No trip to Singapore would be complete without a visit to Chinatown here. Historically, this is the settlement area, inhabited by many immigrants from China, accounting for more than three-quarters of the total population here, right from the time when the island nation was still a colony of Britain. So, if you come here, don’t be too surprised to find many different cultural features here. With all kinds of eateries, cheap food and a variety of choices, and most importantly, Chinatown is very close to famous tourist attractions and attractions in Singapore.
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So, what to do in Chinatown Singapore and where to go in Chinatown Singapore? Let’s check out our suggested 10+ Chinatown Singapore things to do including best things to do in Chinatown Singapore, Chinatown Singapore places to visit, Chinatown Singapore what to see to help you planning a perfect trip to the must-go place in Singapore! So, if you have the opportunity to travel to the island nation of lions, do not miss Chinatown. Let Living Nomads reveal to you the 10+ best things to do in Chinatown, Singapore right now.
What to do in Chinatown Singapore: Chinatown’s Maxwell Food Centre
The food stalls of the Hawker center are always considered the best places to experience the authentic flavors of Singapore’s signature food as well as the local people. Therefore, the Maxwell Food Centre is considered one of the most popular places for tourists and locals in the Chinatown Singapore. If you want to enjoy a delicious meal in local-style, then don’t miss Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown, we believes you will not be disappointed.
The most special dish here, perhaps everyone knows and should not be missed if coming to Chinatown is Hainanese chicken rice at Tian Tian rice restaurant which is honored to receive a Michelin star with only a small stall with a rice dish that it seems simple, but it has a very unique aftertaste, making diners who have eaten it will want to eat again. However, you should note that if you want to enjoy an authentic delicious plate of Hainanese chicken rice here, you have to wait a long time, because there is always a large number of visitors queuing up at the door to enjoy the dish. But we believe that your waiting effort is completely worth it with this “small but great” plate of chicken rice.
If you do not want to wait, then there are still many stalls selling Asian cuisine waiting for you to visit and enjoy at Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown.
Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Every day of the week, from 8 am to 2 am the next morning
Phone number: +65 6225 5632
Where to go in Chinatown Singapore: Chinatown Complex
The complex in Chinatown is considered the second largest hawker center in Singapore with more than 260 food stalls, ensuring to serve visitors a variety of authentic Singaporean street food, from traditional dishes From Hainanese Chicken Rice and Char Kway Teow, to craft beers and there are even Michelin-starred restaurants but the food is so affordable, you won’t have to worry about your wallet when you come here and only leave when you are full.
In addition, more than 470 fresh stalls and small sundries are located throughout the building, you will feel really dizzy when you get lost in this market. And the most special feature here is the image of old people sitting together in covered areas to chat or play typical Chinese games, such as chess.
Address: 335 Smith Street, Outram, Singapore
Opening hours: All days of the week, from 8 am to 12am
What to do in Chinatown Singapore: NUS Baba House
Peranakan culture is considered a unique blend of Malay cultures with Chinese immigrants, found mainly in Malaysia and Singapore. This bright blue house is a prime example of a traditional Peranakan terrace house. This is also the home of a man of Peranakan culture, also known as Baba for short, named Wee Bin. He lived with his descendants for generations in this very house.
The furniture and decorations, antiques in the house made by people (artifacts) are all relics that appeared and existed in the house when Mr. Wee Bin’s family for many generations was still live here. These things that make NUS Baba House a true representation of the Peranakan culture that has and has always existed in Singapore in the 19th and 20th centuries to this day. If you want to come here to learn and visit, you should contact to book in advance so that someone can follow the guide for more useful information.
Address: 157 Neil Road, Bukit Merah, Singapore
Phone number: +65 6227 5731
Opening hours: Weekdays, except Monday and Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm
Where to go in Chinatown Singapore: Thian Hock Keng Temple
Thian Hock Keng Temple is one of the oldest Chinese temples built in Singapore. The temple was built in 1845, by people from Fujian, China.
The temple itself is a testament to the architectural style of the South China region and was assembled and built without the use of a single nail, along with intricately carved reliefs on walls and roof, making the temple unique and attracting many visitors.
The temple was originally built along the coast when land reclamation had not yet taken place. Any immigrant who has just arrived in Singapore will come here to worship, thanking them for helping them have a safe trip cross the sea.
The main deity worshiped here is Mazu – the goddess of the sea. But the temple also worships Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism and ancestors.
Address: 158 Telok Ayer Street, Outram, Singapore
7:30AM–5PM
Phone number: +65 6423 4616
Sri Mariamman Temple
In Chinatown, there are countless places of worship of different religions, including the Sri Mariamman Temple – the first Hindu temple built in Singapore.
The temple was built in the early 19th century by immigrants from South India for the purpose of worshiping the goddess Mariamman. The temple follows the same architectural style as Dravidian temples, with a towering gopuram (a monumental entrance tower), decorated with six floors filled with sculptures of figures from Hindu mythology and culture which intricately decorated.
Historically, the Sri Mariamman temple has been the center of Hindu culture and a center for helping immigrants. Today, the temple still retains much of its social, cultural and religious significance within the Hindu community itself. You can visit the Sri Mariamman temple in the evening to see the Hindu rituals performed every day of the week.
Address: 244 South Bridge Road, Outram, Singapore
Hours: 6AM–12PM, 6–9PM
Phone number: +65 6223 4064
Chinatown Singapore things to do: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple stands proudly along South Bridge Road. This is a relatively young temple, built in 1989 and restored to its current form and location in 2007 with a traditional Tang style design and red lacquered roofs, helping the architecture in Chinatown become more unique and diverse.
