Where we'd start
Any of these makes a good first stop.
- Chinese and Japanese Gardens, 5.30am to midnight
- Jurong Lake Gardens, 90 free hectares
- Clusia Cove, Forest Ramble and the SkatePark
- ActiveSG Park swimming pool at the lake gardens
- Bonsai, Breathing and Jurong Lake Gardens galleries
- Free garden shuttle trial from South Carpark
- PAssion Wave @ Jurong Lake Gardens, Tuesday to Friday
- Lights by the Lake lanterns, until 4 October
- Science Centre's Kinetic Garden
- Science Centre Singapore, 15 Science Centre Road
- Science Centre galleries, 10am–5pm, last entry 4.15pm
- KidsSTOP for under-8s, two pre-booked sessions
- Omni-Theatre, an 8K 3D dome with 221 seats
- Butterfly Maze at the lake gardens, daily 7am–7pm
- Singapore Discovery Centre, from Joo Koon Exit B
- Yuhua Village Market, 254 Jurong East Street 24
Jurong Lake Gardens is the best free morning in the west: 90 hectares around the lake, and Singapore's first national gardens out in the heartlands. Lakeside Garden is open 24 hours, and the Chinese and Japanese Gardens from 5.30am to midnight. Come early, before the heat, and cross the Chinese Garden Bridge, about five minutes from Chinese Garden MRT. For the play areas, start at Lakeside Plaza, three minutes from Lakeside MRT. The Butterfly Maze opens daily 7am to 7pm, and Clusia Cove's water play 8am to 7pm, Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays. Forest Ramble, a nature playgarden, and the SkatePark run 8am to 10pm on the same days. The dog run is open 8am to 10pm. A free shuttle trial loops the three gardens from South Carpark, 9am to noon and 4pm to 7pm.
Science Centre Singapore, at 15 Science Centre Road, is an eight-minute walk from Jurong East MRT. The galleries are hands-on and open 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday. For adults, the pick is the Omni-Theatre, Southeast Asia's first 8K 3D digital dome, with a 23-metre screen and 221 seats. It runs to a timetable, so book a showtime and arrive 10 minutes early. Under-8s get KidsSTOP, a play space with two timed sessions you pre-book. Visiting adults pay S$12, or S$23.90 with an Omni film, and the centre takes no cash. The Giant J is closed for maintenance until further notice. We'd pair Science Centre with the lake gardens and give Singapore Discovery Centre, out at Joo Koon, an afternoon of its own.
Jurong West rewards a slower look. TK Pottery Jungle and Jalan Bahar Clay Studios keep Singapore's last two dragon kilns, beside The Potter's Garden, and bus 199 from Boon Lay Interchange reaches TK Pottery Jungle. Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre, the old 60 Stalls, opened in 1972, and Dudu at Jurong West 505 steams tu tu kueh, chewy cakes filled with coconut or peanut. Jurong West Swimming Complex has a slide and a lazy river, and NTU's campus has a free self-guided art trail.
In the far west, Raffles Marina's breakwater runs out to a 12-metre lighthouse that's free to visit, and Marina Bistro and Captain's Table are open to the public for a meal beforehand or afterwards. Divelab runs full-day boat dives from the same marina. Jurong Fishery Port, at the mouth of the Jurong River, opens its wholesale fish market to the public once you register at the guardhouse, which is free.
Getting there
Jurong East MRT (NS1/EW24) is an eight-minute walk from Science Centre, and Chinese Garden (EW25) and Lakeside (EW26) serve the lake gardens. Joo Koon (EW29) Exit B leads to Singapore Discovery Centre, Boon Lay (EW27) is the bus hub for the pottery kilns, and Tuas Link (EW33) Exit B is about five minutes' walk from Raffles Marina.
Best time
Do the lake gardens early, before the heat, and Science Centre after. Most indoor sights close on Mondays, when Lakeside Garden is an easy pick. Until 4 October, the free White Snake lanterns of Lights by the Lake glow 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
A day in Jurong & the West
This is the order we'd go in, though each stop works fine on its own.
