clothes, and then comes the part that matters most to many people: asking for forgiveness.
Younger family members seek out their parents, grandparents and elders to say sorry for anything they did wrong during the year. The phrase you will hear is "maaf zahir dan batin", which roughly means forgiveness, outwardly and inwardly. It is an emotional moment, sometimes tearful, and then it dissolves into laughter, photographs and a lot of eating. Children receive small green packets with money in them, usually called duit raya, a cousin of the red packets you may know from Chinese New Year.
It is worth saying clearly that this is, at heart, a religious and family occasion rather than a tourist event. That does not make it closed to you. Singapore's Malay-Muslim community is generous with its traditions, and the public parts of the season, from the lights to the bazaars to the food, are very much meant to be shared. But the moment you understand that the real centre of the festival is the home, the rest of this guide will make more sense.
The festive season is longer than a day
The public holiday is just one day, and sometimes the following weekend feels like part of it. But the atmosphere begins weeks earlier. Decorations go up along the main Malay-heritage streets as Ramadan progresses, the bazaars fill with people shopping for new outfits and cookie tins, and by the last week of the fasting month the whole neighbourhood is at full volume. After the day itself, visiting continues for roughly a month. Families go from house to house in rotation, which is why you will hear people say they are "in the middle of raya rounds" long after the official date has passed.
For a visitor, this means there are really three windows. The weeks before, when the bazaars and lights are at their peak and the evenings are the main event. The day itself and the one after, when the city is calm and the mosques and homes are busy. And the weeks after, when you can still catch special menus and some decorations without the crush. I will come back to how to choose between them.
Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji are not the same
This is the question I get asked most, so let me deal with it early. Singapore has two Hari Raya public holidays, and they celebrate different things.
Hari Raya Puasa, the one this guide focuses on, ends the fasting month and is the more festive and food-centred of the two. Hari Raya Haji, sometimes called Eid al-Adha or the festival of sacrifice, falls around the time of the pilgrimage to Mecca. It has a solemn, charitable tone. Many Muslim families mark it with prayers and by contributing to the sharing of meat with neighbours and those in need, and it does not come with the huge bazaars and light-ups that make the Puasa season so visual.
| Festival | What it marks | Mood | What a visitor will notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hari Raya Puasa (Aidilfitri) | End of the fasting month of Ramadan | Joyful, family reunions, new clothes, feasting | Big bazaars, street lights, cookie tins, open houses, festive menus |
| Hari Raya Haji (Adha) | Remembrance linked to the pilgrimage season | Reflective, charitable, communal prayer | Full mosques in the morning, quieter streets, a public holiday but little festival decoration |
If you want the lights, the crowds, the dessert tables and the sense of a whole district celebrating, plan around Puasa. If you would like a calmer public holiday and a chance to see the community at prayer from a respectful distance, Haji is worth knowing about, but do not expect a festival atmosphere on the streets.
Getting the timing right: how the dates work
Here is the practical headache. The Islamic calendar follows the moon, and a lunar year is about ten or eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year. That means Hari Raya moves earlier by roughly that amount each year. A date that fell in late spring a few years ago now lands in March, and over time it will keep slipping backwards through the seasons.
The exact day is also confirmed late. In Singapore the announcement is made by the Islamic Religious Council after the new moon is sighted, which can leave the final date uncertain until the evening before. Because of that, the sensible approach is to treat any date you read in advance as approximate, plan your trip around a window of several days either side, and confirm the official public holiday on the Ministry of Manpower calendar closer to your travel date.
As a rough guide, for the coming year, the fasting month is expected to begin in the first half of February and the festival is expected to fall in the first half of March. These are expectations rather than promises, so please check before you commit to non-changeable arrangements.
| Window | Roughly when | What is happening | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead-up | The last two to three weeks of Ramadan | Bazaars at full strength, lights on, evening crowds, shopping for outfits and cookies | Food lovers, photographers, anyone who wants atmosphere |
| Eve of Hari Raya | The final night | Busiest bazaar night of the year, last-minute shopping, very late finish | Experienced visitors who cope well with crowds |
| Festival day and the day after | One or two days | Prayers, family visits, many shops shut, mosques busy | A calm city, quiet walks, meals at open restaurants |
| Raya rounds | Roughly the following month | Visiting continues, festive menus linger, bazaar crowds gone | Relaxed travel with festive touches and fewer people |
Which window should you choose?
