Spooky and haunted places in Singapore

Feeling adventurous? Instead of another walk on your favourite trail, why not visit some of the scary places where people have seen ghosts in Singapore, or where strange things have happened over the years? Here at EL, we can’t verify any peculiar sightings first-hand. However, there are plenty of experiences of other intrepid visitors on record. We do NOT recommend you visit these haunted places in Singapore alone!

Most haunted places in Singapore

#1 Old Changi Hospital

Old Changi Hospital is said to be haunted by the souls of those who were killed by Japanese troops in the Second World War. Originally built as a hospital by the British colonial government in 1935, the building was taken over by the Japanese in 1942 and was reportedly used as a torture chamber, rather than to treat the wounded. Stories abound of shadows seen here and screams heard in the halls of the old hospital. The long-abandoned building still stands today, covered in creepy graffiti. Ghost ‘tours’ are occasionally arranged. These tours help to maintain the hospital’s ongoing reputation as one of Singapore’s scariest places.

Did you know? For many years, the Singapore Land Authority rented out the old hospital premises on a short-term basis to production companies to film local TV dramas and films. Among the shows that featured the location were Incredible Tales, Growing Up and Crime Hunters.

#2 Bedok Reservoir

Bedok Reservoir is believed to be haunted by the restless souls of those who took their own lives. This infamous reservoir has had a reputation as a suicide location in the past. In particular, multiple deaths were reported across 2011 and 2012. Joggers have heard ghostly wailing at night. Others have felt an invisible force pulling them towards the water as they walk around the reservoir. An inter-religious blessing ceremony was once held in the area to try and rid it of its evil energy, only for another deceased person to be located in the same spot soon after.

Did you know: On a less scary note by far, some 14,000 wetland plants have been added to the already picturesque environment of Bedok Reservoir, as part of an Active, Beautiful, and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme. So it’s worth a visit
whether you’re a hardcore horror fan, or just enjoy walks among nature!

#3 The Amber Beacon Tower

The Amber Beacon Tower is at East Coast Park, which is one of Singapore’s most visited locations. Yet it has a grim tale to tell! Almost 30 years ago, a couple were walking at night at this very spot when they were attacked by a gang. The male was seveerely injured, and his female companion was brutally assaulted and stabbed to death. The murderers were never caught. There have been numerous reports of a female figure near this tower at night. Others claim to have heard screams for help.

#4 Woodneuk House

Woodneuk House (Istana Woodneuk) is well known for scary sightings, moving shadows, scents, spirits, loud noises, moving objects and ghosts in Singapore. Once occupied by the Sultan of Johor, the abandoned house is now covered in vegetation and decay. This home is restricted to public visitors and is not marked on the map of Singapore, which makes it out of bounds and truly mysterious.

Did you know? In 1945, following the liberation of Singapore from the Japanese, the house was occupied for a time by a military figure who also lent his name to a popular nearby neighbourhood: General Sir Miles Dempsey.

#5 St John’s Island

St John’s Island was formerly a quarantine island for those with infectious diseases, a penal settlement and later a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. Mass executions were carried out here in the Second World War. A giant chessboard sits on the island, where it is said Japanese captors played chess using POWs. When a human ‘piece’ was defeated, they were beheaded on the spot. The island also served as a rehabilitation centre for opium addicts. People have reported hearing crying and screaming at night. Others have seen ghostly figures walking around at night. Yet more stories exist of visitors hearing sports being played or balls bouncing, but seeing nobody in the spot where the sounds were coming from.

#6 Changi Beach

During the Japanese occupation of Singapore from February 1942 to September 1945, the Sook Ching massacre took place along Changi Beach. This was carried out by the Japanese to purge anti-Japanese elements from the nation. The massacre involved the death of 66 men who were chained together and gunned down along the shore line. Their bodies were then hacked apart by machetes and buried in mass graves along the beach. Visitors of Changi Beach have claimed various sightings and instances of paranormal activity in the area. From the sounds of phantom gunshots to screaming and crying, sightings of severed heads and pools of blood along the sand (that quickly disappear), the beach has been marked as a spooky spot!

#7 Bus Service 975

Bus service 975 travels from Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange and towards Lim Chu Kang Road, and it’s been called the most haunted bus route in Singapore. The route goes past desolate army camps and Singapore’s largest cemetery, the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex. The roads are often completely empty and some are also pitch-black as there are no street lights. Ghost stories along this bus route include seeing shadow figures walking on the empty roads, and even a ghost-priest conducting a ceremony near the cemetery. Bus drivers are very aware of the ghost stories set along this very bus route, with drivers opening
their doors at every stop, regardless of physical passengers, to allow spirits to alight or board the bus.

Did you get scared reading about these haunted places in Singapore? If you love all things Halloween, head here! For more great stories, see our Living in Singapore section