by Urbanaut Built in 1956, Kampong Lorong Buangkok is Singapore’s last surviving traditional kampung (village). Home to around 20 families living in colourful single-story houses, stop by to enjoy the slower pace of life and sense of community here.
by Urbanaut For a truly local and unique experience, head to this community gathering spot to experience a relic of Singapore’s kampong past. Bird enthusiasts come with their prized songbirds and hoist their cages on designated poles and rafters. Listen to the symphonies of hundreds of birds while mingling with locals and enjoying coffee from the nearby hawker stands.
by Urbanaut MacRitchie Reservoir is Singapore’s oldest reservoir completed in 1868. While the full walk can take up to 5 hours to complete, the highlight really is the ‘Tree Top Walk’ - a 250 metre suspended pathway between the 2 highest points in MacRitchie. A definite must do and must see.
by Urbanaut Having been around for the best part of 9 years (albeit in 4 different locations), Lithe Paralogue wears a few different hats as a rehearsal studio and live music venue, as well as managing Lithe Records and overseeing the Museum of Independent Music, Singapore. Now residing at Lithe House, this is the best spot for underground indie music in Singapore.
by Urbanaut A multidisciplinary arts centre housed in Kampong Glam. The centre supports both contemporary and traditional arts, be sure to check the website for updated events.
by Urbanaut Amazing indie cinema run out of an old repurposed theatre, on top of a Thai shopping complex. Routinely shows independent movies, world cinema, arthouse flicks, and film festival favourites.
by Urbanaut The entire street is peppered with lovely boutiques, which stock some quirky clothes and merchandise - things you won’t find high street brands making. It won’t cost you an arm and a leg either.
by Urbanaut Awesome vinyl-focused cafe that serves good coffee and light bites (pastries and fusion hot dogs). Great multi-genre vinyl selection, books, and gear available for purchase.
by Urbanaut Any shoppers delight! Design Orchard boasts an integrated retail and incubation space to promote local artists’ works. From clothes to home decor to accessories, this 2.5 storey truly cultivates budding local designers talent and is a must see! Also be sure to check out their public amphitheater that hosts events all year round.
by Urbanaut Started in the ‘90s, The Substation is Singapore’s first independent arts centre. The centre gets its name from the building it now occupies, which used to be a former power substation built in 1926. The venue houses two main performance areas - the black box theatre, and a white cube visual art space known as The Substation Gallery, which are home to a range of artworks and performances spanning the realms of dance, literature, music, theatre and visual art. Check the website for the latest exhibits.
by Urbanaut Colloquially known as the Armenian church, it’s eclipsed by the more famous St. Andrew’s Cathedral and Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Chapel nearby (thanks in part to Crazy Rich Asians). However, the Armenian Church has a rich history, being the oldest church in Singapore. Built in 1835, the church served the Armenian community well into the 1930’s until the last parish priest left due to a dwindling Armenian population in Singapore. The church subsequently fell into disrepair, and was abandoned religiously. However, in 2016 a new pastor was appointed, and the church received a grant from the Singapore government for restoration, which is now complete.
by Urbanaut Nifty art gallery housed in historic government buildings, combining old and new architecture. The museum has the largest public collection of Singaporean and South East Asian art, displayed across several mediums. It is located in the civic district and overlooks the ‘Padang’ - a grand ceremonial field used during colonial times, and a fantastic spot to indulge in a midday lager.
by Urbanaut Your Singapore trip is incomplete without a well deserved foot massage or if you just fancy a timeout from the heat or food comas. Natureland has a few well spread locations all centrally located. Can’t go wrong with their 60 min foot reflexology session and be sure to stay for the highly therapeutic ginger tea after.
by Urbanaut I’m not much of a museum person, but if you’ve got a kid, give this one a go. I would especially recommend the Future World - an immersive art and science experience specifically designed for little ones. You’re welcome ;)
by Urbanaut Formerly known as Pulau Serangoon, the island was once owned by the Haw Par brothers (of Tiger Balm fame), who built a beach villa here that’s still standing. Subsequently, it was purchased by a businessman looking to recreate the amusement park at New York’s Coney Island, which never materialised. The island was then taken over, and developed as a park. The island boasts a wide variety of flora and fauna, and is known for its diversity of bird species. There are five beaches to explore, as well as mangrove habitats. NParks conducts guided walks three times a year, check the website for details.
