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Everything You Need to Know about Punggol, Singapore

When I think of Punggol, I picture its tranquil sea views, riverside dining, abundant sports activities, and fishing spots. This charming coastal district holds many of my childhood memories, and I keep coming back for more.

Beyond its family-friendly attractions, Punggol has a rich history. Before it became a hub of modern buildings and parks, it was a bustling fishing village surrounded by farmhouses.

To help you explore this fascinating area, I’ve put together this guide!

Where is Punggol?

Punggol is located on the Tanjong Punggol peninsula just northeast of the Central Business District of Singapore. It’s located within the North-East Region of the island.

What is the main street in Punggol?

The main streets in Punggol include Punggol Central, Punggol Field, Punggol Way, and Punggol North Avenue. 

How to Get to Punggol

By Train: Ride the North East Line (NEL) of the MRT and get off at Punggol MRT Station. Situated in the centre of Punggol, the station offers convenient access to many amenities and attractions within the area. 

By Bus: You can take Bus Nos. 3, 858, 969, 136, and 381 and alight at the Punggol Bus Interchange. 

By Car: There are multiple car parks around Punggol, namely the Punggol Point Car Park, the Northshore Plaza Car Park, the Waterway Banks Carpark, and the One Punggol Carpark. 

Top Things to Do in Punggol

Try your hand at swinging golf balls at the Poh Brothers Golf Driving Range

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Address: 60 Punggol E

Contact Details: +65 6244 6188

Operating Hours: 

Monday, 12:00 pm to 11:30 pm

Tuesday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 11:30 pm

Friday, 7:00 am to 12:00 am

Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 am to 11:30 pm

Admission Fee: Starts at $8 per person for 100 balls

Website

New to golf? Now’s the perfect time to work on your swing at the Poh Brothers Golf Driving Range. 

With rates starting at just $8 for 100 balls, both seasoned golfers and beginners can practise their swings to their heart’s content. 

If you feel like you’ve mastered your form, you also have the option to play a full-blown game at the Mandai Executive Golf Course. 

Tip: 

  • Newbies have the option to get coaching lessons from trained golf coaches in the driving range. Membership starts at about $800 per person, which gives you 8 sessions in their golfing gym. 

Bike around Coney Island

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Address: Punggol Promenade Nature Walk

Contact Details: +65 1800 471 7300

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Admission Fee: Free

Website

You actually don’t need to catch a ferry to reach Coney Island! Simply lace up your walking shoes or hop on a bike, then make your way to the bridge and cross over to this small but nature-filled island.

The park is packed with sights, including coastal trails, mangroves, and ancient trees. You can tour the whole island in an hour if you’re in a rush, but I recommend taking your time exploring on foot or on a bike! 

Tips: 

  • Note that there are no bike rentals available on the island itself. You can rent a bike from the rental services at Punggol Beach and then make your way to the island from there. It’s only a few minutes away!
  • Bring water with you, as there are no stalls selling drinking water or snacks on the island. You’re allowed to spend a few hours there, but you’ll need to head back to Punggol if you need more than just snacks. 

Go fishing at Punggol Point Jetty

Address: Punggol Promenade Nature Walk

Operating Hours: Open 24/7

Admission Fee: Free

Website

Punggol Point Jetty offers a peaceful escape within Punggol Point Park, where instead of families and kids, you’ll find seasoned anglers quietly waiting with their fishing rods along the banks. 

It’s a prime spot to reel in groupers, stingrays, catfish, snappers, spotted sicklefish, and barramundi. Prawn cubes are an especially effective bait, loved by the local fish.

I recommend learning how to fish for the first time here because not many anglers visit the jetty. This means you get a lot of space to fish and there are fewer people to watch you! 

Tips: 

  • In addition to fishing, you can try your hand at crabbing by setting up traps along the boardwalk. It’s a short walk from the jetty, allowing you to fish while your traps do their work.
  • For a relaxed fishing experience at Punggol Point, head to the small beach area just left of the jetty, where you can settle down anywhere along the shoreline. It’s best to visit in the evening, as the lack of shade and hot sand can make daytime fishing less comfortable.

Stroll around the grounds of Punggol Waterway Park

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Address: Sentul Crescent

Contact Details: +65 1800 471 7300

Operating Hours: Open 24/7

Admission Fee: Free

Website

Punggol Waterway Park is a great spot to host a picnic with your friends and family. There are a total of four zones in this sprawling park, namely the Nature Cove, The Recreation Zone, the Heritage Zone, and the Green Gallery. 

The Nature Cove provides Waterway views and a relaxing lawn. The Recreation Zone has fitness equipment, while the Heritage Zone and Green Gallery offer serene trails.

All these zones offer families safe spaces to unwind, relax, and have fun against the backdrop of majestic views of the sunset and Waterway.

Tip: 

  • Punggol Waterway Park is also a known bird-watching spot. A few birds to watch out for here are pink-necked green pigeon, yellow-vented bulbul, black-naped oriole, and white-throated kingfisher, among many others. The best time to catch these birds is right before sunrise (this is also when there are fewer people in the park). 

Play all sorts of sports at SAFRA Punggol

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Address: 9 Sentul Crescent

Contact Details: +65 6585 8718

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Admission Fee: Free

Website

SAFRA Punggol brings back memories of fun times with friends—playing in the indoor water playground, swimming, hitting the badminton courts, and bowling. I’m lucky to enjoy all these with my uncle’s membership!

