Did you know we have cool lighthouses in Singapore? It’s time for a little history lesson, folks!
Don’t underestimate our country – she’s small but mighty. You may think you know everything about Singapore until she comes out swinging with some hidden gems you never knew existed. We’ve already had fun discovering secret parks and elusive architecture like clock towers around our island. Here’s one more to add to the list: lighthouses. Yes, these towering beacons can be found in our little red dot! Read on to learn more about lighthouses in Singapore and where to spot them.
Where to find lighthouses in Singapore
1. Raffles Marina Lighthouse
Far as it may be for most people, this hidden gem is worth a visit. Built in 1994, Raffles Marina Club’s lighthouse is a 12m-high structure overlooking the Tuas Second Link bridge. It was previously known as Johor Strait Lighthouse, presumably due to its location. The lighthouse still operates today, flashing its amber beam (up to 15 metres!) every 10 seconds to guide sea vessels navigating the Johor Straits.
The beacon and its surrounding location are favourites among photography enthusiasts; many couples venture here to snap their wedding photos. It’s also a great spot to catch the sunset – we recommend visiting between 6.45pm and 7.15pm to witness the enchanting view. Raffles Marina Lighthouse is open daily from 8am to 10pm.
How to get there: Take the East-West Line to Tuas Link MRT station. Head to Exit B and turn left, where you’ll pass under a pedestrian bridge. Once you spot the Raffles Marina entrance to your left, walk to the gates and inform the security post you’re there to visit the lighthouse. Proceed to the pier, where you’ll spot the beacon at the tip of the club’s breakwater.
Raffles Marina Lighthouse, 10 Tuas West Drive, Singapore 638404
2. Raffles Lighthouse
Not to be confused with Raffles Marina Lighthouse, this iconic landmark was built in 1855 after merchants and mariners petitioned for a lighthouse to be constructed in the Singapore Strait. The 29m-tall structure, named after Sir Stamford Raffles, can be found in Pulau Satumu, which loosely translates to One Tree Island in Malay. (The islet used to be known as Coney Island before its name change.)
Raffles Lighthouse is manned by two keepers at any given time, working in 10-day shifts. Imagine being marooned offshore with only one other person… It takes nearly a hundred steps to climb to the top, where you’ll get a close-up of the beacon lamp and a view of Pulau Satumu and the surrounding islands. A small room at the lighthouse’s base serves as a mini museum showcasing fascinating relics.
How to get there: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore conducts fortnightly tours to Raffles Lighthouse. Besides visiting Pulau Satumu, participants can get near various other offshore islands and visit the Singapore Maritime Gallery.
Raffles Lighthouse, Pulau Satumu, Singapore
3. Bedok Lighthouse
There’s only one word to describe this lighthouse: unconventional. Compared to other beacons in Singapore, this one resides on the rooftop of Lagoon View condominium, facing East Coast Park. Launched on National Day in 1978, the “red concrete cubicle” is our first automated and unmanned lighthouse, built to replace the Fullerton Lighthouse. The landmark flashes every five seconds; its light beam is said to be visible up to 40 kilometres away.
In 2014, plans were made to move the lighthouse to a nearby HDB block at Marine Terrace and improve its functionality and security by installing a closed-circuit television, electro-optic camera, and radio-communications equipment. But the proposal has yet to come to fruition.
How to get there: No outsiders are allowed as it’s in a private residence – in fact, even homeowners can’t access the lighthouse. However, you can park yourself at the Singapore Wake Park, which is just opposite Lagoon View, to see the beacon in action.
Bedok Lighthouse, Lagoon View, Marine Parade Road, Singapore 449293
4. Fort Canning Lighthouse
When it comes to the top green spaces in our country, Fort Canning Park ranks high on the list. Many things can be found here: Instagrammable photo spots, a cool nature playground, and a lighthouse. Say what? Fort Canning Lighthouse was initially a lantern on a flagstaff in 1855 before it was properly erected in 1903. The beacon operated until 1958 – yes, it survived World War II! – before being decommissioned due to tall buildings in the area. The lighthouse you see now is a functional replica of the original.
How to get there: Fort Canning Lighthouse can be found near its original site at the top of the hill. Time to get your steps in!
Fort Canning Lighthouse, 30 River Valley Road, Singapore
5. Fullerton Lighthouse
Just like Fort Canning’s lighthouse, this historical landmark was decommissioned for the same reason. But let’s go back to when it all started. In 1958, Fullerton Lighthouse was installed atop The Fullerton Building, located at the mouth of the Singapore River. (The building has since been transformed into The Fullerton Hotel Singapore.) Back then, the beacon could be seen up to 29 kilometres away. If you want to check out the remaining artefact, head to Mapletree Business City at Pasir Panjang. Visitors can easily spot the lantern, refitted with LED lighting.
How to get there: Take the Circle Line to Labrador Park MRT station. Exit to the link bridge, which leads you to Alexandra Road. The integrated development is further inside, facing West Coast Highway.
Fullerton Lighthouse, Mapletree Business City, 10 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 117438
6. Berlayer Beacon
If you’re headed to Labrador Nature Reserve, set aside time to check out the striking Berlayer Beacon at the southernmost end of the park. The 7m-tall structure may not look much, but it holds historical significance. In the 1930s, the lighthouse, alongside its conical green counterpart on Tanjong Rimau in Sentosa, served as a navigational marker for vessels entering the Singapore harbour. Fun fact: the two beacons mark the shortest distance between Sentosa and mainland Singapore (240 metres).
How to get there: Exit Labrador Park MRT station and head towards Berlayer Creek Boardwalk. Turn right to Dragon’s Teeth Gate and you’ll spot the red steel beacon.
Berlayer Point Lighthouse, Labrador Villa Road, Singapore
7. Sultan Shoal Lighthouse
Who says there’s only one lighthouse on the west side? Sultan Shoal Lighthouse is situated at Selat Jurong, aka the Western Anchorage of Singapore. That’s slightly more than five kilometres away from the mainland. Despite being over 100 years old, the elusive lighthouse still stands tall at 18 metres. It was built to replace the previous beacon. The rubble masonry tower juts out from a red and white bungalow, which used to accommodate a keeper and a lascar (sailor from India).
Sultan Shoal Lighthouse used to be powered by kerosene wick lamps; today, its power supply has been upgraded to an electrical source. The structure is fitted with a rotating beacon, and a radar is installed to provide additional navigational information to passing ships.
How to get there: Due to construction works for the upcoming Tuas Port, the area is currently closed off to public visits. Don’t worry, the lighthouse remains operational. You can try your luck to get a glimpse of it from Tuas Lamp Post 1.
Sultan Shoal Lighthouse, Selat Jurong, Singapore
8. Horsburgh Lighthouse
Looking for Singapore’s first and oldest lighthouse? Well, you have to turn to Pedra Branca (white rock in Portuguese), an island roughly 54 kilometres away from us. Here’s a quick history lesson: Pedra Branca (and the surrounding islets) was part of a territorial dispute between Singapore and Malaysia, which began in 1979. The long-running case was eventually resolved in 2008 when the International Court of Justice ruled that Pedra Branca belongs to us.
The lighthouse is named after Scottish hydrographer Captain James Horsburgh and has been operating since 15 October 1851. Horsburgh’s strategic location means vessels coming from the South China Sea can easily spot the 34-metre beacon.
How to get there: The site is not open to the public.
Horsburgh Lighthouse, Pedra Branca
There you go: all the historical lighthouses you can find in (and near) Singapore.
