Singapore may be a small island, but it is surrounded by escapes: rustic islands where time stopped in the 1960s, beach islets reachable by ferry, and two neighbouring countries close enough for a lunch run. Here is where to go when the polished city centre starts to feel a little too polished.
Pulau Ubin: Singapore as it used to be
A ten-minute bumboat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal (SGD 4 per person, no timetable: the boat simply leaves once 12 passengers have gathered) drops you on Pulau Ubin, the island where Singapore's last traditional kampung village survives. Rent a bicycle at the jetty for a few dollars and ride dirt tracks past abandoned quarries, coconut groves, monitor lizards and wild boar. The highlight is Chek Jawa Wetlands on the eastern tip: boardwalks over seagrass lagoons and mangroves, plus the 20-metre Jejawi Tower with views across the forest canopy. Bring water and cash, because the village shops take no cards.
Southern Islands: beaches and turtles
From Marina South Pier, a scheduled ferry loops around the Southern Islands. St John's Island offers picnic lawns and swimming lagoons, and a walking causeway links it to Lazarus Island, whose crescent of white sand is often called one of the prettiest beaches in the whole region, yet it is rarely crowded. The same ferry calls at Kusu Island, famous for its Chinese temple, Malay shrines and a sanctuary that is home to hundreds of turtles. There are no shops on Lazarus, so pack everything you need, including shade.
Coney Island: wild and car-free
Connected to the mainland by a simple bridge, Coney Island near Punggol is deliberately kept half-wild: casuarina woods, boardwalk beaches and some of the best birdwatching in the country. Rent a bicycle at Punggol Point and combine the island with the Punggol Waterway Park loop for an easy half-day in nature without leaving the city.
Johor Bahru: Malaysia for lunch
Crossing the Causeway to Johor Bahru turns your Singapore dollars into roughly three times the spending power. Public buses run from Woodlands and the city centre; once across, JB rewards you with street food, cheap massages and malls at Malaysian prices, plus Legoland Malaysia for families. One warning: weekend border jams are legendary, so cross early on a weekday morning and keep your passport handy in both directions.
Batam and Bintan: Indonesia in an hour
Ferries from HarbourFront Centre reach the Indonesian island of Batam in about an hour, while boats from the Tanah Merah terminal serve Bintan in roughly the same time. Both islands are built for short escapes: beach resorts, golf courses and spa treatments at a fraction of Singapore prices. Batam is the budget choice for shopping and seafood; Bintan has the nicer beaches and resort strips.
Planning your day
- One free day and no passport hassle: choose Pulau Ubin for nature or Lazarus Island for the beach.
- Ferry costs: the Ubin bumboat is SGD 4 one way; the Southern Islands ferry costs about SGD 15 return; Batam or Bintan run from roughly SGD 50 to 70 return, depending on operator and day.
- A passport is required for Johor Bahru, Batam and Bintan. Citizens of Poland and other EU countries enter both Malaysia and Indonesia visa-free for short stays.
- Carry small cash for island shops, and ringgit or rupiah for the best street-food deals; money changers wait at both ferry terminals.
- Check the last boat back: bumboats from Ubin stop around sunset, and queues for international ferries grow long on Sunday evenings.