The most scenic running routes in Singapore
After running for more than five years in Singapore, here are my favorite running routes to appreciate the scenic views.
Each route I share will have a Strava link if you want to run it on your own.
Marina Bay #
Starting strong, one of my favorite routes to run is the Marina Bay loop, in downtown Singapore.
At sunrise, sunset, or even late in the night, the lights and colors around iconic buildings like the Merlion or the Marina Bay Sands are something you shouldn’t miss.
It isn’t a big loop, you can start from the City Hall MRT station, run towards the National Gallery, cross the Jubilee Bridge to see the Merlion, and run around the bay.
The loop gives you great handles to see the Marina Bay Sands. When reaching the Art Science museum, you can cross the Helix Bridge back to close the loop towards the Esplanade.
It is the busiest during the evening, so don’t plan any fast runs on this segment, take your time and enjoy this 4.5km loop.
Botanic Gardens #
The Botanic Gardens is a great place for short runs, you can see a very different space compared to the city downtown. It is unique.
Starting from the Botanic Garden MRT station, you can run the inner loop of the park that goes towards Symphony Lake, pass the National Orchid Garden, and go until the South East gate.
From there, you can turn back and run back up in the direction of the Zen garden, pass the Bandstand on the hill, and take a short break for water at the clock near the National Orchid Garden again.
This time, let’s go towards the Evolution Gardens until you are back to the Eco Lake to end where you’ve started.
This running route is also less than 5km but much more hilly than the previous one. Take note that the park has a lot of animals running free, including monitor lizards. Make sure you respect the park rules while running around.
MacRitchie Reservoir #
MacRitchie is one of the main reservoirs of Singapore. Not all of them are available to the public, but lucky for us, this one is.
The closest MRT stations would be Caldecott or Marymount and require a bit of a walk from there. There are also a few buses that can drop you right in front of the car park of the reservoir.
The direction is fairly simple as there are not many crossings. You can go clockwise or anti-clockwise and have a great view either way. Having done both many times, I would recommend running anti-clockwise to pass the most technical parts early on.
Get ready for some hills in the most dense area. It has great scenery when running through the forest, near the golf and finally the reservoir itself. You would forget you are in a busy city.
This loop is a bit more difficult than the others though. This route is mostly trail and its shortest loop is about 10.5km. It has only two water points, at the start and the middle, but it can get closed sometimes. If you are not sure of yourself, pack a small bottle with you.
The forest area can be very dark in the early morning and it could require you a front light to stay safe. Be prepared for mud as it’s rarely fully dry due to the high humidity, but it is still a great run to do.
Alexandra Canal #
This is a bit less popular but has still great scenery in the city. The Alexandra Canal Park connector extends from Queenstown MRT station to Raffles Place MRT station.
You will follow the canal, going through the River Valley and Clark Quay areas.
At night, this is a happening area, with a lot of bars and restaurants near Clark Quau, but it is also a great space to see all the pedestrian bridges lighted up until the Fullerton Hotel of Singapore.
Most park connectors are great for runners, they help avoid traffic lights and are rarely too busy.
Marina Barrage #
The Marina Bay area has a lot to offer, so I’ve split it with the Barrage area for a separate run.
This time, you can start from the Bayfront MRT station, exit out of the building, and follow the reservoir one more time.
Instead of crossing the Helix bridge, we’ll go further and turn further right to the Gardens by the Bay. If you run in the evening, this is one of the best spots in Singapore for the lighting show. Keep in mind there will be a lot of people with you, but do enjoy the show if you can.
If you run in the early morning (or don’t feel like exploring the Garden), go straight towards the Flower and Cloud Domes and eventually cross the Marina Barrage. You will see the quiet reservoir opposite to the busy sea of container ships on the other side of the barrage.
By night, if you run a bit further, you will be able to capture the whole Marina area, including the Domes, Marina Bay Sands, and the Singapore Flyer.
The route can go as far as you want, but the next MRT station will be Stadium if you don’t run back. I can suggest a route of ~7km, but feel free to go beyond.
The great advantage of this running route, besides its scenery, there are a lot of water coolers on your way, so let’s not get dehydrated.
Green Corridor #
It’s also known as the Trail Corridor. It is the former trail track connecting Malaysia and Singapore.
The corridor has been fully renovated over the past few years, it is safe to run, walk or cycle on it. You could run Kranji/Woodland until Tanjong Pagar, but it’s at least 24km.
However, if you start from Buona Vista MRT and go north towards Hillview MRT, you will have a great view already on this 7km run.
The corridor goes through the forest and residential area, it is quiet and very green. You can stop to take pictures at the previous train station that was renovated and cross the bridge.
There is no public lighting in the area, so coming too early, or too late, you will have to run in the dark. On the weekend, it can get busy as many go for a walk on it, but it is still a great place to explore.
I hope that through these running routes, you get a better chance to explore Singapore. I have omitted a few popular ones but, in my opinion, have less to offer in their scenery.
Let me know which one is your favorite or if I should share some more.