A collage featuring the illuminated National Gallery Singapore during the Light to Night Festival 2026, alongside the Captain Explorer DUKW boat at sunset and the FunVee open-top bus tour

Singapore 3 min read

Day to Night Guide: How to Experience Singapore’s ‘Light to Night’ Festival 2026 Like a Pro

Author

Angela

Published

December 15, 2025

If you are visiting Singapore this January, you are arriving just in time for the city's most visually stunning event: The Light to Night Festival 2026.

Running from January 9 to January 31, 2026, this festival transforms the Civic District into an open-air digital art museum. We’re talking about massive, animated light projections dancing across the façades of historic buildings like the National Gallery and Victoria Theatre.

It is spectacular—but it involves a lot of walking.

Here is the rookie mistake most tourists make: they walk around the city sightseeing all day, so by the time the festival lights turn on at 8:00 PM, they are too exhausted to enjoy it.

Step 1: Save Your Legs with FunVee™ Hop-On Hop-Off (Daytime)

Before the sun goes down, you want to see the key sights without the sweat. The FunVee™ City Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing bus is your best friend here.

Cruising on the open-top deck allows you to "scout" the festival locations by day. You’ll pass the Padang, National Gallery, and Old Supreme Court in their glorious daylight architecture, giving you a great "before" perspective to compare with the "after" shots at night.

Important Planning Note: The FunVee™ Hop-On Hop-Off operates from 08:45 AM to 4:45 PM (Tuesday to Sunday). This is perfect timing—it forces you to finish your heavy sightseeing by late afternoon, leaving you fresh for the evening festivities.

Happy family exploring the Singapore city on the FunVee open-top bus.

Step 2: The Sunset Bridge with Captain Explorer DUKW™

As the FunVee™ services wrap up around 4:45 PM, it’s time to transition to "Golden Hour."

Head over to Marina Square and board the Captain Explorer DUKW™ Tour. This authentic Vietnam War-era amphibious vehicle gives you the best of both worlds. You’ll drive past the Civic District one last time before splashing down into the water at Marina Bay.

It is the perfect "intermission" between your day tour and your night out. You get to rest your feet, feel the wind in your hair, and see the Singapore skyline shimmer as the sun begins to lower.

Orange Captain Explorer DUKW amphibious vehicle cruising on Marina Bay waters during a vibrant sunset, with the Singapore skyline including Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer in the background.

Step 3: Immerse Yourself in the Light to Night Festival

Now that you’ve seen the city by land and water—and saved your energy—you are ready for the main event.

From the DUKW™ drop-off point at Marina Square, it is a short, scenic walk to the Civic District. Since you didn't walk 20,000 steps during the heat of the day, you have plenty of energy to explore the festival zones, snap photos of the art installations, and grab a late dinner at a festival food truck or a nearby restaurant.

Large, illuminated pink and blue shell-shaped inflatable art installations at night, set against the backdrop of the Singapore Central Business District skyline.

Your "Perfect Energy" Itinerary (Jan 9 – 31)

Don't burn out! Follow this schedule for the perfect mix of relaxation and excitement:

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Use your FunVee™ Hop-On Hop-Off Pass to explore the city at your own pace. Hop off at Chinatown or Little India for lunch, then hop back on to cool down and sit back to Marina Square.
4:30 PM or 5:30 PM: Board the Captain Explorer DUKW™ Tour (Boarding point at Marina Square Shopping Mall). Enjoy the splashdown and the sunset views.
6:30 PM: Early dinner near Esplanade or Suntec City.
7:30 PM: Stroll over to the Padang/National Gallery as the sky turns dark.
8:00 PM: The Light to Night projections begin! Enjoy the show on foot with fresh legs and a full camera battery.

👉 Ready for January?

Singapore in January offers beautiful breezy weather, but it’s still smart to conserve your energy. Let our buses and boats do the hard work so you can enjoy the night lights to the fullest.

Book Your FunVee™ Hop-On Hop-Off Pass Here Book Your Captain Explorer DUKW™ Tour Here

Day to Night Guide: How to Experience Singapore’s ‘Light to Night’ Festival 2026 Like a Pro

The Pro Strategy? Ride by day, walk by night.

Here is the ultimate itinerary to maximizing your January trip using City Tours.

Step 1: Save Your Legs with FunVee™ Hop-On Hop-Off (Daytime)

Step 2: The Sunset Bridge with Captain Explorer DUKW™

Step 3: Immerse Yourself in the Light to Night Festival

Your "Perfect Energy" Itinerary (Jan 9 – 31)

👉 Ready for January?

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