If I had to pick one for a first-time visitor, I would choose the middle of the final week of Ramadan, on a weekday evening. The lights are on, the stalls are in full swing, and the crowd is thick but not frightening. The eve of Hari Raya is thrilling and also exhausting, with shoulder-to-shoulder lanes and queues for the most popular stalls. Go then if you thrive in a crowd, and not with a pram.
If crowds are your least favourite thing, aim for the week after the festival. You will miss the headline spectacle but you will still find festive food, friendly shopkeepers and a city that feels relaxed. Many families are travelling, the work week is gentle, and you can have long, quiet conversations over a plate of rendang.
Geylang Serai: the heart of the season
If there is one place that defines Hari Raya in Singapore, it is Geylang Serai. This is the long-established Malay district in the east of the island, and during the fasting month it turns into a vast bazaar of food stalls, clothing racks, home decor, cookie vendors and carnival-style attractions. The walkways under the lights are the single most photographed feature of the season.
The bazaar is generally open from the afternoon until late at night through the fasting month, and the real action begins once the sun goes down, because that is when fasting people can eat and shop in comfort. I always arrive around late afternoon, wander the clothing stalls first while the heat softens, and save the food for when the aromas are strongest.
How to reach it and how to handle it
The simplest way is to take the train to Paya Lebar, Eunos or Aljunied and then use a short bus ride, a taxi or a long walk. During the bazaar season, traffic around the area is heavy, and roads close or slow near the bazaar site, so a ride-hailing car that drops you ten minutes away is often faster than one that tries to get right to the entrance. I would rather walk the last stretch with everyone else and enjoy the street scene.
Some habits that will help you. Bring small notes and a bit of coin, because many stalls prefer quick payment and lines move faster when you are ready. Carry a bottle of water and wear shoes you do not mind getting scuffed. Keep your bag zipped and in front of you in the thickest sections. And be patient with queues: the stall that looks absurdly long usually deserves it.
What to buy and what to skip
The bazaar is not just for eating. You will see rows of traditional outfits, including the long loose tunic and skirt set known as baju kurung and the matching men's set called baju Melayu, along with scarves, prayer items, batik fabric and small gifts. Visitors often enjoy picking up a decorative cookie tin, a woven box or a bright tablecloth as a souvenir. For clothing, check sizes carefully and remember that returns can be tricky at a busy stall.
Food stalls come in two kinds. There are the classic hawker favourites, and there are the viral novelties, with brightly coloured drinks, towering desserts and fusion snacks that appear one year and vanish the next. I like to try one novelty out of curiosity and then spend the rest of my appetite on the classics.
Kampong Glam and the Sultan Mosque
If Geylang Serai is the noisy, joyful heart, Kampong Glam is the historic face. This compact neighbourhood around Arab Street, Haji Lane and Bussorah Street grew up around the royal Malay household and the Sultan Mosque, whose golden dome is one of the best-known silhouettes in Singapore. During the festive season the lanes around the mosque host smaller bazaars, and the shops sell dates, perfumes, textiles and sweets that look as good as they taste.
It is also the easiest place to experience the season if you have limited time. It sits close to Bugis, you can walk it in a morning, and there is plenty to do indoors if the afternoon rain arrives. The Malay Heritage Centre, set in the former palace compound, tells the story of the community in a calm, air-conditioned setting. Many visitors skip it because they are too busy photographing the street art, and that is a pity.
Visiting the mosque itself
The Sultan Mosque welcomes visitors outside prayer times, but it is a working place of worship, and the days around Hari Raya are among the busiest in its year. On the morning of the festival the mosque fills with worshippers and the surrounding streets are crowded, so it is respectful to leave the interior to the congregation and admire the exterior instead. On other days, check the visiting hours at the entrance, because they change around prayer times and religious events.
You should dress modestly, with shoulders, chest and knees covered. A loose robe or wrap is usually available at the entrance if you are not covered enough, but it is far better to arrive prepared. Women are not required to cover their hair in the visitor areas of most mosques here, though it is thoughtful to carry a light scarf. Remove your shoes before stepping onto the carpeted floor, speak quietly, and ask before taking photographs of anyone at prayer.
