Many summers ago on All Hallow’s Eve, the Celts dressed up and threw a big party to scare away the spirits which they thought had broken through the spirit realm, after the barrier between ours and theirs became thin.
Today, we celebrate the outdated tradition by getting hammered at parties or visiting haunted houses that we pray aren’t lackluster. If you’re looking for more than just cheap thrills, you could consider spending your Halloween visiting some of Singapore’s most notoriously eerie locations.
We’ve put a macabre guide together for the best of you, complete with infamy and directions. Visit at your own risk!
Tanglin Brunei Hostel
You’ve likely seen this on a few influencers’ Instagram feeds because it’s the only place in Singapore with grungy, satanic graffiti – Old Changi Hospital is probably too much of a risk just for the ‘gram. The Tanglin Brunei Hostel was used to house Brunei’s smartest students who were sent to Singapore to study in the 1950s.
The old, completely abandoned colonial-style buildings are now consumed by nature and anything with a penchant for dead silence. Many have reported sightings and scattered encounters, and while we cannot guarantee a scare here, the ethereal Tanglin Brunei Hostel is a sight to behold – enough to make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a time warp altogether.
The compound is not lit, so if you’re visiting at night, make sure to bring adequate lighting with you, just in case your phone’s flashlight mysteriously stops working.
Address: 40-60 Tanglin Hill, 248054
The Amber Beacon Tower @ East Coast Park
Tales and sightings surrounding the magnificent Yellow Tower at East Coast Park are built upon the tragic story of a 21-year-old woman who bled to death, as her boyfriend (still alive) ran away from their weapon-wielding assailants.
27 years later, the murder remains unsolved, possibly waiting to be spoken about by the female apparition that has seemed to take residence in the tower.
Joggers and passers-by swear the sensations of being watched, and their hair unexplainably standing on end. Some have even claimed to hear blood-curdling screams from the top of the Amber Beacon Tower.
The best time to visit this haunt is at night when East Coast Park is quiet, so you’ll be sure any sounds of a humming woman are not from any park-goer.
Address: 920 East Coast Parkway, 449875 Near Carpark C
Labrador Park
Scenic with Singapore’s only accessible sea-cliff, frequent fishers will tell you that Labrador Park’s waters are darker and murkier than meets the eye. Singapore saw the worst of its Japanese occupation here, where many were massacred and fed hot tar.
Frequent sightings have been of blood-sucking pontianaks and aimless men in military uniforms. For a more significant adrenaline rush, go on the Canopy Walk at night as you peel your eyes away from the tree-tops that are actually on eye level.
The park gets pretty dark and lonely at night, so be sure to go in a group and have a pal or two on speed dial – you know, just in case.
You can also maximise your exploration with a coastal walk guide by NParks.
Address: Labrador Villa Road, 119187
St. John’s Island
Encounters at Saint John’s Island are rumoured to be due to the trauma the island bore during World War II. Apart from being a quarantine station for terminally ill immigrants, the island was also used for mass execution during the Japanese occupation.
If you’re into life-sized board games, St. John’s Island has a human chess board that you can use for free. It was previously used by Japanese captors to play games (literally) with their prisoners of war. When human pawns were defeated, they were beheaded immediately.
Encounters here have been aplenty – many complaining of distressed apparitions wandering through the island and its abandoned buildings, screaming and crying. Sounds of marching and basketball games are also common encounters here.
You’d be rolling a die by deciding to explore this location – the island is only accessible by ferry, and you can only stay overnight by booking a bungalow at the island (starts as low as $53).
Being trapped on this haunted island comes with perks, though. The island promises a ravishing view in the mornings/evenings, with stunning photo opportunities, yachts, beaches, a nature tour, and best of all, a whole lot of cats.
Plan your ferry trip to St. John’s Island, and book a bungalow while you’re at it.
The Marang Trail – Mount Faber Hill
The Marang Trail is a road less traveled at Mount Faber Hill, especially as dusk sets. The trail often goes unnoticed by nature enthusiasts at Mount Faber Hill because it’s not lit at night, to allow comfort for the creatures that lurk within the foliage.
While these are more likely just marsupials, there are some questionable elements along the trail: abandoned sheds, old Muslim graves, and uninhabited huts. Night explorers complain of the paranoia of being watched, unmapped road forks, time warps, footsteps behind them, and noises that seem to be made with the intention of making them look at its source.
We’d suggest taking the trail from the top of Mount Faber Hill, so you have the opportunity for a quick descent if need be. Past explorers urge that you follow your gut and keep moving forward, resisting any urges to stop or turn to look in any other direction.
Address: The end of Faber Walk, Mount Faber Rd
The Suicide Tower
The Pasir Ris Tower, known to paranormal enthusiasts as the Suicide Tower, is a three-story high bird watching tower that tells the tale of a boy with a third eye.
Having seen ‘something’ within the tower, he was urged by his disbelieving friends to go back and prove his sighting. Rather than sticking with his friends, the boy climbed to the 5th floor of the tower and jumped to his death, claiming at his deathbed that he was pushed down the tower.
Visitors to the tower have complained of time warps and footsteps, and also a disturbing urge to perform actions which they would not naturally do. An isolated recount or two go as far as to say that people within their company tried to climb over the tower’s railings, subsequently being unable to explain why they were inclined to do so.
If you’re going here, bring a bunch of friends, and make sure to all have a bike sharing app so you can all bike away if need be.
Address: Pasir Ris Park, Pasir Ris Central, Singapore 510534
Bukit Brown Cemetery
If you think you’re going to have a hard time convincing your friends to follow you to a cemetery, Bukit Brown Cemetery will be even more difficult. The cemetery is known for housing bodies of glorious Chinese heritage.
Massive tombs are guarded by stone Gurkhas, although they could not guard against the government’s decision to construct roads along the cemetery, which meant having to exhume some tombs. Many attribute this to the numerous sightings of moaning, disturbed spirits there.
If you’re looking for a less risky experience, consider taking a tour of the ethereal cemetery in daylight. Salt, anyone?
Address: 36C Lor Halwa, Singapore 298637
Old Tampines Road
If you try booking a vehicle to this location at night, drivers will probably risk penalties to cancel your booking. On Halloween night, they’re likely not going to gamble on getting into a fatal accident, seeing figures on top of bus stops, or receiving hell money.
The rumoured reason for Old Tampines Road’s misfortune is the grave of a young rape victim buried under a tree along the road.
A slew of accidents aside, taxi drivers complain of seeing a woman flag their taxi, to have her disappear from sight in their rear view mirrors if they don’t pick her up. One incident even describes seeing a human formed entirely out of bats.
If you decide to brave this one, drive safe!
Address: Really?
