Rain Or Shine, It’s Time To Grab Your Picnic Basket Because Singapore’s Typically Unpredictable Weather Can’t Stop Your Picnic Indoors!
Picnics are always associated with sunny days, green fields, and a wicker basket filled with yummy homemade treats and drink. The only problem is how life in the tropics comes with unpredictable weather that can sometimes put a damper on your picnic plans!
But picnics don’t necessarily have to be a sun-drenched affair. Not when you have hidden gems and fantastic developments that offer cosy, shaded, well-ventilated, and sometimes air-conditioned spots for picnickers to enjoy a true modern day picnic!
So the next time it rains, rejoice in the fact that your mood does not have to reflect the gloomy weather because your picnic plans can still go on. From architectural marvels to simple spaces that blend nature with modernity, and hidden nooks within popular buildings, we’ve curated a list of indoor picnic spots you can check out for your next picnic session.
All you have to do is pick a spot from the list below, pack your picnic mat along with delicious meals and refreshing drinks in the Montigo Ace Bottle, and you’re all ready to enjoy a fun (and perhaps) memorable picnic with loved ones even during bad weather!
Top 9 Spots To Enjoy An Indoor Picnic In Singapore This Weekend
1. Shiseido Forest Valley, Jewel Changi Airport
Jewel at Changi Airport is renowned for its stunning indoor waterfall, the HSBC Rain Vortex, which rivals that of Marina Bay Sands’ Rain Oculus as the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. It’s surrounded by lush greenery and retail outlets across several floors, but did you know that you can also enjoy a picnic while admiring its serene ambiance?
The place you’ll want is the Shiseido Forest Valley, where visitors of this verdant zone can pick a quiet spot and take a seat at one of the many benches to enjoy a meal along with a beverage or two, all while taking in the serenity of the indoor forest.
Even though the Jewel treats you to ample sunlight because of its glass dome, its fully air-conditioned state still makes it a great place for picnickers to get a good view of the Rain Vortex while relaxing comfortably. And since there are benches about the place, you don’t have to lug a picnic mat around just to ensure you have a clean spot to sit.
Admission Fee: None, unless you intend to visit the Canopy Park which requires a ticket purchase
Opening Hours: 24 hours, daily
Address: Shiseido Forest Valley, Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Blvd, Singapore
Nearest MRT Station: Changi Airport MRT Station (East-West Line/Green Line)
2. Treehouse Trail, Changi City Point
The Treehouse Trail is a unique outdoor-themed area located within the Changi City Point Mall that is designed to resemble a treehouse. It’s found near the mall’s waterpark, which makes this particular picnic spot perfect for families.
This particular picnic spot doesn’t provide a full indoor picnic experience like Jewel, so it may not be suitable for picnics during rainy days. But since it’s at a well-ventilated and shaded outdoor area within the mall premises, families who prefer to keep away from the sun can still enjoy a daytime picnic while kids run about safely within the area.
Just like the Shiseido Forest Valley at Jewel, you won’t need to bring a picnic mat or chair for this one as there are benches and little canopies that are readily available for you.
Admission Fee: None
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm, daily
Address: 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, Singapore, 486038
Nearest MRT Station: Singapore Expo MRT Station (East-West Line/Green Line and Downtown Line/Blue Line)
3. Sky Park at VivoCity
VivoCity’s Sky Park is a spacious outdoor area at VivoCity’s highest floor that gets you panoramic views of Sentosa and the harbour's sea view. While it isn’t entirely an indoor picnic, it does have proper sheltered sections for picnickers to find refuge from the sweltering tropical heat and bouts of light rainfall.
Visitors are able to bring their own picnic mats and little picnic set ups like portable chairs and a portable picnic dining table to create their own little relaxed picnic experience under the shade. The Sky Park is a family favourite picnic spot because there are multiple shallow pools for the kid’s entertainment while parents can take this rare moment to have a relaxing break.
Bonus Tip: Did you know that you can even rent little paddle boats for the kids to enjoy on-site?
Personally, I love how it’s within VivoCity so I can easily pop by any of the restaurants around and pack a nice lunch for the picnic instead of cooking up something at home - this is something convenient to keep in mind if you’re not in the mood to cook!
Admission Fee: None
Opening Hours: 6am - 11pm, daily
Address: VivoCity Sky View Point, 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore, 098585
Nearest MRT Station: HarbourFront MRT Station (North East Line/Purple Line and Circle Line/Orange Line)
4. Henderson Waves via Telok Blangah Hill Park
Singapore’s highest pedestrian bridge, known for its distinctive wave-like structure offers picnickers a semi-indoor picnic with a picturesque view of the natural scenery and skyline that surrounds it. Did you know that the shaded areas that offer picnickers a nicely shaded and well-ventilated environment are part of the bridge’s structure? How awesome is that!
That said, this semi-indoor picnic spot is found deep within a walking trail that connects Mount Faber Park to the Telok Blangah Hill Park. With that I’d recommend coming prepared with comfy shoes on because you’ll be taking a 15-20 minutes walk through the trail before arriving at the bridge. Don’t forget to pack light and skip the picnic chairs and mat with the walk in mind!
The walk will be well worth it because…how many can say they had a picnic on Singapore's highest pedestrian bridge? ;)
Admission Fee: None
Opening Hours: 24 hours, daily (Lights come on 7pm - 2am, daily)
Nearest MRT Station: Redhill MRT Station (East-West Line/Green Line)
5. Star Terrace at The Star Vista
The Star Terrace at The Star Vista’s third floor is a lesser known indoor picnic spot hidden within this shopping complex. The area’s surface is made out of wooden planks, which serves as a nice, soft seating alternative to the tough concrete flooring found in most indoor picnic spots. That said, wooden benches are also available if you’re not keen on the surface!
