Lazarus Island Family Guide: Singapore's Calm Beach Day Out

If you have been craving a beach day where the water is calm enough for little legs, the sand stretches on, and nobody is queueing for anything, Lazarus Island is the closest Singapore gets to a secret cove. It is one of the Southern Islands, a short ferry hop off the city, with a sheltered swimming bay and almost no development. That last part is the catch: there are no shops, no food stalls and no drinking water out here, so you carry everything in and you carry everything out. This guide is for families who want a slow, screen-free day by the sea, and who do not mind a bit of planning to get it right. It suits babies and toddlers (calm water, room to roam) right through to primary-schoolers who can swim and explore, as long as an adult is on full beach-and-water duty the whole time.

What Lazarus Island is, and why it suits a family

Lazarus sits right next to St John's Island in the cluster of Southern Islands looked after by the Singapore Land Authority. It is best known for a gentle, crescent-shaped bay of clear, shallow, mostly still water - the kind of spot people describe as a swimming lagoon. For parents, that calm is the entire appeal. There is no pounding surf, so a toddler can splash safely at the edge while a confident older child paddles a little further out in a sheltered patch.

The island is largely untouched. You will not find playgrounds, rides, hawker centres or air-conditioned anything. The beach and the water are the entertainment, and on a quiet weekday morning it can feel as though the whole stretch belongs to your family. If your kids are happiest with a bucket, a spade and a long horizon, this is your kind of day out.

• Calm, shallow water in the bay, far gentler than an open-sea beach.
• A wide, soft sand beach with plenty of space to lay out a mat and let toddlers wander.
• Genuinely peaceful, especially on weekday mornings, so it rarely feels crowded.
• Easy to pair with a stroll across the causeway to St John's Island for a fuller day.
• Lovely city-skyline and Sentosa views looking back towards the mainland.

How to get there: MRT, ferry and the causeway walk

There is no direct ferry to Lazarus itself. The usual route is to sail to St John's Island from Marina South Pier, then walk across a man-made causeway that links the two islands. According to the Singapore Land Authority, that walk takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes, so factor it in on both ends of your day, especially with a tired toddler and a loaded beach bag.

Getting to the pier is the easy part. Take the North-South Line to Marina South Pier MRT (the last stop on that line), then follow the signs on a short walk to the ferry terminal. From there the crossing is short, usually around half an hour, and some sailings also call at Kusu Island along the way.

Booking and timing the ferry

A limited number of scheduled ferries run each day, and the timetable, routing and fares differ between weekdays, weekends and public holidays. There is also a separate, faster service from the Sentosa side for families already over that way. Because sailings are limited and can fill up, buy your tickets ahead and confirm the current schedule and prices directly with the operator before you go - do not rely on old blog timings.

If you would rather have a few island day-trip options to compare, our wider family outing guides cover other low-stress outdoor days around Singapore that pair well with this one.

Bring everything: there are no shops or drinking water

This is the line to tattoo on your forehead before you board. Lazarus has effectively no facilities. You may occasionally hear about a small store opening on certain days, but you should never count on it - assume there is nowhere to buy water, food, sunscreen, plasters or anything you forget. There are no ATMs, no cafes and no pharmacies. Whatever your family needs for the whole day, you pack and carry yourself.

Family packing checklist

• Plenty of water per person, then add more. In the heat this is non-negotiable, and freezing a couple of bottles overnight gives you cold water that doubles as an ice pack.
• Food and snacks for the full day, packed in a cool bag - think easy, low-mess picnic food and extra for inevitable hungry meltdowns.
• Sun protection: reef-safe sunscreen, hats, rash guards or UV swimwear, and a beach umbrella or pop-up tent, because shade is limited.
• Insect repellent: there can be mosquitoes near the greener, mangrove-edge areas, so cover little ones early.
• Rubbish bags (bring two): there are no bins on the beach, so everything you bring goes home with you.
• A small first-aid kit, a fully charged phone, a power bank, and any medication your child needs.
• Swim gear, towels, a full change of clothes, wet wipes and a nappy supply if you are still in that season.

What to do on the island

The rhythm here is deliberately unstructured, which is the whole point. With the beach and the lagoon as your playground, a day fills itself surprisingly fast.

• Swim and paddle: the calm bay is ideal for floaties and goggles for the little ones, and a gentle first sea swim for cautious kids.
• Dig and build: the open sand is made for sandcastles, moats and the world's most ambitious tunnel - bring buckets, spades and maybe a kite.
• Picnic in the shade: stake out a spot near the tree line, lay the mat and make a proper morning of it.
• Explore St John's Island: walk the causeway over to St John's, where there are footpaths and a longer nature trail with marked stations to keep curious kids engaged.
• Spot wildlife: patient families sometimes glimpse crabs, small fish and shore birds, and the waters around the Southern Islands are known for otters and even the occasional pink dolphin.
• Catch the view: the outlook back towards Marina Bay and Sentosa is gorgeous, especially in softer late-afternoon light.

