Singapore’s pavements and Park Connector Networks (PCNs) look smooth when you walk or bike, but actually aren’t once you’re in your skates with tiny wheels. There are unexpected slopes, uneven tiles, construction patches, tree roots lifting older pavements, and the occasional crack.
So to help you skip the guesswork and the surprise bumps along the way, we’ve compiled a list of the best rollerblading trails in Singapore, ranked from beginner to expert.
Table of Contents
The routes will be ranked from the easiest to the hardest, and will also be rated from 1 to 5 across the following categories – where 1 means “no thanks” and 5 means “love it”:
Image credit: Ong Rui En
This refers to the presence and steepness of slopes. Routes with steeper slopes will be given a lower rating. While slopes may look manageable when you are on a bicycle with brakes, they’re a whole different story on rollerblades.
Going uphill may leave your legs burning, but many beginner skaters find downhill sections trickier and more intimidating because you’ll need to control your speed. The most common ways to brake are using a heel brake by lifting your toes, or performing a T-stop by dragging one foot behind on its inside edge to create friction.
Screenshot from: Google Maps
This measures how smooth or bumpy the path feels under your wheels. Since rollerblades have relatively tiny wheels, even the smallest stone or crack can become a tripping hazard, while a slightly rough surface can cause constant vibrations that travel up your feet, making longer skating sessions uncomfortable.
On the flip side, it feels like heaven to find a smooth path you can glide across like you’re on ice, so smoother paths will be rated higher.
Image credit: Ong Rui En
Safety comes first, especially if you’re still getting the hang of skating. This rating looks at factors such as road crossings, traffic lights, and how close the route gets to vehicular traffic.
Anyone who’s skated before will know that pedestrian crossings can be surprisingly tricky. The braille tiles and uneven flooring at pedestrian crossings can throw you off balance, and the last thing you want is to find yourself rolling towards a busy road when you haven’t quite mastered your stopping techniques yet. As such, paths that are largely separated from traffic and allow you to skate with peace of mind will score higher.
Image credit: CT via Google Maps
Lastly, we’ll look at how easy it is to get to and from the route. Singaporeans all value convenience, and sometimes even a 1-hour travel time can feel too long when you’re carrying your bulky rollerblades and protective equipment. If the route has MRT stations and bus stops around the start and end points, it will be given a higher rating.
Image adapted from: Inlinex, @mindspace_punggol via Instagram
If you’re just starting off as an absolute beginner, the Great Eastern Promenade, formerly known as the 100PLUS Promenade, is a pretty good place to begin. It’s a fully sheltered 888m loop located at The Kallang, which means skating sessions here can go on whether rain or shine. You won’t have to worry about slippery paths and branches getting caught in your skates either.
You’ll sometimes also spot other rollerblading lessons happening here, so you won’t be the only one wobbling around on your skates. However, it’s not a good place for fast skaters as it’s usually crowded with joggers, especially on the weekends.
Slopes: 5/5
Terrain: 5/5
Traffic: 5/5
Accessibility: 5/5
Bedok Jetty.
Image credit: NTU Inline Skate Club
East Coast Park is a good place to try your 1st urban route, because this trail is as beginner-friendly as it can get, with flat paths all the way and no traffic to cross. Beware of speeding cyclists though, especially if you’re skating on the main cycling path.
Start at Parkland Green and skate to Bedok Jetty – you can cross the underpass from Parkway Parade to reach Parkland Green. Another perk of this route is the awesome views and sea breeze along the way.
Finally, if you’re still up for it, you can skate back to Parkland Green. If not, Bayshore is the nearest MRT station to Bedok Jetty to end your trip. The total distance of this route to and fro is 9.9km, which is still manageable for a first timer to urban skating.
You’ll also pass by East Coast Lagoon Food Village along the way, so you can make a quick stop during your skate session if you’re feeling peckish.
Alas, a downside is that it can be challenging to get to East Coast Park by public transport, as most bus stops and MRT stations are a walk away from the beach.
Discover the East Coast Park rollerblading trail map.
Slopes: 5/5
Terrain: 4/5
Traffic: 5/5
Accessibility: 3/5
Image credit: @layywenn via Instagram
The paths along the Punggol coastal trail have been recently refreshed, so it’s now one of the longest intermediate-level trails with smooth, wide paths that you can just glide across. Look out for branches, rocks, and seeds on the path along the way, especially after heavy rain and if you’re skating at night.
