Best Places to Hike in Singapore

Despite Singapore’s size, this urban jungle is home to a surprising number of nature trails and hikes! From leisurely walks to more challenging treks, these trails provide a chance to experience the city-state’s greenery and wildlife. After being based there for four months, these were some of my favourite hikes in Singapore, suitable for all levels and fitness!

Easy Hikes

MacRitchie Reservoir Park (TreeTop Walk Loop)

The MacRitchie TreeTop Walk is one of Singapore’s most popular walks due to its 250m-long freestanding suspension bridge and forest canopy views. The trail is mostly flat, with a few gentle inclines, making it a great choice for beginners. Read more on the Treetop Walk Trails here.

Distance: 7km (round tip); approx 2-3 hours

Bukit Batok Nature Park

Bukit Batok Nature Park offers a peaceful walk with well-maintained paths, gentle slopes, and scenic views of an old quarry. You’ll be treated to a variety of fruit trees, wildlife and clear, calm waters. It’s an excellent spot for a short, relaxing walk. Be sure to head to the centre of the park for the Bukit Batok Nature Park Lookout Point, where you’ll be treated to great views of the abandoned quarry! Check out the Bukit Batok Nature Park site for more information.

Distance: 1.7 km (loop), approx 1 hour

Pasir Ris Mangrove Boardwalk

Pasir Ris Mangrove Boardwalk is an easy boardwalk trail that’ll take you through a 6-hectare mangrove forest!! This short walk is is perfect for an easy stroll and you’ll be treated to a variety of bird species and other wildlife. The boardwalk trail is located within Pasir Ris park, which is home to Singapore’s largest playground, a maze garden and a ‘kitchen’ (herb) garden. There’s plenty to see outside of the mangrove area and you can easily access park from Pasir Ris MRT station.

Distance: 1.5 km (loop), approx 45 mins – 1 hour

The Southern Ridges

The Southern Ridges (probably one of my favourites hikes in Singapore) is a series of trails that connected several parks and gardens. The full area covers Kent Ridge Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Mount Faber Park. You’ll be treated to everything from elevated walkways, dense forest bits and panoramic views of the city! The majority of the walk is flat, but there are a few section with stairs. As the trail is fairly long, I’d recommend going early in the morning so you’re not out in peak heat and humidity.

Distance: 10 km (one-way), 3-4 hours

Moderate Hikes

Labrador Nature Reserve

The Labrador Nature Reserve (or Labrador Park) is a great mix of historical sites and natural beauty. Home to a number of historical relics and artefacts, many dating back to WW2, make this park a must-do for any history buffs. The trails itself showcase thriving plant and animal life whilst providing panoramic views of the sea! You’ll find more than 70 kinds of bird species within the park too, so i’d recommend this one for bird watchers.

Distance: 2.1 km (loop), approx 1.5 – 2 hours

Coney Island Hike

Coney Island (also known as Pulau Serangoon) offers a rustic, less manicured environment with sandy paths and dense vegetation. Although the trails are predominately flat, it can be a tiring walk due to the sandy terrain.

Distance: 2.4 km (one-way), approx. 2 hours

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is home to Singapore’s highest natural point at at 163.63m. There are four main trails to choose from, that begin at the Visitor Centre, and range in terrain and difficulty. What makes this reserve so special is the rich biodiversity of the rainforest. According to Singapore’s National Library Board, one-hectare of land in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve contains more tree species than the whole of North America! With over 1,000 species of flowering plants and over 500 species of wildlife, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is really worth doing!

Distance: 4 km (loop), approx. 1.5 to 2 hours

Pulau Ubin (Puaka Hill Trail)

This trail on Pulau Ubin offers a moderate hike with a short, steep climb to Puaka Hill, where you can enjoy views of the quarry below. The climb is only about 10-15 minutes and you’ll be treated to stunning views over the quarry. The more challenging aspect to this is actually getting to Pulau Ubin. You’ll need to catch a 10 minute boat ride from Changi Ferry Point Terminal. Therefore, if you decide to do this trail, I’d recommend doing a full day trip to Pulau Ubin to make the most of everything there.

Distance: 1.6 km (loop), 1 hour

More Challenging Hikes

MacRitchie Reservoir Park (12 km Loop)

This extended loop around the MacRitchie Reservoir is a more challenging option, with undulating terrain and longer distance. It’s ideal for those looking for a longer hike with scenic views. I love this loop for it’s diversity; containing everything from boardwalks to woodland trails, enclosed areas and sections that take you along the water. Definitely one of my favourite hikes in Singapore, so i’d urge anyone with the time to give this one a go.

The MacRitchie Reservoir Park is part of a much wider Central Catchment Nature Reserve with 20km of trails and boardwalks to choose from. This area is popular so you’ll likely bump into a few other walkers and runners along the way. Always be careful of the monkeys, particularly on the golf course you pass through!!

Distance: 12 km (loop), approx. 4 hours

Mount Faber and Henderson Waves

This trail involves a steady climb up Mount Faber, followed by a walk along the Henderson Waves bridge. This is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore at 118ft in height and 900ft in length! The unique wave-like structure is worth visiting, and Mount Faber offers a scenic path directly to it! You can also tag this along with the Southern Ridges walk (featured above) to make it an even longer hike. This is a great hike to do if you’re looking to head to Sentosa too, as the cable car connects the island from Mount Faber!

Distance: 3.5 km (one-way), approx. 2 hours

Chestnut Nature Park (Northern and Southern Loops)

Chestnut Nature Park offers trails with varying levels of difficulty, including rugged sections with steep climbs. There are two main loops, the Northern Loop (the more challenging one) and the Southern Loop. Chestnut Nature Park is also a favourite with mountain-bikers, with cycling trails taking you through scenic woodlands.

Distance: 5.6 km (combined), approx. 2-3 hours

Other Parks To Consider in Singapore

Other great areas to enjoy nature in Singapore include the Botanic Gardens, Fort Canning Park, East Coast Park, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Gardens by the Bay!