Call it a blessing or a curse, but no matter what far-off place you travel to, it feels like you’re bound to run into another Singaporean saying “wah this view damn nice sia” or “eh this one quite cheap leh”. Suddenly, it feels like you never left home, and maybe you don’t have to.
If you’re looking for a secret escape from everything, here are 8 ulu places in Singapore to dodge the weekend crowds and pretend that all your 99 problems don’t exist.
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Seletar Island is one of my personal favourites because if you look at the map, you’ll realise that there aren’t many ways to get to the island. You’ll either have to kayak, swim – which I wouldn’t recommend – or book a private charter boat.
In essence, it’s one of the most ulu places you can possibly find in Singapore. The island also has a beach and mangrove swamp to chill at, and pretend you’re in an episode of Flight 29 Down, with nothing but the sea surrounding you.
If there’s anything we’re learnt from playing Nintendo Switch’s Fallout Shelter or binging too many seasons of The 100, it’s that when everything falls apart, bunkers are the way to go.
Grab your children, canned beans and pet plant, and head to Sembawang’s Malta Crescent Bunkers. It’s also in the middle of nowhere so you won’t bump into anyone along the way.
P.S. We’re kidding with this by the way – you can’t actually enter this bunker, but there are a few other lesser-known bunkers still open for daring explorers to visit.
While you’re there, you can also explore Jalan Mempurong, one of Singapore’s most ulu roads famous for its rumoured ghost stories, or get your sports shoes on to trek through the Ulu Sembawang Park Connector and touch some grass.
Stress levels may be rising right now, but on the bright side, another thing that rises on the daily is our lovely sun. Sentosa might be famous for its sunset beach parties, but if you want the whole beach to yourself, consider chasing the sunrise at Sunrise View, which lies right at the eastern edge of Singapore, near the Changi Naval Base.
Literally no one bothers to travel this far out, save the occasional cyclist on a long-distance journey around Singapore. It’s the perfect place to escape to if you want a scenic sunrise without other humans around.
To be honest, this is not an attraction most would add into our typical weekend to-do list because it’s literally – you guessed it – a lamp post. In Tuas. Typically visited by avid cyclists only, this lies very far south along Tuas Southern Boulevard.
Contrary to its name, Tuas Lamp Post 1 is also not the first lamp post to be built in Singapore. But what it is, is the only lamp post in Singapore where you can legally “vandalise” by pasting stickers on.
Image credit: Marcin S via Google Maps
Open Google Maps and you’ll notice it’s near the industrial Jurong Island, and lies farther away from civilisation than the Tuas lalang field. The best way to get there is by bike.
Pro tip: Keep your eyes peeled for HelloRide bikes at the nearby Tuas West MRT. While the area is technically a no-ride zone, the bikes should work fine as long as you park them only when you return to the station.
When the repeated mantra is to avoid humans at all costs, you’ll want to be on high ground to spot anyone approaching from a mile away. The best spot? A lookout tower in the middle of nowhere.
Kranji Marshes has a beautiful bird-watching tower where you can stake out while enjoying the scenery. If you see anyone approaching, run. The marshland is over 56 hectares large, with over 8 hectares accessible to the public so there’s plenty of open spaces to escape to.
Kranji Marshes Review: “Be prepared for lots of mosquitoes. It’s easier to get in with a Grab, but very challenging to get out of the area because there are hardly any cars around. Best if you can rent a car or cycle in. The nearest public bus stop is quite a trek away (3-4 km). I wouldn’t suggest it because the roads are single lane and built for vehicles only, not pedestrians.” – WX via Google
Now, the Amazon Rainforest is one of the few places in the world where entire tribes can live away from the rest of humanity. We don’t have that in Singapore, but what we do have is nature nooks like the hidden Keppel Hill Reservoir, an abandoned pool in the middle of a forest near Harbourfront.
You can’t drink from that water, nor should you swim in it – 3 people have drowned there – but what you can do is look into the sky and not see a single trace of a tall building. Ah, peace.
It’s not just all greenery and water bodies though. For sharp-eyed trekkers and seasoned hikers alike, the abandoned Seah Im Bunker built during World War 2 is a must-visit spot in the reservoir, as well as the abandoned No.11 Keppel Hill House.
Woodlands residents may contest the idea of this park being ulu. But the rest of us in Singapore will probably agree that Woodlands Waterfront Park is an area you wouldn’t go near unless you’re headed to Malaysia.
From this vantage point, spot every Singaporean’s favourite travel destination of Johor Bahru, just across the strait. Cheap massages and affordable food have never been so near, yet so far.
If you’re planning a weekend visit, it’s better to go on Saturday, as Sundays tend to be more crowded.
Woodlands Waterfront Park Review: “Quiet, peaceful park surrounded by flora and fauna. Free parking between 6:30-8:30 am. Random regular residents are here for the jogging and hang around during early morning.” – Choonseng Yap via Google
Image credit: Mitsy vlogs via Google Maps
If you grew up with Channel 8 shows always blasting on your TV, you might already be familiar with this place. Little Guilin is by no means a “secret spot”, especially since it was a popular location for filming wuxia or Chinese martial arts sequences for local TV shows in the 1980s.
Nestled inside Bukit Batok Nature Park, the former quarry-turned-getaway spot is smaller than it looks. Walking around its pathways only takes around 20 minutes, and beyond soaking in the view of the rocky outcrops and majestic hills, there isn’t much else to do, so you’ll likely encounter few, if any crowds.
This is also one of the more convenient pockets of nature on this list, as the park is just an 8-minute walk from Bukit Gombak MRT, perfect if you’re in need of a quick break from reality.
Image credit: Imski via Google Maps
Weekday mornings are your best bet if you’re hoping to get some alone time. Be sure to bring an umbrella as well, as there’s limited shelter.
Little Guilin Review: “Overall, the place is very calming and tranquil. It’s not so bicycle friendly, as the ground can be quite rough and uneven for someone to lug or ride their bicycle. There aren’t that many eateries nearby, so it’s advised to bring your own food if you’re planning to be there for some time.” – xihan via Google Maps
Of course, these are typically areas that most might not take a second glance at. But if you’re in need of some fresh air and time to yourself, these are Singapore’s 8 most unnecessarily ulu locations for a quick escape.
For more outdoor places to flee to:
Cover image adapted from: Mitsy vlogs & Dereck Quah via Google Maps
Originally published on 15th May 2021. Last updated by Tricia Teong on 26th March 2026.
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