Singapore is an island, a city and a country. The country is so compact that there is no area dialling code. Despite its size, many travellers are surprised there is so much to see and do from culture to nature to history to theme parks to local neighbourhood and not forgetting indulging in local food. We love to show you what we love about our country; bringing you to places frequented by the locals, share stories not found in guide books and of course to have fun. Check with Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours on how you can customise your very own tour package and make it your own experiences with lasting memories.
Merlion Park and Singapore River
Cliché as it may be, having a photo taken with the Merlion is a must. Besides being an icon of Singapore, the scenery is picturesque with Marina Bay Sands on one side and skyscrapers on the other. Walk over to Singapore River through an ‘old postal tunnel’ and learn about the beginning of Singapore. This is where Singapore’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles, landed in 1819. Our colonial past is evident in the conserved buildings of Asian Civilisations Museum, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall and National Gallery.
Culture
Since the founding of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, Singapore has been a culture melting pot. You can find heritage enclaves in Chinatown, Little India and Kampung Glam. Each enclave is ‘alive’ with people going about their daily activities. Culture in Singapore is not in the museum but along the street for you to experience with your five senses. Also save time for the Peranakan culture in Joo Chiat/ Katong with its colourful pre-war shophouses and terrace houses with ornate facades, intricate motifs and ceramic tiles.
Marina Bay
Marina Bay is the entertainment hub of Singapore where you can spend the entire day. Start the day at Gardens By the Bay and enjoy plants and flowers at the cooled conservatories, Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. Stroll on the suspended walkway between two Supertrees to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the gardens and let the kids splash about at the Children’s Garden. Can’t enough of the dazzling view? Take a ride on the 165 metre Singapore Flyer and continue the views in the air-conditioned capsule. Next, marvel at the architectural wonders of Marina Bay Sands including ArtScience Muesum where its unfolding lotus bloom shape is a backdrop for your Instagram worthy post. Indulge in a dose of shopping, have your pick of celebrity chefs restaurants and end the night with Spectra, a lights and laser show at the Promenade.
Food
If you ask a local where to find the best flavours, he will be hard pressed for an answer. There is local food from the hawker centre with over 100 stalls for chicken rice, char kway teow, pork rib soup, roasted meat, fishball noodle, minced meat noodle, fried carrot cake and the list goes on. As a nod of our local food excellence, hawker food stalls have made it to Michelin Singapore Bib Gourmand list. For less than S$10, you can have an international award winning meal! At the other end of the spectrum, you can find celebrity restaurants such as Gordon Ramsey, Wolfgang Puck, Tetsuya Wakuda. Local chefs have also made their mark on many international cuisines like Chinese, Australian, European, Korean, Japanese, French and many more.
For more tour ideas in Singapore, try:
Singapore - Food
Singapore - Culture
Customise your tour with Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours for a local experience that is uniquely yours. Call +65 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg for more information.
Highlights
Singapore Day Tours
- Little India & Chinatown Walking Tour (4 hours)
- Toa Payoh Local Lifestyle Walking Tour (4 hours)
- Singapore Must-Visit in 8 hours - Merlion, Singapore River, Marina Bay Sands, Chinatown, Little India
1. Little India & Chinatown Walking Tour (4 hours)
The guide will met you at the hotel and proceed to Little India according to the transport mode of your choice. Little India is one of Singapore’s most vibrant districts frequented by the locals. Use your senses to explore the streets; see the bright goldsmith shops, smell the fresh flower garlands and touch the varied produce in the fresh market, the place where many chefs stock up their kitchen. Take a short train ride to Chinatown and be introduced to Singapore’s transport system. Upon exiting the train station, be greeted by colourful stalls selling handicraft, bags, scarves and souvenirs housed in conserved shop houses.
Visit the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, Sri Mariamman Temple and learn why it is situated in a Chinese enclave rather than Little India. The traditional Chinese medical halls have adapted their business to modern lifestyle yet maintain their roots. Have a taste of Singaporeans' favourite kaya toast i.e. toasted bread with coconut jam and butter and learn the local way of ordering coffee. The tour ends here and the guide will bring you to the taxi stand or the train station before bidding you farewell
2. Toa Payoh Local Lifestyle Walking Tour (4 hours)
The guide will met you at the hotel and proceed to Toa Payoh using the local train. Toa Payoh means big swamp in local language but no swamp is in sight. This is 'granddaddy of all public housing towns' whereby subsequent towns are modelled after. Public housing is the choice of more than 80% of the population and this tour will change your opinion of public housing. As you walk through this housing estate, you will see aesthetically-pleasing housing blocks and how the city planners have seamlessly integrated the public facilities to benefit its residents.
At the Housing Development Board headquarters, see models of new housing estates that incorporate green living. Have a bird’s eye view of the neighbourhood from the sky garden of one of the housing block. Visit the local fresh produce market and food centre, the gathering place of locals for their daily essentials. Be part of the community and have a taste of the local food (at your own expense). The guide will bring you to the taxi stand or the train station before bidding you farewell
3. Singapore Must-Visit Places in 8 hours – Merlion, Singapore River, Marina Bay Sands, Chinatown, Little India
If you are in transit or looking for shore excursion or want an express experience of Singapore, this is the tour for you. The guide will meet you at the hotel and you can choose to travel by public transport or private vehicle. Your first stop is a photo with the Merlion, a uniquely created icon of Singapore. Walk through Fullerton Hotel passage way which used to be a postal route and see how a post office has transformed to a hotel and earned its mark as a national monument.
Stroll along the Singapore River, the birthplace of Singapore, to admire Asian Civilisation Museum and Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall colonial architecture. Transcend from colonial to modern architecture. The mammoth complex of Marina Bay Sands® dominates the entire Bayfront area and has put its definitive stamp on the Singapore skyline. Designed by acclaimed architect Moshe Safdie, the structure captivates with its three sloping towers soaring 200 metres from the ground to be linked at the top by the expansive SkyPark®. This gives the visitor 360-degree views of the city’s skyline and this is an optional visit.
Chinatown is a representation of multi-religious Singapore along the same street; Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Masjid Jame (Chulia Mosque) and the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, Sri Mariamman Temple. The bustling street is filled with colourful stalls selling handicraft, bags, scarves and souvenirs. Amongst them, traditional Chinese medical halls have adapted their business to modern lifestyle yet maintain their roots. We recommend having lunch in the hawker food centre (at own expense) where food is freshly cooked upon ordering and be part of the local culture.
The last stop is Little India, one of Singapore’s most vibrant districts frequented by the locals. Use your senses to explore the streets; see the bright goldsmith shops, smell the fresh flower garlands and touch the fresh produce sold in the stores. Be delighted by a row colourful shop houses and capture your Instagram moment. If you are using public transport, the guide will bring you to the taxi stand or the train station before bidding you farewell.
You can choose the sites of your choice for 4 hours' tour.
Every itinerary can be personalised according to your needs, special interests, personal preferences and defining style. Contact Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours, the bespoke travel line that caters to the well-heeled, discerning professionals or just about anyone who wants to travel exclusively and privately. Call 6212 9935 or email
privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg.