Island escapes around Singapore
Island Escapes Singapore: 6 Quiet Getaways for Stillness and Slow Travel
On the edges of Singapore, the city’s hum softens into birdsong and sea-breeze. A constellation of small islands waits here. They are close enough for a short ferry ride, yet distant enough to feel like a quiet morning sail. Each one offers a slower world where casuarina needles whisper and tide pools blink awake with first light.
These island escapes Singapore offers are gentle reminders of a calmer, simpler past.
Below are six serene island escapes Singapore travellers often overlook — ideal for anyone seeking a gentler horizon.
Island Escapes Singapore — Coney Island, the Wild Sanctuary
Coney Island, view from Singapore
Coney Island greets visitors with the scent of salt, pine, and untamed green. Its coastal forests and open grasslands feel untouched. The paths are soft with leaves, the air cool under casuarina shadows, and birdcalls ripple through the quiet.
There are no kiosks or commercial distractions here. Instead, the island invites slow exploration. And when you need refreshments, nearby Punggol Settlement offers a smooth transition back to civilisation.
Singapore Island Escape — Lazarus Island, the Blue Refuge
Lazarus Beach
Lazarus Island feels renewed each morning. The pale sand is cool underfoot, and the water is a calm, unbroken blue. Many visitors come simply to float, read, or breathe.
The island is uninhabited and unhurried. With no shops or facilities, it encourages simplicity. Bring only what you need and enjoy the rare luxury of undistracted calm.
Island-Hopping Singapore — St John’s Island, the Storied Sanctuary
Singapore skyline seen from St. John’s Island
Linked to Lazarus by a paved causeway, St John’s Island carries the weight of history. Once a quarantine station and later a rehabilitation retreat, it is now a gentle green haven.
Wide lawns and shaded paths create a sense of spaciousness. Boardwalks skirt clear lagoons, and picnic grounds rest beneath generous trees. The city skyline glimmers across the water like a distant memory.
St John’s is ideal for quiet lunches, long conversations, or unhurried afternoons. A few holiday bungalows offer the option to stay overnight.
Singapore Island Retreat — Kusu Island, the Island of Blessings
Kusu Island
Just beyond St John’s lies Kusu Island, where myth and calm coexist. Legend speaks of a giant tortoise who transformed itself to save shipwrecked sailors. The story gives the island a soft, ceremonial feel.
The Chinese temple stands in peaceful colours, its prayer ribbons moving gently in the breeze. A short walk inland leads to the Malay shrines on a small hill. Nearby, picnic tables overlook still lagoons, and a sanctuary of tortoises rests quietly close by.
Kusu is a reminder that quiet moments can feel sacred.
Marine Island Escape Singapore — Sisters’ Islands, the Underwater Garden
Sister’s Island
The Sisters’ Islands are perfect for travellers drawn to the sea. Beneath the surface, corals bloom like small underwater gardens. Sea horses, clams, octopuses, and gentle reef life move through the filtered light.
Above ground, the islands remain simple and peaceful. Shaded picnic corners and quiet shoreline views make it an ideal spot to unwind. As part of Singapore’s first marine park, access is guided to protect the ecosystem.
This is a place where the steady rhythm of the sea encourages stillness.
Pulau Ubin: A Rustic Island Escape and Singapore’s Last Kampong Village
Image of Pulau Ubin
Pulau Ubin Island, Singapore
Pulau Ubin offers a different kind of peace. The island is rustic, raw, and wonderfully human. Bicycles rattle along gravel paths, and roosters call from old kampong houses.
On the eastern edge, Chek Jawa Wetlands reveal a rich mix of ecosystems. Mangroves, seagrass lagoons, coral rubble, and rocky shores sit side by side. Boardwalks guide visitors across these fragile habitats. The 20-meter Jejawi Tower lifts you above the canopy for a broad, quiet view.
Pulau Ubin asks only that you explore with curiosity and leave with gratitude.
A Gentle Note for Travellers
Across these islands, amenities are minimal by design. Bring water, light snacks, sun protection, and a respectful approach to nature. These places thrive on simplicity and invite us to do the same.
Conclusion — Returning to Stillness
Island-hopping in Singapore is not about distance. It is about softening into a slower rhythm. Each island offers its own wisdom: the wild calm of Coney, the blue clarity of Lazarus, the deep history of St John’s, the sacred hush of Kusu, the marine beauty of Sisters’ Islands, and the heritage heartbeat of Ubin.
Together, these island escapes Singapore offers remind us that even in a fast-moving city, stillness is never far away. PRIME
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