Things to do in Yishun
We all know Yishun has a bit of a young punk rep – no thanks to the wild happenings that have taken place here. But that’s only what the media has shown you about this sleepy neighbourhood to the North.
Beyond whatever you’ve read in the news is a plethora of family-friendly fun, splendid views of nature, and good eats. Here’s what you can do in Yishun:
Table of Contents
- Things to do in Yishun
- – Places to eat –
- 1. Coba Coba
- 2. 928 Yishun Laksa
- 3. Nelly’s Retro Snacks
- – Things to do –
- 4. Yishun Heritage Trail
- 5. J2 Terrarium
- 6. HomeTeamNS Khatib
- 7. Yishun Block 330 & Block 291 playgrounds
- 9. Sonic Bowl
- 10. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital garden
- 11. Khatib Bongsu
- 12. Lower Seletar Reservoir
- 13. Yishun Dam
- Bonus: Take a peek at Jenal Jetty’s kelongs
- What to do in the unique neighbourhood of Yishun
– Places to eat –
1. Coba Coba
Yummy, authentic Indonesian fare from $7.80
If you’re looking for a bite of nostalgia and good Indonesian food, we recommend heading down to Coba Coba. The hole-in-the-wall diner serves nasi padang, where you can choose a variety of Indonesian delicacies like rendang and sayur lodeh to pair with rice.
Options are plenty, but if you’re not sure what to get, there are set meals such as the Chicken Wing Set ($7.80), Beef Rendang Set ($10), or Fish Fillet and Chicken Sausage Set (from $7.80). If you’re coming with friends or family, the Nasi Ambeng Sharing Platters (from $39) come with a mountain of side dishes to share.
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2. 928 Yishun Laksa
One of the most popular laksa stalls in all of SG
Image credit: Eatbook
One of the must-haves while you’re in Yishun is a piping hot bowl of laksa from 928 Yishun Laksa. $4 will get you a loaded bowl of noodles and spicy coconut gravy topped with ingredients like tau pok, crab sticks, fishcake, and blood cockles. Should the portion prove too small, you can go for their add-ons, which range from extra soup ($1), extra noodles ($0.50), and extra cockles ($1).
This gem is located below a HDB void deck with seats available both indoors and outdoors.
Image credits: Ayako via Google Maps
We recommend heading down earlier or during non-peak hours, as the queue to snatch a bowl of laksa here can be quite long.
3. Nelly’s Retro Snacks
Shop for iconic childhood snacks like Apollo wafers & Craze Hottis
Image credit: Nelly’s Retro Snacks Singapore via Facebook
From time to time, we all get sudden cravings for childhood snacks – but the most torturous thing about this is that it’s super hard to get our hands on them at regular supermarkets these days. If you find yourself in Yishun, be sure to visit Nelly’s Retro Snacks to please your inner child.
If you grew up in the early 2000s, we bet you miss this 7-Eleven staple snack.
Image credit: Nelly’s Retro Snacks Singapore via Facebook
This snacks store sells many old-school faves, from tinned sugar biscuits to powdered candy and even 7-Eleven’s discontinued Craze Hottis. Since there are over 300 goodies to browse, you’ll definitely be leaving with your snack cravings satisfied.
– Things to do –
4. Yishun Heritage Trail
Free self-guided tour to learn more about the history of Yishun
If you’re a huge history buff, embark on the Yishun Heritage Trail. It’s a self-guided tour by the National Heritage Board and invites visitors to learn more about how the neighbourhood has drastically transformed across different eras.
The 18m-high viewing tower at Upper Seletar Reservoir.
Image adapted from: National Heritage Board
The trail features 17 heritage sites, 8 trail markers, and 2 themed routes to follow. As you make pit stops at the various landmarks, you’ll get nuggets of information about the storied background of areas like Seletar, Chye Kay Village, and Chan Chu Kang.
There are 2 routes to follow: the Rockets and Reservoirs and the Yishun Ring Route. The former takes around an hour to complete and will take you on a journey to spot the many spaceship-inspired buildings of the 90s that still stand today.
