Private History & Culture tour (Walking tour)

Singapore , Singapore

Private History & Culture tour (Walking tour)

Active

(76 reviews)

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Instant confirmation

Mobile or paper ticket accepted

About this experience

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.

Available 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.

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)

Detailed itinerary

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.

Stop 2

Visit the oldest Western religious building, St Andrews Cathedral. It is the largest in Singapore and has existed on the site since 1836

Now a national monument, this impressive historical building was built in 1926, it bears witness to Singapore's Colonial past and the Japanese occupation, leading up to its independence.

National Gallery is an art museum, overseeing the world’s largest public collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art, consisting of over 8,000 artworks.

Stop 5

Walk up to the Singapore River to the bustling entertainment district of Singapore and learn more about early traders that built their businesses along the river

Stop 6

Board a relaxing ride on a bumboat for an enjoyable cruise along the river. The cost of the Boat Quay River Cruise is included in your tour

Stop 7

Visit Merlion Park and soak in the sunset view of Marina Bay whilst learning about the mega construction project behind it

Stop 8

Visit Esplanade Park, one of Singapore's oldest parks, and reflect on the contributions made to Singapore by many great men at its various memorials.

Stop 9

Soak in the sight of Singapore's bustling bay as you stroll along the waterfront. It is home to some of the city's most distinctive architectural icons

Check out the Fullerton Waterboat House, located at the mouth of Singapore River, adjacent to the Merlion Park. It is part of the Fullerton Bay Hotel, built in the 1940s.

The Pinnacle@Duxton is a 50-story residential development in Singapore's city center. It features the world's two longest sky gardens of 500 meters (1,600 ft) each, on both the 26th and 50th floors

Come and enjoy the famous Maxwell Hawker Centre or other popular food centres in the Chinatown area and taste Singapore's most iconic dish: Chicken rice! and wash it down with freshly squeezed Sugar Cane juice; a real hit on our tours!

Visit a beautiful tea house and learn the art of the tea ceremony and try the Imperial tea that Queen Elizabeth II was served in the very same tea house!

What's not included

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.

Available languages

Guide guide

CMN MS YUE EN

Reviews breakdown

Viator 5.0

6 reviews

5★

4★

3★

2★

1★

Tripadvisor 5.0

70 reviews

5★

4★

3★

2★

1★

Important information

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.

Meeting point

Your tour starts from outside Exit B of City Hall MRT Station. Your guide will be waiting for you at street level. Please fully exit the MTR Station, do not wait inside.
If you are arriving by taxi Exit B is located on North Bridge Road. Ask for St Andrews Cathedral, North Bridge Road.

Important notes

VERY IMPORTANT:
Your tour guide will be communicated to you by message on the Viator messaging system. Please make sure to check your messages.

Your guides contact number and picture can be located at this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I6PKx7UQhoFsH_0E1cL_XcHvw-liYYk4N5msGu4xSKo/edit?usp=sharing

If someone else has booked this tour for you please make sure to email Hello Singapore and provide them with your contact phone number. Your tour guide needs it incase you get lost.

If you have any questions about your tour please contact Hello Singapore at bookings@hellosingaporetours.com

Cancellation Policy: If for whatever reason you want to cancel your booked tour then please note the following. Please email us your notice to cancel and we will confirm a cancellation by email.
• 100% refunds are given if you cancel 7 or more days before your tour.
• 50% of the fee is payable if you cancel your tour 5 or 6 days before your tour.
• There are no refunds if you cancel your tour less than 5 days (119 hours) before the start of your tour.
• There are no refunds if you do not turn up for the tour.

Rescheduling Policy: If you find that your travel plans change or you become ill whilst travelling and wish to reschedule your booked tour we will always do our best to accommodate your request. If we still have availability on the date that you wish to reschedule to the following rules apply:
• We can reschedule a tour at no additional cost if you tell us more than 7 days before your tour is due to take place.
• There will be a 50% rescheduling charge for tours that are rescheduled with 7 of fewer days notice.
• Tours can not be rescheduled with less than 14 hours notice.
• Rescheduling charges can be paid by credit card via invoice.

About Singapore

Singapore is a vibrant, multicultural city-state known for its futuristic architecture, lush green spaces, and diverse culinary scene. It's a blend of modernity and tradition, offering everything from ultra-chic shopping districts to historic temples and serene nature reserves.

Top Attractions

Gardens by the Bay

A stunning 101-hectare nature park featuring iconic Supertree Grove, Cloud Forest, and Flower Dome.

Nature 3-4 hours Moderate

Marina Bay Sands

A world-famous resort with an infinity pool, luxury shopping, and stunning city views.

Architecture 2-3 hours Expensive

Chinatown

A vibrant district with traditional shophouses, temples, and a bustling street market.

Cultural 2-3 hours Free to explore, budget for food and shopping

Singapore Zoo

One of the world's best zoos, known for its open-concept habitats and night safari.

Nature 4-5 hours Moderate to Expensive

Sentosa Island

A resort island with beaches, theme parks, and luxury hotels.

Entertainment Full day Expensive

Must-Try Local Dishes

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Poached chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock, often accompanied by chili sauce and ginger paste.

Lunch/Dinner Contains chicken, gluten, and soy

Chili Crab

A iconic Singapore dish featuring mud crabs stir-fried in a sweet and savory tomato-based chili sauce.

Dinner Contains shellfish, gluten, and soy

Laksa

A spicy noodle soup with a rich, coconut-based curry broth, topped with shrimp, fish cakes, and cockles.

Lunch/Dinner Contains seafood, gluten, and coconut

Satay

Grilled skewers of marinated meat, typically served with a peanut sauce and ketupat (rice cakes).

Snack/Appetizer Contains peanuts, gluten, and soy

Popular Activities

Kayaking Hiking Ziplining Beach lounging Spa treatments Garden strolls Temple visits Museum tours

Best Time to Visit

February to April, and July to September

These periods offer the best weather with less rainfall and plenty of sunshine. It's also when major events and festivals take place.

26-32°C 79-90°F

Practical Information

Language

Official: English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Widely spoken: English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese
English: Widely spoken

Currency

Singapore Dollar (SGD)

Time Zone

GMT+8

Electricity

230VV, 50HzHz

Safety Information

Overall Safety Rating: Very safe

Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world, with low crime rates and strict laws. However, petty crimes like pickpocketing can occur in tourist areas.