Whether you’re two-tired of pedalling on the spot in spin classes or simply fancy a change of scenery, Singapore’s extensive Park Connector Network (PCN) has over 300km worth of routes for cyclists to explore.
If mapping your trip on two wheels sounds too tedious, we’ve narrowed down 10 cycling routes and sorted them according to difficulty for you – from beginner-friendly paths at East Coast Park to Tour De France–level biking trails.
East Coast Park is one of the OGs when it comes to cycling locations. The surrounding greenery and sandy beaches make for great scenery, but they might just have to take a backseat with the dinosaurs in town.
Spanning 3.5km between East Coast Park and Changi Airport, the Changi Airport Connector consists of a 1km stretch known as the Changi Jurassic Mile that’s lined with numerous life-sized dinosaurs – some are as tall as 5m!
Image credit: @angtl1968
With over 20 different types of dinos like the T-Rex and velociraptors present, this area is basically Jurassic Park come to life. Plus, the entire route is made up of flat ground so it’ll be a smooth journey for all riders regardless of ability.
Terrain: Cycling path
Total distance: 3.5KM
If long-distance cycling sounds like your kind of fun, give the Northeastern Riverine Loop a try the next time you and your kakis head out for a ride.
The 26km loop links four parks around Punggol and Sengkang, such as Punggol Waterway Park and Sengkang Riverside Park. It also follows the natural coastline of Punggol Beach and the riverbanks of Sungei Serangoon and Sungei Punggol, so expect picturesque waterfront views along the way.
If you can’t handle the entire route at once, you can always make a detour or pit stop in either of the parks for a picnic or water break.
Terrain: Cycling path | Road
Total distance: ~12.6km one-way
If you’re in Singapore and haven’t cycled, jogged or walked around Marina Bay at least once, can you really say you live on the little red dot?
Spanning 11.5km, the Marina Bay Loop is an easy cycling route that runs past iconic landmarks such as Marina Bay Sands and the Helix Bridge, making it ideal for photo ops. On top of that, it’s also easily accessible and suitable for night cycling with its brightly-lit streets. Perhaps this could be a fuss-free late-night date idea – fitspo couples, we’re looking at you.
Terrain: Road
Total distance: 11.5km
Check out this deal for a Marina Bay Night Cycling Tour.
Image credit: Land Transport Authority
The new Seletar Cycling Lane is perfect for a large group activity with all your friends. While cycling group sizes are capped at 10 on roads for safety reasons, there’s no limit to the number of cyclists that can ride together here. Every Sunday, between 5am and 11am, this lane is reserved for cyclists and buses only – cars aren’t allowed!
Image credit: Land Transport Authority
While the terrain itself is smooth and beginner-friendly, you’d still want to be confident on a bike before attempting this as you’ll still have to keep an eye out for buses. Visit soon as the 6-month long experimental concept by LTA will only be around until April 2023.
Terrain: Road
Total distance: 4.6km
Joining the list of long distance cycling routes is the Mandai Loop that’s a whopping 35-40km. This ride around Singapore’s Central Catchment Nature Reserve includes a nature-immersive journey through Thompson Nature Park, Macritchie Reservoir and Dairy Farm Nature Park.
Do take note that this loop comes with some challenging climbs. Though, if you’re already adept with gear-changing, pedaling through these slopes can be completed in as little as 2 or 3 hours.
If you’ve got time and energy to spare, you can consider parking your bikes and paying the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari a visit.
Terrain: Road | Sloping hill
Total distance: 35km-40km
At Chestnut Nature Park, there are several mountain biking trails with varying levels of difficulty. Intermediate riders embarking on one of the moderately-difficult trails can expect to encounter steep slopes, uneven surfaces and narrow tracks along the way.
Those who are not as confident in their biking abilities can practice their skills at the Chestnut Pump Track located onsite. It is Singapore’s first pump track featuring an undulating course that lets riders advance their techniques on roller coaster-like dips and turns.
With four track sections catering to different skill levels, this makes an interesting activity for you to jio your adrenaline junkie friends along to try.
Terrain: Off-road
Total distance: 8.2km
Seletar is pretty ulu and far from everything else. But on the bright side, cyclists won’t have to navigate through crowds of pedestrians or worry about riding amid heavy traffic. The Seletar-Thomson Route cuts through the scenic Lower Seletar Reservoir and rows of cafes along Upper Thomson. Better yet, the trail passes by Seletar Airport so you can keep your eyes peeled for the occasional planes taking off into the skies.
And if you aren’t sick of parks or water bodies just yet, you can always take a detour to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Yishun Dam and Thomson Nature Park along the way.
Terrain: Road | Sloping hill
Total distance: 28km
Those feeling up to par with the man, the myth and the legend Lance Armstrong himself (sans steroids, of course) might want to tackle the 150km Singapore Round Island Route.
As its moniker suggests, the entire journey takes you round the perimeter of Singapore, covering locations from Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve to Coney Island.
Image credit: @aly.pl
Don’t skip leg day when training for this because you’ll need all the quad strength and endurance you can get to embark on this trail. You’ll also want to set aside a full day to complete this trip round Singapore as the total distance may require anywhere between 10-14 hours.
As you’ll also be on main roads for certain portions of the route, make sure you put on your helmets and have your lights on for added safety.
Terrain: Road | Sloping hill | Cycling Path
Total distance: 150km
Don’t let the mere 3km distance of this route fool you, because ascending the Mount Faber Loop will give spin classes a run for their money. The elevation and steepness of the windy slopes make the climb up to Mount Faber Peak a challenging one.
But once you make it to the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Sentosa, the harbour and the Singapore skyline. Grab those photos while you’re at it because pics or it didn’t happen, amirite?
Terrain: Road | Sloping hill
Total distance: 3km
Having opened in 1997, Bukit Timah Mountain Biking Trail is the oldest mountain biking trail in Singapore. Recommended for advanced bikers only, this rocky trail snakes around the outline of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, with flourishing flora and fauna and majestic granite quarries along its route.
If you’re ready to take on this 7km challenge, make sure to pack some snacks along as you’ll pass by a nice clearing along the way, which makes for a great mid-ride picnic spot.
Terrain: Off-road
Total distance: 7km
Between scenic mountain biking terrains and noob-level trails, these cycling routes in Singapore could be interesting for you and your loved ones to explore over the weekend. Of course, do plan ahead and conduct further research before embarking on your adventure to ensure maximum safety.
For more cycling guides, check out:
Cover image adapted from: @annyeh14, @dewynne15, @yongthekian
Original article published on 5th December 2021. Last updated by Kezia Tan on 19th October 2022.
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