Where we'd start
Any of these makes a good first stop.
Bedok Reservoir Park is the reason to come east: 41.7 hectares open 24 hours, with a 4.3km gravel loop round the water that's best at dawn. Forest Adventure's treetop course is at Carpark A, 825 Bedok Reservoir Road, and PAssion Wave rents sit-on-top kayaks at 911 Bedok Reservoir Road, so a morning can be a walk, some ropes and a paddle. Bedok Town Park, the lawn beside the reservoir, is used mostly by the families who live around it, and the loop is the better stretch.
For breakfast, Bedok 85 Market in Bedok North sells chwee kueh, steamed rice cakes topped with preserved radish, and fried snacks from stallholders who've been there since the block was new. Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre is a plain, practical hall with lots of stalls and air-con close by. In Bedok, Palelai Buddhist Temple is a Theravada monastery where the monks chant, meditate and walk a morning alms-round, and visitors of all faiths are welcome.
Tampines is the wild patch of the east. Tampines Eco Green has boardwalks, dragonflies and raptors, with almost no tourists, and it's best early. Tampines Round Market is a circular building with a wet market downstairs, an easy breakfast when you're already out here. Our Tampines Hub puts a hawker centre, a library and a pool in one building, and Tampines Sun Plaza Park is a wide lawn and playground where families from the estate bring the children.
Getting there
From Bedok Reservoir MRT, take Exit B on the southbound side of Bedok North Avenue 3 and walk about 200 metres to the park. Exit A leads to Bedok Town Park. Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre is by Bedok MRT, and for Palelai Buddhist Temple, take bus 2, 9 or 48 two stops from Tanah Merah MRT Exit B.
Best time
Walk the reservoir loop at dawn, or stay for sunset, when the path empties out. PAssion Wave rents kayaks from Wednesday to Sunday and closes on Mondays and public holidays. Tampines Eco Green is best early, before the heat builds.
A day in Bedok & Tampines
This is the order we'd go in, though each stop works fine on its own.
Early morning
Tampines Eco GreenTampines · FreeGo
Morning
Tampines Round MarketTampines · FreeGo
Evening
Bedok Reservoir ParkBedok · FreeGo
Where to eat
- Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, by Bedok MRT: lots of stalls, air-con close by and a bus interchange upstairs, so it's an easy meal on the way through
- Bedok 85 Market, 85 Bedok North Street 4: chwee kueh and fried snacks, with stall hours that vary, so check the one you're after
- Tampines Round Market & Food Centre, 137 Tampines Street 11: a circular 1983 market, for breakfast
- Our Tampines Hub hawker centre: stalls in a community hub with a library and a pool, so eat first, then borrow a book
Questions
What's at Bedok Reservoir Park?
A 41.7-hectare park, open 24 hours, with a 4.3km gravel loop around the water that's best at dawn. From Bedok Reservoir MRT, take Exit B on the southbound side of Bedok North Avenue 3 and walk about 200 metres. Exit A leads to Bedok Town Park, a lawn that's also open 24 hours. Forest Adventure's treetop course is at Carpark A, 825 Bedok Reservoir Road, and on Mondays it runs 9.30am to 2pm, with the last start at noon. Other days it runs until 6pm or 6.30pm.
Can I kayak at Bedok Reservoir on a Monday?
No, PAssion Wave at 911 Bedok Reservoir Road rents sit-on-top kayaks from Wednesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, and closes on Mondays and public holidays. Its office opens from Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, but Tuesday has no rentals. From Bedok Reservoir MRT it's a short walk, or take bus 5, 18, 21, 22, 28, 46, 59, 65, 67, 69 or 168 to the Opp The Clearwater Condo stop (75341). Check its rental page before you go.
Can children try the Forest Adventure ropes at Bedok Reservoir?
Yes. The Kids Course suits ages 5 and up and 1.1m tall, and takes about 60 minutes. The Junior Course is for ages 10 and up and 1.35m, about 75 minutes, and the Grand Course for ages 12 and up and 1.45m, about 150 minutes. Everyone needs closed-toe sports shoes, so book a slot and wear them.
What is there to do in Tampines?
Start at Tampines Eco Green, a wild patch of boardwalks, dragonflies and raptors, best early. Then eat at Tampines Round Market, a circular market with a wet market downstairs, or at the hawker centre inside Our Tampines Hub, which also holds a library and a pool. Tampines Sun Plaza Park is a wide lawn and playground for the children.
Is Palelai Buddhist Temple open to visitors?
Yes, visitors of all faiths are welcome while the gates are open, 5am to 9pm. The temple at 49 Bedok Walk is a Theravada monastery with chanting from 6am to 6.30am and 6pm to 7pm, an alms-round around 8.10am and meditation from 2pm to 5pm and 7pm to 9pm. Wear no shorts (bermudas are fine), short skirts or low-cut tops. From Tanah Merah MRT Exit B, take bus 2, 9 or 48 and get off after two stops.
Which hawker centres are in Bedok and Tampines?
NEA's list includes 11 markets and hawker centres in Bedok and Tampines. Bedok has Bedok Food Centre, Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, Fengshan at Blk 85, Kaki Bukit 511, Pasar Makan @ Reservoir and four block markets on Bedok South Road, New Upper Changi Road and Bedok North Street. Tampines has Tampines Round Market and the hawker centre at Our Tampines Hub. We'd start with Tampines Round Market.
Things to do in Bedok & Tampines
A handful to start with. Tap one for the price and how to get there.
FreeBedok Reservoir Park
Kayaks, a jogging loop and big eastern skies
2 hours·Bedok·Free
TicketsForest Adventure
High ropes over Bedok Reservoir
2.5 hours·Bedok·From S$38
TicketsPAssion Wave Kayak (Bedok / Marina Bay)
Public sit-on-top kayak rental at Bedok or Marina Bay
2 hours·Bedok·About S$20
FreeTampines Eco Green
A wild patch in the east, birds and boardwalks
2 hours·Tampines·Free
FreeTampines Round Market
A round breakfast hall in Tampines
1 hour·Tampines·Free
Palelai Buddhist Temple
A Bedok monastery with daily chanting and meditation
1 hour·Bedok·Free
