Photo by Aleksandra Khoroshykh on Unsplash
What to do in March
March runs on a fasting clock. The city feels brisk in the morning, quiet after lunch, then fully awake near dusk. Work with that rhythm and you will eat better, walk easier, and miss the worst queues. Dress a little straighter near mosques and bazaars, and keep public snacking low-key.
Start early at A Famosa and St Paul’s Hill. By 8am, you get shade, clear views, and room to hear the city before tour buses stack up. Then head down the river toward Kampung Jawa for kopi, kuih, and the market chatter that still feels local.
Do not build March around lunch. Build it around bazaar time. The big Ramadan bazaar at MITC gives you the widest spread, from murtabak and ayam percik to tepung pelita and air kathira. Arrive before 5.30pm, buy small, and leave room for one thing you did not plan.
Later in the month, Hari Raya prep takes over. Jalan Bendahara and Ayer Keroh fill with biscuit tins, new clothes, and gift runs, while tailors and bakeries work at full tilt. After iftar, go to the Portuguese Settlement for grilled fish and sambal cuttlefish. March sounds best there, with kids running between tables and everyone eating at once.
