See & Do
East Coast
For those Singaporeans who have always lived on the East Coast, there’s no better place. With a little more space and perhaps a more laidback attitude to life than the CBD, the East Coast has the added benefit of ready access to the beach. And in such a small city state, nothing is really that far away – despite what some may say.
While the West Coast is more industrial and shipping-orientated, the East Coast is very much the leisure coast of Singapore, and the East Coast Park in particular offers a long stretch of perfect coastline for running, cycling or just enjoying the sea breeze. There are also some excellent places for food; whether it’s chilli crab near the beach or local food in some of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, like historic Geylang and Katong. These are traditional Malay and Peranakan neighbourhoods, and outside of festive seasons like Hari Raya, they are also refreshingly light on tourists.
The small Changi Chapel & Museum will give you a lesson in war history. You can then complete the trip by taking a bumboat to Johor where you’ll find the Johor Battery, a remote labrinth of tunnels that was the largest artillery hold during WWII outside of Britain. For lighter entertainment, the Katong Antique House is loaded with all sorts of treasures and over in Pasir Ris Park, home to the mangrove forests, there’s lots to see and do.
If architecture is your thing, make the detour to Koon Seng Road (just of Joo Chiat Road) with its row of ornately-decorated Peranakan terrace houses. The Malay Cultural Village at 39 Geyland Road is a complex of traditional Malay houses. It is supposed to recreate the kampong life of early Singapore and on weekends it has free dance displays and Malaysian food for sale. Sadly though, it’s poorly run and not widely recommended. Changi is home to a many of the traditional black & white bungalows, and if you're heading further afield you'll find the ferry terminal for bumboats to Pulau Ubin and Johor here.
While the West Coast is more industrial and shipping-orientated, the East Coast is very much the leisure coast of Singapore, and the East Coast Park in particular offers a long stretch of perfect coastline for running, cycling or just enjoying the sea breeze. There are also some excellent places for food; whether it’s chilli crab near the beach or local food in some of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, like historic Geylang and Katong. These are traditional Malay and Peranakan neighbourhoods, and outside of festive seasons like Hari Raya, they are also refreshingly light on tourists.
Residential
The East Coast is extremely popular with expatriates. Those on good pay packets favour the sea views, palm trees and ocean breezes of the condominiums that hug the coastline almost all the way to Changi airport. For edgier urban living, the areas around Geylang, Kallang and Katong may be more ‘colourful’ in the evenings, but they also offer great dining and fabulous restored buildings. For fans of Siglap, meanwhile, theirs is the ‘Holland Village of the East’, only with a slightly more residential, more family oriented feel and still full of good eating options. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, a shopping mall and a tailor who makes traditional Malay blouses or kebayas are also attractions.
Retail
Each neighbourhood has its own shopping malls, but the East is known more for its leisurely living than its retail therapy.
Places of Interest
If you’re into outdoor sports you’ll find plenty of space to pursue your passion here. Apart from East Coast Park, there’s also Kallang, the home of Singapore’s Indoor Stadium. A rather sterile, but functional venue, it’s been the site of many mid-size concerts and events like badminton tournaments, street soccer and ice skating shows. The Kallang basin is also a popular area for watersports like kayaking and dragon boating, while many people jog or walk their dogs around the inlet. It’s also a good place to watch the national day parade at the National Stadium. Kallang Theatre is still the venue for plays and musicals that aren’t quite grand enough for the Esplanade.
The small Changi Chapel & Museum will give you a lesson in war history. You can then complete the trip by taking a bumboat to Johor where you’ll find the Johor Battery, a remote labrinth of tunnels that was the largest artillery hold during WWII outside of Britain. For lighter entertainment, the Katong Antique House is loaded with all sorts of treasures and over in Pasir Ris Park, home to the mangrove forests, there’s lots to see and do.
If architecture is your thing, make the detour to Koon Seng Road (just of Joo Chiat Road) with its row of ornately-decorated Peranakan terrace houses. The Malay Cultural Village at 39 Geyland Road is a complex of traditional Malay houses. It is supposed to recreate the kampong life of early Singapore and on weekends it has free dance displays and Malaysian food for sale. Sadly though, it’s poorly run and not widely recommended. Changi is home to a many of the traditional black & white bungalows, and if you're heading further afield you'll find the ferry terminal for bumboats to Pulau Ubin and Johor here.
