If you’re outdoorsy and enjoy cycling, Singapore’s park connectors offer a great way to explore the island away from the hustle and bustle of city roads. Plus, since close to half of our land is covered with greenery, you can be sure that there’s so much to explore — at absolutely no cost. Here are the 6 PCN routes in Singapore to discover on your bicycle!

What are park connectors in Singapore?

For the uninitiated, PCN stands for Park Connector Network, which is an islandwide network of green trails that link major parks and nature reserves. These connectors stretch up to a whopping 300km and make wonderful spots for unwinding after a long day.

What types of bicycles can you ride at a park connector in Singapore?

The good news is, you can ride any type of bike on PCN trails, including foldable bikes and ebikes. Just remember to keep to the bike lane whenever you’re not riding on shared tracks and always give way to pedestrians first.

In case you didn’t notice before, foldable bikes are a national favourite because they’re so much easier to manoeuvre, store and transport. Not only that, the compact size of foldable bikes also make them more suitable for cycling on narrow paths.

Park connector cycling routes in Singapore

01 • Eastern Coastal Loop

(Photo adapted from: TimeOut, AspirantSG, The Smart Local)

Covering a total distance of 17.5km, the Eastern Coastal Loop cuts across various parts of Changi, Pasir Ris, Tampines and Bedok — connecting Pasir Ris Park to East Coast Park. Along the way, there are plenty of rest areas and dining options, as well as splendid sights of forests, wetlands and the sea.

Difficulty level: Easy
Distance: 17.5km
Approximate duration: 2 hours
Interesting locations: Jurassic Mile, Changi Point Coastal Walk, Coastal PlayGrove

02 • Northern Explorer Loop

((Photo adapted from: Mothership, The Smart Local, The Everyday People of Singapore)

Although relatively shorter than its eastern counterpart, the Northern Explorer Loop can prove quite challenging due to its largely hilly terrain. But fret not because one of the advantages of foldable bikes is that they’re much lighter and easier to ride and manoeuvre than regular bikes.

You’ll be cycling across Lower Seletar Reservoir, Mandai Park Connector, Sembawang, Admiralty Park and Woodlands Waterfront. Don’t forget to take a break at Woodlands Waterfront and admire the view of Johor Bahru across the strait.

Pro tip: Beware of macaques while cycling at Mandai Park Connector (never feed them!).

💪 Difficulty level: Intermediate
🏁 Distance: 11km
⏰ Approximate duration: 1 hour
📍 Interesting locations: Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant, Wallace Education Centre, Orto

03 • Western Adventure Loop

(Photo adapted from: Time Out and Daniel Food Diary)

If you enjoy exploring rugged terrains, this route is absolutely what you need to try. Spanning from Choa Chu Kang Park, Bukit Panjang Park Connector, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Jurong Lake Park to Pandan Reservoir, the 11-kilometre Western Adventure Loop is not an easy one to traverse but if you’re willing to go the mile, you’ll be in for bountiful breathtaking sights of Singapore’s wild side.

Pro tip: Wildlife lovers, look out for the Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker and the endangered Sunda Pangolin (the latter was once spotted on a tree along the Bukit Panjang Park Connector).

💪 Difficulty level: Intermediate
🏁 Distance: 12km
⏰ Approximate duration: 1 hour
📍 Interesting locations: Wallace Education Centre, The Rail Mall, Little Guilin

04 • Southern Ridges Loop

(Photo adapted from: Explorer SG, Tatler Asia, and National Parks Board)

Get your heart pumping on the Southern Ridges Loop which will take you from Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, and either HortPark and Kent Ridge Park or Labrador Park. Those who love putting their endurance to test will enjoy the uphill ride to Mount Faber Park.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to hydrate yourself — this one’s arguably among the toughest routes to conquer in Singapore!

💪 Difficulty level: Intermediate to hard
🏁 Distance: 10km
⏰ Approximate duration: Depends on how gung-ho you are
📍 Interesting locations: Henderson Waves, Alkaff Mansion, Sembcorp Forest of Giants

05 • Northeastern Riverine Loop

(Photo adapted from: ExplorerSG, The Honeycombers and National Parks Board)

We may be biassed, but one of the best things about cycling is that you get to work out, enjoy the outdoors and feel the wind grazing against your skin all at the same time — it’s honestly therapeutic to say the least. If you resonate with what we just described, then you can’t afford to miss a ride along the Northeastern Riverine Loop.

Covering a total distance of 16km from Punggol Park, Sengkang Riverside Park, Coney Island to Lorong Halus Wetland and back, this route mostly comprises flat terrains and is much kinder on your knees (except the bumpy off-road trail on Coney Island). There’s a lot to see, from birds like kingfishers, herons and egrets, to exotic fruits like pond apples and sugar apples.

💪 Difficulty level: Easy
🏁 Distance: 16km
⏰ Approximate duration: 2 hours
📍 Interesting locations: Punggol Jetty, Punggol Beach seafood restaurants

06 • Central Urban Loop

(Photo adapted from: NParks, National Parks Board, FARM)

Thinking of unusual yet fun ways to explore the city? Get on your bike and paddle through the Toa Payoh Town Park, the Whampoa Park Connector, Kallang Park Connector and the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Despite being called “urban”, you’ll be surprised by just how green and peaceful this loop is. Oh, and don’t forget to try out all the lip-smacking food you’ll find along the way — there’s a reason why it’s also called the Makan Trail.

Difficulty level: Intermediate
Distance: 30km
Approximate duration: 2 hours
Food places: Wheeler’s Yard and Bendemeer Hawker Centre

Wait no more — pop those foldies into a car and off you go for your next adventure! Don’t forget to bookmark this guide for quick reference and share it away with your buddies.

(Featured photo: SG PCN Cyclist)

Wondering how to transport your foldie? Download GetGo now to book a car from over 1,500 locations islandwide.

To great explorations!
Luna 🚲