Ghost hunting in Singapore
Singapore may be small, but we’ve got plenty of haunted places, from Old Changi Hospital’s alleged torture chambers to the mysterious shrines at Pulau Ubin. If you’re keen to explore the spooky side of our Little Red Dot on a budget, here is a DIY guide to ghost hunting in Singapore – no EMF meter required.
Table of Contents
- Ghost hunting in Singapore
- What is ghost hunting & why do people do it?
- Is ghost hunting even legal in Singapore?
- Singapore’s haunted history
- What spirits can you encounter in Singapore?
- What are the different types of supernatural hauntings?
- Ghost hunting tips & tricks
- What tools can you use for ghost hunting?
- Supernatural signs to look out for when ghost hunting
- Ghost hunting step-by-step guide
- Ghost hunting locations in Singapore
- Can ghosts follow me home?
- Do ghosts in Singapore understand English, or should I try dialects?
- Can I ask ghosts for TOTO numbers?
What is ghost hunting & why do people do it?
Image credit: Society of Paranormal Investigators via Facebook
The first question that probably popped into your head is: “Why?”
Ghost hunting, AKA paranormal investigation, is the process of gathering evidence of the supernatural. Many people become ghost hunters out of curiosity, a desire for adventure, or simply as a way to pursue their love for the macabre.
In Singapore, the Society of Paranormal Investigators runs regular investigations at haunted sites and will even respond to calls from spooked residents to check their homes out. So yes, it can be as practical as it is thrilling.
Is ghost hunting even legal in Singapore?
Image credit: Society of Paranormal Investigators via Facebook
Yes, as long as you stick to public spaces or get official permission to enter private property. Trespassing is still trespassing, even if you’re chasing a hantu. Later in this guide, we’ll list some locations where you can safely hunt for ghosts without ending up in supernatural or, worse, legal trouble.
Singapore’s haunted history
The remains of a village after the fall of Singapore, 1942.
Image credit: Australian War Memorial C31514
Our Little Red Dot may be a young nation, but it has its fair share of dark memories. From WWII atrocities to tragic deaths and ancient folklore, many sites still stand as echoes of the past. These places carry stories that locals have passed down through generations, making them prime spots for supernatural activity, or at the very least, a good scare.
What spirits can you encounter in Singapore?
The iconic pontianak.
The Lion City is surprisingly diverse when it comes to the different types of ghosts you can spot in Singapore. You might encounter pontianak, pocong, jiang shi, toyol, or even urban legends, like a Makcik Keropok hard-selling crackers to you. We even have haunted MRT stations, where you might spot phantom passengers, so keep your eyes peeled and EZ-Link ready. Which brings us to…
What are the different types of supernatural hauntings?
Residual haunting
Not a true “ghost”, a residual haunting is basically just energy left behind after a traumatic event, playing over and over. Think of it as a painful recording on repeat; it doesn’t interact with anything and can only be observed.
Intelligent haunting
Now, this is probably the classic ghost you had in mind. Intelligent hauntings are sentient and aware, sometimes with memories or unfinished business. They can answer questions, move objects, or otherwise interact with the living.
Poltergeist haunting
Meaning “noisy spirit” in German, poltergeist hauntings are often misrepresented in pop culture. In reality, it usually is a manifestation of energy caused by a living human’s disturbed emotional state. What Hollywood got right is that this results in moving objects and a whole lot of disruption. The human culprit is often a moody teen struggling through puberty – sounds familiar?
Inhuman haunting
Inhuman hauntings are rare and include demonic, angelic, or elemental entities. They aren’t of human nature and should be taken very seriously. If you sense anything unusual that might fit this category, you could investigate, but honestly, just run.
Ghost hunting tips & tricks
Safety first
Image credit: Singapore’s Creepy & Haunted Tour via Tripadvisor
Never hunt alone – always go in pairs or small groups to ensure safety in case of panic or injury. Having multiple witnesses also adds credibility to any evidence you may capture. Keep someone updated regularly about your location, bring reflective tape to mark your path when navigating tricky areas, and pack a first aid kit in case your friend walks into a tree.
Document everything
Ouija board session at Pulau Ubin.
Image adapted from: Society of Paranormal Investigators via Facebook
Keep a logbook or record voice notes to document any and all happenings: time, location, temperature, even vibes. Ensure your audio recorder is running at all times to capture any Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVPs). Take plenty of pictures, including a photo of the location at the start, so you can spot any eerie changes as you go.
Be respectful
Never disturb offerings.
Image credit: Singapore’s Creepy & Haunted Tour via Tripadvisor
Unlike what ghost hunters do on TV, never shout or provoke the supernatural for answers. Treat them with politeness and caution by greeting spirits or knocking before entering buildings. And of course, respect their living counterparts as well; being loud or disruptive in the wee hours of 10.30pm to 7am can get authorities involved.
Leave no trace
“Take only photos, leave only footprints.” This is what Wisely, a paranormal investigator from the Society of Paranormal Investigators, recommends. In his 20 years of experience, ghost hunters should always follow a certain kind of etiquette – vandalism, littering or moving objects are a big no-no.
Take protective measures
They say that black smoke from burning palo santo is a sign of unresolved negative energy – that, or incomplete combustion.
Image credit: Korean Cosmetics
If you’re one of the ultra paranoid, carrying protective charms might give you some peace of mind. Burning palo santo sticks before or after your hunt is believed to clear negative energy and banish bad spirits – it also just smells really good. Black tourmaline is another option, as the crystal is said to ward off bad entities.
What tools can you use for ghost hunting?
Equipment used by the Society of Paranormal Investigators, including an infrared thermometer, EMF meter, spirit box, and Ouija board.
