By SGN | Updated 1 Jun 2023
Singapore is a beautiful island-state, renowned for its safety, high standards of living, world-class infrastructure, and mouth-watering food. The island’s position at the heart of Southeast Asia also means that it’s a place where history, art and culture intersect – everything you could ask for in a new home.
But where on this island should you settle in? Here’s a guide to the neighbourhoods of Singapore to help you decide.
Woodlands
Located in Singapore’s northern region, Woodlands is a neighbourhood popular with families who enjoy living in suburbia, away from the bustle of the city centre. Here, you’ll be able to take your family (and furkids) out for strolls, cycling or skating at verdant spaces such as Marsiling Park, Admiralty Park and Treehaus Park.
In Woodlands, there is a large American expat community due to the presence of the Singapore American School. They’re known to host fun events – particularly during Halloween – which can be a wonderful opportunity to connect with the neighbours.
As for housing options, in addition to the usual flats, you’ll find plenty of landed houses with gardens at reasonable prices. Families with children and/or pets may enjoy the extra space as an alternative to apartment living.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Affordable housing, with variety of options | Further from city centre |
Quiet environment with many green spaces | |
Easy access to Johor Bahru, Malaysia |
Tanglin
Tanglin is excellent for families looking to live in low-rise condominiums or houses with gardens. Located between Holland Village and Orchard, the neighbourhood is sufficiently removed from the din of busy roads, yet mere minutes away from Orchard Road, Singapore’s prime shopping belt. This is also where you’ll find Tanglin Trust School, a British International School.
Just a stone’s throw away is the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site where you can go jogging, lay out a picnic, or enjoy musical performances at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. Finally, Tanglin also encompasses Dempsey Hill, a former army barracks turned dining enclave known for its superb range of restaurants and bars (and free parking – a rare luxury in Singapore).
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Close to city centre | Costlier housing |
Wide range of restaurants and shops | Major roads can get crowded |
Excellent access via public transport |
Serangoon
Located in the northeast of Singapore, the fairly central Serangoon neighbourhood has something for everyone. Housing ranges from HDB apartments to new condominiums to terraced houses, and residents are a good mix of locals and expatriates – particularly Australian and French, since the Australian International School and the International French School are right around the corner.
Serangoon Gardens is a particularly charming subzone organised around a dining cluster with bistros and cafes, Italian restaurants, and the famous Chomp Chomp hawker centre.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Mix of affordable housing types | Quite densely populated |
Good mix of local and international schools | Certain areas can get noisy |
Good public transport access |
Ang Mo Kio
To the west of Serangoon is Ang Mo Kio, a neighbourhood that is highly popular with families and offers a true Singaporean experience. Developed during the 70s and 80s, the town is well served by malls, parks and public transport, including four stations along two MRT lines.
While Ang Mo Kio is very much an HDB residential estate – blocks range from decades-old to brand-new – there are several condominiums scattered throughout, plus a cluster of landed properties in the Lentor subzone towards the north. The neighbourhood has a wide variety of public schools that cover preschool to post-secondary education.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Affordable housing | Further from city centre |
Good public transport access | Densely populated |
Well served by parks and malls |
Upper Thomson
Nestled against Singapore’s largest green lung is Upper Thomson. Residents here enjoy direct access to Lower Peirce Reservoir and MacRitchie Reservoir, where runners may be found on any given day jogging along forest trails and the boardwalk encircling the water.
Replete with shophouses and landed properties, the neighbourhood is characterised by low-rise charm and the presence of unique surprises in every corner. Along with indie curbside cafes, the area is a hotspot for fresh roti prata (Casuarina Curry), beautifully curated houseplants (Soilboy), cult-favourite sourdough bakes (Woodlands Sourdough), old-school Hakka cuisine (Plum Village) and zero-waste grocery shopping (Unpackt).
