By Vicky · Published Mar. 13th, 2022 · Updated Nov. 29th, 2022
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Stroll around Kallang Basin, walk alongside Geylang River and then head down a pedestrianised route to Katong and delicious food.
Kallang Basin & Geylang Walking Map
Get the route by downloading the .gpx or .kml file below. For navigation with Maps.me on your mobile phone, simply download the .kml file and open to add it to the Maps.me bookmarks.
Page Contents:
Location
This walk starts from Lavender MRT Station on the green East-West Line. Take Exit A. It finishes on East Coast Road in Katong, where there are several bus stops.
Tips for Kallang Basin, Geylang and Katong
- Early mornings or late afternoons are a good time to enjoy this walk to avoid the heat of the day.
- Take water, sunglasses and a sunhat – some of the route is very sunny and the water reflects the light.
- Near the end of this walk there are plenty of delicious food options.
- For an alternative route near the end, check out our Geylang and Joo Chiat Heritage Trail.
- Check out other great hikes on our Singapore Hiking Page
Rochor River
From Exit A of Lavender MRT Station head right along Kallang Road and then almost immediately right along Crawford Street. Head across Crawford Bridge across the Rochor River and take the steps down to the right. Then head through the tunnel underneath the bridge to cross under the road.
Walk along the edge of Rochor River and you’ll see a pedestrian bridge up ahead. Cross over this bridge into Kallang Riverside Park. You can see palm trees and the huge National Stadium in the distance.
Kallang Riverside Park
This park contains many palm trees and huge rain trees and covers either side of Kallang River. Walk up the Kallang River, then cross over at Sir Arthur’s Bridge, and back down through the park on the other side. We were lucky enough to see a large group of otters feasting on fish in the shallows here.
The path continues and there are lovely views out over the water. Pass under Merdeka Bridge and follow the path as it heads away from the water by the edge of Stadium Road. The road bends around and soon you reach the water again by the National Stadium, on the banks of Kallang Basin.
Kallang Basin
Stadium Riverside Walk leads you along by the Basin and past all the sports facilities on the other side. There are sometimes dragon boat races in Kallang Basin and often people can be seen kayaking on the water. There are more nice views to the tall buildings in central Singapore and of the Tanjong Rhu Suspension Bridge ahead.
Cross the suspension bridge. There’s a lookout tower just on the other side for more great views across the water. Then head left on the Geylang River Park Connector.
Sunglasses to Protect from Water Glare
The best way to protect your eyes against the strong UV light in the middle of the day is a good (and cool looking) set of sunglasses. Anything will do as long as their UV protection is genuine. It’s particularly important when walking near the water, which reflects sunlight back into your eyes. I have some Ray-Ban sunglasses like these:
Ray-Ban Classic Aviator Sunglasses on Amazon*.
Check out the complete list of hiking gear needed for Singapore:
Geylang River Park Connector
After the Park Connector passes beneath a highway, a beautiful woodland appears on your right. There are some really gorgeous trees here. After roughly 500 metres the woodland ends and the buildings reappear. To cross the large road coming up you have to walk to the other side of the river and over the pedestrian bridge.
Again at the next two large highways you also have to leave the Geylang River a little way to cross over the roads. The Park Connector winds its way through HDB estates, sometimes with greenery along the edge of the river.
Eventually you reach Guillemard Road Open Space, a small park on the edge of the river. There’s a small bridge across the river here, and at the end of the park is busy Geylang Road.
Geylang Road
Head right along the road. In about 250 metres there’s a hawker centre on the right. We went to a Putu Piring stall that we’d seen on a Netflix Show (Street Food Asia, Episode 8). We’d forgotten what it was and were surprised to find it wasn’t meat in rice but a delicious sweet palm sugar syrup inside rice flour pancakes with fresh coconut shavings on top.
There are some stalls selling fruit and vegetables just opposite the hawker centre, and behind them is Haig Walk. Another option is to walk down Joo Chiat Road, just two blocks over from Haig Walk.
Haig Walk
This is a pedestrian walkway that heads directly from Geylang Road to East Coast Road. It’s partly shaded and there are no cars which is nice, but the scenery isn’t amazing, just a quiet neighbourhood of HDBs and lowrise houses. There are many little community gardens, or allotments, along the edge of the path which are fun to see. The route is very quick because there aren’t many roads to cross and soon you’re almost at the end of the walk.
Katong and East Coast Road
At East Coast Road, in central Katong, walk left and you’ll see many nice shophouses. These are now full of a mix of traditional Malay diners and hipster cafes. 328 Katong Laksa (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*) is famous, while a bit further along you can find Rumah Kim Choo (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*) and Rumah Bebe (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*), shops selling kueh sweets and Peranakan goods.
This is the end of the walking trail. There are several bus stops along East Coast Road, with those on the opposite side heading back into town.
If you want to explore more nearby, check out our Joo Chiat and Geylang Heritage Trail. For a similar walk that ends in East Coast Park, check out our Rochor Canal to East Coast Hike. For other hiking ideas check out our Singapore Hiking page.
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