There’s plenty to do and get around in Singapore but for those of you who want a little more can head to some offbeat places on the island. Get enchanted with nature, spirituality and scenic beauty away from the hustle and bustle of the city, its busy streets and your routine. Image Credit: wisataliburan Tangga Spiral Fort Canning Park
The places we’ve curated can very well pose as day-long escapades for the time being as we’re refraining from making travel plans to stay safe.
Jurong Lake Gardens
Image Credit: NParks
Surrounded by the tranquil Jurong Lake, each garden segment at Jurong Lake Gardens opens up a new avenue to douse yourself in nature. You can take a boardwalk along the Rasau Walk, let your kids bathe in crystal clear waters of the Clusia Cove or let them make nature their playground at Forest Ramble featuring a play area mimicking natural movements of the critters in the garden. For adults there are beautiful streams and wildlife creatures to see up close, a plethora of water sports to enjoy and after a day well spent retreat to Fusion Spoon for a delectable meal.
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Coney Island
Image Credit: NParks
Always wanted to make nature photography a hobby? Start out at Coney Island, a nature park with unmatched scenic beauty and gorgeous greens all around. Take along a pair of binoculars and spot rare species of birds and the best way to get around is on a cycle. We recommend enjoying a picnic out on the beach once you’re done exploring the flora and fauna but refrain from sharing your food with the critters especially the commonly found macaques.
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Raffles Marina Lighthouse
Image Credit: Raffles Marina Facebook Page
Lighthouses are a great place to bring a date or for spending some time in peace and tranquillity with yourself. Raffles Marina Lighthouse is a stunning place overlooking the Tuas Second Link and is a paradise for photographers. The lighthouse looks picturesque in the evening while the sun is ready to set and is leaving golden hues all around. It’s even more fascinating at twilight when the club lights it up and it shines, standing tall with a backdrop of the city skyline.
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Little Guilin
Image Credit: NParks
One of the most beautiful and serene places in Singapore is Little Guilin or the Bukit Batok Town Park. The granite rock is strikingly similar to Guilin in China and is a great place to sit, bask in the beauty of nature and enjoy a whole day away from city life. An awesome place to click amazing shots, don’t forget to take your camera along as well as books if you read or some outdoor games you can play with your friends. You can even book their lawn for an uninterrupted photo shoot.
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Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Image Credit: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery Facebook Page
Spend some time for your spiritual well-being as you step into the peaceful forest monastery in Singapore. The oldest of its kind on the island, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery is a place where you can practice gratitude and mindfulness as well as spend some time meditating in the quiet ambience of the temple or under the Bodhi Tree outdoors. The magnificent bronze Buddha statue and the detailed Avalokitesvara statue are absolutely stunning. The monastery also organizes activities like retreats, courses and talks on health, family and children as well as gives out free books on Buddhism.
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Bukit Timah Saddle Club
Image Credit: Bukit Timah Saddle Club Facebook Page
Love horses? Head to Bukit Timah Saddle Club and you can ride on beautiful horses, take riding lessons for you or your kids and even buy your own horses. It is a great place to hang out on weekends in case you’d like to become a member; the fields are verdant and the horses love to run around freely plus the sunsets here are worth the wait. Do take your camera along because one stroll amidst the horses and you’re sure to turn into a photographer if you’re not one already.
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w. btsc.org.sg/
Quayside Isle
Image Credit: Quayside Isle Facebook Page
Head out from the bustling city life and head to Sentosa Cove to explore the Quayside Isle. Check yourself in W Singapore - Sentosa Cove for an exhilarating staycation and spectacular views of the water and the yachts. You can also spend the whole day here shopping, taking romantic strolls on the boardwalk or spending time with friends or family as you explore the place. There are amazing restaurants here too offering a variety of cuisines - Asian, Italian, Mexican and Spanish to name a few plus the marina-front is lit-up in myriad of colours in the evening, perfect for picture time.
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Island Hopping
Image Credit: Singapore Island Cruise & Ferry Services Facebook Page
Beach fun is always an option in Singapore but what makes it all the more exciting is island hopping. Make a trip to St. John’s Island for a trek or even book yourself a staycation with your friends. Bored out? Head on to Sisters’ Island for some snorkelling and diving. Need a rest? End your island hop retreating to Lazarus Island, plenty of chill time with fewer people around and there’s just something so serene about this beach, you’re sure to come home refreshed.
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a. Marina South Pier, 31 Marina Coastal Drive, #01-04 018988
w. www.islandcruise.com.sg/st-john-island
s. www.facebook.com/singaporeislandcr
a. 60 W Coast Ferry Rd, Singapore 126979
w. www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and
a. 31 Marina Coastal Dr, Singapore 018988
Fort Canning Park
Image Credit: wisataliburan
Soaked in history, artefacts and lush greenery, Fort Canning Park features nine historical gardens, each of them with a unique concept and worth seeing. You can go on a trail as you look around, soak yourself in the greens and historical facts and explore plants like never before in their First Botanic Garden, Sang Nila Utama Garden and Spice Garden. Be sure to pack up a picnic and a camera for you’d surely want to capture yourself amidst the scenic beauty.
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