A morning in Kampong Glam
Here is how I would spend a relaxed morning. Start around nine, when the shutters go up and the light is soft, with a coffee on a quiet side street. Walk down Bussorah Street towards the mosque for the classic view of the dome framed by palm trees. Wander into the side lanes for murals and small boutiques, then circle back for a late breakfast of roti prata or nasi padang at a family-run cafe. By late morning the lanes get hot and busy, so finish with an hour at the Malay Heritage Centre or a cold drink and a browse among the fabric shops.
If you prefer a guide who knows the stories behind the alleys, a walking tour of Bugis, Waterloo Street and Kampong Glam is a good fit. A guide will point out details that are easy to walk past, such as the old trade signs, the temple tucked beside a mosque and the shophouse features you would not notice alone. It also takes away the stress of navigating crowds and heat, which matters more than you think when the city is celebrating.
Open houses: the tradition that cannot be booked
The most special part of Hari Raya is also the part you cannot buy. In Malay homes, the festival means welcoming relatives, neighbours and friends to a table piled with food. The open house is the heart of it. The door is open, the food is plentiful, and the idea is simple: everyone is welcome, and sharing a meal is how bonds are renewed.
As a visitor, the honest truth is that you will usually receive an invitation only through a person you know. If you have a colleague, friend or contact in Singapore who celebrates Hari Raya, it is perfectly fine to say you would love to experience it. Many hosts are delighted to be asked. Some community groups and neighbourhood committees also organise public open-house events or cultural showcases that welcome tourists, and these are announced shortly before the festival.
If you are invited, here is what I would do
- Say yes, and arrive within the time window you are given. Open houses often run for several hours, so you do not need to arrive at the exact start.
- Dress smartly and modestly. You do not need a traditional outfit, but a loose shirt with sleeves, trousers or a long skirt is a respectful choice.
- Bring a small gift. A box of good biscuits, fruit, dates or sweets works well. Avoid alcohol and avoid anything containing pork, and check if you are unsure.
- Remove your shoes at the door if others have left theirs outside.
- Use your right hand to eat, take a portion that you can finish, and accept a second helping if offered, because refusing everything can feel unfriendly.
- Say "Selamat Hari Raya" when you greet people. It is warm, simple and always appreciated.
- Keep the visit sociable. Putting your phone away for the meal says more than any gift.
A final note on this subject. Please do not invite yourself to a stranger's home, and please do not treat a family's celebration as a photo opportunity. The moment you are welcomed in, you are a guest, and the rules of being a good guest apply anywhere in the world.
What to eat at Hari Raya
The food is half the reason people love this season, and it is a good moment to understand what is on the table. Savoury dishes tend to be rich, coconut-based and slow-cooked. Sweet items are tiny, colourful and often baked in huge batches weeks in advance.
| Dish | What it is | When you will see it | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketupat | Rice cooked in woven palm leaf parcels, pressed into firm cubes | Festive tables, bazaar stalls | Eat it with rendang or satay gravy |
| Rendang | Beef or chicken slowly simmered in spiced coconut until dark and dry | The centrepiece of many raya meals | Ask for the version made fresh that day |
| Lontong | Compressed rice cakes in a vegetable and coconut broth | Breakfast at open houses | Add sambal for heat |
| Lemang | Glutinous rice cooked in bamboo with coconut milk | Bazaars and festive tables | Eat it warm, with rendang |
| Sambal goreng | Stir-fried vegetables and tempeh in chilli paste | Buffet spreads | A good veg-friendly side if you ask which versions have shrimp paste |
| Kuih and cookies | Pineapple tarts, almond biscuits, layered cakes and more | Cookie tins in every home | Buy a small assortment to share |
For the savoury dishes, I strongly suggest eating them the way they are meant to be eaten: a small bite of ketupat, a spoonful of gravy, a piece of meat, repeat. The flavours are designed to build on each other. If heat is a worry, ask the stallholder to go gently on the chilli or serve the sambal separately.
Eating well if you are halal-conscious or vegetarian
Most food at the Malay bazaars is prepared by Muslim vendors and is halal, though it is always sensible to look for a halal certificate if it matters to you. Vegetarians can have a good time too, with sambal goreng, vegetable curries, fried snacks, fresh fruit, kuih and many of the dessert stalls. Always ask whether a dish contains dried shrimp or fish stock, which are common in Southeast Asian cooking and not always visible.
