Singapore: Chinese, Indian & Arabic Quarters, Culture & Food Tour
Overview
Available languages
5 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
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
What To Expect
Chinatown
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
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.
Options
Singapore: Chinese, Indian & Arabic Quarters, Culture & Food Tour
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Soda/Pop
Bottled water
Alcoholic Beverages
Lunch
Snacks
Dinner
Coffee and/or Tea
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
877 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Definitely a worthwhile experience
Melanie H,Jun 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was an amazing experience! Lots of delicious food and great information about Singapore's history. Gerry did everything to make you feel welcome and he made sure no one went hungry. Any leftover food was donated to the elderly/poor, so no need to feel bad about no being able to finish all the dishes Gerry provided us with. It was a great mix of food spots and other cultural centres, such as a Buddhist Temple. Really a big recommendation to anyone willing to expand their food horizon and learn some history. We ended up spending about 6.5h tpgether, with only a 6 person group, where everyone got along great
Foodie Heaven Brought By Gerry
AndrewA900,Jun 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We knew from first seeing Gerry in the lobby of the Shangri-La that the day was going to be great. He’s a super personable guy that really enjoys people and providing tailored experiences that fit the vibe of the group that comes together. My gf and I got paired with two couples from Switzerland and they were awesome being game for everything we wanted to get out of the experience. The overall fee for what you get is amazing value for the cost. Gerry is very intentional to focus on hawker stalls that share the history and food culture in the “ground zero” places that don’t have massive waits. We loved the blend of history, pictures and endless food in each of the three Quarters we visited. The heat is something you can’t escape and Gerry is great at key stops for people to be able to recharge in AC and use restrooms if necessary. The timing was perfect as we got to see each of the Quarters, enjoy the food and be able to pick up the overall vibe before moving on. Walking helps either digestion and you’d be crazy to turn down ice cold beers to keep you hydrated (there’s water in beer, right? Haha). There were never any points of feeling overwhelmed and we walked away from the experience thrilled we found this gem of a tour and more so found Gerry we can now call a friend. We look forward to seeing Gerry again and will ensure any friends we have come to Singapore mark this as a “Must Do.”
Must-do tour for food lovers
melaniehP2775VY,Jun 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gerry was phenomenal, provided fantastic information and food/beverages! Value for money was amazing, we got a lot more food than expected, with leftovers going to people in need, which gave us a lot better feeling for being able to taste so many amazing dishes. We ended up spending about 6.5 hours with Gerry, visiting the tree different quarters. We learnt a lot about the history of Singapore, nicely tied in to current events. The small group made the experience very personable! Overall a huge recommendation from our group!
Best half day in Singapore
Bryan W,Jun 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00There aren't enough stars to score Gerry's tour. Hea a great guy, the tour is a great time, and the food is more than plentiful and over the top good. Be prepared to nap after! Can't recommend enough.
Awesome foodie tour and a great guide
ScottG3273,Jun 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gerry was a perfect guide for this great tour. We had a lot of fun together. The food was amazing. The scenery was incredible. And the guide was first rate. Would definitely highly recommend. Can’t miss.
Great tour!
Amy M,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great tour and a wonderful way to see Singapore and try the different food from the different regions. Our guide Gerry was fantastic and knowledgeable and also very funny. We tried a lot of different food from the hawker stalls that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise and it was cool to hear the stories of the stall owners. Our kids (ages 13 & 16) thought it was very interesting and learned a lot. Would highly recommend!
Wonderful cultural experience
F6729ULrhondar,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gerry has put together an amazing tour. Such a great combination of history, food, culture and his passion for Singapore and the traditions is very inspiring. We had a small group of 4 people and all really enjoyed the enriching conversation and learning about the history of the hawker centers and the 3 different neighborhoods we visited. Had some delicious dishes and so nice not to have to worry about knowing which is the best. Gerry knows everyone as we made our way through the streets and it made us feel like part of the community. He even took us by to see one of the temples in Little India when I asked about it. Great value for all the time and knowledge provided. Highly recommend this tour!
You have to meet Gerry
Anna T,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00A brilliant tour. Gerry is so knowledgeable and entertaining, really bringing the history of the local foods and Singapore itself to life. Tried things I would not normally have picked and enjoyed it all!
Great Food Tour with Gerry!
tripster1972,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gerry was the best! The tour was very well organized and at each stop Gerry gave a history lesson. Visiting the stalls to meet the owners that prepared our food was a bonus. Come hungry as there is so much food and all of the food was great.
Best Food Tour in Singapore!
Katy W,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Gerry is absolutely amazing. Patient, knowledgeable, with a love of his country. The food in Chinatown was fresh and plentiful. He explained each dish. After the tour, he sent us the list of everything we ate! We went through Little India and Kampong Glam and ate along the way. Gerry went didn't rush us at all. By the end of the tour, we were all great friends! He keeps the tour intentionally small. He got to know us and we got to know him. This is the food tour you should take! Do not hesitate or look any further!
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