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Close to Singapore’s biggest nature reserve | More expensive housing |
Charming cafes and shops | Fewer schools |
Bukit Timah
Love living close to nature? Besides its excellent cafes and restaurants, Bukit Timah offers a variety of outdoor activities. Explore the hiking trails and summit Singapore’s highest natural peak in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, or take up horseriding at Horsecity, located at the former racecourse.
The recently restored colonial-era Bukit Timah Railway Station is worth exploring as well. It lies along the 24km Railway Corridor, which is popular with hikers and cyclists. The area also contains several top Singaporean schools, along with the Swiss School in Singapore and Chatsworth International School.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Beautiful green spaces | Costlier housing |
Close to the city centre | Fewer shopping destinations |
Many top local and international schools |
Bedok
Another neighbourhood popular among nature lovers is Bedok, which stretches from Bedok Reservoir in the north to East Coast Park in the south. The former is a regular spot for fitness enthusiasts who run, cycle, kayak or dragon boat, and features a tree-top adventure park with four giant zip lines running across the water.
At East Coast Park, you can fish at the jetty, visit famed seafood restaurants, or simply enjoy the sea breeze by the beach. As Singapore’s most populous residential estate, Bedok is also ideal for making friends with new neighbours!
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Affordable housing | Fewer shopping options |
Lots of outdoor activities | Less culturally vibrant |
Generally serene environment |
West Coast / Clementi
If a quiet respite is what you’re looking for, West Coast – along with the adjacent Clementi district – is the neighbourhood for you. This underrated counterpart to East Coast is less congested but offers similarly beautiful, open spaces to relax in. There’s also a sizeable Japanese expat community, thanks to a number of Japanese schools being situated in the area.
West Coast Park hosts a slew of amenities such as a dog park and an adventure playground, plus spaces for archery, kite flying, and waterfront cycling. Further to the west are even more natural spaces to explore, including the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Pandan Reservoir, and Jurong Eco Garden.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Tranquil, green environment | Further from city centre |
A mix of newer and older developments | Fewer malls and dining options |
Good mix of schools, including National University of Singapore |
Yishun
Famously known as where President Halimah Yacob’s family residence is located, Yishun is predominantly an HDB town, with private housing found in the Springleaf and Nee Soon areas in the south. One prominent attraction is ORTO, a 24-hour leisure park where you can enjoy fishing, prawning, trampolining or simply dig into casual eats over a pint of beer.
Another leisure spot is Lower Seletar Reservoir, which is bordered by Orchid Country Club and Seletar Country Club. At the public park by the reservoir, visitors can fish at the jetty or rent kayaks from the sports centre. The Heritage Bridge that extends over the water offers panoramic views of the surroundings.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Affordable housing | Further from city centre |
Lots of green spaces | Only one international school |
Many recreational options |
Changi
Living in Changi not only makes it easy to fly in and out of the world’s best airport, it also means easy access to rustic Pulau Ubin (via Changi Point Ferry Terminal) or beach getaways in Desaru, Malaysia and Bintan, Indonesia (via Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal). Housing-wise, you’ll mostly find a mix of condos and landed properties here.
Besides the ease of connectivity, there’s much to enjoy within the neighbourhood too. Explore the intertidal zones or stroll along the boardwalk at Changi Beach Park, feast on fresh ocean catch on a floating seafood restaurant, tuck into famed nasi lemak at Changi Village Food Centre, or enjoy wood-fired sourdough pizzas at Little Island Brewing Co. along with over a dozen craft beers on tap, all brewed in-house.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Proximity to airport and ferry terminals | Further from city centre |
Laidback coastal vibes | Pricier housing |
Holland Village
Established in the early 20th century by the Dutch community, Holland Village has evolved into a buzzy hub of great food and vibrant nightlife. Its quaint shophouses house everything from bakeries and noodle shops to wine bars and pubs with live music. Across the road is Chip Bee Gardens, a private housing estate fringed by a stretch of cafes and restaurants.