Image credit: Roots
Meanwhile, you’ll need to set aside around 2.5 hours in order to complete the Yishun Ring Route. You’ll get to know all about Yishun Ring Road, as well as the former Chye Kay Village, which used to be a booming site for rubber and pineapple plantations before the neighbourhood gave rise to modern-day malls and HDB flats.
Learn more about the Yishun Heritage Trail.
5. J2 Terrarium
Have a go at crafting DIY terrariums for $38
Image credit: @j2terrarium via Instagram
Whether you’re looking for your next team-bonding activity, a fun date with your friends, or a chillax “me-time” activity, we recommend terrarium workshops ($38/pax) at J2 Terrarium. The session includes all the materials you’ll need to customise your own plant tank. The supervised class is held by experienced facilitators who’ll help out if you’re struggling in the creative process.
Image credit: @j2terrarium via Instagram
Building terrariums is just one of the many activities available at J2 Terrarium. You can also explore the art of preserved flowers (from $48/pax) or coaster making ($58/pax) if you’d like. And if you’d rather craft from home, they have kits you can purchase as well. Do note that workshops are by appointment only and require reservations in advance.
Book a terrarium workshop at J2 Terrarium.
6. HomeTeamNS Khatib
Raise your heart’s BPM at Adventure HQ while kids tackle an indoor playground
There’s no excuse to say “I’m bored” when you get your butt to HomeTeamNS Khatib. The club is home to a myriad of activities for the whole family. Make your first stop Adventure HQ (from $50/pax) – a name that you might be familiar with if you’re an adrenaline junkie. This 4-storey adventure hub is 2,800sqm large and houses both high and low obstacles suitable even for those with a fear of heights.
Image credit: T-Play Singapore
Little ones who aren’t able to scale the obstacles at Adventure HQ can still have their fill of fun at the T-Play (from $12/pax), a Peranakan-themed indoor playground. Those who are older will probably want something more challenging, so take them to TactSim (from $22/pax), an airsoft area where they can face off against their friends with airsoft guns.
As if running after your kids wasn’t tiring enough, you can build up stamina and muscles at the clubhouse’s Fitness Workz Gym (from $9/pax). It’s the size of 19 badminton courts and has 9 zones of fitness equipment for cardio and strength training.
7. Yishun Block 330 & Block 291 playgrounds
Let your inner child out at these quirky outdoor playgrounds
A Salvador Dali creation come to life? Or just an unfortunate structure that melted in Singapore’s unbearable heat? Nope, this wonky-looking playground at Block 330 was proudly born this way, with no mistakes.
Right across the road at Yishun Nature Park are other creatively designed play areas, which include a climbing net and this giant pendulum-like swing that could easily fit 2 to 3 children.
The NEOS Ring, which, according to its signage, is “part electronic game, part sport”.
Head further down to Block 291 (near Nee Soon Town Council Head Office), and you’ll find yourself a playground with interactive light-based games. Choose from 6 different gameplays that’ll have you working up a sweat as you chase red and green flashing lights. It’s more tiring than it sounds.
Other structures which work in the same way as the NEOS Ring.
While we’re still mourning the loss of Yishun’s classic yellow watermelon playground, we’ve gotta admit, these modern new additions are pretty cool too.
9. Sonic Bowl
Bowl to your heart’s content from just $4/game
Image credit: Sonic Bowl
If you’re looking for activities to enjoy with the fam, head down to SAFRA Yishun’s Sonic Bowl, one of the many bowling alleys in Singapore, for some competitive fun. The alley is equipped with bumpers and light-weight bowling balls, so kiddos can join in too.
There are also darts stations and foosball tables scattered around the vicinity, so visitors can switch between activities whenever they like.
Rates: $4/game for members & students under 21-years-old | $5.50/game for public
10. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital garden
Volunteer as a gardener to cultivate plants for the hospital’s therapeutic activities
With its lush greenery leading out to Yishun Pond, the ground floor of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital looks more like a garden than part of a medical centre. However, most don’t know that its 7th floor is home to an actual garden – where everything grown is edible!
