Tours/Singapore/Private History & Culture tour (Walking tour)
Viator · Private tour

Private History & Culture tour (Walking tour)

5.0(79)Singapore1 hour
VIATOR5.0(7)TRIPADVISOR5.0(72)

Description

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.

Tour 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.

Itinerary

Admission included45 min

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.

10 min

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

10 min

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.

10 min

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.

Admission included30 min

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

Admission included30 min

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

10 min

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

20 min

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.

20 min

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

10 min

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.

Admission included15 min

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

Admission included30 min

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!

Admission included30 min

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!

Highlights

Traditional tea tasting experience with take home souvenir
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Private tour
Professional guide
Sugar cane juice
Dinner (Chicken Rice)

What's included

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)
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.

Pickup Locations & Times

We pick up from ALL hotels in Singapore. Please select the 5 hours pick-up version of the tour when booking. There is a surcharge for the airport and airport hotels of SG$25.

Traveller Ratings

5.0
79 reviews
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79
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3
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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.

Reviews(79)

K
karengM9312VA
June 4, 2026
Fantastic!!!

had a fantastic experience on this solo guided walking tour of Singapore! The tour was both interesting and fun, offering fascinating insights into Singapore's history, culture, and hidden gems that I would never have discovered on my own. A special thank you to Pamela, who was an outstanding guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing stories and historical details in a way that was engaging and easy to follow. Her enthusiasm, sense of humor, and friendly personality made the experience even more enjoyable. It felt like exploring the city with a knowledgeable friend who truly loves what she does.

Operator response

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic experience exploring Singapore with us. A special thank you for your kind words about Pamela. She is truly passionate about sharing Singapore's history and culture, and we will be sure to pass along your compliments to her. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you back to Singapore again soon!

M
Maps63449270287
May 12, 2026
Excellent Tour with Gene

It was an excellent tour. Gene - our tour guide - was very knowledgeable and provided us with very interesting insights to Singapore’s culture and history. I absolutely loved that we went through the fill mosaic of Singapore’s culture- not the regular tourist spots, but also how Singaporeans live their daily lives

Operator response

Thank you so much for your kind feedback. We’re truly delighted to hear that you had an excellent experience with Gene.Thank you once again for joining the tour, and we hope to welcome you back to Singapore again in the future!

R
Rosemary_S
January 14, 2026
Great introduction to Singapore

First time in Singapore, so thought we’d get a guided tour to orientate ourselves. Our guide for the day, Kavin, made early contact and gave concise information about when and where we were to meet. Both he and we were punctual! After a brief online registration, we were good to go. Kavin was an excellent guide, with whom we quickly developed a good rapport. The tour itinerary we chose in advance, so we knew what to expect; our guide proved to be the perfect complement to that tour - we enjoyed his company, and hope he enjoyed ours (if maybe not some of Tony’s jokes!) During the rest of our stay we were able to travel with the background knowledge Kavin had provided, and said a quiet “Thank you” to him on several occasions. Would wholeheartedly recommend both Kavin and the company he represented so well. Rosemary & Tony Stacey (Worcestershire, UK)

K
K4715UOkathleens
November 5, 2025
Loved our Singapore Foodie Tour!

Su 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.

H
Haznig
November 5, 2025
Highly recommend this tour

Kavin was a perfect guide teaching us the history and culture of this beautiful country. Was varied and so interesting.

V
V6499WGmichaelo
October 21, 2025
Excellent snapshot of Singapore’s past and present

We 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.

D
DvirCohenTravller
July 19, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *“And Then Came Richard…”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *“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.**

Operator response

Wow – Thank you so much for this incredible review! We are beyond happy to hear how deeply Richard’s tour resonated with you. His passion for storytelling and history truly brings Singapore to life, and we are so glad you felt like insiders by the end of the day. We will be sure to share your wonderful words with him — he will be thrilled. Wishing you many more meaningful journeys ahead, and we hope to welcome you back again someday!

S
stefaniesZ8910GI
May 4, 2025
An Unforgettable Singapore Experience!

I 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!

Operator response

Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're thrilled to hear you had such an amazing time on the tour and that each stop—from St Andrew’s Cathedral to the Pinnacle@Duxton Skybridge—left a lasting impression. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the balance of history, iconic sights, and authentic local experiences like the meal at Maxwell and the serene Tea Chapter visit. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Singapore for more discoveries in the future!

H
helenmJ9113TG
April 21, 2025
You should seriously look at this tour!

A 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.

Operator response

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We are so glad you enjoyed exploring Singapore with us and that the tour gave you new insights into the city. It's great to hear that you also loved the River cruise ride—it's one of our favorite ways to see the skyline too! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on your next visit.

J
Jennifer_W
April 7, 2025
Perfect start to my trip.

This 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.

Operator response

Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Jennifer! We're so glad to hear that the tour was a perfect start to your Singapore trip. Kavin will be thrilled to know his enthusiasm and knowledge made such a strong impression. It's great that you enjoyed learning about the history and culture—your kind words mean a lot to us! Wishing you many more memorable experiences on your travels!

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