by Urbanaut Take a stroll through this charming neighbourhood in central Singapore, which also happens to be the oldest housing estate on the island. Having undergone quite a lot of gentrification in the 2000s, the hood is an interesting place to see a mix of old and new Singapore. Take a walk (weekends are best!) and enjoy the 1920s Art Deco architecture while wandering into the various cafes, boutiques, and concept restaurants in the area.
by Urbanaut Rent a couple of bikes and enjoy the long stretch of beachfront biking along Singapore’s East Coast. The best part is various food options along the way to get your fill of seafood and local hawker fare after you’ve worked up a sweat.
by Urbanaut Whether you have kids or not - the Zoo is a great place to spend your time. The 28-hectare zoo has been developed in a heavily forested part of Singapore, so it pretty much mimics the natural habitat of many of its residents! We did this both pre and post kids and loved it just as much both times!
by Urbanaut Singapore’s only natural hot spring, the Sembawang Hot Spring was discovered in the early 1900s on the grounds owned by a Chinese merchant, Seah Eng Keong. The spring's fame spread, resulting in the village becoming known as Kampong Ayer Panas, which means "Village of Hot Water" in Malay. Soft drinks firm Fraser & Neave acquired the site in 1922, and set up a bottling plant at nearby Semangat Ayer to tap the mineral water, which was sold under the brand name “Seletaris”. After the fall of Singapore, the Japanese military seized the land and converted it into recreational thermal baths for Japanese soldiers. Subsequently, the area was never developed, and the hot spring used to have just drains, taps and buckets of very hot water. NParks started redevelopment of the area in 2018, and in early 2020 the park reopened, now boasting a cascading pool, cafe as well as a floral walk.
by Urbanaut Find an oasis away from the bustle of the city at Wessex Estate, a neighbourhood filled with Singapore’s classic black and white houses and apartment blocks. In the pre-war era, these bungalows were home to British army officers and soldiers stationed on the island. Now a protected estate, the neighbourhood is a lush, green retreat for the families that live there, and an excellent place to walk around and experience Singapore from another era.
by Urbanaut Located in Pulau Ubin, a tiny island off the coast of Singapore, is a yellow hut that houses the mysterious century-old German Girl Shrine. Not much is known about the origins of the shrine, but the generally accepted story is that the shrine contains the remains of a young German girl who fell to her death when escaping from the British Army during World War I. Her body was later found by local villagers, and buried out of respect. Over time, the girl somehow became a Taoist deity, and attracted devotees and worshippers who leave offerings of nail polish and lipstick at an altar.
by Urbanaut Set in a former military barracks, Gillman Barracks is a contemporary arts cluster. The conserved colonial barracks are home to local and international art galleries, and national research centre NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore.
by Urbanaut Hidden behind thick foliage, this World War II bunker at the foot of Mount Faber is located just behind the Seah Im car park. The brick entrance leads to an elongated tunnel, and the entire bunker is around 300 square feet in size. Little is known about the origins of this bunker, but it was most likely used as an air raid shelter or to store munitions during the war.
by Urbanaut Unofficially the home of the Singapore Dry Gin, Brass Lion Distillery is Singapore’s first gin micro-distillery. The first floor houses the distillery, while the second floor hosts a tasting room and retail space. Be sure to try the Gin Tour, which takes you through the gin-making process. You can also attend Gin School, which gives you a 3 hour immersive experience in distilling your own gin.
by Urbanaut Take a half day trip to this little island sanctuary off the north of Singapore by catching a bum boat from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Rent a bike and spend the day cycling around the island, exploring the various paths and beautiful coastlines while stepping back in time to experience what Singapore looked like in its not so distant past.