From corn to Thai basil and wintermelon, the myriad of produce here – as well as the fertiliser used – is 100% organic. You can gain access to the garden as a volunteer tending it on weekdays too. To sign up, simply contact the hospital or fill up a form via the KTPH volunteer page.
A rare strawberry plant which miraculously managed to bear fruit in our humid climate
You’ll be tasked with cultivating plants for the hospital’s various therapeutic activities, maintaining the ward gardens around the hospital, and harvesting herbs and vegetables for patient programmes. Do note that you’ll need to commit to a volunteer period of at least 6 months when you sign up.
11. Khatib Bongsu
Explore SG’s largest mangrove riverine habitat on kayak
Image credit: @kayakasia.sg via Instagram
Even if you’re a Northie, there’s a good chance you haven’t heard of Khatib Bongsu before. This relatively ulu nature spot houses Singapore’s largest mangrove riverine habitat, making it worth the visit. It’s pretty hard to explore the area on your own, so we recommend signing up for Kayakasia’s Sungei Khatib Bongsu Trail (from $135/pax) guided tour around the area.
The 5 hour 15 minute-long tour will take you through a swampy terrain, where you’ll find yourself amidst towering plants and mangroves – a true sight to behold.
Book a Khatib Bongsu tour with Kayakasia.
12. Lower Seletar Reservoir
Stroll along a tranquil reservoir or rent a kayak to conquer the waters
Image credit: @salman_mricn via Instagram
Devoid of the crowds that plague Kallang Basin during weekends, Lower Seletar Reservoir is a haven for avid kayakers who don’t wish to knock paddles with others. Go ahead and rent a kayak from the Lower Seletar Water Sports Centre there, and werk those arms. Do note that the sports centre is temporarily closed for upgrading works, so you’ll have to wait a bit before you can cut through the waters on one of their kayaks.
In the meantime, you can take a tranquil stroll along the waters, and head out to the Heritage Bridge for some stellar views – especially during sunset.
Image credit: @ngyiyang via Instagram
13. Yishun Dam
Have a quiet BBQ against the sunset by the water
Once a top secret spot only accessible by car or bicycle, Yishun Dam is now less out of the way with bus service 103 and 117. Even so, it remains relatively crowd-free, and is one of Singapore’s best places to catch a sunset by calm waters.
Image credit: @caramellechaos via Instagram
There’s not much else here, but this little piece of heaven is also my go-to for chill BBQs – thanks to disposable barbeque pits from Cold Storage with pre-packed coal. Bring along a picnic mat, sparklers, and portable speakers, and you’re all set for a great cookout.
For a change of scenery, take a quick stroll down to Rower’s Bay Park that’s located just a stone’s throw away.
Tip: Clear your bladder beforehand as there are no toilets here.
Getting here: Take bus 103 or 117 and alight at “Bef Shell Aviation”.
Bonus: Take a peek at Jenal Jetty’s kelongs
It’s worth venturing further down past the far end of Yishun Dam’s boardwalk to catch a glimpse of Jenal Jetty. In land-scarce Singapore, pockets of land are constantly being built over with shiny new buildings, but fortunately this rustic spot is still being preserved – for now.
Signs screaming “NO ENTRY” line the fences, but we hear that you might just be granted entry if you make friends with the fishermen uncles there. Either way, peering in from the outside will still give you a pretty good view of the mangroves, fishing boats, and kampung huts within – a stark contrast to the cityscapes we’re used to.
What to do in the unique neighbourhood of Yishun
Put your reservations aside and head down with your pals sometime to experience what this little town has to offer. You’ll have a ton of fun and perhaps even gain a newfound appreciation for this little estate.
Check out more neighbourhood guides:
- Unique activities in neighbourhood parks and gardens
- Things to do in Clementi
- Things to do in Marsiling-Woodlands
Cover image adapted from: @kayakasia.sg via Instagram, @coconutosg via Instagram.
Originally published on 8th August 2017. Last updated by Khoo Yong Hao on 20th August 2026.
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