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We explored Coney Island in Singapore (including an abandoned villa!)

We explored Coney Island in Singapore (including an abandoned villa!)

| Last Updated: June 2024

Previously referred to as Pulau Serangoon and Haw Par, Coney Island transferred ownership multiple times. It got its current name in the 1950s from its then-owner who wanted to turn it into a resort modelled after its US namesake.

While the island didn’t become the health resort it was planned to be, it spawned an amazing nature park where you can enjoy outdoor adventures with your loved ones! Below are some of the best things you can do in and near Coney Island!

Things to Know

Address: Punggol Promenade Nature Walk, Singapore 829325

Contact Number: +6518004717300 

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM 

Cost: 

  • Free

Website

How to Get There

By Bus: An option to get to Coney Island Park from the airport is to take a bus. From Changi Airport Terminal 1, get on the Punggol Temp International and ride for 1 hour and 50 minutes before getting off at Samudera Station Exit B, Pasir Gudang.

After getting off Samudera Station, you just need to walk for around 3 minutes to reach Coney Island Park. The total trip here is a bit long at almost 2 hours, but this is one we recommend if you want to do a bit of sightseeing while going to the park.

By Taxi: You can also hail a taxi to get to Coney Island Park. This is the fastest option, which will only take around 17 minutes, but it’s also going to be the priciest at around S$22.5.

We recommend going by taxi if you have the funds for it and if you’re travelling with your family or in a large group.

Best Time to Visit

Since most of the activities you can enjoy at Coney Island Park involve the outdoors, we highly recommend that you visit Coney Island Park during the country’s dry season which usually runs from March to August.

During this period, you can enjoy the outdoor activities offered by the park (such as hiking and birdwatching) and visit various outdoor facilities in and around the area without worrying too much about rain.

What to Do

1. Cycling and Hiking

– From picsque_andychong 

Due to the wide area covered by Coney Island Park, guests can enjoy many exciting outdoor activities such as cycling and hiking.

The best location to cycle is at the 2.5-kilometre-long connector path inside the park. As for hiking, you can cover around 3.5 kilometres of green space to see the diverse environs of this location such as forests and mangroves.  `

Pro Tip:
If you’re going to organise an outdoor event for a large group, you need to apply for a park permit to get authorization to use portions of the venue for the event. 

Check this page on how to go about this application for a permit. 

2. Learn about the park’s flora and fauna

– From josephtansm

Aside from hiking, nature walks, and cycling you can do at the park, you can also enjoy its diverse flora and fauna. Some of the unique animals here include the common flameback (woodpecker) and tree-climbing crabs.

In terms of the fauna, this location also has many plants that you can appreciate. These include the majestic Casuarina tree and different varieties of Cycads!

Pro Tip:
If you encounter a common flameback while at the park, whip out your camera to take pictures of this colourful bird. 

Keep in mind that the males have a crest and a red crown while females have a black crown with a white streak. 

3. Tour Haw Par Beach Villa 

– From scubabear 

Haw Par Beach Villa is an abandoned location in the middle of Coney Island Park that will surely make you feel awe-struck. 

You can join a guided tour and admire the single-storey structure and its dilapidated walls, hinting at its former grandeur. 

What we like most about this spot, though, is the area you have to traverse to reach it. It’s covered in thick greenery, shrubs, and woods that will make you feel like you are stepping back in time!

Pro Tip:
We strongly advise that you don’t try to search for this villa on your own. Look for urban exploring groups that do guided tours. 

4. Bird Watching

– From nickerlee   

Coney Island is home to around 80 kinds of birds, making it an ideal spot to bird watch. Some of the birds to look out for include the black-crowned night heron, spotted wood owl, changeable wood owl, and red junglefowl.

There are some recommended spots for you to check out referred to as bird hides. These include the area near the promenade, beach area B, between beach areas C and D, and near park areas 1 and 2. 

Pro Tip:
To make the most of your visit to Coney Island Park, you can also download the park map via their website. This map will show you the different mangroves, beaches, main paths, and secondary park areas.

The map also enumerates the park etiquette that you need to observe. 

Nearby Attractions

1. Gardens by the Bay 

Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953

Distance from the Park: 20 minutes

Website: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/ 

Contact Number: +6564206848

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 5:00 AM to 2:00 AM

Cost:

  • Free for general attractions
  • S$ 0 per guest (Cloud Forest and Flower Dome combo)

Gardens by the Bay is a fantastic attraction to visit after enjoying a day at Coney Island Park. Take in the colourful blooming flowers of the gardens and marvel at the Supertree Observatory, a manmade structure designed to look like giant trees covered in greenery.

