Weekend & Day Trips from Singapore

1. Batam

The biggest city in the Province of Riau is Batam which is also known as the Port to Paradise in the free-trade zone of Malaysia-Indonesia-Singapore Growth Triangle. People love to visit Batam for luxury golf courses, water sports, spas, beach resorts, and duty-free shopping. There are also fantastic restaurants with freshly caught seafood and ocean delicacies. Visitors can reach Batam by ferry from Singapore in about forty minutes. There are multiple ferries that leave the Tanah Merah Port daily. There are also direct flights into Batam from several southeastern Asia airlines. Visitors should plan to taxi around Batam to see attractions such as the Barelang Bridge. Another popular attraction in Batam is the Laughing Buddhist Temple which is one of the most prominent temples in Southeast Asia.

2. Bintan

Bintan Island is a serene island near Singapore famous for world-class golf courses, exhilarating water sports, and legendary beaches. Visitors can get to Bintan by direct flight from Singapore or a ferry ride. Visitors to Bintan Island love to explore the beaches and participate in ATV riding, jet skiing, boating, scuba diving, and more. The island also has some of the most beautiful natural sites to see such as the Banyan Tree Temple that resembles a mythical fairytale home or take a guided tour of the mangroves where snakes, otters, birds, and other wildlife can be spotted. Visitors can also pass by the eerie, abandoned ship that has been taken over by the forest.

3. Changi Village

Changi Village is part of the Singapore city-state has many great attractions to keep the entire family busy. The Changi Boardwalk is a 1.2 km walkway that separates the coastline from the beach club. Along the boardwalk are shops, restaurants, and plenty of places to stop and enjoy the tropical coastal weather of Singapore. Visitors can spend time indoors exploring the Changi Chapel and Museum, which features artifacts of war and the history of Japan and Singapore in World War II. Boat tours and rentals are also available from Changi Village, and several outdoor food courts offer different local food options for lunch or dinner. Changi Village Map

4. Coney Island

Coney Island is a city park with green space and white sand beaches in Singapore. Coney Island is a fantastic place to spend the afternoon bicycling, which is how most tourists and locals explore the park. The main path is 2.4 km long with signs that show cyclists where to find the beaches. Trails lead off the main road that the more adventure-seeking visitors are free to venture down; although at their own risk.

Coney Island is an excellent place for bird watching with more than 80 species nesting on the island. There are designated bird-watching locations on the main path where visitors can spot the Baya Weaver who makes nests of tropical flowers. A boardwalk leads into a dense mangrove forest near one of the beaches where snakes, turtles, and other wildlife can be seen.

5. Desaru

Travelers wanting to spend the day lounging and relaxing at a Malaysian beach town should check out Desaru. The city is two hours from Singapore and is known for luxury resorts on their white sands beaches. Desaru is one of the most popular places for water lovers in Malaysia because the waters are free of jellyfish, calm, and warm.

Visitors who love reptiles can spend time at Teluk Sengat Crocodile Farm which is home to more than 1,000 of the creatures, some of which are more than 130 years old. Malaysia’s largest ostrich farm is also nearby. Visitors looking for a modern, waterpark experience with pools, slides, and amenities can spend the day at Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark. Those looking for local fresh seafood and art galleries can explore the Tanjung Balau Fishing Village.

6. Iskandar Puteri

Iskandar Puteri is a Malaysian city on the Straights of Johor and is the city located the furthest south on the peninsula. The city is known for its harbor, which is also a marina development with dozens of shops and restaurants. Iskandar Puteri is also home to the Legoland Malaysia and EduCity, one of the largest educational campuses in the world. The EduCity is 600 acres and includes the University of Southampton Malaysia, University of Reading, Multimedia University, Newcastle University of Medicine Malaysia, Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology, Raffles University, and several others.

Other great attractions in Iskandar Puteri include Heritage Forest, Edible Park, and Sireh Park for nature lovers. Visitors who love to shop will enjoy the Anjung Neighbourhood Centre, Mall of Medini, and Sanrio Hello Kitty Town.

7. Johor Bahru

Located just across Singapore causeway is the capital city of Johor, Johor Bahru. The town was only recently declared in 1994 but has been fast-growing and is currently the third-largest city in Malaysia. The metropolitan city is more industrial than tourist-friendly however many of the top electronics manufacturers in the world have plants in Johor Bahru, and there is also an immigration and customs checkpoint there. The Johor Zoo is a great place to visit and dates to 1928, making it one of the oldest zoos in Southeast Asia. Visitors can also tour The Istana Besar Royal Palace and the Royal Abu Bakar Museum or check out the Angry Birds Theme Park, or Johor Bahru Art Gallery.

8. Illustrated Map of Singapore with Attractions

Use this custom map to plan your journey.

9. Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and a modern, metropolitan town bustling with tourists and locals. The nightlife in Kuala Lumpur is vibrant, and there are many attractions for the entire family that make it worth staying multiple days in the capital city. Kuala Lumpur’s skyline is dotted with domes and skyscrapers, but the city also includes green space, shopping malls, and local markets amongst the temples and mosques. The cultural makeup of the city is a mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indians and all of their communities are represented all over Kuala Lumpur. The city is best explored on foot as traffic is often jam-packed and you’ll miss some of the best local food in Malaysia otherwise. Visitors who are looking for handcrafted, local gifts and souvenirs can shop at the Central Market.

10. Kusu Island

Visitors wanting to immerse in nature and local Malaysian heritage can find what they are looking for on Kusu Island. Just off the southern shores of Singapore, Kusu Island is Chinese for Turtle Island and is a prominent place in local legends and mythology. There is a turtle sanctuary on the island with hundreds of tortoises.

Travelers from around the planet come to worship at the sacred sites found on the island which is also a destination on a pilgrimage during the ninth lunar month that occurs between September and November annually. Visitors also come to Kusu island to swim in the serene lagoons and sunny beaches. There are no overnight accommodations on Kusu Island, and camping is not permitted which makes the island perfect for day trips. A public ferry is available for transportation to and from the island from Marina South Pier and St. John’s Island.