Kusu Island is an Amazing Day Trip from Singapore

If you're looking for a relaxing break from the hullabaloo of Singapore's bustling downtown, there's no better spot than the small and quiet paradise that is Kusu Island. A quick twenty-minute ferry ride from Marina South Pier, Kusu Island is a great place to spend a couple of hours or even a full day.

Why Visit Kusu Island

I was intrigued by the island because of its nickname, Tortoise Island. I am always up for a trip to see wildlife, especially when they are living in such gorgeous surroundings. The island is indeed a tortoise sanctuary, although there weren't as many as I had anticipated.

You can see the tortoise area is maybe smaller than expected. In fact, everything on Kusu is. It is a ridiculously small island to begin with, and it has very little other than a temple, a walking trail, and the spot for the tortoises to hang out. (There are also bathrooms and a water fountain.)

There isn't too much else going on, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy it immensely. The temple, after all, is very gorgeous and set up above the water line. You can see the tide was out and maybe also lower in general, but just imagine how cool this area would have looked floating above the ocean.

Great Views of Singapore from Kusu Island

The island is so small that it took me only about half an hour at a leisurely pace to circumnavigate it entirely. There's a great walking path all the way around, and following it provides amazing views in every direction. You can see the pier and behind it, Singapore's Marina Bay, in one direction. In the other, you can see the largest of Singapore's Southern Islands, as they are so called.

The neighboring Lazarus Island is another picturesque spot, a bit bigger than Kusu, though still very small. It is made a bit bigger by being connected to St. John's Island via a short bridge. However, you can't see St. John's from Kusu because Lazarus Island is squarely between the two. Lazarus has a gorgeous beach, though, which you can see from Kusu Island, a ton of trees, and even a couple of spots to spend the night.

What to do on Kusu Island

In addition to a walk around the island, I recommend hiking up the one hundred or so steps to the shrines at the top, which is the island's highest point. You will be disappointed to not get a good view from here (the trees obscure all views), but the short hike was worth it. This small patch of jungle on Kusu Island is replete with birdsong and lizards sunbathing on the stairs.

I saw a few people fishing off the coast of the island, and I'm sure it is also an amazing place to go for a swim. It has two enclosed lagoons, and it's best to stay within them as the ferry travel lines are quite close by. The water is crystal clear up close and a gorgeous turquoise from a distance. The beach is pristine, and the island has a ton of picnic benches and cabanas - and even some barbecue grills - to set up shop. This would make for a great family spot or a super relaxing solo trip out of town.

How to get to Kusu Island from downtown Singapore

As I said, it's only about a twenty-minute ferry ride from Marina South Pier, which you can access via the MRT's red North-South line. (It's the last stop, so you don't have to worry about missing your stop.) Once you arrive, the ferry terminal is mere steps away from the entrance to the MRT.

There are a number of ferry operators, and it can be hard to sort through all the options and figure out how to choose. You will want to plan the rest of your day first. There are some ferries that go on a circuit around all the Southern Islands, also stopping at St. John's Island, Lazarus Island, and Sisters' Island. If you want to check out all the islands, this is a great way to do it. However, if you don't, you won't want to be committed to stopping at every place. Luckily for me, I ended up finding a ferry operator that went directly to Kusu Island and back, so I wouldn't have to spend extra time on a boat.

Many of the ferries operate every hour from 9 - 5 or so, and tickets (depending on where you go) are around $20. Unless you're going to Singapore during a particularly tourist-heavy time of year, I recommend simply showing up to the ferry terminal in the morning when you're ready to go, as you won't have to wait long for the next ferry to leave. The terminal has a few shops, and you should take advantage of them and buy snacks, as Kusu Island probably does not have any food for sale. (There is a large food center on the island, but it is only open during the annual pilgrimage to the island for the Kusu Festival, which generally falls in October.)