Sweet things worth knowing about
The cookies deserve their own paragraph. Pineapple tarts are small buttery pastries with a sticky jam centre and they are the cookie that nearly everyone has a favourite brand of. Kueh bangkit are delicate coconut cookies that dissolve on the tongue. Almond London biscuits have a crisp shell, and love letters are thin, rolled wafers that are hard to stop eating. Families guard their own recipes, which is why the jar on the shelf at an open house can taste so different from the box you buy at a stall.
If the bazaar crowds feel like too much, a guided food experience is a gentler way to eat your way through the local scene. A premium hawker session with a chef's table element, for example, is a calm alternative to queuing for an hour, and it comes with explanations of what you are eating and why it matters. It is also a good rainy-day option.
The Hainan story and other food histories
Even though Hari Raya is a Malay-Muslim festival, Singapore's food scene is shared. A chicken rice tour in Bugis, for example, gives context for how migrant communities shaped the dishes you see every day. It will not teach you about Hari Raya itself, but it deepens your understanding of why Singapore's hawker culture is so layered. Combining a food story with a festive evening at the bazaar gives you a more rounded picture.
What to wear, and what not to
Singapore is hot and humid all year, so dressing respectfully without melting takes a little planning. The good news is that Malay traditional wear is designed for the tropics: loose, breathable and elegant. For visitors, the aim is not to wear a costume but to look tidy and covered where it matters.
| Situation | Wear | Avoid | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bazaars and street areas | Light cotton, breathable shoes, a hat or small umbrella | Very tight or revealing outfits, heavy bags | Casual is fine, but modest choices help you blend in |
| Visiting a mosque | Long trousers or skirt, sleeves covering shoulders, a light scarf | Shorts, sleeveless tops, anything see-through | Wraps may be offered, but arriving prepared is better |
| Open house or family visit | Smart casual, long sleeves if possible, easy slip-off shoes | Beachwear, strong perfume, anything flashy | Traditional outfits are welcome but never expected |
| Restaurant or hotel meal | Whatever you would normally wear | Nothing specific | Air-conditioning can be strong, so carry a light layer |
One tip that has saved me many times: a long, lightweight scarf. It works as a head covering, a shoulder wrap, a sun shield and an air-conditioning layer. Pair it with shoes you can slip off in seconds and you are prepared for most situations.
Greetings and manners that go a long way
You do not need to learn much Malay, but a few phrases make a real difference. "Selamat Hari Raya" is the festive greeting. "Terima kasih" means thank you. If someone is your host, "sedap" means delicious and will make their day. When greeting an older Muslim person, many people place a hand lightly on their chest after a gentle handshake rather than gripping. If you are a man greeting a Muslim woman, wait and see whether she offers her hand first. It is a small courtesy, and it avoids awkwardness.
Handing things over with your right hand, avoiding pointing with your finger and keeping your voice low in religious places are all part of the same spirit. Singapore is a very forgiving country for visitors, but people notice effort, and they appreciate it.
Getting around during the festival
Singapore's public transport is one of the best I have used anywhere, and it keeps running through the festival period. The trains and buses are reliable, but the timetables can be adjusted on public holidays, and the roads around the bazaars are crowded. The easiest solution is to use the trains for the long part of your journey and walk or take a short taxi ride for the rest.
A stored-value transit card removes the hassle of buying tickets and makes hopping on buses effortless. If you are staying more than a day or two, it is worth picking one up. Having it in hand also helps when you suddenly decide to take a bus out to a neighbourhood you had not planned to visit.
Public holiday closures
On the day of Hari Raya itself, many small shops, family-run eateries and Malay businesses close so that owners can celebrate. Large malls, hotels, major attractions and many restaurants remain open, though some run shorter hours. Hawker centres vary: those in Malay-majority areas may be partly shut, while others stay open as usual. If you have a must-visit place, check its holiday hours in advance and have a back-up.
The eve of the festival is the day when hours also change. Offices finish early, bazaar stalls open late, and the roads get crowded as families travel to reunion meals. If you can, arrange your own transport and your restaurant bookings with the same awareness that you would for a major holiday anywhere.
