Long weekends in Singapore 2024
Sadly, we can’t bend time or multiply your company’s annual leave policy so you can get some extra paid time off. But, we were able to crack the long weekends code so you can have 10 mini vacations throughout the year by using minimal leave days.
The cheat sheet below contains crucial info about public holidays and long weekend in 2024, as well as a strategy on how to maximise every single one. Plus, we’re throwing in vacay destinations so all you gotta do is pack your bags.
– January –
1. New Year’s Day – 3-day long weekend
Lesser-known Johor destinations like Kluang
PH falls on: Monday, 1st Jan 2024
Number of AL needed: 0
Feed & pet goats on the farm.
Image credit: @makebadart.py via Instagram
With the public holiday being a Monday, you’ll be starting the year off strong with a 3-day-long weekend. Consider this your time to recover from the NYE hangover and visit the dreamy Kluang or rustic Pengerang’s coastal town. Both are great destinations for hiking, cafe-hopping, and just straight-up chilling.
Plus, they’re both under 2 hours away from Johor Bahru Checkpoint. If you end up in Talula Hill Farm Resort, book a stay at Talula Hill Farm Resort.
– February –
2. Chinese New Year – 3-day long weekend
Kuching, Malaysia
PH falls on: Saturday & Sunday, 10th-11th Feb 2024
Number of AL needed: 0
Image credit: @the.waterfront.hotel.kuching via Instagram
CNY 2024 falls on the weekend which means you’ll automatically get the following Monday off. For a dreamy 3-day escape that happens to be just 1 hour away from Singapore, Kuching is unmatched.
At the capital of Sarawak, you can combine a trip to see orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre with a tour of the majestic rock formation at Bako National Park and the slender waterfalls at Bengoh Dam. Fill out the rest of your itinerary eating big prawn laksa at Golden Arch and sipping coffee at Meow Meow cat cafe.
– March –
3. Good Friday – 3-day long weekend
Desaru, Malaysia
PH falls on: Friday, 29th Mar 2024
Number of AL needed: 0
The 3-day long weekend during Good Friday calls for a mini getaway to the coast of Desaru, Malaysia.
At this small town near JB, you can slip and slide on 20 slides at Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark, chill with hundreds of ostriches at a farm, and explore an abandoned jetty. There’s also an all-you-can-eat durian buffet at Desaru Fruit Farm that’s worth obsessing over.
– April –
4. Hari Raya Puasa – 5-day long weekend
Tokyo or Osaka Japan
PH falls on: Wednesday, 10th Apr, 2024
Number of AL needed: 2
Thanks to the way Hari Raya Puasa lands on a Wednesday in 2024, you’ll only need to take 2 days off to be work-free for 5 days straight. Meaning, you can jet set to a far-flung destination like Japan if you please.
With sakura set to bloom from late March through to May, you’ll be able to find pink and white cherry blossoms sprinkled on the tree-lined streets of Tokyo. Given the weak JPY, you’ll also save some cash while you’re out gorging on Japanese food. Should you feel the need to diversify, Ghibli Park in Nagoya and Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan won’t disappoint.
– May –
5. Labour Day – 5-day long weekend
Hong Kong
PH falls on: Wednesday, 1st May 2024
Number of AL needed: 2
In May, you’ll be blessed with yet another 5-day long weekend by strategically using 2 annual leave days. Then, take yourself on a trip to Hong Kong.
Home to stunning islands, great restaurants, and vibrant museums, Hong Kong is truly an ideal getaway spot. Hop on a scenic ferry or tram ride across the harbour, feast on dim sum, and hike up The Peak. If that hasn’t convinced you to pay the country a visit, then maybe the new Frozen- themed attraction that recently opened at Hong Kong Disneyland will.
6. Vesak Day – 5-day long weekend
Island hopping in Boracay, Philippines
PH falls on: Wednesday, 22nd May 2024
Number of AL needed: 2
If snorkel, swim, and repeat sounds like your type of holiday, then island-hopping in the Philippines should be right at the top of your list – especially when Vesak Day approaches.
Besides the unreal turquoise blue water, Boracay is also known for its cheap watersports and party scene. Work up a sweat with standup paddleboarding, take a dip to cool off, and then contemplate the meaning of life as you stare off into the sunset on an evening cruise.
– June –
7. Hari Raya Haji – 3-day long weekend
Krabi, Thailand
PH falls on: Monday, 17th Jun 2024
Number of AL needed: 0
For a relaxing 3-day long weekend during Hari Raya Haji, skip the tourist-strewn Bangkok or Phuket and head to Krabi.
With hot spring waterfalls, towering cliffs in the ocean, and serene beaches, this little Thai town is as close to paradise as you can get. Boats from the pier will take you on kayaking excursions and cave expeditions, as well as to nearby islands like Koh Phi Phi. But if all you want to do is sipping coconut water while lounging on the beach, we won’t stop you.
– August –
8. National Day – 4-day long weekend
Da Nang & Hue, Vietnam
PH falls on: Friday, 9th Aug 2024
Number of AL needed: 1
The trio of tourist attractions in Vietnam that’s Da Nang, Hue, and Hoi An is where you should head to during the National Day long weekend.
Located in Quang Nam Province, the cities are perfect spots if your mission involves passing out on the beach, hitting up historical sites like a castle where the last Vietnamese king resided, and touring an ancient village on 2 wheels. The best part is, everywhere you go, you’ll find supreme street food. Eat banh mi at every chance you get.
– October –
9. Deepavali – 4-day long weekend
Palau
PH falls on: Thursday, 31st Oct 2024
Number of AL needed: 1
Next year’s Halloween will be all treats and no tricks, given you’ll have the day off thanks to Deepavali. It’s on a Thursday, so naturally, you’ll want to take Friday off and board a flight to Palau.
Image credit: @lance_diving via Instagram
A 5-hour 20-minute flight away, the island attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year who arrive for some of the world’s most sought-after diving areas. There are all sorts of diving tours here, such as shark dives, drift dives, wreck dives – you name it, they have it.
If diving isn’t for you, there’s still the famous Jellyfish Lake that’s filled with millions of harmless golden jellyfish where you can snorkel and swim.
– December –
10. Christmas & New Year’s – 12-day long weekend
Road trip through Europe
PH falls on: Wednesday, 25th Dec 2024 & Wednesday, 1st Jan 2025
Number of AL needed: 6
With Christmas and New Year’s Day being days apart, you’ll only need to take 6 days off to get a total of 12 days out of the office. That should be enough for a road trip through Europe where you can cross multiple cities off your bucket list.
Rent a camper van to road trip through Europe.
There are plenty of routes you can take: highspeed trains that cover England, France, Belgium, and The Netherlands; scenic car rides along the coast of Spain, France, and Monaco; calming cruises through the Northern capitals of Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. If you opt for the latter trip and find yourself in Swedish Lapland, you might get to see the northern lights.
Word is, the green and yellow swirls are going to shine the brightest in 2024.
Jetset during Singapore long weekends in 2024
Long weekends don’t get the credit they deserve. You’ll only need minimal annual leave days to gain maximum holiday vibes. And now, you can stretch that vacation further by adding a couple of days off here and there.
If you follow our cheat sheet above, you can get up to 10 mini getaways in 2024. With that being said, grab your calendar and start planning.
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Cover image adapted from: @the.waterfront.hotel.kuching & @hoiantown via Instagram
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