“Kampung” things to do in Singapore
Our parents love reminiscing about the “good old kampung days.” But that idea is hard to envision for those of us who grew up in a concrete jungle. Thankfully, even as our little island grows taller each day with towering skyscrapers and new BTOs, there’re still some places that embody the tranquil, old-school country vibes – albeit with a 21st-century twist.
From cultivating good farming habits to exploring the kelongs and fish farms at Pulau Ubin, here are eight kampung things you can do to escape the hustle and bustle of the city in 2024. These activities can be done on both weekdays and weekends, making them perfect for the school holidays and long weekends.
Table of Contents
- “Kampung” things to do in Singapore
- Are there still kampungs in Singapore?
- 1. Visit a fish farm & learn about agriculture out in the West
- 2. Escape to the Southern Islands like Kusu & St. John’s for a day
- 3. Kayak & fish by the mangroves
- 4. Spend a day biking around Pulau Ubin’s jungles & old villages
- 5. Check out the kelongs at Pulau Ubin
- 6. Have dinner on a floating kelong at Changi
- 7. Take a tour of a 21st-century kampung in Buangkok
- Bonus: Go scuba diving off the coast of Pulau Hantu
Are there still kampungs in Singapore?
There are 2 remaining kampungs or kampongs in Singapore. There’s Kampong Lorong Buangkok on mainland Singapore, and the collective kampung on Pulau Ubin island. Both are still inhabited by residents who’ve grown up in these places.
The term “kampung spirit” originates from the sense of community from living in such a compound. It is common for neighbours within the same kampung to help each other out, whether it’s to babysit kids while their parents are out working, sharing meals when extra dishes have been made, or just lending a helping hand whenever it’s needed. While most Singaporeans don’t live in kampungs any longer, the kampung spirit lives on.
1. Visit a fish farm & learn about agriculture out in the West
Image credit: @sageteoxy via Instagram
If your young kids are developing an interest in having their own aquarium, you can bring the entire family for a tour of the Qian Hu Fish Farm, one of the OG farms in the country.
As one of the biggest importers and exporters of ornamental fish, you’ll be greeted by rows of aquarium tanks with a variety of beautiful fishes from bettas to goldfish. The 2-hour tour will also educate you on the fish farming industry and how Qian Hu has adapted to modern times and new technologies.
Make reservations for the Qian Hu Fish Farm tour
Price: From $250 for private tour group of 2-3 pax
Availability: Mon-Fri, 2.15pm-4.15pmb (Not available on Saturdays and Sundays)
2. Escape to the Southern Islands like Kusu & St. John’s for a day
The Da Bo Gong Temple on Kusu Island has 3 pavilions worthy of your #OOTD backdrops.
Island-hopping around Singapore is a respite we all deserve. This 7.5-hour tour takes you around five islands including Kusu Island, St. John’s Island, and Lazarus Island where you can experience an idyllic afternoon away from the city.
Over at Kusu Island, you can check out the many multi-cultural attractions like Da Bo Gong Temple and the Keramat Kusu Malay shrine.
St. John’s Island.
Your sunscreen should already be applied by the time you reach St. John’s Island and Lazarus Island, as the beaches are perfect for a picturesque picnic with views overlooking the Singapore skyline.
Lazarus Island is home to many stray – but friendly – cats.
Price: From $230 for private tour group of 2-4 pax
Availability: 11am-6.30pm, Daily
3. Kayak & fish by the mangroves
Image credit: @seasia.kayaker via Instagram
Those who love water sports can try an alternative view of mangroves instead of sandy beaches when they go on a kayak fishing and mangrove tour around Pasir Ris. The sights you’ll uncover are not what you’ll see daily. Think 20m-tall mangrove trees and mud lobster mounds with nary a skyscraper in sight.
Image adapted from: Klook
Your base camp will be at Kokomo Beach Club, where you’ll learn the basics of kayaking and fishing before heading off into the mangroves. And yes, whatever you catch is yours to bring home to cook and eat.
Here’s a pro tip: the whole tour will take a whopping 8 hours, so you’ll want to pack a lunch and snacks before heading out. There’s georges @ The Cove next door if you want to grab a bite.
Book Kayak Fishing and Mangrove Tour
Price: $298 for 2 pax
Availability: 8am-4pm, Daily
4. Spend a day biking around Pulau Ubin’s jungles & old villages
Biking around Pulau Ubin is one of the best ways to see all the sights the island has to offer, like traditional kampung houses, Chek Jawa Wetlands, and Ketam Quarry.
The Ketam Quarry viewpoint is a sight that modern-day Singapore doesn’t have.
Don’t worry if you can’t navigate Google Maps to save your life, cycling routes are well-marked here. For seasoned riders, the Ketam Mountain Bike Park has mountain bike trails suitable for newbies and pros alike.
The Jejawi Tower gives you a bird’s eye view of the Chek Jawa Wetlands.
