When life has got me stressing out, there’s nothing I love more than a good hike. Yes, Singapore is pretty darn hot nowadays, but trust me, braving the sun is worth it (just be prepared with lots and lots of sunscreen!). The sheer range of biodiversity that you see, from cool endangered plants to cheeky monkeys, is simply incredible.
If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life too, check out some of my favourite hiking trails right here, sorted from shortest to longest.
01 • Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
With 4 trails to choose from and several smaller nature parks nearby, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is the perfect place to spend your morning. This is actually Singapore’s very first forest reserve, and till now, it still boasts some of the richest biodiversity islandwide. If you love birdwatching, this might just be the spot for you — the reserve is home to over 140 species of birds, including the rare Red-crowned Barbet.
The routes might be short, but they can get pretty steep. At least you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view at the top of Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore’s highest natural peak.
📍 Parking location: 177 Hindhede Drive, Singapore 58933
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 7pm
📏 Distance: 0.8km – 3km
🌐 Website: nparks.gov.sg/visit/parks/bukit-timah-nature-reserve/activities/hiking-and-nature-walks
02 • Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
There aren’t many wetlands or mangroves left in Singapore, so this place is a must-visit for nature lovers. With mudskippers, water monitor lizards, otters, and even estuarine crocodiles, Sungei Buloh is full of unique wildlife to discover.
This is another birdwatching hotspot as well, especially for migratory birds from August to April. Gaze out from Eagle Point to see them soaring over the Straits of Johor, amidst the beautiful scenery of Johor’s skyline.
📍 Parking location: 60 Kranji Way, Kranji Carpark B, Singapore 739453
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 7pm
📏 Distance: 0.15km – 3km
🌐 Website: nparks.gov.sg/visit/parks/park-detail/sungei-buloh-wetland-reserve
03 • Thomson Nature Park
Sometimes, nature too is part of history. Thomson Nature Park bears the remains of a village which was the home of Hainan immigrants in the 1930s. Eventually, this became a full-fledged kampung with fruit plantations and farms, as well as Malay and Eurasian families moving in. The place was then ultimately abandoned in the 1980s.
Make your way through overgrown roots and timeworn ruins, with informational signboards guiding your way. The park is also home to the critically endangered Raffles’ Banded Langur and plenty of other monkeys, so try not to bring any plastic bags or food that might attract them!
📍 Parking location: 771 Upper Thomson Road, Thomson Nature Park Car Park, Singapore 787139
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 7am – 7pm
📏 Distance: 3.8km
🌐 Website: nparks.gov.sg/visit/parks/park-detail/thomson-nature-park
04 • MacRitchie Reservoir
This is probably Singapore’s most popular hiking spot, and for good reason. The famous suspension bridge offers a majestic bird’s eye view of the forest canopy between Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang. And when I say bird’s eye view, I really mean it — if you’re afraid of heights, do NOT look down.
If you want the suspension bridge all to yourself for that perfect Instagram photo (or just some peace and quiet), early mornings are the way to go.
📍 Parking location: Windsor Nature Park Car Park, Singapore 574411
⏰ Opening hours: Tue to Fri, 9am – 5pm | Sat & Sun, 8.30am – 5pm | Closed on Mon
📏 Distance: 7km – 10km
🌐 Website: nparks.gov.sg/visit/parks/central-catchment-nature-reserve/activities/hiking-nature-walk
05 • Pulau Ubin
Get a real taste of the village lifestyle at Pulau Ubin, where the last kampungs in Singapore reside. This place has a tranquil, rustic charm that’s sure to melt all your worries away. Biking is a popular way to travel around the island, but walking on foot is perfectly doable, too.
To get there, you need to take a 15-minute boat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. It costs around $4 to $6 (additional if you’re bringing your own bike) and they only take physical cash, so make sure you have some on hand.
📍 Parking location: 30 Changi Ferry Road, Changi Village Public Car Park 2, Singapore 499675
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 6am – 7pm
📏 Distance: 9km – 10km
🌐 Website: pulau-ubin.nparks.gov.sg
06 • Southern Ridges
Lush greenery and striking architecture, what’s not to love? If you’re looking more to enjoy the sights than suffer through exercise, Southern Ridges is a breezy trek through plenty of landmarks such as themed gardens at HortPark, the iconic Henderson Waves, and a mini Merlion sculpture at Faber Point.
An underrated spot here is the Forest of Giants, an awe-inspiring gallery of giant tree species that are threatened in the region. As you tilt your head back to take in the magnificent sight, all your problems suddenly become insignificant.
📍 Parking location: 2 Seah Im Road, Seah Im Car Park, Singapore 099114
⏰ Opening hours: Open 24 hours daily
📏 Distance: 10km
🌐 Website: nparks.gov.sg/docs/default-source/parks-docs/shared/hortpark-southern-ridges-diy-walk.pdf
07 • Rail Corridor
Another remnant of Singapore’s history, the Rail Corridor is what’s left of the former Keretapi Tanah Mekayu (KTM) railway, which was used in the early 1900s as a means of commuting and transporting goods between Singapore and the rest of the Malay Peninsula. Yes, these are the original railway tracks that you’re stepping on amidst grass and gravel.
As part of a public art initiative by Singapore Art Museum, you can also tune in to Speaking of which, a series of self-guided audio tracks that include personal oral history, speculative texts, and a podcast segment with wildlife conservationists.
📍 Parking location: Multiple locations
⏰ Opening hours: Open 24 hours daily
📏 Distance: 24km
🌐 Website: railcorridor.nparks.gov.sg
08 • Coast-to-Coast Trail
As Singapore’s longest trail, this is the ultimate challenge for hiking enthusiasts. The Coast-to-Coast (C2C) trail spans a whopping 36km, from Jurong all the way to Punggol. Of course, you don’t actually have to finish the whole trail in one go if you don’t want to (considering that it’ll take 9 – 11 hours!) — there are plenty of checkpoints and food spots along the way that you can rest at. My favourite is the nasi lemak at Selera Rasa (#1-02), at Adam Road Food Centre.
📍 Parking location: Multiple locations
⏰ Opening hours: Open 24 hours daily
📏 Distance: 36km
🌐 Website: pcn.nparks.gov.sg/our-pcn/c2c
(Feature photo from: NParks)
