Guests sampling a spread of local food favourites at Chinatown hawker centre

Brought our American & Australian guests to ‘load’ & ‘tank’ up on calories & fluids before exploring Chinatown.

Guests from Michigan & California hanging out with the locals over beer & whiskey in the Indian Quarter.

Just our guests from Canada hanging out with the local Indians over beer & whiskey in the Indian Quarter.

Aussie & American guests indulging in our first stop of local favourites at Chinatown.

Our American guests sampling a wide variety of local Indian favourites at the ethnic quarter of Little India.

Hawker stall owners having a bit of fun with guests

What a lovely afternoon view of Istana Kampong Gelam, as our guests from America & Australia pose for a photograph capturing fond memories of the historical place.

Here we are with our English & American guests indulging in local Chinese delights at Chinatown.

Exploring the hawker centres and sampling some well known dishes known mostly to the locals

Great time spent with our guests from Australia & America as we pose at the latest street mural by talented artist Yip Yew Chong , who captured an old corner ‘mamak‘ shop that is no more.

Here are our guests from the UK, US & Czech Republic in front of the entrance to the grand mosque of Singapore.

Our American guests adding more live to an already vibrant wall mural depicting everyday life in an old school coffeeshop in Chinatown realistically painted by Yip Yew Chong.

At a fruit & vegetable market in Little India

Using the most efficient method of commute, our Aussie & American guests leave Little India for Chinatown only 6 minutes away.

Hanging out with our English guests over a wide spread of Asian favourites and the King of Fruit, durian in Chinatown.

On the tracks we go, as our Aussie guests leave Chinatown for Little India via the well connected and efficient MRT train system.

Guests with Hawker Chan of 1* Michelin hawker stall fame

Taking the subway (MRT) to get to the ethnic neighbourhood for street food

On the public bus to the ethnic area of Arab Street

In the public bus that is comfortable and air-conditioned on the way to a hawker centre in Chinatown for street food

Right up front with a full view on top of a double-decker public bus

A typical hawker centre that is a way of life for locals

Our alleys have been given a new lease of life, as our American, Australian & English guests pose at a wall mural depicting everyday life in an old school coffeeshop and vegetable & seafood market.

Guests from Canada doing a bit of exploring in Little India before their work conference commences.

Singapore: Chinese, Indian & Arabic Quarters, Culture & Food Tour — photo 28

Fun (& controversial) fruit stop with our guests from America as they get to sample the King of Fruit, durian in Chinatown.

On the bus we go, as our guests from the US & Australia head towards the Malay Quarter from Little India.

Lovely evening view of Istana Kampong Gelam as our guests from America & Australia take a final photograph capturing the tour.

Hanging out in Chinatown with our guests from Australia and America, with beers in hand to cool ourselves down as the sun sets.

Guests from London & America doing a bit of exploring at Haji Lane located in the Malay Quarter of Singapore.

Our back alleys have been given a new lease of life, as our American & English guests marvel at a wall mural depicting everyday life in an old school coffeeshop in Chinatown by artist Yip Yew Chong

Lovely day of exploring for our Puerto Rican & Australian guests along the colourful street of the Malay Quarter of Singapore.

Mucking around with our American guests in the MRT station at Chinatown en-route to Little India.

Our American guests leaving Chinatown for Little India via the MRT train system, which is only 3 stops and 6 minutes away.

Canadian guest having his portrait painted by renowned street artist Tung Yue Nang, famed for his large and detailed Chinese ink on paper drawings of shophouse architecture in Chinatown.

Dessert stop at the Malay Quarter with our guests from Switzerland, India & America.

Australian & American family at the ethnic quarter of Little India.

Guests from USA & New Zealand capturing the lovely elevated view of Chinatown where the old shoreline can be seen clearly.

Puerto Rican guests posing at a wall mural depicting the memory of decades old Chinatown shophouse living of artist Yip Yew Chong.

Guests from America exploring Chinatown and soaking up the vibrancy of the upcoming Chinese New Year (of the Rabbit) celebrations.

Indulging in some local bites with our American guests in Little India, complete with Kingfisher Beer and Mango Lassi.

Cooling down at a dessert shop with our American & Australian guests at Haji Lane, located in the Malay Quarter of Singapore.

Loading up on some flavourful calories with our American & Australian guests before exploring Chinatown.