Crossing the Causeway: a note for those heading to Malaysia
Many Singapore families travel to Malaysia for Hari Raya, a tradition known as balik kampung, or going back to the village. If your trip includes a day or two across the border, expect the land checkpoints to be exceptionally busy in the days before and after the festival. Queues at the Causeway and the Second Link can be long, and it is wise to give yourself generous buffer time, or travel on an off-peak day. A cross-border ferry, such as the service to Batam, is another option, though you should check schedules and passport rules before you go.
Weather and crowds
Singapore sits near the equator, so the temperature barely changes through the year, hovering around the high twenties to low thirties Celsius. Humidity is the real factor. In the first half of the year, afternoon showers are common but usually short. Dress lightly, carry a compact umbrella, and plan indoor stops, such as museums or malls, for the hottest and wettest parts of the afternoon.
For crowds, the pattern is simple. Evenings are busier than daytimes at the bazaars. Weekends are busier than weekdays. And the final three nights of the fasting month are the busiest of all. If you want to see the lights without battling a crowd, go early on a weekday evening, around the time the sun sets, then leave when the queues start to build.
A three-day plan around Hari Raya
Here is a plan I would give to a friend with three free days around the festival. It mixes the cultural highlights with comfortable rest time, and it is easy to shift around if a day gets rained out. Adjust it depending on whether you are arriving in the lead-up or after the day itself.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Heritage | Kampong Glam walk, Sultan Mosque exterior, Bussorah Street | Malay Heritage Centre, cool drink, rest at the hotel | Dinner at a Malay restaurant and a stroll to see the festive lights |
| Day 2: Food and bazaar | Late start, easy breakfast, a trades and heritage experience | Short rest, then head east | Geylang Serai bazaar at sunset, dinner from the stalls, cookies for the road |
| Day 3: City views | Open-top bus or a river-side walk | Museum or gardens to escape the heat | A calm meal, souvenir shopping, early night |
On Day 2, one of the more unusual ways to spend a morning is to learn about the vanishing trades of old Singapore, such as the craftspeople and street professions that built the city. It sits nicely alongside Hari Raya because it is about the same thing: traditions carried by families and communities. And on Day 3, a hop-on, hop-off open-top bus is a relaxed way to see the skyline and Marina Bay without worrying about directions.
If you only have one day
Do the Kampong Glam walk in the morning, an air-conditioned break through the middle of the day, and finish at Geylang Serai if it is the fasting month, or at a favourite Malay restaurant if it is not. This gives you a taste of history, food and community without trying to do everything.
If you are travelling with children or older relatives
Go early, avoid the final three nights, and treat the bazaar as a short, targeted visit rather than a full evening. Choose a weekday, carry water, and agree on a meeting spot in case you get separated. Older relatives will enjoy sitting down to a good meal in a calm restaurant and then walking a short stretch of the lights, rather than a full circuit. Strollers are possible in quieter hours, but in the thickest crowds they become a challenge.
How much will it cost?
Singapore is not a cheap city, but Hari Raya is one of the more affordable ways to see it, since the best parts are walking, eating and soaking in atmosphere. Food at the bazaar can be inexpensive if you choose carefully. Meanwhile, accommodation prices around the festival can rise, especially near public holiday weekends, so booking your room earlier is the smartest saving.
| Item | Approximate cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bazaar snacks and a drink | A few dollars each | Prices vary by stall; novelty items cost more |
| Sit-down Malay meal | Modest to moderate | Set meals and sharing plates are good value |
| Transit card | S$12.00 to buy | Top up as you go; handy for trains and buses |
| Data eSIM, short trip | From S$3.00 | Activate it before you arrive |
| Food pass | From S$48.47 | Good for tasting several dishes in one outing |
| Open-top city bus | From S$26.44 | A relaxed city overview, popular with families |
| Walking tour in Kampong Glam | From S$61.64 | Includes a guide who knows the shortcuts |
As a general approach, I budget for a daily spend that covers food, transport and one paid experience, and I keep a small cushion for the things I cannot predict, like a taxi when the rain comes down or an impulse purchase of a cookie tin. Prices shown on HolidaySG are listed in Singapore dollars, and the amount shown at checkout is what you pay.
