Kusu Island

Kusu Island located 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) south of Singapore’s main island, is a popular day trip destination for its beaches and lagoons. Long before the small island started attracting tourists, it became a religious destination when the Da Bo Gong Chinese temple was constructed there in 1923. Many Buddhist devotees visit here each year to pray to Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin, who is thought to cure illness and offer prosperity.

Further inland, you’ll find a set of steps leading up to a series of shrines to Malay saints, and many Singaporean couples will hike to the shrines in an effort to promote fertility.

Even if you’ve seen enough temples, taking a trip to Kusu Island by way of a ferry from the Marina South Pier is worth the trip for a few hours of peace on a quiet stretch of beach. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the island; it’s one of the most popular picnicking spots in Singapore.