It's that time of the year again when you hear the gun-shot like sounds of the fireworks going off on Saturday evenings as the NDP rehearsals are carried out. Like us, you may be too lazy or turned off by the crowd gathered at the usual spots snapping away, so we've put together a list of places you'd be able to catch the fireworks, free from the hoards of people. Protip: Aside from National Day itself, the fireworks will likely go off at about 8:01pm on the remaining rehearsal days (Jul 28 and Aug 4) and will last for about 15 minutes.
 

Bendemeer Light

Photo credit: FreeMan Loke 

This newly built 40-storey HDB has a splendid view of the city—head up to any one of the top floors to enjoy a view of the fireworks between skyscrapers from this heartland point. Look for the facing with plenty of CBD skyscrapers, and you’re all set to catch the display away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Do be considerate for the residents living in the block and keep any noise down. 40/F Bendemeer Light, 10 Bendemeer Rd.
 

Clarke Quay Central carpark

From Clarke Quay MRT station, take the blue zone lift in Clarke Quay Central all the way to the top floor (10th), where the carpark is located. The view here may be sort of “limited” due to the installation of panels that have a mesh-like cover over them. But if you’re creative enough to shoot through the holes, it shouldn’t be a problem at all, as it faces the floating bay directly. Grab some food from Clark Quay Central or if you’re driving, go early to snap up the prime lots. 10/F Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen St.
 

Marina South Pier Cruise Centre 

If you’re up for a little walking and adventure, head to the Marina South Pier Cruise Centre, which is an approximate 500-meter walk from the Marina South Pier MRT station. Take the lift up to the third floor to get here. It’s a little further away so the view might be slightly foggy but you can catch a different angle of the fireworks as Its facing the the other side of Marina Bay Sands (MBS). 3/F Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore, 61 Marina Coastal Dr.
 

Marina Square food court 

Okay, this one is pretty self-explanatory but the views are surprisingly good. You can get here by taking the citylink from City Hall MRT station, and heading to the fourth flour where the food court is located. The windows face the bay and MBS directly, so you’re guaranteed to be able to catch the fireworks up close. The best part of all is that it’s air conditioned, so come early, order a bunch of food from the kopitiam, and chope the best seats.

The glass panel may end up being rather reflective in photos though, so you might want to head outside to the terrace if you’d like better shots. We expect this to get really crowded by the time the fireworks come on; so if you hate crowds this may not be the best for you. But if you’re on a budget and still want a decent level of comfort, we think it’s a good place to try. 4/F Marina Square, 6 Raffles Blvd.
 

Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine Novena Campus

Photo credit: NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine's Facebook page

Unfortunately, you’ve got to be a student or alumni to enter this new NTU campus. However, the views of the city are pretty spectacular up there, with the eighth floor dedicated to recreational and sporting facilities so you can clock some miles while enjoying the fireworks. The top floor of the campus also boasts a new library with cafes and spaces to mingle. You didn’t hear it from us, but perhaps try to get a friend or alumni from NTU to sneak you in. 8/F Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine Novena Campus, 11 Mandalay Rd.
 

New Bridge Centre carpark 

Another carpark to consider is this one—walk from City Hall or Clarke Quart MRT station to access New Bridge Centre, and take the lift to the fifth floor carpark. Be careful to avoid any other floors because they are offices (we learned this from experience; oops). The view here isn’t as great for viewing in person because of the shutters, however it’s definitely fine to shoot through them. The sky is largely unobstructed here and it being quite close to Marina Bay, which means fireworks can definitely be seen. 5/F New Bridge Centre, 336 Smith St.

Sky garden at Toa Payoh Central Block 79E

You’re in luck if you live near Toa Payoh and don’t want to travel all the way down south to catch the fireworks. Block 79E is a short 10-minute walk or bus ride from Toa Payoh MRT. This rooftop garden is accessible by taking the lift at block 79E up to level 12, where you’ll be able to find the sky garden that connects block 79E and 79D. There are even some tables where you can picnic with your friends. Though it seems a little far away from Marina Bay, fireworks have been known to be seen from here. By all means, do venture further up this 40-storey HDB if you’d like a higher vantage point, but once again, do keep the noise down as it is a housing estate after all. . 12/F Blk 79E, Toa Payoh Central