Lighthouses serve as an important safety and navigational visual aid for ships, and with Singapore’s maritime history as an important trading port, it’s no surprise that we have a number of lighthouses around the country.
What might be surprising is that a number of these lighthouses still serve as beacons for ships today and while a few of them are inaccessible to the public, it is possible for you to get up close and personal with some of these charming and iconic structures.
Here are 6 functional lighthouses in Singapore and where you can find them.
1. Raffles Lighthouse
The name is kind of a giveaway, but this lighthouse was built in memory of Sir Stamford Raffles way back in 1855. It’s located on Pulau Satumu, the southernmost island of Singapore. While the lighthouse used to rely on a kerosene burner, it has since been modernized and now uses electric light.
Location: Coney Islet, Singapore
2. Raffles Marina Lighthouse
No, we didn’t accidentally list the same lighthouse twice. The Raffles Marina Lighthouse, also known as the Johor Strait Lighthouse, is located on mainland Singapore at the far end of Raffles Marina’s breakwater. It’s also the only lighthouse in Singapore that is not owned and operated by the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore. Instead, it’s maintained by Raffles Marina Club.
Location: 10 Tuas West Dr, Singapore 638404
3. Horsburgh Lighthouse
Horsburgh Lighthouse is located pretty far from the main island of Singapore. It sits roughly fifty-four kilometres away on the island of Pedra Branca, and marks the eastern entrance to the Straits of Singapore. It’s also the oldest lighthouse in Singapore, having been in operation for a century and a half since 1851.
Location: Pedra Branca, Singapore
4. Sultan Shoal Lighthouse
The Sultan Shoal Lighthouse actually looks a little like a house, with a lighthouse poking through the roof. It was built in 1895 on Sultan Shoal island and was intended as a replacement for the beacon previously established there.
Location: Sultan Shoal
5. Bedok Lighthouse
The Bedok Lighthouse is a little unique because it cohabits with a condo. More specifically, it’s housed on top of a 26 storey block at Lagoon View condominium. Operating since 1978, it is also Singapore’s first automated and unmanned lighthouse, and was built as a replacement for the Fullerton lighthouse. The beam of the lighthouse is 600 thousand candles bright, and is apparently visible up to 42km away.
Location: 5000K Marine Parade Rd, Singapore 449292
Bonus: Pulau Pisang Lighthouse
This lighthouse is built on the Pulau Pisang island, which is 15 km from Pontain Kechil, Johor, Malaysia. But wasn’t this article about Singapore’s lighthouses? Well, thanks to an agreement signed between the British government of Singapore and Sultan Ibrahim of Johor back in 1900, the Pulau Pisang Lighthouse is still owned and operated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, despite being located within Malaysian borders.
Location: Johor, Malaysia
6 Lighthouses to Light Up Our Home
Given our past as a trading port, lighthouses are a notable part of our maritime history. And if you want to get a closer look at them, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore has held the occasional tour in the past, so be sure to check their social media for updates.
