East Coast Park

East Coast Park runs for about fifteen kilometres along land reclaimed from the sea in the 1970s, and it is the most used park in Singapore: a continuous cycle and skate path the whole length, barbecue pits booked out every weekend, campsites, a lagoon for watersports, and seafood centres where chilli crab is eaten with the container ships anchored offshore in view. It is where the city goes on Sunday.

What you actually see

• The cycle path - fifteen kilometres of continuous seafront track.
• The seafood centres - chilli crab and barbecued stingray eaten by the water.
• The barbecue pits - hundreds of them, booked out most weekends.
• The anchorage - container ships lying offshore, the constant background.

When to go

Year round; early morning and evening are coolest. Weekends are extremely busy and the barbecue pits must be booked ahead. Afternoon storms clear the park.

Honest expectations

It is entirely artificial, built on reclaimed land, and the water is not for swimming. Weekend crowds are heavy and parking fills. There is no MRT station and access is awkward without a bicycle.

Nearby

Changi is east, and Marina Bay is west.