Image credit: Society of Paranormal Investigators via Facebook
In Wisely’s opinion, ghost hunting can be conducted even without any special equipment. “Traditional investigations started with no electronics at all,” he shared. All you need is a reliable flashlight, a notebook and pen, and your phone, which acts as both the camera and audio recorder.
If you’re willing to invest a little more, the gold standard tools are an EMF meter ($33.14), which detects changes in electromagnetic fields that some believe indicate a spirit’s presence, and a spirit box ($141.27), which rapidly scans radio frequencies to create white noise that entities can supposedly manipulate into words.
For those on a budget, you can try light-up cat balls ($22) or a twist flashlight ($14.05). The cat balls will light up after being disturbed, possibly hinting at a supernatural presence, while the flashlight switch is twisted so that it sits right between on and off, and any light flickering is taken as a sign of interaction. Just keep in mind that these gimmicky tools are largely unreliable – they’re more for fun than hard evidence.
Supernatural signs to look out for when ghost hunting
Testing out an EMF meter.
Image credit: Society of Paranormal Investigators via Facebook
Always be on the lookout for small changes in your surroundings – sudden drops in temperature or unexpected cold spots can be indicators of something spooky. Other indicators include unexplained breezes in enclosed areas or the sound of footsteps or knocking. Visual signs include shadows and orbs of light captured on camera.
Even smells are important – the stink of sulfur could be a sign of a demonic presence, while jasmine and frangipani scents are attributed to malevolent female spirits.
Ghost hunting step-by-step guide
Find a ghost hunting location
Screenshot from: Reddit
Old cemeteries, ulu areas, or places with historical significance are good spots. Check through social media platforms like Facebook and Reddit for paranormal sightings or investigation requests. Public parks are fair game, but as for private property, contact the owners, or maybe ask your friends if they see creepy things at home.
2. Get ghost-hunting equipment
The kind of ghost hunting equipment you’ll need depends on budget, skill level, and how much evidence you’re brave enough to capture. Get the EMF meter and spirit box if you want hardcore proof; otherwise, relying on your senses is the old-school way to go.
3. Ask the right questions
Treat it like an interview: start with basic questions such as name, age and gender, before expanding upon their answers to ask about how and when they passed, their connection to the location and any memories from their life.
4. Capture any paranormal evidence
It’s good practice to take notes with timestamps immediately after each observation. Review photos, audio, and video footage carefully, adjusting exposure or cleaning up sounds if needed. And lastly, try comparing the evidence with your hunting buddies to find any overlaps.
Ghost hunting locations in Singapore
Bukit Brown Cemetery
Sikh guard statues flanking a Chinese tomb.
Image credit: SonnySideUp via Trip.com
One of Singapore’s last remaining Chinese cemeteries, Bukit Brown Cemetery, was once home to over 100,000 graves belonging to Hokkien clans and wealthy pioneers. Eerie stone guardians watch over the remaining tombs, and locals often report sightings of pontianaks in the trees. Most of the graves have long been exhumed to make way for new roads, but many believe the disturbed spirits still linger.
Old Changi Hospital
Image adapted from: Supernatural Confessions
Often believed to be the most haunted place in Singapore, Old Changi Hospital dates back to the 1930s and was reportedly used as a prison and torture facility by the Japanese army during WWII. Entry is strictly forbidden, but brave souls still peer in from the outside, hoping to hear whispers, footsteps, or to spot apparitions in the windows. Its reputation alone makes it a rite of passage for ghost hunters.
Pulau Ubin
Image credit: Coconuts
Pulau Ubin is one of Singapore’s most iconic ghost hotspots – the island is filled with isolated temples and shrines, untouched paths, and numerous personal horror stories. The most famous German Girl Shrine is said to belong to a girl who fell to her death on the island during WWI. Visitors commonly gift toys and makeup to comfort the girl’s spirit, receiving her blessings in exchange. Strange, but kind of wholesome.
Marsiling Tunnels
Deep in the jungle lies the Marsiling Tunnels and bunker, a series of abandoned WWII underground spaces that were once inhabited by the British and then the Japanese forces. The tunnel entrance is buried within dense vegetation – access is difficult, so we strongly recommend going in with a guide.
Once inside, you’ll find that it’s pitch-black with ominous graffiti-covered walls, which you’ll need a heavy-duty flashlight for. Even if the place isn’t truly haunted, the oppressive atmosphere is enough to make most people turn back.
Spooner Road HDBs
Image credit: catcourtesy via Reddit
Standing near the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, 2 ageing HDB blocks on Spooner Road have long been vacant. They were originally built in the 1980s for Malaysian railway staff, but are now in the process of being demolished. Passersby have reported flickering lights, unexplained footsteps and voices in otherwise empty stairwells – legend says that the spirits that inhabit these units do not want to move out.
Access into the HDBs is prohibited, but feel free to explore the vicinity of this abandoned neighbourhood before it’s gone forever.
Can ghosts follow me home?
Yes. But most importantly, can they pay rent?
Do ghosts in Singapore understand English, or should I try dialects?
Better start brushing up – maybe it’s time to redownload Duolingo. You never know who’s listening.
Can I ask ghosts for TOTO numbers?
If it works, definitely let us know. We wouldn’t mind a little supernatural lottery luck.
Go on a ghost hunting adventure
Ghost hunting for the first time can be an intense experience, but keep in mind that most “supernatural” occurrences are caused by the explainable, such as animals, wind, and faulty wiring. Stay safe, be respectful, and don’t take it too seriously – you don’t need to convince anyone but yourself.
More spooky activities to do in Singapore:
Cover image adapted from: Society of Paranormal Investigators via Facebook
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