Far away from the thronging East Coast Park and manicured Sentosa beaches lies a swathe of white sand ringing clear, turquoise waters. No, we’re not talking about Boracay but Lazarus Island. One of Singapore’s best-kept secrets is its serene, undeveloped beach that you can (almost) call your own – just take the first ferry out at 9am on weekends and 10am on weekdays to claim the sands for yourself. Other beach bums descend around lunchtime with their yachts and speedboats. And don’t forget to pack everything you need – floats, mats, towels – as there are no shops on Lazarus.
Pro tip: for Insta-worthy shots, trek further inland to the reclaimed Pulau Seringat, north of Lazarus. You’ll come across a jetty – continue past it until you spot a pavilion. From that vantage point, you’ll be able to snap a panorama of the Singapore mainland.
Take the ferry to St John’s from Marina South Pier ($18/person for a round trip). Once you disembark, find the link bridge from the St John’s jetty. From there, you’ll reach Lazarus in about 20 minutes. And take note: during the ninth lunar month (which usually falls in October), ferry services to St John’s Island will halt for the Kusu pilgrimage.