Start from Punggol Coast MRT Station, where you’ll pass by SIT and Punggol Coast Mall to get to the coastal PCN. Once you’re on the coastal trail, skate eastwards to Waterway Sunrise, then westwards to Northshore Plaza, and finally end your trip back at Punggol Coast MRT Station.
This route takes you backtracking the way you came, so you can take a 2nd look at every landmark and admire the beautiful coastal view all the way. There are also plenty of rest points to just kick back and soak in the scenery.
One of the highlights to look out for is Coney Island’s West Entrance – feel free to take a peek beyond the gates, but don’t attempt to skate in there because the path gets rocky and is not suitable for skates.
Punggol Promenade Bridge.
Image credit: Forest BK via Google Maps
You might have to cross a few sloped bridges along the way, so knowing how to T-stop or use your heel brakes is recommended, although the bridges are not too steep and have railings for you to hold on to.
The best part about this route is that you’ll have an easy time travelling there and home since you start and end right at an MRT station.
If you don’t want to cover the same ground twice, a shorter, 5.1km alternative is to start from Waterway Sunrise (nearest LRT station: Riveria/Kadaloor) and end at Northshore Plaza (nearest LRT station: Samudera).
Discover the Punggol Coastal Trail map.
Slopes: 3.5/5
Terrain: 5/5
Traffic: 5/5
Accessibility: 5/5
Starbucks at Jurong Lake Gardens.
Image credit: Chong Leng Soh via Google Maps
For those looking for smooth paths and beautiful scenery, Jurong Lake Gardens is another option. If you’re fairly new to skating, we recommend alighting at Lakeside MRT Station and walking over to Starbucks in Jurong Lake Gardens before putting on your skates to avoid skating near the roads.
Image credit: C Lim via Google Maps
Continue skating into Jurong Lake Gardens, wherever your heart desires, before skating back out once you’ve had your fill. We didn’t include a trail to follow because the paths branch out and weave across the gardens, so take it free and easy instead of trying to follow a map. Do note that you are not allowed to skate within the Chinese Gardens and Japanese Gardens though.
Some areas are also a little bit off-trail, but you can avoid those and stick to smooth paths. You’ll find some gentle but long slopes without railings; avoid those if you are a beginner or sidestep your way down slowly.
Image credit: Capture Asia Photography via Google Maps
There’s a skate park there within the gardens for more experienced skaters too.
Slopes: 4/5
Terrain: 4.5/5
Traffic: 5/5
Accessibility: 5/5
Image credit: Sơn Trần via Google Maps
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is a classic among the skating community – you’ll often see regular skaters and longboarders there, because the paths are fairly flat, with smooth tarmac. Plus, it’s just a 5-minute walk from Bright Hill MRT Station.
Bishan Park Skate Rink.
Image credit: Meng Foo Choo via Google Maps
There are also rollerblade rentals and lessons available at Bishan Park Skate Rink, where many veteran skaters learnt to skate. One of them is Skateline, which offers a 1-hour lesson for total beginners at $35/pax, while open group lessons for those who have skated before start from $130 for 4 1-hour lessons.
Slopes: 4/5
Terrain: 4.5/5
Traffic: 5/5
Accessibility: 5/5
Image credit: Changi Airport
If you haven’t checked out the Changi Airport Connector and Jurassic Mile yet, it’s one of the more interesting trails that deserves a spot on your bucket list.
Start from the Hub & Spoke Cafe near Terminal 2, which also offers bicycle rentals if you’re going with someone else who wants to cycle.
From there, just follow the red path – most of the route is nice and level, making for a smooth and enjoyable skate. Keep in mind that you’ll encounter several small roads to cross, which means plenty of tactile braille tiles that can be quite bumpy for your wheels. Some of these roads also lack zebra crossings, so do stay alert and keep a sharp eye out for vehicles.
Image credit: maryyeo via Tripadvisor
Along the way, you’ll see many life-sized dinosaurs, like a 3.9m-tall T-rex ripping up the fence and 3 Velociraptors surrounding a buggy.