Situated close to the Orchard, Downtown and Dempsey areas, Holland Village offers varied housing options including condominiums, bungalows and terraced houses.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Lively precinct with art, dining and shopping | Higher housing prices |
Vibrant nightlife | Can get rowdy at night |
Good mix of housing types |
Tanjong Pagar
Located downtown, Tanjong Pagar is a great option if you’re commuting to the Central Business District (CBD) for work, which is just a 10-minute cab ride or one MRT stop away.
The neighbourhood is a well-known food haven. As one of four districts under the Chinatown area, Tanjong Pagar boasts many beloved hawker centres, such as Maxwell Food Centre, alongside world-class restaurants. Many dining establishments have ranked on international best-of lists, including Jigger & Pony at the Amara hotel, No Sleep Club on Keong Saik Road, and Tippling Club on Tanjong Pagar Road.
The area has also undergone significant redevelopment, and most condominiums come with pools, gym facilities and views of the skyline. If you’re interested in more unique accommodation, here’s also where you’ll find 18th-century shophouses available for rent.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Centrally located | Higher housing prices |
Top restaurants and bars alongside affordable food options | Can get congested |
Rich in culture and history |
Katong
Steeped in Peranakan and Eurasian heritage, Katong is a district that’s full of character. Its main artery, Joo Chiat Road, is lined with trendy shops and cafes that make the area a favourite hangout on weekends, plus bars and restaurants that make it ideal for a fun night out. There’s a variety of housing suited to different needs, from terraced houses in the suburbs to high-rise apartments with a stunning ocean view!
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Rich in culture and history | Less accessible by public transport |
Excellent dining options | Higher housing prices |
Close to the city centre |
Tiong Bahru
With Art Deco walk-up apartments that date back to the 1930s, Tiong Bahru is one of Singapore’s oldest housing estates. This eclectic hipster neighbourhood is characterised by heritage hawkers, chic cafes, stylish boutiques, as well as the juxtaposition of historic low-rise apartments with newer condominiums.
The area is also home to several hidden gems if you know where to find them. For instance, contemporary yakitori joint Bincho is concealed within a heritage coffee shop; art residency studio and gallery Grey Projects may be found on the second storey of a shophouse; and a World War II air raid shelter opens to the public only for official guided tours.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Beautiful Art Deco apartments alongside new condos | High rental prices |
Contemporary cafes and shops | Fewer green spaces |
Rich in heritage |
Balestier / Novena
Balestier is a neighbourhood where the old abuts the new. The main thoroughfare is lined with rows of shophouses containing famous bak kut teh and chicken rice eateries, lighting shops, and a 60-year-old coffee roastery offering custom grinds of both traditional Singaporean kopi and modern gourmet blends.
All this is set against a backdrop of towering condominiums and a vast healthcare hub – comprising Tan Tock Seng Hospital and numerous private clinics and medical centres – where you can get everything from skin ailments to sports injuries treated.
Alongside traditional pastries and hawker delicacies, close by are such diverse delights as authentic Japanese breads (Kamome Bakery) and French confections (Ti Yan Patisserie), and a secluded cafe built into an industrial warehouse (Wheeler’s Yard).
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Central location | Fewer green spaces |
Mix of modern and traditional shops/restaurants | Peak-hour traffic |
River Valley / Orchard
Welcome to the Singapore’s flashiest and most fashionable neighbourhood. Here, you can live out your Crazy Rich Asians dreams, with swanky retail and dining establishments right at your doorstep.
Premium condominiums dominate the affluent River Valley area, which is bordered by the Orchard shopping district to the north. To the south is Robertson Quay, by the Singapore River, which offers a classy array of dining options and is especially lively at night.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Centrally located | Very high rental prices |
Vibrant dining and nightlife | Congested on weekends |
Bustling shopping district |
Parting words
Ready to move? Here are some resources that you may find useful:
