Kusu Island and St John's Island: the ferry from Marina South Pier, fares and the pilgrimage season

In this guide

💡 The Short Version: Hop on an island-hopping ferry from Marina South Pier (take the North-South MRT line to NS28, Exit A) with Singapore Island Cruise: standard return tickets cost S$15 adult and S$12 child. Ferries run a strict circular loop: mainland to St John’s Island, onward to Kusu Island, then back to the mainland. There is no ferry from Kusu back to St John’s. Pack all your provisions: neither island has convenience stores or permanent food stalls. Watch the ferry timetable: on ordinary weekdays the last boat leaves Kusu at 16:15 (18:15 at weekends). During the Kusu Pilgrimage Season (10 October to 8 November 2026), dedicated shuttles operate from 07:00 at S$16 weekday / S$18 weekend. Or book a tour: travellers wanting an active outdoor marine adventure can book a guided Pulau Ubin mangrove kayaking tourad from S$110.

Singapore’s Southern Islands offer an immediate escape from urban density into quiet sandy lagoons, shaded walking tracks, marine research stations, and heritage shrines. Scattered roughly five to seven kilometres south of Marina Bay across the Singapore Strait, the archipelago includes St John’s Island, Lazarus Island, Seringat Island, and Kusu Island.

Because the islands have no permanent residential population or commercial retail strips, visiting requires planning around the fixed ferry schedule and bringing sufficient drinking water and food.

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Ferry routes, timetable and fares

Commercial passenger ferries to the Southern Islands depart exclusively from Marina South Pier Terminal, situated on the southern tip of the mainland directly above Marina South Pier MRT station (NS28).

The ferry jetty and sandy coastline of St John’s Island. Photo: Denis Barthel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The circular route structure

Scheduled ferries operated by Singapore Island Cruise & Ferry Services and Marina South Ferries follow a clockwise circular route:

$$\text{Marina South Pier} \longrightarrow \text{St John’s Island} \longrightarrow \text{Kusu Island} \longrightarrow \text{Marina South Pier}$$

The journey takes approximately 30 minutes from the mainland to St John’s Island, 20 minutes from St John’s to Kusu Island, and 30 minutes from Kusu back to Marina South Pier.

Because ferries operate exclusively along this loop, you must structure your day in that exact sequence:

1. Board the morning ferry from Marina South Pier to St John’s Island.
2. Explore St John’s Island, walk across the causeway to Lazarus Beach and Seringat Island.
3. Return to St John’s jetty to catch the afternoon onward ferry to Kusu Island.
4. Explore Kusu Island’s temple, turtle sanctuaries, and hilltop shrines.
5. Board the final ferry directly back to Marina South Pier.

You cannot visit Kusu Island first and then proceed to St John’s Island on the same standard ticket.

Ferry ticket prices

Tickets can be purchased online through the Singapore Island Cruise booking portal or in person at counter #01-04 inside the Marina South Pier building. Advance bookings are recommended for Saturday and Sunday morning sailings between 09:00 and 11:00.

Daily sailing schedule

• Monday to Friday: Ferries depart Marina South Pier at 10:00 and 14:00. Departures from St John’s onward to Kusu leave at 10:45 and 14:45. The final return ferries from Kusu Island to Marina South Pier leave at 12:30 and 16:15.
• Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: Hourly services depart Marina South Pier between 09:00 and 15:00. Return departures from Kusu run every hour or two, with the final departure leaving Kusu at 18:15.

⚠️ Do not miss the final return ferry. Outside the pilgrimage season, the last weekday ferry pulls away from Kusu at 16:15 sharp. Private water taxis to rescue stranded passengers cost upwards of S$200 per charter. Camping overnight without an approved Singapore Land Authority permit is illegal.

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The Kusu pilgrimage season

Each year during the ninth month of the lunar calendar, Kusu Island fills with pilgrims during the Kusu Pilgrimage Season. The Singapore Land Authority sets the dates each year; in 2026 the season ran from Saturday 10 October to Sunday 8 November.

During this 30-day festival, tens of thousands of Taoist, Buddhist, and Muslim devotees journey to the island to offer prayers for prosperity, health, family harmony, and fertility.

Key differences during pilgrimage month:

• Dedicated direct ferries: Singapore Island Cruise operates high-frequency point-to-point shuttle boats running hourly every day from 07:00 to 17:00 directly between Marina South Pier and Kusu Island.
• Adjusted ticketing: Standard island-hopping passes do not apply to direct Kusu pilgrimage shuttles; passengers purchase dedicated festival ferry tickets (S$16 weekdays, S$18 weekends).
• Extended hours: The final ferry departing Kusu Island back to the mainland runs until 19:00 daily throughout the pilgrimage month.
• Temporary hawker stalls: Temporary food vendors and hydration kiosks open on Kusu Island near the ferry jetty, serving vegetarian noodles, drinks, and traditional Chinese pastries.
• Large crowds: Weekends attract massive queues at Marina South Pier. The Singapore Land Authority strongly advises casual tourists and day-trippers to visit on weekday mornings to avoid congestion.

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Independent travel vs guided island tours

Visiting the Southern Islands independently gives you total freedom to swim, sunbathe on empty beaches, and photograph wildlife. However, guided outdoor marine tours around Singapore offer expert naturalist commentary, watersport instruction, and all equipment.

Recommended island and marine tours

Round Ketam Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin

From S$110 · 5.0 stars from 8 reviews · 4 hours · Eco-adventure

If you love exploring Singapore’s offshore marine sanctuaries, this sea kayaking excursion navigates through the mangrove estuaries of Pulau Ubin and Ketam Island. Led by professional paddle guides, the tour highlights coastal biodiversity, native birdlife, and traditional kelong fish farms. Book on GetYourGuidead.

Batam Culture Day Tour with Lunch & Massage

From S$162 · 4.8 stars from 42 reviews · Full day · Island excursion

For a full international island day trip across the Singapore Strait, this guided tour crosses by high-speed catamaran to Batam, Indonesia. The package includes round-trip ferry bookings, private air-conditioned island transport, cultural visits to Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya, an Indonesian seafood lunch, and a traditional body massage. Book on GetYourGuidead.

Private Day Trip to Johor Bahru from Singapore

From S$180 · 4.8 stars from 12 reviews · 8 hours · Private group

Travellers wanting a land-based cross-border excursion without handling bus queues or train schedules can reserve a private door-to-door transfer across the Causeway into historic Johor Bahru, visiting heritage mosques, glass temples, and colonial bakeries. Book on GetYourGuidead.

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Exploring St John’s and Lazarus Island

St John’s Island (formerly known as Pulau Sakijang Bendera) spans 40.5 hectares. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it functioned as the British colonial government’s maritime quarantine station for immigrants arriving with cholera, smallpox, and plague, before serving as a penal colony and drug rehabilitation facility in the mid-20th century.

Today, the island is dedicated to nature conservation and marine research, hosting the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML).

The causeway between St John’s Island and Lazarus Island. Photo: Deoma12, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

Highlights of St John’s Island:

• St John’s Island Trail: A marked 2.8-kilometre walking loop highlighting coastal forest trees, mangrove habitats, and historical quarantine structures.
• Public Marine Gallery: Run by the National University of Singapore’s Tropical Marine Science Institute, the gallery displays live aquariums with local corals, giant clams, clownfish, and sea cucumbers (free admission; open 10:00 to 17:00 daily).
• Friendly island cats: St John’s has long been famous for its population of free-roaming, well-cared-for community cats that lounge around the jetties and shade shelters.
• GoGreen Eco-kiosk: Offers mountain bicycle rentals (from S$20 for two hours) and kick-scooters near the jetty, making it easy to cycle across to Lazarus Island.

Lazarus Island and Beach

A paved pedestrian causeway and bridge links the northeastern shore of St John’s Island directly to Lazarus Island (Pulau Sakijang Pelepah) in a 10-minute walk.

• Lazarus Beach: Widely regarded as Singapore’s cleanest beach, this quiet C-shaped cove features soft golden sand, shallow turquoise water, and gentle waves sheltered by offshore reefs. It is unpatrolled by lifeguards, so exercise care when swimming.
• Lazarus Sea Sports Centre: Located in the sheltered lagoon, offering hourly rentals of stand-up paddleboards, single and double sea kayaks, and water-floating mats (open Friday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00).
• Tiny Away Escape @ Lazarus Island: A boutique eco-resort cluster of five low-impact tiny houses on wheels, providing an exclusive overnight glamping option on the otherwise uninhabited island.
• Seringat Island: Connected to Lazarus by an additional reclamation spit, featuring a scenic paved boardwalk overlooking the Singapore city skyline.

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Exploring Kusu Island

Covering just 8.5 hectares, Kusu Island translates to “Tortoise Island” in Hokkien. According to Chinese and Malay maritime folklore, a magical giant sea turtle turned itself into an island to rescue two shipwrecked sailors—a Malay and a Chinese fisherman. To show gratitude, both men returned to the island to erect places of worship.

