Singapore public holidays 2025 and how to maximise them
Block your leave before everyone else does!
· 5 min read
summary
Singaporeans love their public holidays, and as we look into 2025, many people are already looking at how best to maximise the public holidays. By planning your leave strategically, you can turn short breaks into long weekends and even mini-vacations. In this guide, we’ll cover the 2025 public holiday calendar for Singapore and give you tips on how to maximize your time off.
Public Holidays in Singapore in 2025
- 1 January 2025 (Wednesday): New Year’s Day
- 29 January 2025 - 30 January 2025 (Wednesday - Thursday): Chinese New Year
- 31 March 2025 (Monday) (subject to confirmation): Hari Raya Puasa
- 18 April 2025 (Friday): Good Friday
- 1 May 2025 (Thursday): Labour Day
- 12 May 2025 (Monday): Vesak Day
- 7 June 2025 (Saturday) (subject to confirmation): Hari Raya Haji
- 9 August 2025 (Saturday): National Day
- 20 October 2025 (Monday): Deepavali
- 25 December 2025 (Thursday): Christmas Day
Where to go for Each Public Holiday in Singapore 2025
Singaporeans tend to take every chance possible to travel out of the country, and if you are already planning your holidays for 2025 based on the public holiday calendar, let’s take a look at what are some of the best places to visit and how many days of leave you might need to take.
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, 1 Jan 2025
Chances are that you have already planned your year-end holiday, and that you might have combined the New Year’s Day break together with the Christmas holidays to get a one week off.
But, if you haven’t and are only starting to plan your holidays now, consider taking 2nd - 3rd January (Thursday - Friday) off to get a 5-day break.
A 5-day break will be more than enough for you to make a trip to some of Singapore’s favourite destinations in Asia — whether it is Bangkok, Bali, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or even Seoul and Tokyo.
A good thing about traveling from 1st January is that outbound tickets are likely to be cheaper since everyone is flying back to start the work year and outbound travel is likely to be of lower volume.
Chinese New Year – Wednesday, 29 Jan & Thursday, 30 Jan 2025
If you are planning to escape the visiting and Chinese New Year festivities, it is also a good opportunity for you to take a few days off to enjoy a longer holiday.
By taking only 3 leave days on 27 January, 28 January, and 31 January, you get to enjoy a full 9-day break (25 January to 2 Feb)! Of course, most companies would be on a half-day work day on the eve of Chinese New Year (28 January) so you might want to consider if it is worth taking one full day of leave for a half-day work day.
Chinese New Year is celebrated in many countries in the region, which limits your travel choices. Most Singaporeans will take the chance to visit Japan since Japan doesn’t celebrate Chinese New Year. It also coincides with peak skiing and snowboarding season in Japan!
Enjoy the winter in Japan and stay connected seamlessly with a Japan eSIM from Nomad!
Hari Raya Puasa – Monday, 31 Mar 2025
Assuming no changes to the dates for Hari Raya Puasa, you get a 3-day weekend with no leave required.
With a 3-day long weekend, you can do a quick trip to Thailand, Indonesia, or Malaysia. Consider getting your shopping fix in Bangkok, pop by Bintan for a chill and relaxing weekend, or head over to Penang to indulge in some local street food.
For those who are planning to travel to Japan or Korea for the cherry blossoms, it might be a good idea to take advantage of this long weekend since the flowers could start blooming from as early as end-March.
Good Friday – Friday, 18 Apr 2025
Good Friday is another 3-day weekend with no leave needed, but many may choose to extend your holidays by taking a day or two.
Plan a long weekend in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Explore bustling markets, try authentic Vietnamese coffee, and take a day trip to the Mekong Delta.
If you will be extending your holidays, chances are you might want to travel to Japan or Korea for the cherry blossoms. Consider taking leave the week prior to Good Friday to increase your chances of catching the flowers.
The dates for cherry blossoms have been increasingly unpredictable the past couple years, so do keep an eye out for the cherry blossoms forecast. However, you probably also want to book your air tickets and accommodation early since they will be expensive.
Labour Day – Thursday, 1 May 2025
Take one day off on 2 May (Friday) and get a 4-day weekend with just one day of leave!
With a 4-day weekend, Siem Reap, Cambodia is ideal for a short escape to explore the Angkor Wat temples and immerse yourself in Cambodian culture.
For those who are looking for a longer break, consider taking 6 days off to enjoy 12 days of holidays (combined with Vesak Day)! It would be a good chance for those who are planning to travel further. Travel beyond Asia and explore your favourite European destinations like Spain, France, or Germany!
Remember to get a Nomad eSIM for Europe to help you stay connected on your trip as you cross between multiple countries.
Oh, and in case you were wondering - Labour Day coincides with Japan’s Golden Week so you might not want to visit during that period.
Vesak Day – Monday, 12 May 2025
If you are not combining your Vesak Day holiday with the Labour Day one to get a long break, you will be able to enjoy a 3-day long weekend with no leave taken!
Discover the hidden gems of Langkawi, Malaysia. Known for its stunning beaches and scenic cable car rides, it’s a peaceful spot for a relaxing holiday.
Of course, as with most long weekends, we will see a lot of people crossing the causeway to Malaysia so be prepared for the crowds and heavy traffic.
Hari Raya Haji – Saturday, 7 Jun 2025
Depending on your company policy, you might get Monday off, or an off-in-lieu that you can take at any time might be granted.
If you don’t have to take Monday off, consider saving your off-in-lieu for another time so you can score a longer trip.
Since Hari Raya Haji also falls during the June holidays, air tickets could be expensive.
National Day – Saturday, 9 Aug 2025
Depending on your company policy, you might get Monday off, or an off-in-lieu that you can take at any time might be granted.
If you don’t have to take Monday off, consider saving your off-in-lieu for another time so you can score a longer trip.
August is peak summer season, so the heat might become rather unbearable in many of Singaporeans’ favourite destinations. If you will be traveling in August, consider a quick trip to Hong Kong where the summers are slightly less intense than the neighbouring countries. But be warned, it is still pretty bad.
Or if you have to take Monday off, consider taking a few more days and making a trip to Australia or New Zealand to escape the heat!
Deepavali – Monday, 20 Oct 2025
Yay, another 3-day weekend with no leave needed.
You can do a quick escape to Bintan Island, Indonesia for a rejuvenating break. Known for its resorts, beautiful beaches, and water sports, it’s perfect for a quick escape close to home.
Christmas Day – Thursday, 25 Dec 2025
You can take a 4 days off and take a break all the way until the new year! Or if you will be clearing your leave, you can take a few more days and enjoy the last two weeks of the year in another country.
You could visit Germany for their Christmas markets and soak up the festive season, or make a trip to the New York to celebrate New Years at Times Square! Of course, year-end air tickets are always pricey, so book in advance.
What do the long weekends mean for travelers into Singapore?
If you are planning to visit Singapore, you don’t necessarily have to avoid the long weekends!
Aside from the Chinese New Year holidays where some businesses could be closed, businesses are mostly operating as per usual on the other holidays. Tourist attractions could be a little more crowded.
But it is important to be aware that flight tickets could be slightly higher due to higher demand during that period, especially if you will be taking the chance to also visit the other countries in the region. Accommodation prices could also be higher since staycations are also a popular long weekend option for those who choose not to travel overseas.
If you will be traveling into Singapore during these periods, consider booking your flights and accommodation early. Remember to also get a travel eSIM for Singapore to help you navigate and explore the city!