FYI, it costs an extra $2 to bring your bike from your mainland Singapore onto the ferry into Pulau Ubin. For convenience, you can instead reserve a bike online. You’ll find basic bicycles for on-road riding, mountain bikes for dirt trails, and even tandem bikes for couples.
Reserve a bike rental at Pulau Ubin
Price: Basic Bicycle $15/day | Mountain Bicycle From $20/day | Tandem Bicycle From $50/day
Availability: 8.30am-6pm, Daily
5. Check out the kelongs at Pulau Ubin
Image credit: alex.ch via Flickr
Rather than see Pulau Ubin’s sights from land as most people do, why not try out a different perspective and tour the island from a bumboat cruising around its coastline?
This 3-hour tour will take you around the waters off Singapore’s North-East coast where there are many active kelongs. There are 2 cruises daily but we recommend going for the afternoon one, as you’ll also get to see the sunset as you sail. The boat will even dock at one of the kelongs for you to grab dinner if you so wish at an additional cost. Trust us, you’re unlikely to get seafood any fresher than this.
Book at Kelong and Pulau Ubin Guided Boat Tour
Price: $135/pax
Availability: 8.30am-11.30am | 4pm-7pm, Daily
6. Have dinner on a floating kelong at Changi
Image credit: Eatbook
It’s not every day that you’ll have the chance to dine at a floating restaurant. Enter Smith Marine Floating Restaurant, Singapore’s only halal-certified kelong seafood restaurant.
The highlight of dining here is their “sure catch” pond, where you can try your hand at catching your own fish that the kitchen will then prepare and serve to your table.
Hundreds of fish are in their pond so even noob fishers will reel something in within minutes.
You can choose between a 4-course meal which feeds 2-3 people and comes with Hong Kong-style steamed fish caught fresh from the surrounding waters, as well as steamed prawns, stir-fried mixed vegetables, and seafood fried rice.
For bigger parties up to 4, you’re better off getting the 5-course meal which has chilli crab, sambal mussels, stir-fried mixed vegetables, and seafood fried rice. Each dining package also includes 2-way ferry transfer from Changi Point Ferry Terminal, so there’s no need to charter your boat just for a meal.
Reserve Smith Marine Floating Restaurant set meal
Price: $270 for 4-course meal | $360 for 5-course meal
Availability: 10am-7pm, Daily
7. Take a tour of a 21st-century kampung in Buangkok
Houses are made from wood and zinc.
Image credit: @866l1181 via Instagram
We couldn’t have a list of kampung things to do in Singapore without at least including a tour of the last kampung in Singapore. Kampong Lorong Buangkok is where time has stood still for the past 70 years. In this tour, you wouldn’t be trespassing on private property, but rather, you’ll be a welcome and invited guest to see how life was like before HDBs sprung up.
Image credit: @candidphotosjusttake via Instagram
Apart from walking around the kampung grounds, you’ll also get the chance to enter one of these kampung houses to chat with residents on what living here is like. If you’ve got young ones or feel young at heart, there are even rousing rounds of nostalgic games you can play for a taste of the simple life back then.
Book Kampong Lorong Buangkok tour
Price: From $250 for a group of 2-3 pax
Availability: 9am-11am, Daily
Bonus: Go scuba diving off the coast of Pulau Hantu
Image credit: @cuddlefishdivers via Instagram
You don’t need to travel from Singapore to Tioman Island just to scuba dive. Pulau Hantu’s serene landscape and untouched reefs have made it one of the more well-known diving spots in Singapore. While you may not see coral formations like those at the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll still get to see wild marine life native to Singapore waters like seahorses and even turtles.
If you’re inexperienced but want to learn how to scuba dive, Cuddlefish Divers does have open water diving courses that’ll get you ready to explore the deep blue on your own. It includes theory lessons, guided dives in swimming pools, and dives at Marina at Keppel Bay and Pulau Hantu to ensure you’ve got the skills down pat.
Book a dive tour around Pulau Hantu
Price: Unguided $168/2 dives | Guided $210/2 dives
Availability: Sat-Sun (Not available from Mondays to Fridays)
Things to do in Singapore away from the city
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There’s more to see in Singapore than theme parks and glamorous infinity pools. These rural attractions that evoke a nostalgic “kampung spirit” have plenty of beauty and charm. The best part is that some of these are still somewhat undiscovered, so you know your IG backdrops won’t have any cameos from strangers walking by.
Whether you want to see Pulau Ubin from an alternative view or you want to learn how to grow your own crops just like our forebears did, you can easily book an adventure to see another side of Singapore through Klook.
Image adapted from: Klook
Klook makes finding these off-the-beaten-path activities as smooth as the Singapore Straits’ waters. When you find yourself in need for some R&R, you can take a day off to recharge your soul away from the city instead.
Check out more “kampung” things to do away from Singapore here
This post was brought to you by Klook as part of the SingapoRediscovers campaign.
Cover image adapted from: Eatbook, Yi Hu Fish, National Parks, @seasia.kayaker via Instagram
Originally published on 29th January 2021. Last updated by Raewyn Koh on 9th May 2024.
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