Singapore Private City Tour: Colonial District & Hidden Gems
See Singapore through a local's eyes, not a tour bus window.
A private city tour of Singapore with a knowledgeable local guide who shows you Colonial District, Chinatown, Tiong Bahru Market and other landmarks at your own pace. The tour runs 3 to 7 hours depending on which option you choose. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included on the longer tours, along with a local drink or snack. You visit attractions from the outside and can personalize the route based on your interests.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Singapore's highlights and gems
- Visit Colonial District landmarks
- See St. Andrew's Cathedral
- Explore Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall
- Visit Raffles Hotel
- Optional stops based on host's route
- St. Andrew's Cathedral 1h
- Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall 30m
- Raffles Hotel 30m
- City Hall passing by
- Merlion Park passing by
- Qi Tian Gong Temple passing by
- ArtScience Museum passing by
- National Orchid Garden passing by
- Gardens by the Bay passing by
What’s included
- Private multilingual local guide in English.
- hotel pickup and drop-off on the 4-hour and 7-hour full coverage tours.
- private transportation by car and driver on the car tour option.
- public transportation on the full coverage tours.
- one local drink or snack on the 4-hour and 7-hour options.
- Every day 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00
Information
Private Singapore city tour with a local guide exploring Colonial District, Chinatown, and Tiong Bahru Market, including hotel pickup and local snacks.
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The experience
The Colonial District anchors the first part of the tour, where you'll see St. Andrew's Cathedral, Raffles Hotel, City Hall and the museums that line this stretch of Singapore's center. Your guide walks you through the stories behind the buildings and explains what makes each one matter to the city. The itinerary moves from there into Chinatown and Tiong Bahru Market, where the pace slows enough to take in the neighborhood itself: the shopfronts, the food stalls, the way locals actually move through the streets. Depending on your interests and your guide's route, stops at Merlion Park, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Gardens by the Bay or the ArtScience Museum can be woven in.
You choose between a shorter tour by car or full coverage that stretches 4 or 7 hours and includes hotel pickup, public transportation for parts of the route, and a local drink or snack. The car option gets you through the highlights faster. The longer tours let you linger and explore neighborhoods on foot. Either way, it's just you and your guide: no group, no fixed schedule beyond the time you've booked, and no pressure to move faster than you want to.
The guide speaks English and knows Singapore well enough to answer questions that go beyond the standard landmarks. Because the tour is private, you can ask to skip a stop, spend extra time somewhere, or change direction based on what interests you once you're out there. The tour is carbon-neutral, and the guide earns a fair fee directly: money that stays in the local economy instead of flowing to a big operator.
Top questions
What's the difference between the car tour and the full coverage options?
The private car tour is shorter and covers highlights by vehicle. The 4-hour and 7-hour full coverage tours include hotel pickup and drop-off, mix walking with public transportation, and come with a local drink or snack. The longer one gives you more time to explore neighborhoods on foot.
Will we go inside the museums and attractions?
The tour visits attractions from the outside. You see them, learn about them from your guide, and take photos, but entrance fees to museums and paid sites are not included and are your choice to add.
Can I change the route once the tour starts?
Yes. The tour is private and personalized to your interests. You and your guide can adjust the route, spend more time at a neighborhood you like, or skip a stop based on what you want to see.
Does the tour include lunch or meals?
The 4-hour and 7-hour full coverage tours include one local drink or snack. Meals beyond that are not included, though your guide can point you toward places to eat.
What time does the tour start?
Start times are flexible and arranged when you book. If you choose a full coverage tour, hotel pickup is included, so the guide will meet you at your accommodation.
Is this tour suitable for children or people who can't walk much?
The tour works for all fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. For the car tour, you spend most time in the vehicle. For walking tours, let your guide know your pace when you book so the route can be adjusted.
Operated by Withlocals. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated today
Singapore Private City Tour: Colonial District & Hidden Gems
3h–7h · EN
from S$ 207 per person
≈ US$ 160 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.