Getting in: visas, flights and staying connected
Before you plan the fun part, make sure you can actually enter. Many nationalities can visit Singapore for a short stay without a visa, but not all, and the rules are set by the immigration authority, not by us. Every short-term visitor must also submit a digital arrival card before landing, usually within a few days of arrival. It is free, takes a few minutes and is much easier on your phone than at the airport.
If you are not sure whether you need a visa, the HolidaySG visa requirements checker is a good place to start. It lays out the typical options by passport and destination, based on government and embassy sources. For passports that do require a visa, applications are normally made through an authorised agent or a local sponsor rather than directly. The fee in our records is SGD 30 and the usual processing time is three to five working days, though this can be longer in peak periods. Please treat this as guidance and check with the official source, because the rules can change and nothing here guarantees approval.
The flight reservation question
One thing I see travellers stress about is proof of onward travel, which some visa applications or airlines ask for. A paid ticket is not always required at the application stage. For those cases, HolidaySG offers a flight reservation service that provides a reservation document you can attach to a visa application. It is important to understand what this is: a reservation is not an issued ticket, it does not mean you have a seat for sure, and it does not promise that an embassy will accept it. It simply supports your paperwork while you finalise your plans.
Staying connected
Mobile data is the thing I would sort out before landing. A short-stay eSIM lets you check maps, look up bus routes and message your host without hunting for a SIM shop at the airport. Install it before you fly, switch it on once you land, and keep your normal SIM for calls if you need it.
From the airport to the city
Changi Airport is connected by train, bus and taxi, and a private transfer is a comfortable option if you arrive late or are travelling with luggage and children. During the festive weekends the road network is busier, so allow extra time if you have a fixed dinner or a hotel check-in window.
Respecting the occasion: a short list
I do not want to end the practical part with a lecture, so here is the shortest list of habits I have found useful. Keep your voice low in places of worship. Ask before photographing people, especially at prayer. Do not eat or drink openly in front of people who are fasting during the daytime in the fasting month, as a courtesy rather than a rule. Say thank you often. And if you make a mistake, smile and apologise. Most people will treat it as a sign of interest.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hari Raya Puasa next year?
It depends on the sighting of the new moon, so the exact date is confirmed shortly before. As a guide, it is expected in the first half of March, about eleven days earlier than this year. Check the official public holiday list closer to your travel date and keep your plans flexible by a day.
Can a non-Muslim visitor attend an open house?
Yes, if you are invited. Open houses are warm, social occasions, and guests of all backgrounds are welcome. Bring a small gift, dress modestly, remove your shoes and say Selamat Hari Raya.
Will shops and attractions be closed on Hari Raya?
Many small, family-run shops close for the day. Most malls, hotels, large attractions and many restaurants stay open, sometimes with shorter hours. Always check the holiday hours of the specific place you want to visit.
What should I wear to the Geylang Serai bazaar?
Light, breathable clothes with covered shoulders and knees are comfortable and respectful, along with closed or sturdy sandals. You do not need a traditional outfit, though many visitors enjoy buying one there.
Is the bazaar suitable for children?
Yes, on weekday early evenings. There are snacks, colours and lights that children love. Avoid the last few nights of the fasting month if you have small children, because the crowds get very dense.
Do I need a visa to visit Singapore?
It depends on your passport. Many travellers can enter visa-free for short stays, while others need a visa through an authorised route. Use our visa requirements page to see the typical options, and confirm with the official immigration authority before you travel.
How do I book tours and tickets for my trip?
You can browse and book Singapore tours, tickets, transfers and eSIMs on HolidaySG. E-tickets are emailed after our team confirms your booking, so please plan with that in mind.
What is the best way to try lots of local food?
Combine one evening at the bazaar with a guided or pass-based hawker experience. That way you have the festival energy and a calmer chance to taste and ask questions.
Planning your Hari Raya trip to Singapore?
Pick up a food pass, a Kampong Glam walking tour, a data eSIM and a city bus ride in one place, and check your entry requirements before you fly. Browse Singapore activities and build a festive week that suits your pace.
One last thought. The best Hari Raya memories I have are not of the biggest lights or the longest queues. They are of small moments: a stranger pressing a cookie into my hand, a child proudly showing me her new outfit, an elderly man explaining the history of a street with obvious love. Go with curiosity, eat generously, listen well, and Singapore will give you far more than a list of places to tick off.