Pulau Ubin Day Trip Itinerary Guide (2025) | Homejourney

Pulau Ubin Day Trip Guide Itinerary: Planning Your Visit

If you only have one free day in Singapore and want to experience old-school kampong life, rustic nature and easy cycling, a Pulau Ubin day trip is one of the most rewarding and affordable outings you can plan. This guide gives you a practical, step‑by‑step Pulau Ubin Day Trip Guide Itinerary: Planning Your Visit, with real timings, prices, safety notes and insider tips from a local perspective.

At Homejourney, we normally help buyers and investors understand neighbourhoods and long‑term living. Pulau Ubin is not where you buy a condo—but spending a day here gives you rare context about Singapore’s heritage, land use and nature conservation, which complements our broader Singapore tourism and neighbourhood guides and connects back to our main pillar on Singapore area and lifestyle insights.

Essential Information for Your Pulau Ubin Day Trip

Quick facts & essential info box

Location: Pulau Ubin, northeast of mainland Singapore, accessible only by boat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal.
Boat point: Changi Point Ferry Terminal, 51 Lorong Bekukong, Singapore 499172 (next to Changi Village Bus Terminal).
Opening hours: Pulau Ubin itself is open 24/7, but bumboats typically run from about 6:00am–7:00pm, or until there are no more passengers. Always aim to leave the island by 5:30–6:00pm to be safe as there is no fixed last boat.
Bumboat cost: Around S$4 per person, per way, cash only; additional surcharge (usually S$2) if you bring your own bicycle. Boats depart when there are about 10–12 passengers.[1][8]
Chek Jawa entry: Chek Jawa Wetlands is free to enter, but the visitor centre and some facilities may have limited opening hours (typically 9:00am–3:00pm; boardwalks are open longer).[8]
Ideal visit duration: 6–8 hours for a full island trip, including cycling Ubin, Chek Jawa and Puaka Hill.

How to get to Changi Point Ferry Terminal:

MRT + Bus: Take the East–West Line to Tanah Merah MRT, exit B, then bus 2 to Changi Village Bus Terminal (about 35–40 minutes). From the bus terminal, walk 3–5 minutes following signs to Changi Point Ferry Terminal.
Alternative MRT: Downtown Line to Upper Changi, then taxi/Grab (about 10–15 minutes) to Changi Village.
Taxi/Grab: Ask for Changi Village / Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Budget 30–45 minutes from downtown depending on traffic.

Best time to visit: Mornings on weekdays are the most pleasant, with cooler weather and fewer crowds. Avoid late afternoon rain during monsoon months (typically Nov–Jan) if possible. For Chek Jawa, visiting at or near low tide gives you the best views of marine life along the boardwalks (check NParks tide tables before visiting).

Official information: For latest advisories, route closures and tide timings at Chek Jawa, always cross‑check with NParks and VisitSingapore (Singapore Tourism Board) before your trip.

Suggested Pulau Ubin Day Trip Itinerary (8 Hours)

Use this practical Pulau Ubin day trip itinerary as a base. Adjust timings based on your pace and weather.

8:00am – Breakfast at Changi Village
Arrive early and eat at Changi Village Hawker Centre—popular with locals heading to camp at Pulau Ubin or Tekong. Try traditional kaya toast, nasi lemak or wanton mee before your island trip. This also gives you access to clean toilets before the boat.
9:00–9:15am – Bumboat to Pulau Ubin
Walk to Changi Point Ferry Terminal, queue for the next bumboat, pay the boatman in cash and enjoy the 10–15 minute ride. Sit by the window for the best views of Changi coastline and passing kelongs.
9:30–9:45am – Arrive at Ubin & rent bikes
Once you step onto the jetty, you’ll see several bicycle rental shops in the main village. Standard bikes usually cost around S$10–S$15 per day, with mountain bikes around S$20–S$25 depending on quality.[1][3][8] Inspect brakes and gears before paying.
10:00–11:00am – Puaka Hill hike
From the village, cycle about 10–15 minutes towards the west and park your bikes at the Puaka Hill trailhead. The hike up is short but steep (approx. 20 minutes up, 15 minutes down). At the top, you get one of the most famous views of Ubin Quarry—turquoise water framed by dense forest.[1][3]
11:15am–1:00pm – Cycle to Chek Jawa Wetlands
Head east from the village along Jalan Ubin, then Jalan Durian and Jalan Chek Jawa—about 25–35 minutes of leisurely cycling including some gentle slopes. Lock your bikes near the Chek Jawa entrance and explore the coastal boardwalk, mangroves, Jejawi Tower and the Tudor‑style Chek Jawa Visitor Centre.[1][3][8]
1:15–2:15pm – Lunch near Ubin Jetty
Cycle back to the main village and eat at one of the seafood/zichar eateries near the jetty. Options are simple but fresh—ideal for a cold drink, fried rice, seafood and rest in the shade. For more detailed food ideas, see Homejourney’s food guide: Best Food Near Pulau Ubin: Day Trip Restaurant Guide | Homejourney .
2:30–4:00pm – Kampong life, quarries & optional kayaking
After lunch, take a slower ride through kampong areas—wooden houses on stilts, small shrines, fruit trees, chicken and wild boars are common sights.[4][6][8] Detour to Pekan Quarry or Ubin Fruit Orchard, or book a kayaking tour in advance for mangrove exploration and kelong views.[2][4][7]
4:00–5:00pm – Return bike & bumboat back to Changi
Aim to return bikes by 4:30pm, stroll through the village one last time, then head to the jetty. If the queue is long, you may need to wait for 1–2 boat rotations, so buffer at least 30 minutes for your return.

Insider tip: If you prefer a shorter day (for business travellers or families with young kids), skip Puaka Hill and focus on Chek Jawa plus kampong cycling—this gives you a 4–5 hour visit instead of a full 8‑hour itinerary.

What to See and Do on Pulau Ubin

1. Experience Singapore’s last real kampong

Pulau Ubin is often described as Singapore’s last true kampong, with traditional wooden houses, backyard fruit trees and residents who still rely on wells and generators for water and electricity.[4][8] As someone who has cycled these trails repeatedly, the contrast with mainland high‑rise living is always striking.

Walk or cycle slowly through the main village and side lanes instead of rushing straight to Chek Jawa.
Look out for old provision shops, shrine houses and small tyre‑repair sheds for bikes.
Keep voices low and avoid pointing cameras directly into homes—this is a living community, not a museum.

2. Cycling Ubin: best way to explore

Cycling Ubin is the most efficient way to cover multiple quarries, Chek Jawa and kampong areas in a single day.[1][3][8] Trails range from easy paved roads to off‑road mountain bike routes.

Easy routes: From jetty to Chek Jawa and back; to Pekan Quarry; around the main village and fruit orchard.
Intermediate: Puaka Hill access road, some short slopes and gravel stretches.
Advanced: Dedicated off‑road mountain bike trails (always follow NParks signage and wear helmets).

Insider tip: Ask rental shops for a printed island map and highlight your planned loop. Many shop owners live on Ubin and can suggest routes that match your fitness and the day’s weather.