After reaching the end of the 3.5km trail, you can choose to continue towards Changi Village, Bedok Jetty, or even Marina Bay if you’re still up for it.
Discover the Changi Airport Connector.
Slopes: 5/5
Terrain: 4/5
Traffic: 2.5/5
Accessibility: 3.5/5
Starting and ending at malls with direct MRT access, the Waterway Point to White Sands Mall route is one of the more convenient options for skaters lugging their heavy wheels.
Pasir Ris Farmway.
Image credit: Ong Rui En
With long stretches of smooth, wide paths on the Punggol Coastal PCN and Pasir Ris Farmway, gliding along this terrain feels almost like a skater’s heaven.
Starting from Waterway Point, make a detour towards the coast instead of taking the rougher Punggol Waterway PCN. Cross the Punggol PC, Punggol Point Walk, and Punggol Promenade Nature Walk.
Lorong Halus Red Bridge.
Image credit: Sandipan via Google Maps
Your journey takes you across Sunrise Bridge and the iconic Lorong Halus Red Bridge within Punggol to reach the Lorong Halus Wetland. While both bridges have handrails, exercise caution when descending the Sunrise Bridge. You’ll need to make a sharp U-turn on relatively bumpy terrain at the bottom of the bridge, so it’s best to control your speed and skate down slowly.
Image credit: Ong Rui En
You’ll also have to take a step down onto a bumpy carpark road and cross a narrow, sloped pavement at Lorong Halus Wetland, which beginners might have some difficulty with.
Image credit: Ong Rui En
That’s not all – you’ll also need to cross a road with no traffic lights at the end of Pasir Ris Drive 12, so only try this route if you are confident that you’ll be able to do it on your skates. Thankfully, traffic along this stretch is usually pretty light.
After that, just continue following the PCN path marked with dotted and solid red lines. Some parts along the PCN are slightly sloped with no railings, so use your heel brakes or T-stop and proceed with caution.
BTW, there are toilets along Pasir Ris Park if you need a quick stop along the way.
Discover the Waterway Point to White Sands Mall route.
Slopes: 4/5
Terrain: 3.5/5
Traffic: 3/5
Accessibility: 5/5
East Coast Park.
Image credit: Arpita Saha via Google Maps
Here’s another East Coast Park route, but this time we head in the opposite direction towards Esplanade. It’s pretty smooth in the first half when you head westwards along East Coast Park and past Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant.
There are zebra crossings and pavements along Rhu Cross road, but you’ll generally be a safe distance from vehicles. Skaters used to be able to cut through Bay East Garden, but it is now temporarily closed for construction. Hopefully, it’ll be accessible for skating again once the works are complete.
Marina Barrage Dam.
Image credit: Jo Lee via Google Maps
Here’s when it gets tough – this route is categorised as intermediate because you’ll need to cross the Marina Barrage Dam, which has steep slopes and gaps in the ground your wheels could get caught in.
After crossing the dam, you’ll pass by Marina Barrage, Gardens by the Bay, The Fullerton Bay Hotel, the Merlion, and Jubilee Bridge.
Image credit: Ah Syahlendra via Google Maps
The terrain after the dam transitions to large square tiles with occasional floor hazards like drain covers, so keep an eye out while skating. It can also get quite crowded around these areas, especially on weekends and public holidays.
From there, make your way to Esplanade and return home via the Esplanade MRT Station.
Discover the East Coast Park to Esplanade route.
Slopes: 1/5
Terrain: 4/5
Traffic: 4.5/5
Accessibility: 3.5/5
Image credit: Ong Rui En
If you’re looking for something else to do at Sentosa besides Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove, consider taking your rollerblades to Sentosa’s beach walks.
Skate on pavements beside the road along Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong beach walks. There aren’t a lot of cars on the road, so you may choose to skate on the road instead for a smoother ride, but watch out for trams.
However, you might need to cross some rocky slopes between the beach walks, so this route is not exactly suitable for beginners.
Discover the Sentosa beach walks.
Slopes: 3/5
Terrain: 3/5
Traffic: 2/5
Accessibility: 3.5/5
Image credit: NParks
The North Eastern Riverine Loop gives you full access to the whole PCN around Singapore’s north eastern region. A convenient starting point is Buangkok MRT Station for the easiest access to the rollerblading trail. Alternatively, Punggol Coast MRT Station is near the route too. From there, follow the PCN in either direction.
