Singapore: Street Food Tour Chinatown, Little India & Kampong Glam
Singapore’s flavors, stories and laughter across three cultures
You’ll wander Singapore’s Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Gelam with a local guide: sampling street food at UNESCO hawker centres, learning how to ride public transport, and hearing stories you won’t find online. Taste dishes passed down for generations and catch small moments (like saving your seat with tissues or laughing over mispronounced words) that stick with you long after.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Singapore's ethnic neighbourhoods
- Visit Chinatown and learn history
- Sample street food at Chinatown hawker centre
- Take public transport to Little India
- Explore Little India markets and temples
- Sample street food at Little India hawker centre
- Take public transport to Kampong Glam
- Visit Sultan Mosque and learn history
- Enjoy local desserts in Kampong Glam
- View colourful murals in Kampong Glam
- Chinatown Singapore 1h 10m
- Kampong Glam 1h 10m
- Little India 1h 10m
What’s included
Your day includes optional hotel pickup and drop-off (depending on your location), all tastings at two UNESCO-inscribed hawker centres plus dessert in Kampong Gelam, bottled water or soda, coffee or tea, beer at select stops, all public transport fares with guidance from your accredited local host, and plenty of stories along the way before heading back full (and maybe a little sun-kissed).
- Monday to Saturday 09:00
Information
Wander Singapore’s vibrant neighborhoods with a local guide, taste UNESCO hawker food in Chinatown & Little India, and ride the MRT, hotel pickup included.
Compare the 3 alternatives
Traveler reviews
The experience
I’ll be honest, I nearly bailed when I saw the lunchtime crowd at the Chinatown hawker centre. It was this wall of noise: clattering plates, bursts of Hokkien, steam rising from somewhere behind a row of old uncles in white tank tops. Our guide (Li, who grew up nearby) just grinned and said, “Don’t worry: follow me.” Somehow we squeezed through and she pointed out which stalls had been here since her dad’s time. The char kway teow was smoky and sweet but what really got me was the way people saved seats with tissue packets. I tried to do it too but almost lost my spot to a granny who winked at me like she knew I was new.
We hopped on the MRT after that: Li showed us how to tap in (I fumbled with my card, obviously), and zipped over to Little India. The air changed completely. Suddenly it smelled like jasmine flowers and fried dough. There were garlands everywhere, shopkeepers calling out in Tamil or English or both. At the UNESCO hawker centre here, I tasted dosa for the first time (crispy on the edges, soft inside) with sambar that made my nose run a bit. Li laughed when I tried to say “vadai” properly (I probably butchered it). She told us about her favorite temple growing up and how her mum used to buy spices from this one stall that’s still there.
Kampong Gelam was last. The sun was starting to dip so everything looked gold against the Sultan Mosque’s dome. We wandered past murals and tiny shops selling fabrics so bright you’d swear they glowed. Dessert came from a little place where the owner handed us bowls of something cold and coconutty (I can’t remember the name now, should’ve written it down). There was this moment where we all just stood there eating quietly while call to prayer drifted over the rooftops. It felt like being let in on a secret part of Singapore that doesn’t show up in guidebooks.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 58 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 15 minutes before departure.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.
How long does the Singapore street food tour last?
The tour covers three neighborhoods (Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Gelam), and usually lasts half a day.
Are vegetarian options available on this tour?
This tour is not recommended for vegetarians as many experiences are meat-based.
Does this day trip include public transportation?
Yes, your guide will show you how to use Singapore’s MRT and buses between stops.
What kind of food will I try during the tour?
You’ll sample classic dishes at UNESCO hawker centres in Chinatown and Little India plus dessert in Kampong Gelam.
Is this Singapore street food tour suitable for families?
Children are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Prams aren’t recommended due to crowds.
Can travelers with mobility aids join this tour?
This experience isn’t suitable for travelers using personal mobility devices or prams.
Operated by Singapore Foodsters. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Singapore: Street Food Tour Chinatown, Little India & Kampong Glam
5h 30m · EN
from S$ 200 per person
≈ US$ 159 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.