The best road trips in Singapore

Founded in 1819 as a trading port, the city-state of Singapore is now best known for its diverse blend of cultures and cuisine, alongside a rich mix of architecture. In a land where modern skyscrapers are interspersed with colonial era buildings, greenery and tropical gardens, often the best way to take it all in is by road.

From an iconic F1-inspired Marina Bay night drive to calm coastal routes and tree-lined trails, here are the best road trips in Singapore.

1. Marina Bay Street Circuit

Best for motorsport fans

Start/finish: Marina Promenade
Distance: 5km

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It's no surprise that the top road trip for any motorsport fan in Singapore is a lap around the 5km circuit that hosts Formula 1 racing. The Marina Bay Street Circuit – or Singapore Street Circuit as it's often called – was the site of the sport's first-ever night race in 2008, and it remains one of the few circuits that fans can drive around any time of the year, albeit not on a race weekend, of course. The track is best driven at nighttime to get as close to the Grand Prix experience as possible.

Starting on the long straight, running parallel to the Marina Promenade, the route heads north, slotting under the Benjamin Sheares Bridge before weaving its way left to head back on Republic Blvd. Once around a long, sweeping right-hand bend, the road merges onto the famed Raffles Blvd, named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore.

Cutting through the downtown core, Singapore's historic heartland, the circuit turns sharply left onto Nicoll Hwy, opposite the Kranji War Memorial, before another sharp right turn onto Stamford Rd. Just a short way down, it's a left turn onto St Andrew's Rd and past Singapore's National Gallery and Recreation Club before turning left, down to the intersection with Fullerton Hwy.

Back on the highway, it's up to speed as the track fires you north, toward Raffles Ave, running parallel to Raffles Blvd. Wrapping around the modern Esplanade complex, the track weaves its way around the waterfront before meeting up with the start-finish line, completing the circuit, which takes in a good deal of Singapore's city center.

Planning tip: Just like in the F1 race, driving at night brings a whole new dimension to Singapore's central waterfront, and the sparkling lights of its towers and main attractions glisten as you drive by.

2. The Botanic Gardens

Best for an inner-city breather

Start: Cluny Rd
Finish: Tyersall Rd
Distance: 5km

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is an inner-city haven, and the perimeter road around it provides the perfect short breather inside the city. The nearly 170-year-old tropical garden, located on the edges of the Orchard Road shopping district, was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014. While it's not possible to drive into the gardens, Cluny and Tyersall Rds wrap their way around the edges of the site, where it's possible to slow down and channel some of the zen the garden is famed for.

The garden is sandwiched between the main thoroughfares of Bukit Timah Rd to the north and Holland Rd to the south, and Cluny and Tyersall Rds provide the link between the two main roads, skirting the east and west sides respectively. For a welcome reprieve from the dense traffic outside of the gardens, start off driving north on Cluny Rd, taking in the sights before turning left onto Bukit Timah Rd for a short distance and turning left again to join Tyersall Rd, heading south.

Stopping to take in the beauty and tranquility of the 74-hectare botanic gardens is a must. Due to its proximity to the equator, Singapore boasts some of the most beautiful and well-kept tropical vegetation in the world. With calming lakes, rolling lawns and themed gardens, the site has a rare patch of dense primeval rainforest that is teeming with over 300 species of vegetation.

Detour: For those with a bit more time on their hands, detour on the west side of the gardens and head up the winding roads that lead into residential areas like Cluny Hill. The modern villas overlooking the gardens are a firm favorite for fans of modern architecture.

3. Kranji reservoir

Best for the countryside

Start/finish: Singapore Turf Club
Distance: 18km

Best known for its sprawling wetlands, farms and nature reserves, the Kranji reservoir area takes in some of Singapore's more rustic countryside.

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Start at the Singapore Turf Club, the city-state's only horse-racing club, founded in 1842. Head north on Kranji Rd, in the direction of the Kranji dam. The route weaves in and out of industrial districts until the buildings thin out and give way to a narrow strip of road called Kranji Way, which skims between the Johor Strait and the still waters of Kranji reservoir. Past the dam, the road winds through the open Kranji countryside.

While speeds on the single-lane road are not exactly fast-moving, the route allows for time to refocus away from the hustle and bustle of the city and stop at a few of the farms. Hay Dairies, established in 1988, is Singapore's only goat farm and is home to around 800 mixed-breed goats.

The route then passes by the Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course and, a little further on, the Kranji Marshes nature reserve. Past the marshes and around a few kinks, the road straightens and widens as it heads south to link with PIE and KJE highways and Woodlands Rd, which fires you back up to the intersection with the Turf Club, completing Singapore's best countryside loop.

Planning tip: For keen hikers, the marshes provide the ideal opportunity to jump out of the car and stretch your legs.

