Singapore: Chinese, Indian & Arabic 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 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.
What‘s Included
Soda/Pop
Bottled water
Alcoholic Beverages
Lunch
Snacks
Dinner
Coffee and/or Tea
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Singapore: Chinese, Indian & Arabic Quarters, Culture & Food Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
819 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Enjoyed the tour so much previously I booked again!!
John CNorfolk,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My second experience did not disappoint. It was great to visit a selection of top-quality food stalls with Gerry’s comprehensive and insightful commentary. I brought along my sister this time who also enjoyed the experience. I encourage anyone who is visiting Singapore to book this tour-you will not be disappointed!!
A tour not to be missed
619kyliel,Mar 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gerry was an absolute gem, our travel agent in australia gave us multiple options for a walking tour and im so glad we picked this one, gerry was professonal from stsrt to end, the food just kept coming and he took us to so many hidden gems we never would have found on our own. He was so informative with the history, and cultural information. He was funny, courteous and attentive to the group needs. There was only 6 people in the group and everyone got attention. We left the day with full bellies, and completely fullfilled by our 1st day in Singapoore. If youre considering a walking tour,or a cultural food tour. Gerry is your man. You will not be disappointed. Thankyou Gerry, you made our day amazing.
Empty stomach is a must!
Andrew S,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Stop looking and just BOOK THIS TOUR!!!! The tour began with a prompt, even few minutes early, hotel lobby pickup. I knew from the first few minutes of interacting with our guide, Gerry, that this was going to be an amazing experience! A quick stop at another hotel to pick-up a second solo traveler and the 3 of us were off to the first stop at the UNESCO recognized Hawker Center at the Chinatown Complex. After my first taste of freshly extracted sugarcane juice, my fellow solo-traveler and I were treated to a number of offerings, including some Michelin rated, ranging from noodles, to chicken, and handmade dumplings. Once we finished, we visited the stalls that we sampled and met the owner/operators. After the meal, we began leisurely stroll through the streets of Chinatown. Seeing the current state of what we had recently learned from the history. We had time to browse the many little shops as we made our way to the subway station, and onto Little India. After a walkthrough of the local market featuring both food and clothing, we arrived at the next stop of our gastro-journey. Here we were treated to chicken biryani along with other Indian delicacies. Stomach's refilled once again we began our journey to the nearby Arabic quarter. A leisurely stroll through streets surrounding the central mosque led us to the final stop. I won't reveal much aside from it being a well-deserved dessert. (Try the Ondeh-Ondeh!!) While we ate at each location, Gerry explained the history and evolution of how that culture helped to shape modern-day Singapore. Everywhere we went, folks knew Gerry, greeting both him and us in a warm and welcome manner. NOTE - While we had full stomachs at each stop, the leftover food was packaged and donated to locals.
Excellent way to experience Singapore’s food and culture
Brant B,Mar 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a fantastic experience on this Singapore food tour. Gerry was organized, energetic, and genuinely fascinating to listen to. His communication leading up to the tour was excellent, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. The tour covered multiple neighborhoods and food centers, and we tried a wide range of dishes from different stalls. It wasn’t just about eating. Gerry also shared a lot of history and cultural context about Singapore, which made the experience much more interesting and meaningful. We tasted far more food than we expected and left completely full. It was a great mix of flavors and local favorites that we probably would not have discovered on our own. Highly recommend this tour if you want a fun and informative introduction to Singapore’s food scene
A Feast for the Senses
Grace H,Mar 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An entertaining and informative tour. Gerry was organized and helpful - particularly pointing out gluten- and dairy- free options so i could enjoy the different cuisines with abandon. His tour was peppered with interesting history of the area. After the food tour he sent a list of the different plates we had sampled as there was an enormous amount of dishes to keep track of. I can't imagine a better tour, especially considering our guide Gerry. Would definitely recommend.
Thank you! We had an amazing time. Would thoroughly recommend!
Traveler344246,Mar 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fabulous experience. Thank you
Great time
laurasmith66,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It exceeded all expectations. Gerry was an excellent guide who knew everyone and gave us a fabulous day. Would highly recommend and would use again
Comprehensive tour of Singapore history and culture
stevenhB474JG,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A very informative tour of Chinatown ,little India and Arabic area. Lots of cultural and history of Singapore.
Best tour in Singapore
Poolefmly,Mar 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an amazing full-day tour with Gerry in Singapore. Experiencing authentic local foods and exploring on foot from Chinatown to Little India and the Arab/Malay districts was something I could not have done without Gerry’s incredibly knowledgeable guidance. I only had one day in Singapore, and I’m so glad I followed the recommendation to take Gerry’s tour. He also makes it very easy to get to and from the airport. I highly recommend this tour—especially if you’re deciding between several options like I was!
Fabulous tour
Beverly B,Mar 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a small group tour 7-8 people max, so it was very enjoyable. Gerry was a great guide and a wealth of knowledgel and welcomed asking questions.
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