True to its name, the temple keep the sacred Buddha tooth relic that the public can admire and look at. However, only monks can enter the relic worshiping rooms. In addition, the temple of the Buddha’s tooth is also a museum containing other Buddhist antiquities that are worshiped and revered by everyone.
Address: 288 South Bridge Road, Outram, Singapore
Hours: 7AM–5PM
Phone number: +65 6220 0220
Chinatown Singapore places to visit: Keong Saik Road
The former Keong Saik Road area has a rather murky past as a red light district with many brothels built, along with the housing of wealthy businesswomen and crowded, chaotic, complex residential areas next to cafes and grocery stores.
However, today, the Keong Saik Street has become one of the most recommended places to visit if visitors come to Chinatown, Singapore with a series of restaurants with a comfortable, airy, cool space next to hotels designed in a classic and luxurious style, along with pubs and bars in the “hipster” style, which are extremely attractive to tourists. We believe that visiting the Keong Saik Road area is one of the top 10 things to do in Chinatown, Singapore that you should not miss.
Address: Keong Saik Road, Outram, Singapore
Best things to do in Chinatown Singapore: The Pinnacle Sky Garden 50th Storey Skybridge
Pinnacle@Duxton is Singapore’s tallest public housing complex, located on buildings near Chinatown. There are two skyscraper bridges that connect the two towers together, but only one rooftop on the 50th floor is open to visitors for a fee and is limited to 200 guests per day.
On a clear day, if you come here, you will be able to admire the panorama from the observation deck that can see the entire scene of Chinatown and the surrounding apartment and office buildings.
Especially, on occasions such as National Day and New Year, New Year’s Eve, when Singapore holds fireworks and other aerial shows, the Pinnacle @ Duxton area is considered one of the best places to visit. The best way to see the whole show with a beautiful view. If you come to Singapore on the above occasions, we advise you not to miss Pinnacle @ Duxton.
Address: 1G Cantonment Road, Outram, Singapore
Hours: 9AM–9PM
Phone number: +65 1800 225 5432
Chinatown Singapore what to see: Ann Siang Hill
The narrow lanes of Ann Siang and Club Street are always very busy at night, but especially on Fridays and Saturdays, the shops on this road are always closed so people can easily save traffic and people wishing to have fun on the weekend can easily go to restaurants and bars, turning this place into a very bustling and vibrant nightlife city.
You can choose from rooftop bars to a variety of restaurants, eateries with cozy atmosphere, or dynamic bars or luxurious locations to have a really “chill” night with you. friends in the Ann Siang Hill area when coming to Singapore.
Location: Ann Siang Hill, Outram, Singapore
Everton Park
Located on the edge of the busy Chinatown, bustling with people, is Everton Park where a car collection of the oldest shophouses in Singapore is located quietly in the middle of a quiet residential area.
If you are a coffee lover, especially pure coffee beans, then this area will be the ideal place for you as it is extremely easy to find many well-designed and cafes decorated in hipster-style and other retail stores that specialize in these items are nestled among traditional knickknacks.
Besides, what makes the Everton park area special and outstanding, becoming one of the most must-visit spots in Chinatown, Singapore is the paintings painted on the walls and various types of other street arts, turning this street into a colorful and unmistakable work of painting. If you are a enthusiast and love street art, then we suggest you not to miss Everton Park if you have the opportunity to visit Chinatown, Singapore.
Address: Everton Park, Bukit Merah, Singapore
The Chinatown Singapore is considered one of the areas where many typical cultures are concentrated, especially the Chinese culture with architecture, stalls as well as street food. If you are a lover of Chinese culture and want to experience the feeling of “one day as a Chinese”, then we advise you not to miss the Chinatown. Come here and experience something special, you will certainly not waste your time.
Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Singapore you can refer to
- Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) Private Transfer
- Shared Changi Airport Transfers (SIN) for Singapore Hotels
- Singapore Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour (Open-Top)
- Sentosa FUN Pass
- Singapore City Pass (2/3 Days)
- [Klook Exclusive] Universal Studios Singapore™ 1 Day Ticket
- Gardens by the Bay Ticket Singapore
- S.E.A. Aquarium™ One-Day Ticket
- ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands Ticket
- Singapore Cable Car Sky Pass
- Jewel Changi Airport Attraction Tickets in Singapore
- Singapore Flyer Tickets
- Skyline Luge Singapore: Skyline Luge & Skyride
- Marina Bay Sands Skypark Observation Deck or Sampan Ride
- Adventure Cove Waterpark™ One-Day Ticket
- Science Centre Singapore, Butterflies Up-Close, Omni Theatre
- Singapore River Cruise
- Madame Tussauds Singapore Ticket
- Wings of Time Show Ticket in Singapore
- LiHO TEA in Singapore
- Singapore Travel Card (NETS FlashPay)
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets
- Klook Pass Singapore
- 4G Prepaid Sim Card (Changi Airport Pick Up) for Singapore
- 4G WiFi (SG Airport Pick Up) for Singapore
- 4G Portable WiFi for Singapore from Uroaming
- 4G WiFi (SG Pick Up) for Europe
Are you finding more top things to do in Singapore: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Singapore travel blog — The fullest Singapore travel guide blog for a budget trip to Singapore for the first-timers.