Water Sports in Singapore

By Cara Merren
Published: July 18, 2024
Water Sports

By Mia Russell

Beat the heat of Singapore’s perpetual summer and hit the water! Garden City is renowned for having some of the best museums, restaurants, and shopping in the world, but the city also has some fantastic water sports to enjoy.

Encircled by water, the island state has some beautiful beaches like Palawan and Changi. Spending the day relaxing on one of these spectacular beaches is a must. But if you prefer getting active, there is a range of fun water sports to enjoy. Whether it's exploring Singapore’s islands on a kayaking adventure or scuba-diving on the brightly colored reefs, here are some exciting water sports to enjoy in Singapore.

1. Kayaking

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Kayaking in the calm waters around Singapore’s many islands is a fantastic way to spend a few hours. This fun, family-friendly activity is ideal for all fitness levels and ages, and you don’t need any sailing experience. Experienced guides will teach you the basics and show you some of Singapore’s secret spots along the coast.

Venture to Pulau Ubin and explore the magnificent mangrove forest. Keep an eye out for wildlife like otters, mangrove lizards, and long-tailed macaques. Visit one of the island’s floating fish farms (kelongs) and enjoy a delicious seafood lunch of locally-farmed sea bass and mussels. You can even try your hand at kayak fishing and catch your own lunch!

Use your pass to enjoy a Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin. Explore the beautiful coastline of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Ketam on this fantastic tour and soak up the spectacular natural scenery.

Where: Pulau Ubin

2. Windsurfing

Sailing meets surfing in this adrenalin-rushing sport. If you haven’t tried the sport before, take a basic windsurfing course or rent a board to show off your jumping, looping, and spinning skills. The Aloha Sea Sports Centre at East Coast Park offers courses for all skill levels and the Constant Wind Sea Sports Centre at Changi Beach has top-notch equipment to rent.

Where: East Coast Park / Changi Beach

3. Stand-up paddleboarding

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If you prefer a less intense water sport, try stand-up paddling (SUPPING). This easy, relaxing sport involves standing on a longboard and paddling with a double-bladed oar. The whole family can enjoy paddling on calm waters and it's a great upper-body workout.

Try stand-up paddling at the Aloha Sea Sports Centre at East Coast Park, the Constant Wind Sea Sports Centre at Changi, and the Ola Beach Club in Sentosa.

Where: East Coast Park / Changi Beach / Sentosa

4. Sailing

Soak up one-of-a-kind views of the city with the wind in your hair and salt on your lips from the bow of a sailboat. If you’re an experienced sailor, head to Marina Bay, where you can rent a boat from the DBS Marina Bay Sailing Program. Sail around the Central Business District and take in the breathtaking city skyline.

Don’t despair if you don’t know how to sail. You can jump on one of the many boat cruises offered at Marina Bay and enjoy the same experience without the hard work!

Where: DBS Marina Bay Sailing Program, Marina Bay

5. Wakeboarding

Love high-energy, adrenaline-rushing fun? Try wakeboarding to get all of that and more. This invigorating water sport involves surfing on a specifically designed board while being towed by a high-speed craft.

The best place to hit the water on a wakeboard is at Singapore Wake Park at East Coast Park. The park features a lagoon with three cable-ski systems for all skill levels from novices to experts. Glide along at gentle speeds and work your way up to mastering obstacles and jump ramps.

You’ll find some great package deals offered at the park and there are professional wakeboarders on hand to help you with the basics.

Where: Singapore Wake Park

6. Flyboarding

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Want to experience the thrill of ‘flying’ above water? Head to Sentosa’s Ola Beach Club for a thrilling, heart-pumping hydro-flying experience. Flyboarding involves standing on a board connected by a long hose to a watercraft. Pressurized water is forced through jet nozzles at the bottom of the board to shoot the rider high into the air.

You don’t need any experience to try this exhilarating water sport - certified instructors will show you the basics and you’ll be soaring through the air in no time!

Where: Ola Beach Club, Sentosa

7. Jet-skiing

Another fantastic water sport to enjoy in Singapore is jet skiing. You can rent a jet-ski or book a ride with an instructor at the Puteri Harbour and head out for some wet and wild fun around the city. If you haven’t jet-skied before, a professional instructor will guide you through the basics. Remember to always wear a lifejacket and keep the engine shut-off clip attached to your waist.

