How to Go to Pulau Ubin: Ferry from Singapore Guide

Pulau Ubin feels like Singapore fifty years ago frozen in time. Coconut groves, weathered wooden attap houses, and overgrown rubber plantations still dot this small island off the northeast coast. The best part? Getting there takes less than fifteen minutes on a bumboat. Here’s everything you need to know about the ferry from Changi Point, so you can trade the city skyline for water mangroves and kampong charm in under an hour.

Ferry Terminal: Changi Point Ferry Terminal · Ferry Operating Hours: 6am to 7pm · Ferry Departure Point: 51 Lorong Bekukong, Singapore 499172 · Ferry Type: Bumboat · Access from Singapore: Changi Village adjacent

Key operational details for planning your trip appear in the table below, sourced from multiple travel guides and transit applications.

How to Go to Pulau Ubin from Singapore

Getting to Changi Point Ferry Terminal

Changi Point Ferry Terminal sits at 51 Lorong Bekukong (Singapore 499172), right next to the Changi Village Hawker Centre—making it easy to grab a meal before or after your trip. Several public transport routes reach Changi Village. From Tanah Merah MRT (EW4), take Bus 2 and ride about twenty minutes to Changi Village Bus Terminal. Alternate routes include Tampines MRT (EW2) plus Bus 29, or Pasir Ris MRT plus Bus 109, which Jasmine Alley describes as a convenient option.

• Tanah Merah MRT (EW4) → Bus 2 → Changi Village
• Tampines MRT (EW2) → Bus 29 → Changi Village
• Pasir Ris MRT → Bus 109 → Changi Village
• Tampines East MRT (DT33) → Bus 59 → Changi Village

What this means: Multiple MRT-and-bus combinations provide redundant access, so a single transit disruption won’t strand visitors at the mainland terminal.

Taking the bumboat ferry

At Changi Point Ferry Terminal, signs clearly mark the separate queues for Pulau Ubin and Malaysia (Penggerang)—stand in the correct line. Bumboats are operated privately by independent operators running from sunrise to sunset. Boats depart when roughly 9 to 12 passengers have boarded. This means waits vary: some visitors report departures every fifteen to thirty minutes, while others simply wait for the boat to fill. The journey covers about 2km and takes 10–15 minutes across the channel.

How much is a ticket to Pulau Ubin?

Ferry ticket pricing

The bumboat fare is $4 per person one-way as of 2026. If you are bringing a bicycle, expect to pay an additional $2–4 per bike depending on the operator. Payment is cash only—no transit cards, no digital wallets. The fare last changed on 7 September 2015, when it increased from $2 to $3 per person. Most recent visitor guides report the current rate is $4, suggesting a subsequent increase.

Booking options

There is no online booking system for individual passengers. You simply turn up at Changi Point Ferry Terminal, join the queue, and pay the boat captain directly when you board. For groups wanting a guaranteed departure, private charters are available for $30 or more per trip, according to HoneyKids Asia.

The implication: Budget travellers should carry exact change in Singapore dollars, as operators may not be able to break larger notes for cash-only transactions.

How long is the ferry from Singapore to Pulau Ubin?

Ferry duration

The bumboat crossing from Changi Point to Pulau Ubin takes approximately 10–15 minutes according to Rome2Rio and verified counts. Some sources suggest the journey can be as short as 3 minutes under ideal conditions, but 10–15 minutes is the more commonly reported range. Once you arrive at the Pulau Ubin Ferry Terminal on the island’s eastern side, you are a short walk from the main cycling tracks and bike rental shops.

Schedule details

Bumboats have no fixed schedule and depart when enough passengers are aboard. The most commonly cited operating window is 6am to 7pm daily. However, the transit app Moovit lists extended hours from 05:00 to 01:00 for both directions, with a detailed timetable showing departures every thirty minutes. On weekends, ByKido recommends visiting early in the morning for sufficient ferry flow. Check real-time schedules via the Moovit app before heading to the terminal.

Is Pulau Ubin worth visiting?

Reasons to visit

Pulau Ubin offers something increasingly rare in Singapore: space. The island preserves a slice of old Singapore with coconut groves, attap houses, and rubber plantations that feel a world away from the city. The bumboat ride itself rewards passengers with views of mangroves and open water. Once on the island, cycling and hiking trails wind past granite quarries, Chek Jawa Wetlands, and pockets of secondary rainforest. Wild Singapore notes that bumboats operate privately by independent operators from sunrise to sunset, adding to the island’s informal, unhurried character.

The pattern: Visitors who plan around the 6am–7pm window and arrive mid-morning on weekdays tend to report the smoothest island experience.

Can I stay overnight in Pulau Ubin?

Overnight options

Camping is possible at designated campsites on Pulau Ubin, though facilities are basic. For those planning an overnight stay, pack light—the bumboat has limited space, and you will need to carry your gear across the island on foot or by bicycle. Camping equipment and provisions are available at limited shops on the island, so bringing most necessities from Singapore is advisable.

Camping and safety

The island is generally considered safe for overnight visitors who take standard precautions. Solo female travellers report feeling comfortable during daytime hours, though arriving early and sticking to marked paths remains sensible advice. After dark, the island is much quieter with limited lighting on trails. The implication for visitors planning an overnight stay: prepare for minimal infrastructure and bring everything you need, as supply options on Pulau Ubin are sparse.

Things to Do on Pulau Ubin

Beyond cycling and hiking, the island offers access to Chek Jawa Wetlands with its famous boardwalk, former granite quarries now filled with clear water, and small shops renting bicycles near the ferry terminal. Visitors can easily spend half a day exploring the trail network without feeling rushed.

What this means: Day-trippers who rent bicycles near the ferry terminal can cover most major sites—including Chek Jawa and the granite quarries—within a four-hour window.

Clarity on What We Know and What We Do Not

The catch: Visitors relying on the Moovit app’s extended hours may arrive before operations actually begin, or find the terminal closed if operators stick to the 6am–7pm window.

What Visitors Say

“The bumboats run from 6am to 7pm daily, and they don’t have a fixed schedule. They leave whenever there are 9 to 12 passengers on board.”

— Jasmine Alley, Travel Guide Author (Jasmine Alley)

“Bumboat operators run from sunrise to sunset. There are separate queues for Pulau Ubin and Malaysia (Penggerang) at the terminal.”

— Wild Singapore, Nature Site (Wild Singapore)

“Ferries run from 6 am to 7 pm. We recommend visiting early in the morning on the weekends.”

— ByKido, Family Guide (ByKido)

Summary

Getting to Pulau Ubin is straightforward but requires flexibility. The bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal costs $4 per person one-way, takes 10–15 minutes, and departs when 9–12 passengers are aboard—no fixed timetable. For visitors from Singapore, the choice is clear: take the MRT to Tanah Merah, catch Bus 2 to Changi Village, and walk to the terminal. Arrive before mid-morning on weekends, bring cash, and expect a short, scenic crossing to an island that feels like another world.

Related reading: Singapore to Batam Ferry – Schedules Prices Guide 2025

While the Pulau Ubin bumboat fare stays at $4 per person, Batam ferry ticket prices from Singapore offer comparable value for quick island escapes.

Frequently asked questions