One of the best ways to enjoy the Star Terrace’s hidden picnic spot is to come on a day with no performance or event, and bring your picnic mat to enjoy a serene picnic with friends or a romantic picnic with your significant other amidst the cooling breeze thanks to the clever, well-ventilated structure of The Star Vista.
Since it’s also a shopping complex populated with dining establishments, you can choose to pack your picnic meals at home or opt for take outs from your favourite eateries or convenience store.
Admission Fee: None
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm, daily
Address: The Star Terrace, 3rd Floor, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore, 138617
Nearest MRT Station: Buona Vista MRT Station (East-West Line/Green Line and Circle Line/Orange Line)
6. PAssion WAve at Jurong Lake Gardens
When you think of PAssion WAve, you’ll probably immediately think of watersports and outdoor activities. But did you know that the PAssion WAve hub at the Jurong Lake Gardens is also home to a recreation centre that offers visitors a nice, cosy spot for an indoor picnic by the waterfront?
While PAssion WAve’s recreation hub is primarily an outdoor venue, the indoor picnic spot is a nicely shaded, well-ventilated area where picnickers can enjoy the lake’s naturally cooling breeze.
This picnic spot doesn’t provide any benches or tables for picnickers to use, but picnickers are welcomed to bring their own picnic mats and setups to be laid out in the designated picnic and green areas. So don’t forget your picnic mat and picnic basket of yummy delights!
After your picnic, you can always opt to walk off the food you’ve enjoyed in the Jurong Lake Gardens to make it a truly wholesome picnic outing.
Admission Fee: None
Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm on Tuesdays to Sundays. Closed on Mondays
Address: 100 Yuan Ching Rd, Singapore, 618662
Nearest MRT Station: Lakeside MRT Station (East-West Line/Green Line)
7. Esplanade Roof Terrace
Singapore’s iconic durian dome prides itself with three things; the unique spiky shape of its dome which gave it its famous moniker of durian dome, its roof terrace’s meticulously maintained green lawns, and lastly, its stunning scenic view of the Singapore skyline where night picnickers are treated to a panoramic view of Singapore’s glistening concrete jungle.
The Esplanade’s rooftop terrace is part shaded and part exposed, making it a semi-indoor picnic spot for picnickers to enjoy both a nicely shaded time outside in peace, or to admire the artistic sculptures that litter the terrace. It’s a true paradise for picnickers who are also enthusiastic photographers and content creators.
There aren’t any picnic tables provided in the area so it’s best to bring your own picnic mat and lay it on the Esplanade Roof Terrace’s soft lawn in a nicely shaded spot. Those who aren’t too keen on cooking up a picnic feast can always opt to visit the cafes and casual eateries that are found in the lower grounds of the Esplanade over lugging a full picnic basket about.
Bonus Tip: The Esplanade Roof Terrace is also a fantastic spot for families to bring little children on picnics as there is a hidden free-of-charge children’s playground in the vicinity.
Admission Fee: None
Opening Hours: 6am - 3am, daily
Address: 1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore, 038981
Nearest MRT Station: Esplanade MRT Station (Circle Line/Orange Line)
8. LASALLE Campus Green at LASALLE College Of The Arts, Rochor Campus
LASALLE’s Campus Green is a lovely open, grassy area within the LASALLE College Of The Arts’ Rochor Campus that boasts an artistic ambiance in a free, breezy, youthful environment. The indoor picnic spot here is found at the location’s green, grassy stretch, nestled between two of LASALLE’s architectural marvel that appear as though two buildings were pulled apart from one.
The said grassy patch we spoke of is an outdoor space that is fully sheltered from rain and shine, so picnickers can leisurely spread their picnic mat on the astroturf (synthetic grass stretch) and enjoy fresh air without basking under the harsh sun rays. Even humidity is a far worry because the building’s structure was carefully constructed to ensure that it’ll always be well-ventilated with a natural cooling breeze.
You’ll often find LASALLE’s students utilising the space to run discussions or dance practices, so I’d recommend this as a quiet picnic spot to avoid any disruption to the day-to-day of things on campus grounds.
Admission Fee: None
Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm, Mondays to Fridays only
Address: 1 McNally St, Singapore, 187940
Nearest MRT Station: Rochor MRT Station (Downtown Line/Blue Line)
9. Flower Dome at Gardens By The Bay
Between the famous Cloud Dome and Flower Dome, the Flower Dome is definitely the winner here when it comes to indoor picnic spots! The Flower Dome is a massive greenhouse within the Gardens By The Bay along the Marina Barrage that is home to a vast collection of plants and flowers from Mediterranean and semi-arid regions of the world.
It’s fully indoors and air-conditioned to maintain a cool temperature, making it an ideal picnic spot for both visitors and even the resident foliage, especially considering Singapore’s natural humidity. This is one particular indoor picnic spot that is both picturesque and comfortable. But having said that, it does come at a fee as you’ll have to purchase a ticket to be allowed entry.
Visitors are also not allowed to bring in picnic mats or picnic equipment, but picnickers can rest easy knowing that there are concrete and wooden benches found throughout the Flower Dome. So even with the restriction on picnic equipment, you can still pack your picnic basket with delicious goodies and refreshing beverages to be enjoyed in this beautifully perfect place!
Admission Fee: S$12 per Singaporean Resident Adult and S$8 per Singaporean Resident Child and Senior Citizen. S$20 per International Adult and S$12 per International Child.
Opening Hours: 9am - 9pm, daily
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore, 018953
Nearest MRT Station: Bayfront MRT Station (Circle Line/Orange Line and Downtown Line/Blue Line)
