Living in HarbourFront means that you’re situated along Singapore’s southern coast with close proximity to the sea. With plenty of private housing and condominiums, this area is great for anyone that loves being close to the beach – especially single professionals and couples that are looking to begin their Singapore expat life.
What’s great about HarbourFront is that it isn’t too far from central Singapore, but is a huge contrast from the hustle and bustle of the city. While you’ve still got access to cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, and plenty of food, it’s considered a waterfront district and is great for those looking for an area that’s a little quieter.
Distance from the CBD
The closest train station to the HarbourFront area is HarbourFront MRT station. From the station, you can take the Circle Line and North-East Line to the CBD and it’ll take you about 20-30 minutes. Alternatively, you can get to the CBD by car in about 10-minutes.
Living in HarbourFront: Morning, day and night
Start your morning taking a stroll along the boardwalk to bask in the gorgeous sea view. Nearly every weekend there’s also bazaars held along the 670-meter stretch, making it a great spot to pick up some gifts and souvenirs. If you fancy a workout, the new HarbourFront Centre club has an incredible view of Sentosa Island with all the equipment you’d need for a good workout. They’ve also got over 100 classes a week from dance to hot yoga.
In the afternoon, head to the library at HarbourFront for a splendid view of Sentosa while reading a good book. This unique space even has a Children’s Zone for young children to learn through Augmented Reality books that help bring stories to life. With Sentosa being so close to HarbourFront, you can take the monorail there and spend your afternoon tanning on the beach.
While there are some bars in HarbourFront to head to in the evenings, they’re generally scant. HarbourFront isn’t exactly a nightlife scene area, but Propeller Bar – a rooftop bar facing Sentosa and Keppel Harbour is a great place to catch up with friends. There’s also Harry’s at HarbourFront centre that has delicious pastas, appetisers and drinks.
Shop
The nearest mall to HarbourFront is VivoCity which is also Singapore’s largest shopping mall. There’s plenty of retail stores in this mall along with a supermarket. Another mall is HarbourFront Centre that’s conveniently linked to VivoCity. This 3-story retail destination has everything from dining to electronic goods, fashion, and more.
Eat
For local food, Seah Im Food Centre is situated in the HarbourFront area and has loads of cheap and good food. Some of the foods that you can’t miss include the boneless duck porridge and smashed fried chicken on rice.
There are also plenty of eateries inside VivoCity, and some of them are peppered along the boardwalk with amazing views of Sentosa and the nightly fireworks. Whether you crave Thai, Japanese, or Western food, there’s something available for everyone. Some great restaurants include Thai Thai Nitta for its affordable and delicious Thai fare, along with San Laksa Steamboat for a tantalising hotpot experience.
See
As you walk along the HarbourFront boardwalk, look out for a 6-metre tall spherical bouquet of colourful flowers blooms created by Choi Jeong Hawa. VivoCity also has several interesting sculptures scattered around from Vivo Punch to Aphrodite's Roses. Since HarbourFront is close to the ferry terminal, you’ll also be able to hop on a ferry somewhere else – even if it’s only for a day trip. In the vicinity, you can also walk to Mount Faber Park, and even the Henderson Waves bridge if you’re looking to go for a bit of an outdoor hike.
The downside
Since it’s close to Sentosa and popular tourist attractions, prices are generally more expensive than other parts of Singapore. If you’re a family looking to move to the HarbourFront area, just take note that there aren’t that many schools in the immediate vicinity.
Making the most of your move to Singapore
If you are in the process of planning your move, make sure you read our comprehensive and refreshed 2021 Moving to Singapore Guide to learn more about the real cost of living in Singapore, what you need to prepare for and insights on family and work-life as an expat.
You can also use our free relocation dashboard to discover other areas to live, chat with a community of likeminded people and begin setting up for your new life in Singapore... all before you land.