2. Cloud Forest

– From ikan_tak

Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, #03-02/03, Singapore 018953 

Distance from the Park: 20 minutes 

Website: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/things-to-do/attractions/cloud-forest.html 

Contact Number: +6564206848

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM 

Cost:

  • S$20 per guest (Cloud Forest and Flower Dome combo)

Cloud Forest is one of the most popular paid attractions inside Gardens by the Bay thanks to the unique points of interest within it. Here, you can see exotic plants (e.g. bromeliads, carnivorous plants, and pitcher plants) and an indoor waterfall!

3. Singapore Flyer

Address: 30 Raffles Ave., Singapore 039803

Distance from the Park: 18 minutes 

Website: https://www.singaporeflyer.com/ 

Contact Number: +65 6333 3311

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Cost:

  • S$40 per adult (Singapore and Time Capsule Ticket)
  • S$25 per kid (Singapore and Time Capsule Ticket)

If you want to see spectacular views of the city, then check out what Singapore Flyer has in store for you. Ride one of the giant Ferris wheel pods to take in the breathtaking aerial view of the urban landscape!

Aside from the Singapore Flyer, you can also check out the nearby Time Capsule Museum. Enjoy a journey through time (from the 1900s to the present) and learn more about these different eras. 

4. ArtScience Museum

Address: 6 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018974 

Distance from the Park: 20 minutes 

Website: https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum.html 

Contact Number: +6566888888 

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM 

Cost:

  • S$30 per adult (for a standard ticket)

ArtScience Museum is one of the best places in Singapore to bring your family. They can enjoy interactive exhibits, various scientific inventions on display, and a program about art icons like Frida Kahlo. 

If you also want to experience virtual reality, you can check out their VR gallery. Here, you can virtually travel through different periods and locations across the globe!

5. Clarke Quay

Address: 3 River Valley Rd, Singapore 179024

Distance from the Park: 22 minutes

Website: http://www.clarkequay.com.sg/ 

Contact Number: +6563373292

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Cost:

  • Free

If you’re looking to score great deals on clothing, shoes, accessories, gadgets, and more, then pay Clarke Quay a visit to shop until you drop. They also have a ton of dining options such as Harry’s and Fu Lin Clarke Quay.

Where to Eat: Best Restaurants near Coney Island Park

1. Georges by the Bay

– From weikiatteo

Address: 500 New Punggol Rd, #02-12 The Punggol Settlement, Singapore 828617 

Distance from the Park: 10 minutes

Website: http://www.georges.com.sg/ 

Contact Number: +6567026186 

Operating Hours:

  • Sunday to Thursday, 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM
  • Friday and Saturday, 3:00 PM to 1:00 AM

Cost: $$

Georges by the Bay serves delightful Western cuisine and bar food that you shouldn’t miss during your visit to Coney Island Park. Sink your teeth into their best-sellers like their quarter-pounder burgers with fries, baby back ribs, calamari, and fried prawns.

2. The Punggol Settlement 

Address: 500 New Punggol Rd, Singapore 828617 

Distance from the Park: 10 minutes 

Website: http://www.punggolsettlement.com/ 

Contact Number: +6567026383 

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM

Cost: $$

If you’re craving seafood after your visit to Coney Island Park, then nearby Punggol Settlement is one restaurant to check out. Don’t miss out on their best-selling dishes such as curry crab, dumplings, veggie salad, and soup with coconut milk.

3. Uncle Leong Seafood (Punggol)

Address: 6 Tebing Ln, #01-03 Punggol East, Singapore 828835 

Distance from the Park: 5 minutes 

Website: http://www.uncleleongseafood.com/punggol.php 

Contact Number: +6564411848 

Operating Hours:

  • Sunday to Thursday, 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM
  • Friday to Saturday, 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM 

Cost: $$

Uncle Leong Seafood offers some of the best seafood near Coney Island Park. We recommend their most sought-after offerings like crab, steamed fish, and stir-fried veggies with prawns.

4. Fat Po

Address: 10 Tebing Ln, #01-05/06, Singapore 828836 

Distance from the Park: 6 minutes 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fatposg/ 

Contact Number: +65 6244 4505

Operating Hours:

  • Tuesday to Friday, 12:00 NN to 10:00 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Closed on Sunday

Cost: $

Fat Po serves up delectable Asian cuisine that will make your taste buds sing. Feast on savoury Na-ru pork belly, sambal baked fish, braised pork trotters, and liang ban lala (stir-fried clams with veggies).

5. Lau Wang Claypot Delights @ Punggol Oasis Terraces

Address: 681 Punggol Dr., #01-15, Singapore 820681 

Distance from the Park: 3 minutes 

Website: https://lauwangclaypot.com/ 

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 9:45 PM

Cost: $$

Lau Wang Claypot Delights serves local cuisine that you should definitely try out after your trip to Coney Island Park. We recommend their Chinese sausage, seaweed salad, stir-fried squid, and dim sum.

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