4-Hour Singapore History and Culture Tour with Hawker Dinner

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore the historic Civic District and Singapore's colonial beginnings
• 02 Cruise the Singapore River by bumboat for a 30-minute journey through the city's past and present
• 03 Take in sunset views over Marina Bay from Merlion Park
• 04 Enjoy Chicken Rice and fresh sugar cane juice at Maxwell Hawker Centre in Chinatown
• 05 Learn about everyday life in Singapore from the rooftop of an HDB residential building
• 06 Experience a traditional tea ceremony and taste the Imperial tea served to Queen Elizabeth II

Take a journey through Singapore from past to present on an in-depth exploration of the city's history and development. Trace the story of modern Singapore from Sir Stamford Raffles to the present day, covering fascinating historical and political subjects at whatever depth suits you. Along the way, learn about Singapore's incredible development over the last 60 years and modern-day life for the average Singaporean. This tour is packed with must-see and must-do highlights, delivered in a fun and informative way.

Board a bumboat and take a 30-minute cruise down the river through to the present day.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

City Singapore

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Singapore History, Marina Bay and Chinatown by Night

• Start the Singapore night tour in the Civic District, where you will visit some of the historic colonial buildings and learn about the early pioneers who came to Singapore to make a living.
• Board a bumboat and take a 30-minute cruise down the river through to the present day.
• Visit Merlion Park and soak in the sunset view of Marina Bay while learning about the mega construction project behind it.
• Your journey through time continues by bus to a residential district. Discuss the political reform led by The Founding Father of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and discover how Singapore went from third-world to first-world in one generation.
• Access the roof of a Housing Development Board (HDB) residential building, where you will get an amazing bird's-eye view of downtown Singapore.
• The fourth stop on the Singapore night tour is the famous Maxwell Hawker Centre in Chinatown, where you will enjoy Singapore's most iconic dish, Chicken Rice.
• Wash it down with freshly squeezed sugar cane juice, a real hit on our tours. Your Singapore tour guide will teach you Hawker Centre etiquette, point out all of the must-try foods in Singapore, and make sure you know how to eat like a local for the remainder of your time in Singapore.
• Retreat to a beautiful tea house for a traditional tea tasting experience.
• Learn the art of the tea ceremony and try the Imperial tea that Queen Elizabeth II was served in the very same tea house.
• Receive a small souvenir to take home and remember the experience.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Professional Singapore tour guide
• Singapore River Cruise
• Hawker dinner (Chicken Rice and sugar cane juice)
• Traditional Chinese tea ceremony
• Public transportation used during your walking tour

What's Not Included

• Gratuities

What to bring

• Please bring a bottle of water and drink plenty before your tour. It is very easy to become dehydrated in Singapore, and we need you to have good energy levels as there is a lot of walking.
• Carry an umbrella, which is useful for both sun and rain.
• Don't forget your camera; there will be lots to take pictures of.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Know before you go

• Not wheelchair accessible.
• 5 miles (8 km) of walking is required.
• Not suited for people with mobility restrictions.
• If you book this small-group food tour of Singapore, you will join a mixed group of a maximum of 9 guests. Small-group night tours run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and start at 4 pm in the Civic District of Singapore. Full details on the meeting point are provided upon booking. Tours last 4.5 hours and finish at 8:30 pm in Chinatown.
• If you are a vegetarian, we promise to get you something to eat at the Hawker Centre, but we cannot guarantee what will be available. It might be quite basic, such as rice and vegetables.
• If the rooftop of The Pinnacle is closed due to bad weather, we will take you to a different HDB building.
• If the teahouse is closed, we will have a bigger dinner section.
• This tour requires you to be able to walk 6 km. We walk at a slow, casual pace, but if you tire easily, a group tour will not be suitable for you. Instead, book a private tour to cut down walking by taking the occasional taxi ride.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Exit B of City Hall MRT Station (Street Level), North Bridge Road

Tour start

Civic District, Singapore

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.