Cycling Sentosa, Singapore Rail Corridor + Mount Faber

Highlights

Could this be the best cycling route in Singapore? Ride it and tell us what you think in the comments below!

The real beauty of this ride is how much you can see and feel of Singapore in one 53 kilometre ride. We challenge you for a better way to discover Singapore on two wheels! Some of the things we particularly love about this ride include:

• Cycling around Sentosa and the tropical beach vibes that await there.
• Exploring the popular Singapore rail corridor.
• Experiencing  some elevation on the Mount Faber cycling route.

Ride log

1. Mount Faber and Sentosa: 0 to 25 km

CBD

This ride starts in the heart of Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay. Gaze upwards as you cruise between skyscrapers and marvel that none of this existed a few decades ago (it’s largely built on land that was reclaimed during the 1970s).

From the CBD, you ride into Chinatown, which is a fascinating mixture of traditional shop houses, temples and Chinese culture. If you have time, Sri Mariamman Temple, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Chinatown Street market on Smith Street are worth a look.

Mount Faber

Serious road climbs are in short supply in Singapore and Mount Faber is the only real chance to stretch your legs. A modest two kilometres and average 3.5% gradient from leaving the highway, the steepest section of 600 metres and 9% gradient will see you get a sweat on in this tropical climate.

After descending on the west side of Mount Faber and navigating the busy West Coast Highway, you cross over to cycle on Sentosa Island.

Sentosa Island

Sentosa is Singapore’s holiday island and is home to casinos, a golf course, theme park and many wealthy residents. It calls itself “the state of fun”! It also has a darker history that includes piracy and a WW2 prisoner of war camp – things that won’t be evident on this ride!

If you’re feeling in need of coffee, make sure you cruise down to the marina. Toilets are also available here.

After refreshing yourself, the Sentosa cycling route cuts back and loops along the three main beaches of the idyllic south side of Sentosa: Tanjong, Palawan and Siloso. The juxtaposition of giant container ships and oil tankers is fascinating and reminds you that you are in a busy shipping hub, rather than a classic, tropical beach holiday destination. At Palawan Beach you can take a snap at the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia before leaving Sentosa.

A short incline up to Mount Faber

2. The Singapore Rail Corridor: 25 to 36 km

The 24 kilometre long Rail Corridor is a green passage along a former railway line, that now allows wildlife movement and recreation. This ride uses a 10 kilometre stretch of the southern section. Check out the tips below for more on this.

The first four kilometres on our route hugs the side of the busy Ayer Rajah Expressway, but after this you often find yourself in quiet greenery, with only the sound of cicadas. This is still Singapore though, so you will see an interesting blend of residential housing from traditional colonial-style to high rise, and gleaming offices.

When you reach Bukit Timah Railway Station, keep right and leave the Singapore Rail Corridor. You follow signs to King Albert Park MRT Station, before cutting back onto the road through the wealthy residential areas of Bukit Timah.

Bukit Timah Railway Station on the Singapore Railway Corridor

3. Botanic Gardens, Singapore River and Marina Bay cycling: 36 to 53 km

Botanic Gardens

Avoiding the major roads means a very short section of pavement to avoid the one-way road at the start of Tyersall Avenue and the entrance to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. If time allows, it’s worth leaving your bike and exploring these wonderful gardens.

Singapore River

Once you hit the Singapore River you join one of the Park Connector Network (PCN) shared paths. This winds through Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, once the epicentre of cargo and trading for the Port of Singapore. Today they have become busy spots for eating, drinking and nightlife.

For those that like architecture, the contrast of skyscrapers with shophouses and colonial architecture is a sight to behold.

Opposite, on the other side of the river, is the beautiful Asian Civilisations Museum (and behind that, the Victoria Concert Hall), another throwback to the first days of Singapore’s British Colonial history.

Marina Bay

Finally, you return to Marina Bay. It’s an impressive place with the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel, Formula One stands and the spouting Merlion can be found (a mythical lion with a fish tail, the official mascot of Singapore). Many skyscrapers also encircle the bay.

Singapore is home to lots of contrasting styles of architecture

Cafés

The marina at Sentosa Cove is a great place to grab a coffee while admiring the yachts and imagining life as a billionaire! Our favourite place for coffee here is Common Man – and you’re likely to fit right in with local expats dressed in their morning exercise kit.

There are many options for refuelling along the route, particularly in Sentosa, along Singapore River or in the area surrounding Marina Bay.

Accommodation

We expect most visitors will base themselves in or around the central business district, whether they are in Singapore for business or not. This gives best access to all parts of Singapore via the excellent MRT network.

Check out our Singapore cycling destination guide for specific accommodation suggestions.

Tips

Time of day

We suggest you make an early start from Marina Bay to avoid the busiest time of the roads, which are in the first half of the ride.

Cycling the Sentosa bridge

To get onto Sentosa, you have to cross the, often busy, Sentosa bridge. There is a bike path option along side it – however it does require you to dismount several times and negotiate steps. Not always the easiest if you’re wearing bike shoes, but it’s definitely worth considering.

Singapore Rail Corridor

If you’re riding at night, note that the Rail Corridor is not lit.

If you are tempted to continue the full length of the Rail Corridor towards Kranji (where it finishes), note that there are unpaved sections and diversions, with various redevelopment plans over the coming years.

There is a 10 kph speed limit that we’ve not seen enforced, but a sensible and courteous approach to other users is important.

We suggest avoiding weekends and public holidays, when it becomes very busy.

There’s a strict 10 kilometre speed limit for cyclists on the Singapore Rail Corridor

Take a look at our guide to cycling Singapore for more tips!

Have you cycled in Singapore?

Have you experienced cycling Sentosa? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Let us know your thoughts about the cycling trails in Singapore!

Want to find more Singapore cycling routes?

Don’t miss these articles:

• Guide to cycling Singapore
• Cycling in East Coast Park and Changi beach cycling
• Marina Bay cycling loop and city highlights

Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels - and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they're there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.

Want to connect with Clare? Find her over on LinkedIn.