Is Pulau Ubin worth visiting?

Yes! It's one of our favourite places in Singapore to visit. We love taking the bum boat across - that alone feels like an adventure. We also love that Pulau Ubin is one of the few places left in Singapore than reminds us of its past as a sleepy fishing village. Coming to Pulau Ubin is like stepping back in time to the 1960s, where neighbours knew one another, and people still went to each other's houses to borrow a cup of rice or sugar. Most of its inhabitants have now moved away now but around the edges of Pulau Ubin, you can still see houses on water where the indigenous Orang Laut people live. The nature here is also beautiful. We love mangrove kayaking here - it's the closest to nature you get get in Singapore and much more serene than kayaking on Singapore mainland. We love spotting wildlife here from the migratory sea eagles to otters (if you're lucky!). You can also hike here (Puaka Hill and Chek Jawa Wetlands are a couple of easy hikes), or rent a bike to cycle around the island. We also love coming to Pulau Ubin with a local guide who can show us how people really live here and bring it to life with stories.

Do I need a passport to go to Pulau Ubin?

No you do not. It's still part of Singapore so you can just take a bum boat over without any passport or ID!

What are the best things to do in Pulau Ubin?

You can easily spend half a day or a full day at Pulau Ubin! It does get a bit hot in the afternoon so we recommend heading over early around 8am. We love mangrove kayaking here - it's the closest to nature you get get in Singapore and much more serene than kayaking on Singapore mainland. We love spotting wildlife here from the migratory sea eagles to otters (if you're lucky!). You can also hike here (Puaka Hill and Chek Jawa Wetlands are a couple of easy hikes), or rent a bike to cycle around the island. We also love coming to Pulau Ubin with a local guide who can show us how people really live here and bring it to life with stories. After kayaking, cycling or hiking, you can also hop into one of the little street side restaurants of Pulau Ubin for food. The food here is no-frills and fresh (especially the seafood which is right from the local fish farms on the water), and the rustic vibes are glorious.

Is it safe to go to Pulau Ubin?

Yes very! Singapore is generally one of the safest countries in the world and Pulau Ubin is no exception. You can come here alone, as a solo female traveller, and you won't need to worry about your safety or worry about being harassed. Pulau Ubin is a sleepy little fishing village and very safe.

How much time do you need in Pulau Ubin?

We would recommend at least half a day here, if not one day. As it gets hot in the afternoon to wander about, we would recommend coming here early (by 8am), and doing your activities (kayaking, hiking, cycling) in the morning. When it's midday, head to one of the street food places here for lunch and you can catch the bum boat back by 2pm. If you don't mind the heat, you can definitely spend a full day exploring here as well! That way you can do both kayaking and cycling/hiking, or go around with a guide. There's enough here to do from a nature exploration, or cultural visit perspective to fill one day. It'll feel like a proper getaway from the city whether you're here for a half day or full day.

What is the best way to get to Pulau Ubin?

To get to Pulau Ubin, you'll need to take a 15 minute bum boat ride from Singapore mainland. You can take the Pulau Ubin bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal in Singapore mainland. The boats run from 7am to 7pm daily, and they're very frequent so you can just show up at the terminal and board a bum boat. Note that they only take cash so you'll need to have some cash on you. Also do note that if you're headed to Pulau Ubin with your dog, you'll need to have your dog in a carrier while in the bum boat. If your dog isn't in a carrier, the bum boats will require you to charter a private bum boat, instead of taking one with everyone else. Once over at Pulau Ubin, you can let your dog out of the carrier of course!