The Chinese temple on Kusu Island, seen from the water. Photo: Jacklee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Highlights of Kusu Island:

• Da Bo Gong Temple (Tua Pek Kong): Built in 1923 by a wealthy Straits Chinese merchant, this coastal temple is dedicated to Tua Pek Kong (God of Prosperity) and Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy). Devotees burn incense, release wishes, and offer joss paper inside the ornately carved halls.
• The Three Malay Kramats: At the summit of a rugged hillock in the centre of the island stand three sacred shrines (kramats) dedicated to Syed Abdul Rahman (a pious 19th-century holy man), his mother Nenek Ghalib, and his sister Puteri Fatimah. Pilgrims ascend 152 steep concrete steps to reach the shrines, praying for blessings, childbearing, and financial wealth.
• Tortoise Sanctuary Ponds: Reflecting the island’s namesake legend, several large stone-walled ponds house hundreds of freshwater tortoises and red-eared sliders. Visitors can view the tortoises basking on stone platforms.
• Swimming Lagoons: Two calm, engineered swimming lagoons bordered by fine sandy beaches provide safe bathing water sheltered from the swift currents of the Singapore Strait.

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What to pack for the Southern Islands

Because there are no supermarkets, convenience stalls, or pharmacies on St John’s or Kusu Island, thorough preparation is critical:

1. Water (at least 2 litres per person): The tropical heat and humidity are intense, and sheltered walking trails offer limited relief. Vending machines at Marina South Pier are your last chance to purchase drinks.
2. Picnic food and snacks: Sandwiches, fresh fruit, trail mix, and electrolyte tablets. Take all food waste home with you; trash cans on the islands are scarce and must not be overloaded to protect native wildlife.
3. Sun and bug protection: High-SPF reef-safe sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, UV sunglasses, and DEET mosquito repellent for walking shaded jungle trails.
4. Beach gear and footwear: Quick-dry swimwear, a microfibre towel, and water shoes or reef sandals (useful if stepping on sharp coral stones near the shoreline).
5. Portable power bank: Phone signals can fluctuate between Singaporean and Indonesian mobile networks in the strait, draining phone batteries rapidly.

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How to get to Marina South Pier

Getting to the ferry departure pier is straightforward:

• By MRT: Ride the North-South Line (Red Line) directly to the southern terminus at Marina South Pier MRT station (NS28). Take Exit A, turn right, and walk 50 metres straight into the air-conditioned Marina South Pier ferry terminal. The MRT journey takes roughly 15 minutes from Orchard or Raffles Place.
• By Taxi / Ride-hail: Direct drivers to “Marina South Pier, 31 Marina Coastal Drive”. A drop-off zone sits directly outside the main entrance.
• Driving & Parking: Avoid driving if possible. The public car park at Marina South Pier has fewer than 40 bays and fills completely before 09:00 on weekends.

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More Singapore guides

Continue planning your Singapore journey with our practical travel guides:

• Day trips from Singapore: comprehensive overview of offshore and international day trips.
• Pulau Ubin day trip: rustic bumboats, Chek Jawa coastal wetlands, and mountain biking.
• Sentosa Island guide: beaches, cable cars, theme parks, and resort attractions.
• Singapore public transport: mastering the MRT network and contactless fares.
• Where to stay in Singapore: best districts and neighbourhood recommendations.
• What to book before you go to Singapore: essential ticket reservations and booking timelines.

Common questions

How do you get to Kusu Island and St John's Island?

Take the North-South MRT line to Marina South Pier station (NS28), leave via Exit A, and walk one minute into the ferry terminal to ticket counter #01-04 (Singapore Island Cruise & Ferry Services). The ferry crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes to reach St John's Island.

How much does the Southern Islands ferry ticket cost?

Standard round-trip island-hopping tickets cost S$15 for adults and S$12 for children aged 1 to 12. During the annual Kusu pilgrimage season in October and November, special ferry fares apply: S$16 on weekdays and S$18 at weekends and on public holidays.

When is the last ferry back to Singapore?

On standard weekdays outside the pilgrimage season, the final ferry departs Kusu Island for Marina South Pier at 16:15. On weekends and public holidays, the final return ferry departs Kusu at 18:15. Missing the final ferry leaves you stranded on an unpopulated island where overnight camping is prohibited without permits.

Can you travel from Kusu Island to St John's Island?

No. The ferry operates on a strict one-way circular loop: Marina South Pier to St John's Island, then on to Kusu Island, and finally returning directly to Marina South Pier. You must visit St John's and Lazarus first, board the onward ferry to Kusu, and return to the mainland from Kusu.

Are there shops or cafes on St John's or Kusu Island?

No. There are no retail shops, convenience stores, or permanent restaurants on either island outside temporary food stalls operating during the Kusu pilgrimage. Visitors must carry all drinking water, meals, snacks, insect repellent, and sun protection from the mainland.