Botanic Gardens & Tiong Bahru Walking Tour with Breakfast
Description
As Singapore’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Botanic Gardens are a must-see. Spread across 82 hectares with a plethora of walking trails, the Gardens are best enjoyed with a guide who can lead you to the most popular spots and hidden gems effortlessly. Inhale the fresh morning air, do your morning stretches whilst you catch the breathtaking sunrise, watch the locals practise taichi and qigong, spot wildlife, and learn about the rich history of the Gardens, as we go on a leisurely stroll together. On this tour, you’ll have the unique experience of coming face-to-face with the homes of the ultra-rich, and having breakfast at a hawker centre in a public housing estate. Explore the quaint alleyways and experience the old world charm of Tiong Bahru with its bustling wet market, heritage street art, Art Deco architecture, disused bomb shelter, and a Monkey God Temple.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin the morning by taking a stroll through Gallop Park, one of a handful of Good Class Bungalow Zones in Singapore. Come face-to-face with the fabulous homes of the ultra-rich on this sunrise walk.
Continue our stroll through the Good Class Bungalow Zone of Woollerton Park as we enjoy the view of more magnificent homes in this serene, leafy neighbourhood.
Walk up to Atbara and Inverturret, two of the oldest Black & White Houses in Singapore, and enjoy the stunning sunrise as you inhale the fresh morning air, and do your stretching.
Cross HPL Canopy Link which connects Gallop Extension to Learning Forest, two of the most recent additions to the vast grounds of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Listen out for the woodpecker in the bamboo grove, and look out for bushy-tailed squirrels and other wildlife as we traverse Learning Forest on foot.
Learn about the 8 families in the Ginger Order, and have some fun identifying them. Did you know that bananas are gingers too?
As we walk from Ginger Garden to the iconic Bandstand, we pause to gaze across Palm Valley, learn about how the Botanic Gardens attained its UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and watch the locals practise qigong.
Stop to visit the POW steps, a historical gem hiding in plain sight.
Constructed in 1866, Swan Lake is the oldest ornamental water feature in Singapore. Home to a pair of white mute swans, smooth-coated otters can sometimes be spotted frolicking in or around it too.
Catch the MRT from Napier Station to Havelock Station, where we explore Tiong Bahru for the next segment of our tour. Please bring along your own MRT card or credit card to take the MRT.
Stop for traditional breakfast at Tiong Bahru Food Centre, one of the most popular hawker centres in Singapore. After refueling, we explore Tiong Bahru Market, a wet market known for its variety, freshness and quality.
Marvel at the Art Deco architecture of Singapore's first public housing estate. Hunt down the vibrant, interactive, heritage street art by local artist, Yip Yew Chong. Take a peek at a disused Air Raid Shelter. Light a joss-stick at a more than a century old Monkey God Temple.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(5)
We had a wonderful time with Ping. She is very knowledgeable and a great communicator. She made it very entertaining and enjoyable. We saw parts of the Botanical Gardens that were new to us and enjoyed the in depth commentary. We also learnt a great deal about family life and living in Singapore. Ping showed us many examples of Singapore’s unique architecture in addition to her vast knowledge of plants. Ping organised a delicious breakfast of local dishes for us. Thank you Ping for a wonderful morning. Terry and Judy
I booked six walking tours with Ping and can highly recommend them all. Ping is a friendly and very knowledgeable guide and each tour was both informative and well structured, with a great balance of storytelling and historical context. Ping takes photos throughout the tour and sends them to you on the same day, which is a lovely touch and makes the experience even more memorable. The routes are thoughtfully planned, with the walking done in the shade whenever possible. That said, it’s still a good idea to bring a bottle of water with you. Overall, these tours are a fantastic way to explore the area, learn a lot and enjoy a well-organised experience.
Ping has created an excellent tour linking the itinerary to authentic daily life in Singapore. The Botanic Gardens, local side streets of interest, historic spots and hawkers market take you to places you wouldn't otherwise experience. Ping is friendly, knowledgeable and leads a fantastic tour.
I hesitated booking this tour at first because my husband is vegan and it said in the description that breakfast would be at a hawker center. I’m glad I did! Our guide, Ping, walked us thru “local life”, where people of all ages were exercising in the Botanical Gardens, a view of the upscale residences of Singapore, as well as the HDBs and private condos, while catching glimpses of some flora and fauna. Breakfast at the hawker center was really good! I didn’t know Kaya Toast would be that good and filling. I mentioned my husband is vegan, and Ping made sure he had an excellent taste of local breakfast as well. Overall, a wonderful kind of tour that would clock in at least 10,000 steps, appreciate the early morning most tourists wouldn’t see, and remove any fears of eating at hawker centers even if you have dietary restrictions. Looking forward to new tours from this guide when we return to Singapore next.
From beginning to end, this tour was clearly a labour of love for my guide, Ping. Starting in the cool of the early morning, I was led through the botanical gardens and surrounding area, where I leaned about the history of Singapore and it's gardens, and saw the local flora and fauna. We then moved through Singapore, stopping on the way to see the sights, before finishing at Gardens by the Bay. Breakfast at a hawker centre was also a real treat! Ping was extremely knowledgeable and capably answered all of my questions, and I'd recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see early morning Singapore, and beat the heat.