Where to eat
- Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre, 254 Jurong East Street 24: a hawker centre, a hall of small cooked-food stalls, by Chinese Garden MRT
- Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre, 3 Yung Sheng Road: lunch after Lakeside Garden, a short bus or a hot walk from Lakeside MRT
- JEM and Westgate, beside Jurong East MRT: the two malls for an air-conditioned lunch after a Science Centre morning
Jurong & the West questions
Is Science Centre worth it for adults?
Yes, if you like hands-on galleries, and the Omni-Theatre makes the trip. Without children, though, Haw Par Villa is the better story. Visiting adults pay S$12. Singaporeans and PRs get in free on off-peak weekdays and pay S$6 at weekends and on public and school holidays. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4.15pm, and closed on Mondays except public and school holidays. Bring a card, because the centre takes no cash.
What do I need to book at Science Centre?
The Omni-Theatre and KidsSTOP. The dome runs set showtimes that change, so check the films when you book; Little Eve has been at 10am and 1pm and Secrets of the Sea at 11am, 2pm and 4pm. Arrive 10 minutes early. A Science Centre and Omni combo is S$23.90 at the standard adult rate. KidsSTOP, for under-8s, has two sessions: 10am to 1pm with last entry at 12.15pm, and 2pm to 5pm with last entry at 4.15pm.
Is Singapore Discovery Centre near Science Centre?
It's further west, at 510 Upper Jurong Road. Take Joo Koon MRT Exit B toward Upper Jurong Road and walk 8 to 10 minutes, or catch bus 182 or 182M from the interchange, which is where Exit A comes up, by FairPrice Hub. It usually opens noon to 6pm on weekdays, with last entry about 5.30pm, and 11am to 7pm at weekends and on public and school holidays, so check its site first. Singaporeans and PRs see the permanent exhibits free, and its Singapore Story galleries fill an afternoon.
Jurong Lake Gardens or the Botanic Gardens?
The Botanic Gardens if you have one green morning in the centre of town. Jurong Lake Gardens if you're already out west, or you want 90 free hectares without buying an orchid ticket. Lakeside Garden never closes, and the Chinese and Japanese Gardens open 5.30am to midnight. They're a long way apart, so give each its own day.
What's open at Jurong Lake Gardens on a Monday?
Lakeside Garden, the Chinese and Japanese Gardens and the Butterfly Maze all stay open. So does the ActiveSG pool, from 6.30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 8am on Tuesdays and weekends, until 9.30pm; it's closed on Thursdays. Forest Ramble, the SkatePark and the galleries close for maintenance, moving to Tuesday when Monday is a public holiday, and Clusia Cove is closed. Otherwise the Bonsai Gallery opens 9am to 7pm, and the Jurong Lake Gardens and Breathing galleries 9am to 9pm. PAssion Wave opens Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, except public holidays.
Which hawker centre should I pick in Jurong?
Pick one, based on where your morning was. Yuhua Village suits a Chinese Garden morning, and it's a different place from Yuhua Market at Yuhua Place. Taman Jurong suits Lakeside Garden. Each stall keeps its own hours, so have a second dish in mind, and if you'd rather eat in air-con, JEM and Westgate are the malls beside Jurong East MRT.
Where can I swim near Jurong Lake Gardens?
Jurong Lake Gardens Pool on Yuan Ching Road is an ActiveSG public pool listed as inclusive, with a ramp to the water and a shower buddy on request. Adult entry is S$1.30 on weekdays and S$1.70 at weekends. It's open 8am to 9.30pm and closed on Thursdays unless it's a public holiday.
What is there to do around Jurong West Central?
Jurong West Library opens at 10am and keeps its book drop open all day and night. NEA lists Boon Lay Place Market and Food Village at Blocks 221A and 221B. Check each page for opening hours and cleaning closures before you make the trip, since both can change.
Where does the Jurong West Park Connector start?
The Jurong West Park Connector is a lit 2.2 km path that starts opposite Jurong Central Park. Because the path is lit, it also suits an evening walk or run. Check NParks' page for any closed stretches before you set out, and bring water for the walk. Yunnan Park keeps the original Nantah Arch from the old Nanyang University campus.
Is there an evening activity at the Science Centre?
