Pulau Ubin Singapore Guide: What To Do, Getting There & More Tips On Visiting The Island

Noelle Ong

Last updated 14 Mar 2024

What to do at Pulau Ubin Singapore

Pulau Ubin is one of Singapore’s last remaining villages or kampongs. This island is situated just off the north-east coast of Singapore and what once was a granite mining hub, today remains as an abandoned granite quarry, rich in forests and grasslands.

If you’re looking to head outdoors and escape from the bustle of urban life, you’ll find the rustic beauty and simplicity of a bygone era over on the island! A hotspot for cycling, kayaking and even hiking, there’s plenty of things to do in Pulau Ubin.

How to go to Pulau Ubin - Pulau Ubin Ferry

Pulau Ubin is just a short 15-minute boat ride away from the main island of Singapore. Head to Changi Point Ferry Terminal and board a bumboat headed for the island. The boats run from 7am to 7pm daily and each boat takes a maximum of 12 passengers. The boats don’t have a regular timetable and only set off when there's a full load.

You can pay the boat fee of $4 per person directly to the captain. Do note there is an extra charge of $2 if you’re bringing your own bicycle, cash payments only.

Changi Point Ferry Terminal

Address: 51 Lorong Bekukong, Singapore 499172

Nearest MRT station: Tanah Merah MRT Station

How to Get There: From Tanah Merah MRT station, take Bus 2 to Changi Bus Interchange and walk to the ferry terminal

Pulau Ubin Map

Download the official NParks Pulau Ubin Map before heading over as not all parts of the island have mobile data coverage.

Getting around Pulau Ubin

You have three options when getting around Pulau Ubin - taxi, cycling or walking.

Walking: The 10 sqkm island relatively small in size and can be explored on foot! This is a great way to spot wild animals like boars, otters and birds!

By Taxi: If walking or cycling is inconvenient, you can also opt to take a taxi. There is a taxi stand on the left side of the jetty where you can book taxis per trip or per hour. The taxis are usually minivans and can seat up to 10 people.

By Bike: If you’d like to cycle on your own, there are bike rental stores near that jetty where you can easily rent one.

Bicycle rental in Pulau Ubin

While there are a few bicycle shops just around the corner of the Pulau Ubin Jetty, you can now book your bicycle in advance on Klook and collect it directly at the No. 25 Bicycle Rental Shop. There are five types of bicycles to choose from - a range of basic and mountain bikes - to cater to how adventurous you are gonna be when exploring the island.

The bicycle rental starts from only $15 for a full day and comes complete with a helmet and a free bottle of water.

Rent your bicycle to explore Ubin now on Klook!

Things to bring to Pulau Ubin

Insect repellent
Sunblock
Water & snacks
Raincoat/umbrella
Cash (only cash payments are accepted)
Cap
Fishing rod
Good walking shoes

Things to do in Pulau Ubin

Cycling in Pulau Ubin

Explore and experience the beauty of Pulau Ubin on a bike! Spot some wildlife and enjoy the tranquillity of the island as you keep an eye out for hornbills, wild boars and monkeys.

Remember to bring water and lather plenty of sunblock and insect repellent!

Difficulty level: Intermediate
Distance: Pulau Ubin (10sq km)
Suitable for night cycling: No

Rent your bicycle to explore Ubin now on Klook!

Kayaking in Pulau Ubin

As you kayak along the mangroves, you’ll be able to spot wildlife like kingfishers, hornbills, otters and some have even spotted dolphins. Go on a kayaking tour and let the experienced guide take you along the waters of this Singaporean wilderness.

If you’d like to go kayaking amongst the mangroves in Pulau Ubin, you will need to pre-book the experience in advance as there are limited slots daily! Apart from the mangroves, you can also see the traditional stilt houses or kelongs that are littered around the island.

One of the kayaking tours will also bring you on an open sea journey to Pulau Ketam, an island just off the southwest of Pulau Ubin. Get up close to this mangrove habitat and be rewarded with natural sightings of its rich flora and fauna.

Enjoy $5 off your Ubin Kayaking Experience on Klook!

(PS: If you want to kayak outside of Ubin, you can also check out other top kayaking activities in Singapore.)

Camping in Pulau Ubin

If you’re planning to rough it out for a night, you’ll be duly rewarded with a night under the stars! Pitch a tent at any of the 3 camping sites - Endut Senin, Jelutong and Mamam. Do note that you will need to register your stay with the officials at the Pulau Ubin Police Post.

Jelutong campsite is situated closest to the village while Mamam is further north of the island and the Endut Senin Campsite is located inside Ubin Living Lab by a small pond on the western side en route to Ketam Bike Park

There is water available at both campsites but you will need to boil it before consuming. There are also no showers at the campsites.

Fishing in Pulau Ubin

Anglers are known to have caught mangrove jack, stingray and leatherjacks! Bring your own rods and baits and find a spot away from water activities that are going on. Do note that fishing is not allowed at the quarries.

Chek Jawa Wetlands

Credit: William Cho via Wikimedia Commons

The Chek Jawa Wetlands is an ecosystem with coastal forests, rocky beaches and mangrove swamps. Here you’ll spot fiddler crabs, mudskippers and other creatures. There is also a fruit orchard where you can find durian trees!

The Pekan Quarry is perfect for catching the sunset. Grab a seat on the jetty and you might even spot an otter or two.

Credit: VisitSingapore

Walk along the Mangrove Boardwalk at Chek Jawa and you’ll arrive at this 20-metre tall tower - Jejawi Tower. Taller than the canopies on the island, head up for a birds-eye view!

Climbing Puaka Hill

For the best views of the quarries on the island, take a short 20-minute walk up Puaka Hill. Overlooking the Ubin Quarry, you’ll need to climb up a rocky pathway to enjoy the views. The entrance to Puaka Hill is located along Jalan Jelutong, past the Jelutong Bridge - about 15mins by bicycle from the main village

We suggest wearing proper footwear like sports shoes for this hike as the path can be steep and rocky.

Private Boat Tour

If you've been to Pulau Ubin a number of times now, maybe it's time to explore the island from a new perspective - the sea. Why not take a private boat tour to rediscover the waters off Pulau Ubin and the North-Eastern Coast of Singapore. With good luck, you’ll even spot wild boars along the coast of Pulau Ubin and be able to go through the mangrove swamps.

You’ll also get a pit stop at Smith Marine Floating Restaurant, which is also a floating fish farm, to understand how they go about their daily operations. Specifically for this tour, the kelong also has a restaurant where you can get a drink and relax to the cool sea breeze and astonishing views.

Book your Kelong and Pulau Ubin Private Boat Tour now on Klook!

Food in Pulau Ubin

Credit: NParks

There are food outlets located in the main village area, though the opening hours are dependent on the owners.

Maleh Cafe - Malay food, Halal options
Cheong Lian Yuen - Seafood
Sin Lam Huat - Coffee, Seafood
Season Live Seafood - Seafood

There are also provision shops in the main village for snacks and drinks if you’re not looking for a full meal. This also means you won't have to pack a giant bottle of water because you can always purchase water if you run out.

#KlookTip: There are no ATMs on the island and only cash payments are accepted. Do make sure to withdraw sufficient money before heading off to the island.