by Urbanaut Opened by the Haw Par brothers (of Tiger Balm fame), this bizarre theme park was built to reflect the brother’s passion for Chinese culture and mythology. The park contains over 1000 statues and 150 giant dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese mythology and folklore. The park is most famous for its vivid and gruesome depictions of the Ten Courts of Hell from Chinese folklore, to teach you a lesson in traditional Chinese morality.
by Urbanaut Officially known as Bukit Batok Town Park, Little Guilin is located in a disused quarry and is named for its striking resemblance to Guilin in China. The park used to have the Bukit Gombak trail, but it was closed in 2007 due to landslides.
by Urbanaut Most visitors to Sentosa will be familiar with the three main beaches (Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong). But what’s not as well known is Tanjong Rimau, a hidden beach at the western tip of Sentosa. To get here, skirt the edge of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort, and navigate the rocky path down to the beach. You will be rewarded by possibly the last remaining undeveloped beach on Sentosa, and the least crowded spot on the island. There are small caves you can explore, and if you’re lucky you might spot natural coral and starfish, and the occasional eel!
by Urbanaut If you’re in or around Sentosa, I would recommend booking a massage at So spa. The massage is obviously very good but so is the spa’s facilities, which they’ll let you use for the whole day.
by Urbanaut Part of the Southern Islands cluster, St. John’s Island has a storied history. It was once a quarantine station for immigrants with cholera, beri-beri, and leprosy until the mid-20th century. It then housed political prisoners, and was also used as a drug rehabilitation centre for a period of time. The island is now a popular spot for day trippers, with regular ferries scheduled from the Marina South Pier (check the Singapore Island Cruise website for schedules and prices). There is a marked trail on the island, and NParks conducts free guided tours on the first Sunday of every month (registration required). A furnished holiday bungalow (sleeps 10) is available for overnight stays, and larger dormitory-style holiday camps are available for large groups. Booking is mandatory, and camping is strictly not allowed. Do note that there are no facilities on the island, so make sure to take your own food and drink!
by Urbanaut Nestled in the heart of Kranji Countryside, Gardenasia comprises of a farm, bistro, and farmstay. You can take a walk through the gardens and fruit orchards before tucking to to a meal created with freshly harvested ingredients at the Bistro. You can also stay the night in one of three remodelled black-and-white villas.
by Urbanaut Located in the Kranji Countryside, Bollywood Veggies is an organic farm growing over a hundred varieties of plants, including native fruits and vegetables. You can take a tour of the farm, learn about the history of food at the Food Museum, learn how to cook at the Bhanchha Cooking School, and finish with a meal at the farm-to-table Poison Ivy restaurant (named after the owner, Ivy).
by Urbanaut Singapore’s only goat farm, which specialises in locally produced fresh goat milk. Groups of less than 10 people can walk-in and tour the farm for free, and the farm also arranges educational tours at a nominal cost for larger groups. It’s recommended to be there between 9am and 10:30am to catch the got milking session, and packets of alfalfa hay are available for sale if you would like to feed the goats. You can also buy fresh goat milk directly from the farm here.
by Urbanaut A landfill would not be on most travellers agendas, but Pulau Semakau (Semakau Island) should be an exception. The island is an excellent example of Singapore’s efforts at sustainable development. The Semakau landfill is Singapore's first and only landfill situated offshore among the southern islands of Singapore. The landfill is filled mainly with ash produced by Singapore's four incineration plants, which is shipped there in covered barges every night. The landfill is lined with an impermeable membrane, and clay and any leachate produced is processed at a leachate treatment plant on the island to ensure the surrounding waters remain unpolluted. Though a portion of the original Pulau Semakau was destroyed during reclamation works for the landfill, the remaining part of the island was left untouched. Today, its astounding variety of flora and fauna (many of which can no longer be found on mainland Singapore) continues to thrive, spread over several habitats, including mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs. Pulau Semakau offers a variety of nature-related activities conducted by different groups. These include intertidal walks by RMBR, birdwatching by the Nature Society (Singapore), stargazing by The Astronomical Society of Singapore (TASOS), and sports fishing by the Sports Fishing Association (Singapore). Check individual organisation websites for more details.
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