Singapore is a vibrant city-state blending futuristic architecture, lush gardens, and diverse cultural neighborhoods. From the iconic Marina Bay Sands to historic hawker centers and world-class attractions, this island nation offers an unforgettable travel experience.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Johor Bahru is Malaysia's southern border city, reached in about the time it takes to cross the Causeway; it offers a day built around cheaper food, malls and Malaysian street life rather than major monuments. Most visitors come for value shopping and eating, though the old town has a few colonial-era buildings worth an hour of walking. Because it sits right across the border, it works well as a half-day add-on rather than a full separate holiday.
Highlights: LEGOLAND Malaysia · Danga Bay waterfront dining · Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple · City Square Mall shopping · Cheap local hawker food and seafood
Bintan Island, Indonesia
Bintan is an Indonesian island reached by high-speed ferry, built around the Lagoi resort strip rather than a town to explore on foot; it suits a beach-and-pool day rather than sightseeing. Most activity is concentrated inside the Lagoi enclave near the ferry terminal, and the pace is deliberately slow. Given the ferry schedule and immigration on both sides, it works best as a full day rather than a rushed half-day.
Highlights: White sand beaches at Lagoi Bay · Watersports and snorkelling · Mangrove river tours · Budget seafood at Trikora Beach
Pulau Ubin (Ubin Island)
Pulau Ubin is one of Singapore's last rustic islands, still lined with wooden kampong houses and unpaved paths rather than the redevelopment seen everywhere else in the country. It's reached only by a small wooden bumboat that departs when full, not on a fixed timetable, which is part of the experience. The appeal is cycling or walking through mangrove and secondary forest on a still-inhabited island rather than any single attraction.
Highlights: Chek Jawa Wetlands boardwalk · Cycling through kampung villages · Granite quarry swimming · Rare wildlife including otters and wild boar
Malacca (Melaka), Malaysia
Malacca is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed port city with layered Portuguese, Dutch, British and Peranakan history packed into a compact old town. It is a genuine day-trip destination in its own right, centred on Jonker Street and the old Dutch town square, though the roughly 4-hour bus ride each way makes it a long day rather than a relaxed one. Most of what matters is walkable within the old town once you arrive.
Highlights: Dutch colonial Stadthuys · Christ Church Malacca · Jonker Walk night market · Peranakan culture and cuisine · UNESCO World Heritage old city
Batam Island, Indonesia
Batam is an Indonesian island close to Singapore, geared mainly toward shopping, spas and golf rather than sightseeing, and functions more as a value getaway than a heritage destination. The main draw is inexpensive massages, meals and shopping near the ferry terminals, with beaches and the Barelang bridges further out for those with more time. Its shorter crossing than Bintan's makes it workable as a single day trip.
Highlights: Seafood restaurants at Nagoya Hill · Nuvasa Bay waterfront · Budget spas and massage centres · Discount shopping at Nagoya Mall
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organised day tours to Malacca, Batam, and Johor Bahru from SGD 60-120 including transport and guide. Book via Klook or registered travel agencies.
- Private
- Private car hire for cross-border day trips to Johor Bahru from SGD 80-150/day including driver who handles customs. Most efficient for groups.
- Public
- MRT to Woodlands Checkpoint for JB, ferries from HarbourFront or Tanah Merah for Indonesian islands. All routes have established public transport options.
- Rental
- Car rental from SGD 60-120/day at Changi Airport operators — valid for Malaysia trips; requires additional insurance. Not necessary for most day trips.
Multi-day tours from Singapore
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from SingaporeWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Bring your passport for all cross-border day trips including Johor Bahru — Singapore MRT customs can have 30-90 minute queues on weekends
Book Bintan and Batam ferries at least 2-3 days in advance; they sell out on weekends, especially the morning departures
Pulau Ubin is the easiest and cheapest day trip (SGD 3 bumboat each way) for a completely different experience of 1960s kampung Singapore — hire a bicycle on arrival