North East

Singapore's North-East Region is one of the city-state's five planning regions and its most densely populated, stretching from mature estates such as Ang Mo Kio and Hougang to newer waterfront towns like Sengkang and Punggol. Its character is shaped by heartland neighbourhoods, river and coastal parks, and a growing cluster of aerospace and digital industries.

The area was once dominated by kampongs, farms and fishing settlements. After independence it was reshaped into public housing towns, while the former British airbase at Seletar survives today as a heritage aviation district of restored black-and-white colonial bungalows. Punggol, once a farming and fishing village, has become a modern waterfront town.

The region is made up of seven planning areas, including Ang Mo Kio, Hougang, Serangoon, Sengkang, Punggol, Seletar and the North-Eastern Islands. Visitors can explore Punggol Waterway Park, the rustic trails of Coney Island, Sengkang Riverside Park and the seafood restaurants at Punggol Settlement, or take a bumboat to Pulau Ubin for Chek Jawa wetlands and the Ketam Mountain Bike Park.

Seletar Aerospace Park anchors the region's aviation industry with facilities from companies such as Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney and ST Engineering, while the emerging Punggol Digital District focuses on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics and fintech. Shopping and dining are concentrated around malls such as NEX in Serangoon and Waterway Point in Punggol, alongside hawker centres across the heartlands.

The North East Line, Circle Line and the Sengkang and Punggol LRT systems link the region to the rest of Singapore, and expressways provide road connections to Changi Airport and the city centre. For travellers, the region offers a quieter, local perspective on Singapore along with easy access to nature, business parks and key transport links.