Singapore: Chinese, Indian & Malay Quarters, Culture & Food Tour
Overview
Available languages
5 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Your host is a friendly 4th generation Singapore Chinese Peranakan with a strong passion to share real life experiences about growing up in Singapore since the 70's.
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Soda/Pop
Bottled water
Alcoholic Beverages
Lunch
Snacks
Dinner
Coffee and/or Tea
Gratuities
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 & Malay Quarters, Culture & Food Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
659 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
You Gotta Go!
pamela p,
Jul 12, 2025
- Viator
5.00Great experience and overview of cultural aspects of Singapore. Gerry was a wonderful and knowledgable guide.
This tour is an excellent combination of cuisine and culture
Tristan J,
Jul 11, 2025
- Viator
5.00Gerry was an excellent guide! He exposed us to so many types of Singaporean food while also giving us the background on how these cuisines and cultures arrived and evolved here. This was our first time to Singapore and it was the first activity of our visit. I would highly recommend this tour to other first-time travelers... it will give you a great orientation of hawker centers and various types of food as well as a good overview of all the different cultures that have blended into the melting pot that is Singapore.
Awesome food tour of Singapore
Duncan B,
Jul 11, 2025
- Viator
5.00Gerry is a really good host that takes the tour at a casual pace while explaining everything really well, I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone!!! Thanks for a great day out in Singapore👍👍👍
Truly Amazing
Garrett B,
Jul 5, 2025
- Viator
5.00If I could give this tour 100 stars, I would. Gerry was simply incredible. It was more like having dinner with a friend than a tour guide. The food was incredible, first of and foremost. However, it was equaled by the authentic cultural experience shared with us by Gerry. His passion for his country and the hard working people of the various food places we visited was unmatched. If you are open to great food, great conversation, and interested in learning about Singapore’s culture and history, you should not miss the opportunity to take this tour.
Comprehensive Singapore cultural and historical tour tour with great food and lots of it!!
AliceAnne B,
Jul 3, 2025
- Viator
5.00Gerry picked us up at our hotel and took us first to Chinatown where we enjoyed Chinese specialties from hawkers, one of whom has a Michelin guide note! Fabulous food and fabulous company all day long, as we toured Indian and Malay quarters with more delicious food. Gerry showed historical photos and current ones to illustrate aspects of culture we might otherwise have missed. A fabulous experience! We were a set of grandparents with our fourteen year old grandson. Young couple joined us to make a very congenital party of six including Gerry! Cannot recommend highly enough. Stuffed at the end of the day! We ride in a private car then on the subway and a bus, like locals do. Buddhist Temple near the hawker site, Mosque in the Malay quarter. Fabulous colorful jeweled saris on display in the Indian quarter indoor market. We loved every minute!
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