St John’s Island & Lazarus Island Singapore Guide: How To Go And What To Do

Noelle Ong

Last updated 14 Mar 2024

Guide to St John’s Island & Lazarus Island Singapore

Did you know that there are many little islands around Singapore that you can travel to without your passport? St John’s Island and Lazarus Island are part of Singapore's Southern islands. We’ve gone to check out the place and here’s your guide of what you need to know before heading there!

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Things to bring:

Water
Sunblock
Insect repellent
Food/ Snacks

Do note that there are NO stores on the islands, meaning you will need to bring your own water, snacks and food to last you the entire time you are there. You will also not be able to refill your water as there are no water coolers around.

If you prefer just light snacks, there are convenience stores located at Marina South Pier ferry terminal for you to pick up essentials like water. You can also grab snacks like chips and bread to bring along. For a fuss-free option, you can just add on a snack pack when getting your ferry ticket. The snack pack includes:

2 x Canned Drinks
1x Croissant / muffin
1 x Super Ring

Add on a snack pack to your ferry ticket purchase and look out for the Klook Snack Redemption sign at the 1st convenience store of the stretch.

Add on a snack pack to your Ferry tickets on Klook for only $5.35

As most of the island is bare, you will need to apply plenty of sunscreen on a hot day or risk getting sunburnt like we did. You can seek shelter under the trees but if you plan on getting your tan on the beaches, it’s best to bring extra sunscreen for reapplication.

We also recommend bringing insect repellent as there might be mosquitoes near the mangrove areas.

St John’s Island

St John’s Island Ferry

There are 2 ferry companies that shuttle between the Southern Islands. You can island hop between St. John Island, Lazarus Island, Kusu Island and Sisters’ Island with Marina South Ferry or visit St. John's Island, Lazarus Island and Kusu Island with Singapore Island Cruise.

Here are some things to take note:

The ferry will bring you from Marina South Pier to St. John's Island and then to Kusu Island before returning to Marina South Pier. The ferry does not go back to St. John's from Kusu Island
Due to overwhelming response on weekends and public holidays, boarding of ferries will be based on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure to get there early to secure your seats
Please note that the ferry, jetties, and the islands are not entirely wheelchair-friendly, but assistance will be provided during ferry embarkation and disembarkation. No assistance will be provided once you are on the islands
Ferry operations may be canceled in cases of extremely bad weather (e.g. air quality drops to a dangerous level). Full refunds will be issued for unredeemed vouchers, and you can request to book an alternative date for redeemed vouchers

To get to St John’s Island, hop onto a ferry from Marina South Pier. The ferry ride is around 30 minutes long and you can even choose to sit on the top deck if it’s available.

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If you wish to head to Sister's Island, you will need to take the ferry by the Marina South Ferry company. However, do note that the ferry currently does not head there as Sisters' Islands are closed until end March 2024.

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Things to do on St John’s Island

Exploring St John's and Lazarus Islands on a bike

If you're not sure what you can do on the Southern Islands, great news! Gogreen @ St John’s Island is a newly-opened kiosk where you can get bicycle and kick scooter rental, which means a fun new way to explore the beautiful St John Island and Lazarus island on its well-paved paths.

The retail store also sells other items you might need, such as kites, beach mats, beach tents and more for your outing and IG-worthy picnics. Have fun!

Klook your Bike or Kick Scooter Rental here!

St John’s Island Fishing

Upon exiting the ferry, the first thing you’ll notice is how clear the waters are! Look down and you’ll see schools of fish, from Archer fishes to bait fish.

Apart from the areas allocated for swimming, the rest of the waters are good for fishing, especially the breakwaters. You’ll see plenty of anglers camping out with their rods in hand, waiting for a catch. Anglers here have caught a huge range of fish from snappers to groupers, sounds like a perfect dinner plan.

Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre

Head into the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre and take a look at the conservation efforts happening at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park Public Gallery. You’ll also get to check out some of the live marine creatures like clownfish and corals in their displays.

St John’s Island Chalets

Photo credit: SLA

Visitors who wish to stay the night can book the St John’s Island Lodge (former St John’s Island Campsite and Holiday Bungalow). There are 4 different lodges around the island:

Eagle

Max 10 Pax
Air-conditioning
4 Bedrooms – 1 Queen, 8 Single, disposable bedlinen
2 Showers/Toilets
Electric cooking hob, electric kettle, basic cooking utensils, no individual cutlery
Weekdays (Mon – Thu) S$21.40 per day
Weekend (Fri – Sun) S$42.80 per day

Turtle

Max 132 pax
4 Blocks with 30 single beds each, 1 block with 12 single beds
2 shower blocks and 2 toilet blocks
Electric cooking hob, electric kettle, basic cooking utensils, no individual cutlery
Weekdays (Mon – Thu) S$165.85 per day
Weekend (Fri – Sun) S$262.15 per day

Dolphin

Max 60 pax
2 blocks of single beds each
2 shower blocks and 2 toilet blocks
Electric cooking hob, electric kettle, basic cooking utensils, no individual cutlery
Weekdays (Mon – Thu) S$90.95 per day
Weekend (Fri – Sun) S$139.10 per day

Otter

Max 50 pax
Raised platform, bring your own sleeping bags
2 shower blocks and 2 toilet blocks
Electric cooking hob, electric kettle, basic cooking utensils, no individual cutlery
Weekdays (Mon – Thu) S$90.95 per day
Weekend (Fri – Sun) S$139.10 per day

St John’s Island Camping

You will need to apply for a permit to camp at St John’s Island.

St John’s Island wildlife

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife sightings on your visit! We saw hawks and even monkeys on our visit.

Singapore St John's Island Escape Tour

Looking for different way to explore St John's Island with friends? Why not try the Singapore St. John’s Island Escape Tour? Think of it as an upsized escape room that's packed with puzzles and challenges at every corner. Your team's job is to find out the truth behind the unsolved mysteries of St. John’s Island by finding the missing pages of an important journal that will help to save mankind (And all within 4 hours too!). Think you and your friends are up for the mission?

Grab Your Friends and Book Your St. John’s Island Escape Tour on Klook Now!

Lazarus Island

Lazarus Island Ferry

There is no ferry terminal on Lazarus Island but the island is connected to St John’s Island by a pavement that you can just walk across! There are plenty of breakwaters with good viewing spots along the way to take in the scenery.

Things to do on Lazarus Island

Lazarus Island Beach

Fly a kite, have a picnic or just laze on the beach and chill in the waters of the beautiful Lazarus Beach. This horseshoe bend shaped beach is a beautiful place to just relax for the afternoon.

Do note that there are no toilets or trash cans on Lazarus Island so please remember to take your trash with you back to St John’s Island to dispose of.

If you’re feeling extra fancy, rent a yacht and enjoy the beach from your private yacht. You can enjoy kayaking with your friends, as well as also opt to add on sea activities rental (like jet ski, sea scooter) as well as get a bbq lunch catered too! Yum!

Klook your Lazarus Island Private Yacht!