Where: Puteri Harbour

8. Pedal boating

If prefer a gentler pursuit on the water, try pedal boating. Enjoy a tranquil ride on the calm waters of Discovery Lake without even getting wet! Pedal boating is a lovely way to spend some time with family and friends on the water. You can rent pedal boats from the Sports Hub Water Sports Centre near Discovery Lake at the Singapore Discovery Centre.

Help keep Discovery Lake clean and join the Waterways Watch Society in picking up litter on the water while paddling around the lake.

Where: Sports Hub Water Sports Centre, Discovery Lake at the Singapore Discovery Centre

9. Bodyboarding / Surfing

Singapore isn’t known for having big swells and curling barrels, but you can hit waves to bodyboard and surf at the Stingray half-pipe surfing facility at Splash-N-Surf in the Singapore Sports Hub. This specially designed wave house creates artificial waves for all skill levels. Start on the slower 32 km/h waves if you’re a beginner or catch the faster 48 km/h waves and show off your skills.

Where: Singapore Sports Hub

10. Dragon boating

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Try your hand at this incredible 2,000-year Chinese watercraft tradition. Head to the Kallang River with a group of friends and join the Singapore Dragon Boat Association for some paddling fun. Experienced trainers will guide you through an orientation program and some introductory classes before you hit the water with your team. Once you get the hang of it, you can rent dragon boats from the DBA or the Singapore Sports Hub’s Water Sports Centre.

Where: Singapore Sports Hub

11. Scuba diving

Dive beneath the surface on a scuba-diving adventure and explore the multi-hued corals and rich marine life off Pulau Hantu. A 30-minute boat ride away from the mainland, Pulau Hantu features two islands – Hantu Kecil and Hantu Besar. The islands are surrounded by gin-clear waters teeming with sea life. Keep an eye out for turtles, manta rays, butterflyfish, and parrotfish.

If you aren’t a qualified scuba diver yet, take a course with a certified PADI instructor and venture into the magical underwater world. You can also rent diving equipment and underwater cameras.

Another way to explore the wonders of the ocean is a snorkeling adventure on Rainbow Reef at the Adventure Cove Waterpark. Use your pass to gain free access to the park and snorkel along the brightly colored Rainbow Reef and see thousands of vibrant fish up close.

Where: Pulau Hantu

Cara Merren
Go City Travel Expert

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View of Singapore's downtown skyline from a rooftop pool.
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Things to do in Downtown Singapore Business District