Our guests from the UK & America leaving Chinatown for the Malay Quarter on a comfortable air-conditioned double decker bus.

Our guests from South Africa, Australia & America having a nice stroll along the graffiti painted shophouse walls of Haji Lane in the Malay Quarter of Singapore.

Bringing our guests from American & New Zealand through Little India’s ‘five-foot way’, where fruit & vegetable, retail & electronic goods stores line up all along the continuous walkway.

Our guests from Vietnam, America & Australia with renowned street artist Tung Yue Nang, who captures intricate details of shophouse architecture & street life in Chinatown.

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Singapore: Chinese, Indian & Arabic Quarters, Culture & Food Tour

5.0(935 reviews)Singapore, SingaporeOperated by Livin' Da Local

Duration5 hours 30 min
GroupShared · max 8
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
BookingInstant confirmation

About this activity

Your host is a friendly Singapore Chinese Peranakan with a strong passion to share real life experiences about growing up in Singapore since the 70's. He’s also licensed by the Tourism Board and an academic historian.

His in-depth experience of the different ethnic neighbourhoods and hawker markets promises an adventure of discovery the vibrancy of the local streets and street food now run by 2nd or 3rd generation family members, the people and the diverse communities. You will be introduced to a wide variety of locally popular street food favourites and get to know better your host and the country through his eyes and life's experiences.

This fun and engaging Mixed Group adventure is for those who want to experience unique traditional street food in the UNESCO inscribed hawker centres located in the ethnic neighbourhoods of Chinatown & Little India. This unique culture has been deeply embedded in the Singapore way of life since the colonial days of early 19th century until today.

What to expect

5 hours 30 min3 stopsShared tourMax 8 travellers

Chinatown
Singapore, 048942
1 hour 15 min
The experience starts off with an exploration of Chinatown where you will get to soak in the sights of the Chinatown neighbourhood. Stories will be shared of it's history capturing the struggles of early Chinese immigrants, their trials and tribulations of making ends meet in a rough neighbourhood filled with vices like opium, gambling, prostitution, and death. These buildings still stand today. Old images will be shown where you will see the quick transformation of Singapore's development from the past to the present day. We will also be visiting a hawker centre and get to sample locally popular Singapore Chinese street food cuisines, and at the same time experience the local way of life that has been around for the past decades.
Little India
Singapore
1 hour 15 min
In Little India, you will be brought around the area where the vibrancy of colour from street stalls selling fresh fruit & vegetables, flower garland markets, traditional clothing stores, and incense shops will charm your senses. It is due to these trades and other opportunities that had inspired the early Indian community to move from the original Little India near the old seafront, up here where water buffalos used to roam the swampy area. We will be visiting a hawker market here and get to sample a variety of Pakistani, North Indian & Indian Muslim street food cuisines, and experience the exciting vibrancy of the Indian community having their daily meals here.
Kampong Glam
Singapore
1 hour 15 min
Over at the Malay Quarter of Kampong Glam, we will be exploring the quaint streets of old. You will learn more about its people and history, especially how this place came to be and that Malay royalty used to rule the island. Be enthralled by the grand Sultan Mosque that still continues to attract Muslims from all over especially during the fasting period of Ramadan where the grounds are transformed into vibrant street markets. Over here, you will introduced to a dessert at an independently run shop, and at the same time marvel at the colourful graffiti walls that are adorned all over the neighbourhood shophouses.

Pickup & meeting point

You can choose either hotel/location pickup or to meet the guide at the start point.

Pickup starts about 30 minutes before the departure time.

You can request a pickup location of your own.

Start

We will advise further on the location to meet upon booking confirmation.

End / drop-off

We will advise further on the location to meet upon booking confirmation.

Pickup locations172

The operator lists 172 pickup points. 40 are shown here; choose yours from the full list when you book.