4. Mt Faber Park

Best for city views

Start: Kampong Bahru Rd
Finish: Morse Rd
Distance: 4km

Mt Faber is the best place to see the city from above, and the road leading to it is the closest you’ll come to a twisting mountain pass in Singapore. Standing 94m above the city, the peak is a popular tourist spot that offers panoramic views over Singapore’s sprawling central business district and the beaches along the coast.

Branching off Kampong Rd, heading north, take the exit for Mt Faber Rd. At this point, the road starts climbing and weaving its way up Mt Faber, narrowing to a single lane (one way) as you get closer to the top. Lined with lush and dense foliage, the road is a favorite route for those seeking a little bit of altitude to escape the city center.

After a mile or so, the road levels out as you approach the peak, which houses restaurants and the Mt Faber cable car. Over the peak, the road winds its way down the hillside to join Morse Rd and, eventually, the busy West Coast Hwy.

Planning tip: Various lookouts along the route provide the perfect opportunity to get a snap of the view from the top.

5. A design tour

Best for architecture lovers

Start: Plaza Singapura
Finish: Anderson Bridge
Distance: 3km

Many of Singapore’s preserved historic buildings are situated in the same vicinity, so drive by to appreciate their intricacy and beauty.

Start from Plaza Singapura, at the tail end of Orchard Rd, and drive straight; you’ll come across the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd on your right. This Catholic church, built in 1847, is the oldest one on the island, and it still holds services. Just after the church is Chijmes, a Catholic convent built in 1852 in the neoclassical Gothic style; it became an all-girls school in 1904 and is now an entertainment hub with cafes, bars and a lawn for relaxing. Beyond that, you’ll see the legendary neo-Renaissance Raffles Hotel on the left and, further on, the War Memorial on the right.

Keep going until you reach Nicoll Hwy (just before Suntec City), then turn right. This route eventually turns into Esplanade Dr, and on the right is a majestic building that used to be the main post office during British rule, now the high-end Fullerton Hotel. Turn right onto Fullerton Rd, and you’ll see the hotel's art deco Waterboat House on the right, which used to provide water to incoming ships from 1919 to 1990. Continue across the 114-year-old Anderson Bridge into Singapore’s Civic District.

Planning tip: As you take Esplanade Dr across the Singapore River, look to the left, and you’ll spot the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel, with its spaceship-looking top floor.

6. Ulu roads

Best for wildlife and birds

Start: Bukit Timah Expressway
Finish: Mandai Rd
Distance: 30km

Singapore is a concrete metropolis, but we still have parts of the island where a drive can take you away from the chaos. We locals refer to routes like this as ulu roads, meaning in the middle of nowhere. On these drives, you will find yourself on empty stretches with only greenery as your companion.

Take the Bukit Timah Expressway or the PIE, and get onto the KJE that leads into Choa Chu Kang – this eventually connects to Lim Chu Kang Rd. Both Choa Chu Kang and Lim Chu Kang are long, bucolic roads that are relatively quiet with loads of angsana and tembusu trees lining both sides. You'll be able to spot long-tailed macaques, along with birds like the collared kingfisher and olive-winged bulbul.

From Lim Chu Kang Rd, get onto Kranji Rd and then onto Mandai Rd. You will pass Upper Seletar Reservoir, a tranquil setting perfect for a picnic lunch or afternoon tea. Explore the area on foot, and you'll discover the Rocket Tower, which gives you a bird’s-eye view of the reservoir.

At Upper Seletar Reservoir, locate the lone casuarina tree with two benches flanking it. Set against the pale blue water of the reservoir, this setting has become a darling on social media.

Similar experiences can also be found on Old Upper Thomson Rd, Arcadia Rd, and South Buona Vista Rd.

Planning tip: Don't feed, pet or touch the monkeys if approached – just step away slowly and carefully.

7. Historic Singapore

Best for history buffs

Start: Admiralty Rd West
Finish: Changi Rd
Distance: 70km

There are a few places in Singapore where you can still see the hundred-year-old black-and-white bungalows built by the British during the colonial era. Now owned by the local government, they're only accessible by car. This peaceful, picturesque drive takes you on secluded roads amid towering native tembusu trees – the massive heritage mansions tucked away on the side of the road are a stark contrast of opulence against the natural surroundings. Admiralty Rd West and East and Seletar in the north area, Mt Pleasant Rd and Rochester Park in the central region and Changi Rd in the east all offer takes on this scene, highlighting the bungalows juxtaposed with verdant jungle-like scenery.

From Admiralty Rd East in Sembawang to Seletar, you'll pass by Yishun Dam on Lower Seletar Reservoir (before you get onto the Seletar West Link road). As you cross the reservoir, enjoy the serenity of the water on both sides of the bridging road. You might even catch anglers fishing or adventurers canoeing in the wide waters.

Planning tip: At night, these routes are exceptionally lonely and a little eerie, a fact that invites numerous stories of ghost sightings on these roads. Some taxi drivers are known to refuse to travel in this area in the evenings. A drive to these spots is best done during the daytime, as the bungalows are easier to spot when the sun is out and the ghosts aren’t around.