Private Tour
Private History & Culture tour (Walking tour)
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Join us on a journey through Singapore from past to present. Enjoy dinner in a Hawker Centre and a tea ceremony.
You start your journey with the founding of Modern Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles, visiting historic colonial buildings to learn about the early pioneers who came to Singapore.
You will board a bumboat and cruise down the river through to the present day. Visit Merlion Park and soak in the sunset view of Marina Bay whilst learning about the mega construction project behind it.
Discuss the political reform by Mr Lee Kuan Yew and discover how Singapore went from third-world to first-world in one generation.
Feast on Singapore’s most iconic dish; Chicken Rice at Hawker Centre in Chinatown. Your guide will teach you Hawker Centre etiquette and point out all of the must-try foods in Singapore.
After dinner, retreat to a beautiful teahouse for a traditional tea-tasting experience. Try the Imperial tea that Queen Elizabeth II was served in the very same teahouse.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
You must be physically fit and be able to walk 9km to join this tour. We do walk at a slow casual pace but if you tire easily we will suggest to make use of the occasional taxi ride to cut down the walking. In this case taxi costs would be payable by yourself.
If you are a vegetarian we promise to get you something to eat at the Hawker Centre but we can not guarantee what will be available, it might be quite basic (like rice and veg)
If the tea house is closed for any reason we will include a larger dinner section.
If the rooftop of The Pinnacle is closed due to bad weather we will take you to a different HDB building.
Cancellation Policy: If you cancel more than one week (more than 168 hours) in advance we will give you a full refund (excluding the booking service fee). If you cancel between 7 days and 2 days (between 167 and 48 hours before) we will give you a 50% refund (excluding any service charge). No refund under 48 hours cancellation.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Traditional tea tasting experience with take home souvenir
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Private tour
Professional guide
Sugar cane juice
Dinner (Chicken Rice)
Prices do not include the costs of transport to get to the start and from end points of the tour.
The extra half an hour for hotel pick-up to take you to the start point of the Singapore night tour.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Hello Singapore
This private tour of Singapore is just for you and your friends/family. No one else will join your tour. You can bring a maximum of 12 people on your tour. Private history and culture tours can be booked any day of the week and can start any time between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm Sunday to Thursday and any time from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Tours last 4.5 hours and finish in Chinatown.
St Andrew's Cathedral
Visit the oldest Western religious building, St Andrews Cathedral. It is the largest in Singapore and has existed on the site since 1836
Options
Private History and Culture To
Private History and Culture: A 4.5 hours tour starting in the civic district
SG Tour w Pick-up | 5-hours
A 5-hour private History and Culture tour which includes pick up from your hotel or cruise terminal.
Reviews
76 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Loved our Singapore Foodie Tour!
K4715UOkathleens,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Su Ling did an excellent job showing us Singapore and catering to our interests. She was warm & friendly and a lot Of fun . It was a perfect blend of learning Singapore’s history , cultural food experiences & shopping opportunities.
Highly recommend this tour
Haznig,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kavin was a perfect guide teaching us the history and culture of this beautiful country. Was varied and so interesting.
Excellent snapshot of Singapore’s past and present
V6499WGmichaelo,
Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic 4-hour “History & Culture” tour with Gee. It was very well organized and flowed naturally from colonial landmarks to modern life. We began at St Andrew’s Cathedral, then explored the National Gallery inside the beautifully repurposed former City Hall and Supreme Court (rooftop views, the linking bridge, and even a holding cell!). From Clarke Quay, the Singapore River Cruise brought the city’s story to life before we hopped off at Merlion Park. Highlights kept coming: a peek into historic Clifford Pier (now part of the Fullerton Bay Hotel), a public bus ride to Tanjong Pagar/Chinatown, and the Skybridge at Pinnacle@Duxton—an inspiring example of how the government supports amazing, design-forward social housing with sweeping city views. We then tasted Singapore’s flavors at Maxwell Food Center (classic chicken rice and fresh sugarcane with lemon) and finished with a serene traditional tea ceremony at Tea Chapter. Gee, our guide, was knowledgeable, spoke excellent English, and his passion for Singapore’s heritage and daily life really shone. A great way to meet other interested people and a perfect, compact introduction that weaves history with contemporary Singapore—highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *“And Then Came Richard…”
DvirCohenTravller,