Hotels & residences40

Aurum Royal33 Erskine Road, Singapore, 069333
Frasers House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Singapore80 Middle Road, Singapore, 188966
The Scarlet Singapore33 Erskine Road, Singapore, 069333
Hotel NuVe Elements41 Hongkong Street, Singapore, 059680
M Hotel Singapore City Centre81 Anson Road, Singapore, 079908
The Warehouse Hotel320 Havelock Road, Robertson Quay, Singapore, 169628
Link Hotel Singapore51 Tiong Bahru Road, Singapore, 168734
JEN Singapore Orchardgateway by Shangri-La277 Orchard Road, Singapore, 238858
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore15 Stamford Rd, Singapore, 178906
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium By IHG317 Outram Road, Singapore, Singapore, 169075
Hotel Telegraph, Singapore35 Robinson Road, Singapore, 068898
Hotel Bencoolen - Hong Kong Street47 Hongkong Street, Singapore, 059685
Furama RiverFront405 Havelock Road, Singapore, 169633
Amaris Hotel BugisMiddle Road Bugis Junction, 21, Singapore, 188931
Park View Hotel81 Beach Road, Singapore, 189692
Mayfair City Boarding House44 40 Armenian Street, Singapore, 179935
Alma House46 Kim Yam Road, Singapore, 239351
Arena eSports Hotel at Bugis VillageRochor Road 166A, Level 2, Singapore, 188441
Hotel Calmo Bugis95 Beach Road, Singapore, 189699
Ann Siang House28 Ann Siang Road, Singapore, 069708
Claude Hotel12 Teck Lim Rd, Singapore, 088387
Tokidoki Popup Hotel56 South Bridge Rd, Singapore, 058687
Wyndham Singapore Hotel3 - 5 Coleman St, Singapore, 179804
Amaris Hotel by Santika, Bugis - Singapore21 Middle Road Bugis Junction, Singapore, 188931
Orchid Hotel1 Tras Link, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore, 078867
Moon 23 Hotel23 Dickson Road, Singapore, 209507
Zen Rooms Bukit Merah512 Kampong Bahru Road Harbour Ville, Near Chinatown, Singapore, 099448
Marina Bay Sands10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore, 018956
METT Singapore11 Canning Walk, Singapore, 178881
Oakwood Bencoolen Singapore30 Bencoolen Street, Singapore, 189621
D'Hotel Singapore231 Outram Road, Singapore, 169040
Andaz Singapore5 Fraser Street, Singapore, 189354
DUXTON RESERVE SINGAPORE, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION83 Duxton Road, Singapore, 089540
iNN at Temple St by Q Loft Newly Renovated36 Temple Street, Singapore, 058581
Jayleen Clarke Quay Hotel25 New Bridge Road, Singapore, 059390
Carlton City Hotel Singapore1 Gopeng Street, Singapore, 078862
YWCA Fort Canning6 Fort Canning Road, Singapore, 179494
Grand Park City Hall10 Coleman St, City Hall Square, Singapore, 179809
The Snooze Hotel at Bugis103 Beach Road, Singapore, 189704
Lion Peak Hotel Bugis103 Beach Road Marrison Hotel, Singapore, 189704

You may choose to meet the guide at the departure point.
You can arrange your pickup point with the operator after booking.

Pickup instructions

We will advise you further on the location to meet either at your Hotel lobby or MRT Station, so as to enhance convenience to all our guests. If you require hotel pickup, kindly indicate your hotel location. Please take note that it is available for centralised locations in the city only.

What's included

Included

Soda/Pop
Bottled water
Alcoholic Beverages
Lunch
Snacks
Dinner
Coffee and/or Tea

Not included

Gratuities

Good to know

Accessibility & suitability

Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not recommended for travellers with gluten intolerance
Not recommended for travelers with dietary restrictions
Not recommended for travelers who are vegetarians as experience will be compromised
Not recommended for travelers with children in prams or strollers
Not recommended for travelers with Personal Mobility Aids / Devices

Traveller requirements

Minimum 1 traveller per booking
Maximum 7 travellers per booking
At least one adult must be included in the booking
Age bands: Child (6–14), Youth (15–24), Adult (25–64), Senior (65–99)

Languages

Guide: English

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund

This experience requires good weather. If it's cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it's cancelled because the minimum isn't met, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Important booking information

Booking cut-off: Bookings close 3 hours before the activity starts.
Confirmation: Confirmed immediately after booking.
Tickets: One per booking
Local time zone: Asia/Singapore
Product code: 223757P4

What you'll be asked when booking

Age of each traveller
First name of each traveller
Last name of each traveller
Your preferred pickup point
Any special requirements

Traveller reviews

5.0/ 5935 reviews

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Ratings aggregated from Viator (361) and Tripadvisor (574).

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From USD 148 per person · Free cancellation available

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About this activity

Chinatown

Little India

Kampong Glam