Stargazing Night at Science Centre runs on Fridays from 7.30pm: a planetarium show first, then telescopes at the observatory for S$17. The show runs 7.30pm to 8.15pm and stargazing 8.15pm to 10pm. The ticket page says every Friday unless otherwise stated, so check it for the dates before you go.
Where can I swim or work out in Jurong East?
Jurong East has both on one site. Jurong East Swimming Complex has a wave pool, a lazy river and a stream course for about S$2 on weekdays. Jurong East ActiveSG Gym shares a site with the wave pool and lazy river, so a workout and a swim fit one trip.
What is there to do in Jurong West?
TK Pottery Jungle, Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre and Jurong West Swimming Complex are three good reasons to come. TK Pottery Jungle keeps one of Singapore's last two dragon kilns, and bus 199 from Boon Lay Interchange reaches it. Taman Jurong opened in 1972. NTU's campus has a free self-guided art trail.
Things to do in Jurong & the West
A handful to start with. Tap one for the price and how to get there.
FreeChinese Garden
Twin Pagoda and Cloud Pagoda at Jurong Lake
2 hours·Jurong East·Free
FreeJurong Lake Gardens
Singapore's third national garden, by Jurong Lake
Half day·Jurong East·Free
TicketsScience Centre Singapore
Hands-on science galleries in Jurong East
Half day·Jurong East·From S$12
TicketsKidsSTOP
Timed science play sessions for kids 8 and under
3 hours·Jurong East·From S$10
TicketsOmni-Theatre
Dome-screen films next to the Science Centre
1 hour·Jurong East·From S$24
TicketsSingapore Discovery Centre
Nation-building, flight simulators, kids' city
3 hours·Jurong East·From S$10
Things to do in Jurong East
Jurong East has the Science Centre, KidsSTOP and the Omni-Theatre, the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Jurong Lake Gardens and Singapore Discovery Centre.
TicketsScience Centre Singapore
Hands-on science galleries in Jurong East
Half day·Jurong East·From S$12
TicketsKidsSTOP
Timed science play sessions for kids 8 and under
3 hours·Jurong East·From S$10
TicketsSingapore Discovery Centre
Nation-building, flight simulators, kids' city
3 hours·Jurong East·From S$10
TicketsOmni-Theatre
Dome-screen films next to the Science Centre
1 hour·Jurong East·From S$24
FreeChinese Garden
Twin Pagoda and Cloud Pagoda at Jurong Lake
2 hours·Jurong East·Free
FreeJapanese Garden
Seiwaen garden, next door to Chinese Garden
1.5 hours·Jurong East·Free
Things to do in Jurong
Jurong's stop here is the Nanyang Sauce Brewery tour.
Things to do in Jurong West
Jurong West is a pottery and food stop, with TK Pottery Jungle, The Potter's Garden, the Taman Jurong food centre and the NTU campus art trail.
Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre
The old "60 stalls" food centre, rebuilt
1 hour·Jurong West·Free
TK Pottery Jungle
One of two surviving dragon kilns, plus workshops
2 hours·Jurong West·From S$80
The Potter's Garden
A pottery-themed park beside two dragon kilns
1 hour·Jurong West·Free
Dudu Cooked Food
Hot tu tu kueh at a Jurong West market
30 min·Jurong West·Free
Tai Seng Fish Soup
Third-generation fish soup at Taman Jurong
45 min·Jurong West·Free
Jurong West Swimming Complex
A feature pool with a slide and lazy river
2 hours·Jurong West·From S$2
Things to do in Boon Lay
Boon Lay has Jurong West Library, the Boon Lay Place food village and a park connector; Jurong Central Park is by Boon Lay MRT.
Things to do in Tuas
Tuas is the far-west marina, with the Raffles Marina lighthouse, breakwater fishing and boat dives.
Stories from here
Neighborhoods · 5 min read
Jurong West to Tuas: Kilns to Breakwater
Guides · 14 min read
Singapore in the Rain: An Indoor Day Out
Guides · 13 min read
A Family Day Around the Island
Food · 14 min read
Hawker Etiquette, from Chope to Kopi
Itineraries · 9 min read
Singapore on a Monday: What's Open
Guides · 6 min read
Heartland Hawker Centres Worth the Ride
Guides · 8 min read