Jul 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *“And Then Came Richard…” We thought we signed up for a walking tour. What we got instead was a full-blown **time-traveling masterclass**, guided by none other than Richard Kan — a walking encyclopedia with charm, wit, and a knack for storytelling that made Singapore come alive. We began at **St Andrew’s Cathedral**, diving straight into the city’s colonial past — from Sir Stamford Raffles’ urban planning vision to the founding pillars of multicultural Singapore. Richard didn’t just share facts — he *painted* them into the walls. At the **National Gallery**, we found ourselves inside prison cells (yes, real ones), discovering the secrets of squat toilets and courtroom dramas, only to rise to the **City Hall rooftop** for a sweeping view of Marina Bay — where history, innovation, and reclaimed dreams stretch into the horizon. And then came the **Singapore River Cruise** — bumboats, trade routes, and the heartbeat of commerce since 1819. With every bend in the river, Richard connected the past with the present, turning buildings into living stories — from the old Parliament to the Fullerton Hotel and Raffles’ landing site. A short MRT ride (yes, he even made the subway feel magical) brought us to **Chinatown**, where gods from all faiths live within a stone’s throw. The “Street of Harmony” wasn’t just a term anymore — it became real, tangible, and profoundly moving. Dinner? A cultural delight. **Hainanese Chicken Rice** at Maxwell Food Centre, washed down with **Sugarcane Lemon**, all while learning about **HDB flats** and why hawker culture was UNESCO-worthy. By now, we were not tourists — we were insiders. And just when we thought it was over, **Tea Chapter** happened — a peaceful, fragrant end where we brewed Chinese tea the traditional way, unwinding everything we had absorbed. Oh, and yes — now we know how to **chope** a table with tissues and avoid looking too **kiasu** at the hawker centre. Richard, you didn’t just guide us. You inspired us. **10/10. Would follow you through history again.**
An Unforgettable Singapore Experience!
stefaniesZ8910GI,
May 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an amazing time on this tour! We visited St Andrew’s Cathedral, explored the National Gallery, and enjoyed stunning views from the City Hall rooftop. The Singapore River Cruise was a relaxing highlight, and the visit to Merlion Park was fascinating. The view from Pinnacle@Duxton's Skybridge was breathtaking, and the local meal at Maxwell Food Centre was delicious. To top it off, the Chinese Tea Experience at Tea Chapter was a peaceful cultural touch. A perfect mix of history, sights, and local experiences—highly recommend!
You should seriously look at this tour!
helenmJ9113TG,
Apr 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide showing these iconic places around Singapore gave us an insight to this city we would never have known. The boat trip was fabulous too. Highly recommended.
Perfect start to my trip.
Jennifer W,
Apr 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour and my tour guide, Kavin, were fabulous. It was a perfect tour for my first day in Singapore. I learned so much about the history and culture of the country and Kavin was enthusiastic and informative and spoke great English. I was very happy with this tour and highly recommend it to everyone.
Tea Ceremony & Boat Ride
Lori J,
Apr 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Mr. Young was a wealth of information. This Tour was well planned and we hit everything that was on the literary. All of the attractions and public transportation costs were included. We enjoyed seeing the Church and tea ceremony. The pace was good and Mr. Young made sure we didn't get overheated.
Great Singapore Tourguide
wfm855,
Feb 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Pam our tour guide was amazing and made our stay in Singapore very special. She did a great job in showing us the sights of Singapore. It was Chinese New Years during our tour and Pam was terrific in both incoporating some of the special events that were occuring into our tour as well as adjusting to special circumstances because of the holiday. We have been traveling for more than 40 years and this was one of the most enjoyable experiences we have had and it was because of the efforts of Pam in ensuring that our time in Singapore was memorable. I highly recommend Pam and we were more than happy that we spent our time with her.
The Best Tour Company and Guide in Singapore
Trip48295191245,
Feb 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We are 4 couples from New Jersey, USA, who spent one night followed 3 weeks later by 4 nights in the city of Singapore. Through my research, I came across two highly rated companies - Hello Hong Kong and Hello Singapore. Over a year ago, I started my communication with Kyati, my point person for my bookings in Singapore. She was absolutely wonderful, helping to put together a 5 tour package for my group of 8 for the 5 nights / 6 days we would be in Singapore. This included gardens, bicycle, cultural, food - it ran the whole gamut of everything to see and experience in Singapore. But the key to the entire tour trip, what made it memorable for all of us, was our tour guide Gee Soo Boo. He was with us for every step of the way on every tour, which was a fantastic move. Because Gee was not only knowledgeable, but he was engaging, funny, complimentary, focused on us...in short, he was the perfect tour guide. He readjusted tours on the fly for things we wanted added and things we didn't need to see. He cut back on some of the food when we got full from the food tour (there is A LOT to eat on this tour...be prepared!). In short, he and the team at Hello Singapore made our stay in Singapore the most memorable it could be. If you are reading this review, you would be foolish to book with any other company than this one, and also foolish if you don't request Gee Soo as your guide.
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Operated by The Hello Tourism Company Singapore Pte Ltd