Some families also build the day around the water - kayaking and paddleboarding operators have run from this stretch, and bicycle or kick-scooter rentals have been available over on St John's through local providers. These come and go, so check what is operating before you pin your plans on them. For more ways to burn off energy outdoors, our park and nature day guides are full of ideas.

Toilets, facilities and accessibility - a reality check

Manage expectations here and the day goes smoothly. Toilet facilities on these islands are limited and basic. There are no dedicated baby-changing rooms or nursing rooms to rely on, so plan your own setup: a portable changing mat, a nursing cover if you need privacy, and a visit to the toilet before you settle on the sand rather than after. Pack your own tissue and hand sanitiser, since you cannot assume either is stocked.

On access, the jetties and main paths are walkable, but soft sand is hard work for a pram, so a baby carrier is usually the easier choice once you are on the beach. The causeway crossing is doable with a stroller but it is a fair walk, so think about whether your little one will need to ride or be carried part of the way. For exact, current details on amenities, always check the official Singapore Land Authority Lazarus Island page before you set off.

Safety: the part that really matters with kids

A calm beach still demands respect, and the lack of staff and shops means you are your own safety net. Build the day around a few simple rules and everyone stays happy.

• No lifeguards: an adult must actively watch the water at all times - not from a deckchair, but within reach of any child who is swimming.
• Tides and depth change: what is ankle-deep in the morning can be deeper later, so reassess as the day goes on and do not let kids drift out.
• Sun and heat: reapply sunscreen, rotate everyone into shade, and push fluids - heat sneaks up fast on small children.
• Marine stings: jellyfish can turn up in Singapore waters, so know what to do if someone gets stung and keep an eye out, especially in warmer months.
• Wildlife: if monkeys appear on these islands they can be bold around food, so keep snacks zipped away and never feed or tease them.
• Bagged rubbish and broken glass: the odd bit of debris washes ashore, so beach shoes for the kids are a small, smart precaution.

Best times to go and a rainy-day backup

For the quietest, coolest and safest visit, aim for a weekday morning on an early ferry. You will claim shade before it goes, swim before the midday sun bites, and have the beach close to yourself. Weekends and public holidays are livelier and the ferries busier, so book earlier if those are your only options. Check the weather forecast the night before: there is very little shelter from rain out here, and a wet, windy crossing with young children is no fun. Have a backup plan ready - an indoor outing or a park nearer home - so a gloomy forecast does not derail the whole weekend. If you do need a wet-weather pivot, our indoor family day guides and the full things to do with kids hub are good places to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lazarus Island good for young children?

Yes, largely because of the calm, shallow bay. It suits families who want a quiet beach day rather than rides, food courts or facilities. Just go in clear-eyed: there are no lifeguards, no shops and only basic toilets, so close supervision and thorough packing are what make it work with little ones.

Can you swim at Lazarus Island?

Yes. The sheltered bay is one of the calmest swimming spots around Singapore, which is exactly why families love it. There is no patrolled or lifeguarded zone, so you swim at your own risk, keep children within arm's reach, and watch the tide as the day goes on.

How do you get to Lazarus Island?

Take the MRT to Marina South Pier, then catch a scheduled ferry to St John's Island and walk roughly 15 to 20 minutes across the causeway to Lazarus. There is also a separate service from the Sentosa side. Ferries are limited and timings change, so buy tickets ahead and confirm the current schedule and fares with the operator before you go.

Are there shops, food or toilets on Lazarus Island?

Essentially no. There are no reliable shops and no drinking water, so bring all your own food, water and supplies. Toilets are limited and basic, with no proper baby-changing or nursing rooms, and there are no bins on the beach - you take every bit of rubbish home with you.

What should I pack for a day on Lazarus Island?

Lots of water, a picnic and snacks, reef-safe sunscreen, hats, a beach tent or umbrella for shade, insect repellent, a basic first-aid kit, towels, a change of clothes, wet wipes, some cash, and at least one rubbish bag. Treat it like a self-sufficient camping trip rather than a serviced beach.

Can you stay overnight or camp on Lazarus Island?

Overnight stays and camping are only possible where officially permitted, and the rules and any accommodation options change over time. If an overnight trip appeals, check the current rules and what is available with the Singapore Land Authority well ahead of your visit rather than assuming you can pitch a tent on the day.

Pack like you are heading somewhere with nothing, keep one adult on water watch, leave the beach cleaner than you found it, and catch that last ferry with time to spare - do all that and Lazarus Island gives you one of the most peaceful family beach days in Singapore. For more local outings, keep exploring our play section and our other outdoor family guides.