Singapore’s Central Business District, also known as the CBD, financial district or downtown core, is a gleaming jungle of soaring skyscrapers with sensational waterfront views and more landmark attractions than you can shake a very large stick at. Add to that Michelin-starred restaurants, trendy cocktail bars and some of the best shopping in the city and you have the recipe for a fantastic break. Hera are just a few of our favorite things to do in downtown Singapore’s business district, including: Merlion Park The SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands National Gallery Singapore Singapore Flyer Buddha Tooth Relic Temple Shopping at Orchard Road and Marina Bay Bay cruises Gardens by the Bay Cocktails at Raffles Mythical Beasts and Dizzy Heights A stroll around Marina Bay is a fine way to get your bearings in the downtown area. Here, close-up views of the CBD’s sensational skyscrapers give you a sense of the scale of the place and the iconic Merlion statue, emblem of Singapore’s growth from humble fishing village to mighty all-conquering lion is a must-see. Grab a selfie by this 70-tonne fish/lion hybrid with its arc of spouting water that crashes into the Singapore River below, then head up to the SkyPark atop the Marina Bay Sands resort for a different perspective. Steady your nerves with a cocktail before taking in exception 57th-floor views of the Singapore skyline and out across the bay. National Gallery Singapore Immerse yourself in 200 years of Singaporean art and culture at the National Gallery. Appropriately, this stately collection of of more than 9,000 modern and contemporary pieces from Singapore and southeast Asia is housed within two immense national monuments in the heart of the CBD; namely Singapore’s former City Hall and Supreme Court. Step inside to goggle at works that range from 19th-century oil paintings and woodcuts to 21st-century video installations. Visiting in the middle of monsoon season? There’s plenty here to fill an entire day, with major works by Singaporean artists including Georgette Chen, Liu Kang and Cheong Soo Pieng to admire, plus art-inspired shops for unique souvenirs, and two Michelin-starred restaurants. The Singapore Flyer It should come as no surprise, in a city where the title of tallest building is highly prized, that the observation wheel is one of the biggest on the planet, soaring to a knee-trembling 541 feet at its highest point. Steel your nerves for the 30-minute flight aboard the Singapore Flyer from where you can expect views across the CBD skyline to Sentosa Island and even, on a clear day, as far as Indonesia and Malaysia. That’s assuming you haven’t closed your eyes in absolute terror by the time you reach the top. One rotation lasts 30 minutes and you can book tickets that include cocktails and champagne, should such nerve-settling measures be required. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple Back on terra firma, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a stunning (and surprisingly recent) example of the Chinese Buddhist architectural style, all decorative flourishes, pagoda-style rooftops and cavernous indoor spaces. Built in 2007, the temple contains what is said to be one of the Buddha’s teeth, though skeptics may question its provenance given the proliferation of Buddha tooth temples in the region and, well, the size of the tooth itself which, at 7.5cm in length, is likely to raise a quizzical eyebrow at the very least. Visit this stunning temple and make up your own mind! Shop ‘Til You Drop There are more malls and brand-name stores along the 2.5-kilometer shopping mecca that is Orchard Road than you could hope to explore in a lifetime, never mind on your two-week vacation. Orchard Central is one of the most interesting, with its digital-art skin, huge indoor climbing wall, public art installations and roof garden. Further opportunities to max your credit card await at Marina Bay Resort’s cavernous Shoppes mall which, in spite of its ye olde name, is an ultra-modern, ultra-luxe shoppers’ paradise that’s guaranteed to give your bank manager serious palpitations. Venetian-style canals and sampan boat rides make for a fun way to get from store to store. Singapore River Cruise Hop aboard a traditional bumboat to get a new perspective on the CBD’s many highlights. Ideal for the lazy sightseer, these scenic cruises tick off a number of the city’s big ticket attractions in one short jaunt along the Singapore River. Expect to see highlights including Marina Bay Sands, with its space-age triple towers topped by what, from way down here, looks for all the world like a giant surfboard, as well as the legendary Raffles hotel, the Gardens by the Bay and the Old Parliament House. Hopeless romantics can catch the golden hour on a sunset cruise as the Singapore skies puts on their colorful daily show and lights twinkle on across the city. Gardens By The Bay With its gargantuan durian-shaped glass hothouses, tranquil East Bay Garden and iconic supertree structures complete with fun elevated walkway, Gardens By The Bay is a treat at any time of day. But it’s arguably at its most enchanting in the evenings, when the Supertree Grove puts on an epic display of colored light accompanied by a rousing symphonic soundtrack, sure to enliven your Instagram feed. Better still, this event is free! Light and music themes change with the seasons but the show generally runs twice per evening, with some variation for holidays and special events. Sip a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel What’s the first thing you think of when someone says the word ‘Singapore’? Skyscrapers? Orchids? No! The answer is of course a Singapore Sling, that delightful gin-based tropical cocktail that’s as iconic a symbol of this island nation as its Merlion mascot. And where better to sample one than in the very place they were invented? We’re talking, of course, about the legendary 19th-century Raffles Hotel, where bartender Ngiam Tong Boon first mixed gin with cherry brandy, grenadine, pineapple, bitters and lime juice back in 1915, and the Singapore Sling was born! Join such illustrious former guests as Hemingway, Kipling and Grahame Greene and try one for yourself in the hotel’s smart Long Bar. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
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A colorful temple facade in Sinapore's Chinatown
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Things to do in Singapore's Chinatown