The Punggol Waterway PCN cuts across the loop, but the paths are rougher, narrower at some points, not flat, and usually more crowded than the trail along the coast of Punggol. Hence, despite the coastal trail further up north being longer, we would still recommend sticking to that for the smoother, flatter paths.
Sungei Serangoon Park Connector.
Image credit: Ong Rui En
Like the coastal trail, the terrain is also relatively smooth along the Sungei Serangoon River. Watch out for the occasional speeding cyclist as well as monitor lizards and otter families that may pop their heads out from the bushes.
Serangoon Park Connector.
Image credit: Ong Rui En
However, the terrain at the Serangoon Park Connector is on the rougher side, with uneven ground, branches snaking under pavements, and leaves that may get caught in your wheels.
Buangkok Park Connector.
Image credit: Ong Rui En
This section may be risky for beginners, as you may need to skate along stretches of narrow pavements beside roads in Buangkok. Furthermore, if you are heading westwards on Buangkok Park Connector, there is a long stretch of gradual downslope right next to a road with fast-moving oncoming vehicles. Make sure you are proficient at using your heel brake or T-stopping to control your speed along this stretch.
If you would like to avoid skating near roads in Buangkok altogether, consider skating anticlockwise along the loop starting from Punggol Park and ending at Northshore Plaza instead. There are also some sloped bridges to cross along the way, but they should be manageable if you are proficient in using your heel brake or T-stop.
Discover the North Eastern Riverine Loop.
Slopes: 2/5
Terrain: 3/5
Traffic: 2/5
Accessibility: 5
East Coast Park to Changi Beach Park is a long route for those of you who want to try out long-distance skating. The good news is that it has long stretches of flat, wide paths and minimal slopes, so you won’t burn out too quickly.
Start from any point in East Coast Park, go past Changi Coastal Walk, skate on the flat, wide pavements along Tanah Merah Coast Road, and finally end at Changi Coastal End.
Screenshot from: Google Maps
Here’s a heads-up: the path gets uneven along Changi Coastal Walk, as you may have to cross concrete drain covers on the flyover and construction site entrances.
Discover the East Coast Park to Changi Beach Park route.
Slopes: 4/5
Terrain: 3.5/5
Traffic: 4/5
Accessibility: 2/5
Springleaf Park Connector.
Image adapted from: Ong Rui En
The Springleaf Park Connector and Upper Seletar Reservoir are actually more of a jogging route, but we just had to include this because of the beautiful views along the way. Take note that the route is broken into 2 separate skating sections, and you might need to take the bus or walk along Mandai Road, which connects the sections. This is because Mandai Road is not very rollerblade-friendly, with its narrow and overgrown pavement running close to fast-moving traffic.
Start from Bef Sg Seletar Bridge bus stop (59011) and skate 1.6km along Springleaf Park Connector, through Springleaf Nature Park, and to Aft Upp Thomson Rd bus stop (57149). Remove your skates and take bus 138 for 3 stops or walk 1.2km to Upp Seletar Reservoir bus stop (48089).
Upper Seletar Reservoir.
Image credit: Sheng via Google Maps
Then, put your skates back on and skate 1.3km along Upper Seletar Reservoir.
If you’re driving, just park at Springleaf Nature Park Carpark to explore Springleaf Park Connector, or Upper Seletar Reservoir Park Car Park B to skate along Upper Seletar Reservoir.
We recommend going early in the morning for a leisurely skate when the sun has just risen, and you’ll feel the cool, misty weather. At this hour, it almost feels like there’s natural air conditioning, thanks to all the trees and surrounding water bodies that help take the edge off Singapore’s urban heat.
Discover the Springleaf Park Connector & Upper Seletar Reservoir route.
Slopes: 4/5
Terrain: 3/5
Traffic: 2.5/5
Accessibility: 2/5
Sick of skating round and round under your HDB void deck? Try some urban routes for a change of scenery. Even if you only know how to skate forward and use a heel brake, most of these urban trails are manageable – just bring a friend along for a more relaxed and confident ride.
For more PCN trails:
Cover image adapted from: NTU Inline Skate Club, Ong Rui En, Sandipan via Google Maps
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