Although Singapore as a whole is quite verdant and enjoys plenty of parks, the main island is urban, with its greenery man-made. Pulau Ubin is different, offering a more "as-is" nature. The village located on Pulau Ubin island is old fashioned and tranquil, unlike the more active and modern main island. It's Singpore's last official village, or "kelong".
The island is 1020 hectares in size. It used to be several islands that were united through reclamation. The landscape is hilly, and agriculture is mostly geared towards coffee, rubber and pineapple.
Visitors can look forward to local dining at the village, famous for fresh seafood and fruit. They can enjoy hiking, cycling and relatively secluded beaches. Several varieties of wildlife--both land-side and marine--are unique to the island.
Pulau Ubin is also home to the Chek Jawa wetlands, which the Singapore government is actively promoting as a tourist destination. The ecosystem is only 40 minutes away from Pulau Ubin village by walk.
Getting to Pulau Ubin necessitates getting to the Changi ferry piers, which are a short bus or taxi ride away from the Changi MRT station. Service to the island runs from morning until evening. Be sure to know the schedule if you're unprepared for staying the night.
"Ubin" means granite and "Pulau" island in Malay, hence "granite island"--the name comes from the hills, which are made of granite.