Singapore may be small, but its city center is bursting at the seams with things to do. And though you might be tempted to relax for a few days on a beach or in a luxury hotel, if you have time you simply have to spend at least one day exploring the colorful, maze-like streets of Chinatown, Singapore’s largest historic district. It’s noisy, colorful and packed full of surprises. Get there on the Red Line of the Big Bus Tour, and check out our recommendations for a day of exploring: Chinese tea drinking Museums Virtual Reality Religious Sites Food markets Outdoor escape room Chinese Tea Drinking at Tea Chapter Noise and bustle are all very well, but at some point you may like to make an escape – and that’s the perfect time to stop by the Tea Chapter teahouse for a moment of calm. As countless others have done before you, sit, sip and let your mind drift away as you savor the flavors of Tea Chapter’s signature Golden Cassia brew. Delight in the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Singapore’s oldest teahouse as you become part of this zen-inducing ancient tradition. Singapore City Gallery This is a must-stop for anyone who loves their history in high-tech form. It’s a museum and gallery dedicated to the architectural heritage of the city, from its beginnings as a small trading port to the modern, multi-layered metropolis it is today. All the exhibits feature audiovisual and interactive elements, such as screen-swipe before and after views of the Singapore skyline. Be sure to check out the full scale model of the city and original architectural models from architects Kenzo Tange and I.M. Pei, who together are responsible for a lot of what you see today in the Marina Bay. Singapore Musical Box Museum Yes, you read that correctly – Singapore has a musical box museum, dedicated entirely to the history and preservation of auditorial antiques from the 19th and 20th centuries. Tucked away in a pagoda next to the Thian Hock Keng Temple, music and craft lovers will find this a delightful interlude, and the enthusiastic curators are rightly proud of its status as a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage 2001 Award for Culture Heritage Conservation recipient. They’re always happy to show guests around the collection, which includes examples from Europe, Asia and the United States. Stop to enjoy a harmonious half hour or so, and then move on with your day. Virtual Reality Escape Room Who says travel has to be all history and sightseeing? Sometimes it’s just as much about new experiences – so why not try a virtual reality group challenge? Virtual Room is on the northwestern edge of Chinatown between the Sri Mariamman Temple and New Bridge Road, and the experience lasts about 40-50 minutes. Each player gets their own room but you’ll team up for the 3D-HD challenges and puzzles, and choose to play as time travelers or zombies. The scene may be virtual, but the fun is 100% real! Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum This temple was built in 2007 – very recently by Chinatown’s standards – to house the left canine tooth of the buddha and other sacred relics. The design is based on the Buddhist mandala, with a giant stupa in the center shining with 320 kilograms of gold. Visitors are not allowed into the relic chamber, but you can see the tooth from a viewing area. You can also access the attached museum, which contains interesting exhibits on Buddhist art and history, and a charmingly tranquil rooftop garden and pagoda. It's the perfect place for a spot of quiet contemplation. Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple A short walk from the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is the city’s oldest Hindu shrine, dedicated to Sri Mariamman, the goddess of disease and protection. You’ll know it when you see it – it’s an eye-catchingly upright structure ornately decorated with six tiers of pastel-colored deities. You’ll find similar opulence inside, as well as a gentle quiet which is punctuated at intervals by the ringing of bells. It’s been on this site since 1827 and after several revamps and renovations was declared a national monument in 1973. Other religious sites If you’re a proper culture vulture, do a circuit of Chinatown’s many other shrines and temples and you’ll cover most of the world’s history – as told by its major religions – in a single day. As well as the Buddhist and Hindu temples you’ll find the Thian Hock Keng Hokkien Temple – the oldest Chinese example in Singapore, the Yueh Hai Ching Temple – a small Taoist building decorated with inlaid porcelain and carved dragons, and Nagore Dargah – a Hindu-Muslim center built by Indian Muslim immigrants. There’s also the Masjid Jamae and Al-Abrar mosques and a Chinese Methodist church, the latter of which you’ll recognize from its art deco styling and distinctive Chinese roof. Food markets You’re bound to work up an appetite with all that pilgrimaging, so let’s hope you’re in the mood for laksa and noodles! There are plenty of food stalls to go around in Chinatown, and some of the best can be found in the Chinatown Street Market near the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. You’ll also find clothes, homewares, gadgets and souvenirs – waving lucky cats included – so you can get a head start on your gift shopping. If you’re just after the food, head to the Maxwell Food Center, where you’ll find plenty of regional food stalls including Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, the first of its kind to be awarded a Michelin Star. Outdoor Escape Room If you find yourself going around in circles, have a family to entertain or are just in the mood for a little adventure, try a Puzzle Hunt outdoor escape room experience. It’s a fun and immersive ‘choose your own adventure’ style game that will lead you around Chinatown searching for clues and solving puzzles. You’ll learn plenty about the history of Chinatown as you go, have loads of time to stop for food or happy snaps, and you’ll win a prize at the end. It’s a unique and entertaining challenge and will cost you nothing with Go City. See it all with Go City There’s a surprise around every corner in Singapore’s Chinatown. Make sure you don’t miss a thing with a Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive Pass, which will save you time and money!
Karleen Stevens

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