There is a lot you can do to keep you and your friends occupied here for a few hours! If sports and fitness aren’t your thing, you can also participate in the many arts and language workshops they offer from time to time! 

Tips: 

  • If you want to have fun outdoors, you can rent out rollerblades and bicycles from the club and roam around Punggol for a few hours. When you’ve had enough, you can simply return the bikes at any of the designated stops near the building. 
  • Note that the SAFRA facilities are open to members. Membership is open to members of the Singapore Armed Forces, NSmen, full-time National Servicemen, SAF Regulars, and Defence Executive Officers. Members may endorse their dependents and guests to access the facilities, however! 

Read and enjoy some peace and quiet at the Punggol Regional Library

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Address: 1 Punggol Drive One, #01-12 

Operating Hours: 

Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm

Admission Fee: Free

Website

Punggol Regional Library, Singapore’s largest public library, offers an extensive collection of books and ample space for study, work, and reading. I’ve visited often, and its serene environment consistently enhances my productivity during work sessions. 

The library features well-equipped study areas with power outlets, desks, and comfortable seating. It also includes multimedia rooms, nursing rooms for working mothers, a café, a co-working space, and relaxation pods for taking breaks.

Tip: The ground floor features a sizable children’s play area, which can be quite noisy when busy. For a quieter study experience, it’s best to choose a study area located away from this level.

Where to Eat and Drink in Punggol

Uncle Leong Seafood

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

Contact Details: +65 6441 1848

Operating Hours: 

Monday to Friday, 4:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Saturday, 12:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Sunday, 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Pricing: $$

Website

Uncle Leong Seafood has three branches across the island, but the Punggol branch, in my opinion, is the most underrated. The restaurant is located right next to the and provides serene views while you eat delicious seafood. 

A few bestsellers include the black pepper chilli crab, pork ribs, crab bee hoon (noodles), mee goreng (fried noodles), and mantou (steamed sweet buns). If you’re looking for classic Singaporean seafood classics, here’s a place to check out! 

Tips: 

  • Wait times are known to be a little long here, but I think the dishes are worth the wait. If you want to dine with fewer crowds, I highly recommend that you drop by before 6:00 pm. Dinner is the most popular time for people to dine here! 
  • If you want to try all of their signature dishes but don’t want to order too much, you can order the sampler portions of each dish. This way, you can try out all your options without worrying about leftovers! 

Whisk and Paddle

Address: 10 Tebing Lane, Punggol East

Contact Details: +65 6242 4617

Operating Hours: 

Tuesday to Friday, 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 am to 10:00 pm

Pricing: $$

Website

Just a few minutes away from Uncle Leong is Whisk and Paddle, a popular bistro and cafe that serves all-day breakfast fare and international cuisine. The main highlight of this place is the outdoor patio and terrace where you can dine right next to the river. 

Popular dishes include eggs Benedict, French toast, waffles, bacon, eggs, and butter croissant. You can order these a la carte or in one big breakfast platter! 

For dishes other than breakfast food, I highly recommend you try the lamb shank, sticky pork ribs, fish and chips, Norwegian trout fillet, and duck confit. 

Tip: If you’re bringing your kids with you, you can keep them occupied at the small playground located on the patio. When it comes to food, ask the server for the kids’ menu for smaller and more child-friendly options! 

Izakaya 95

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Address: 500 New Punggol Rd, #02-05 The Punggol Settlement

Contact Details: +65 6384 1132

Operating Hours: 

Monday to Thursday, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Friday, 5:00 pm to 1:00 am

Saturday, 2:00 pm to 1:00 am

Sunday, 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Pricing: $

Website

Izakaya 95 is a hidden gem in Punggol Settlement, and I’m still surprised that not many people know about this Japanese restaurant. One of my favourite things about this place is the sea views, the casual setting, and of course, the delicious barbecue. 

I highly recommend trying out the tonkatsu, shrimp tempura, and tori teriyaki as well as the signature barbecue options. My favourites are the lamb rack, pork liver, collar, smoked duck, bacon enoki, and chicken wings! 

Tip: 

  • The restaurant is also a popular drinking spot in the area thanks to their draught beer promotions. If you buy 10 glasses, you get 2 extra glasses for free!
  • Another option is the Sapporo Premium towers where you can get two towers at a discounted price. 

Where to Shop

Punggol Plaza 

Media from punggolplaza

Address: 168 Punggol Field

Contact Details: +65 6343 9950

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 am to 11:00 pm

Punggol Plaza is a vibrant hub where locals flock for everything from electronics to clothing. 

I fondly remember accompanying my dad here as a child when he upgraded his cellphone, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the mall still thriving, featuring many of the same shops I grew up with.

My favourite spot in the mall, though, is the food court. Lots of choices to fill your tummy here, but I recommend getting bubble milk tea from the stalls! 

Tip: 

  • The mall offers free shuttle buses that go around the neighbourhood and back to the mall. Refer to the front desk or the signs by the entrance to find the time schedule!

Waterway Point

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Address: 83 Punggol Central

Contact Details: +65 6812 7300

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 10:0 pm

Website

If you’re looking for a newer place to shop, Waterway Point is your next stop. This mall has four floors worth of retail stores, restaurants, cafes, and a movie theatre. 

Lots of families and groups of friends drop by this mall to catch the latest blockbuster films, grab a hearty dinner, or get some retail therapy. For me, however, I like coming here to go window shopping and unwind by the waterfront. 

Tip: 

  • The mall offers free wheelchair loans for anyone who needs them. Just approach the concierge for assistance! 

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