Experience hosted by Arthur, Monica & other locals
Private Tour
Carbon Neutral
You’ve probably heard that Singapore is well-known for its Colonial Heritage, but do you know the stories and origin behind it? Or how much influence it has on the locals daily life? On this private city tour, you are in for a cultural treat!
Destination
Singapore
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
2.5 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, 中文, Melayu, Msa
Included
Private Guide
All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
Excluded
Entrance to Attractions
6 reasons to book this tour
Can be 100% customized to your wishes
Get to truly embrace the culture of the city
Learn about the Colonial Heritage in Singapore
Connect with a knowledgeable local
Hear fascinating stories and insights
Discover cultural highlights & their local relevance
What you can expect
Relive the days of the British Empire as you explore the heart of colonial Singapore. This walking tour will take you to some of the city’s most iconic colonial landmarks, blending stories of Sir Stamford Raffles, the East India Company, WWII, and the path to independence.
As you stroll past grand neoclassical buildings and through leafy boulevards, your local host will bring history to life with tales of early merchants, civil servants, and the shifting tides of empire. Along the way, take time to admire the beauty of restored buildings and enjoy the calm of historic green spaces in the midst of a modern metropolis.
This is a journey of heritage, contrast, and transformation — perfect for travelers curious about Singapore’s layered history.
Through your local host’s storytelling skills and different stops, you’ll fully submerge yourself in the culture of Singapore and dive into the subject of your tour, Colonial Heritage. Discover cultural traits around Colonial Heritage and how they have shaped Singapore, from past to the present. Because isn't culture what makes a city truly special?!
The local hosts are natural storytellers, each with a different background ranging from history to art. They can't wait to share some of their unique stories and personal anecdotes with you! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes and make their Singapore, your Singapore!
Choose your local
Get to know these 10 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.
Arthur
The Real Foodie
4.866 reviews
English・中文
Monica
The Attentive Local
5.0175 reviews
English
Jon
The Licensed Driver
4.979 reviews
English・中文
Stefan
The Vocalist and Sustainability Advocate
4.617 reviews
English・中文
HJ
Culture and Heritage
4.9273 reviews
English・中文
Jack Zhao
The Passionate Local Specialist
4.8145 reviews
English・中文
Joisse
The Lovely Guide
5.052 reviews
English
Kang
One of us is a horse
5.01 review
English・中文
Marcus
Easy going person
4.749 reviews
Melayu・English・Msa・中文
Grayson
The True-Blue Singaporean
4.9245 reviews
English
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.
Meeting point
Meet at at the entrance of the church - Singapore to start your journey
Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
Culture of the City
On this private tour, you’ll experience and discover Singapore through its culture. Whether it’s focused on a tradition, a special part of town with a story to tell, cultural beliefs, or around a cultural activity that shaped the city into what it is - this tour will be a cultural awakening you can’t miss!
Colonial Heritage in Singapore
Your tour will focus on Colonial Heritage, a very important cultural subject in Singapore. Thanks to your local host, you’ll learn and see how Colonial Heritage made an impact in Singapore, making you experience the city from a different perspective.
Cultural Highlights
As you deep dive into the subject of your tour, you’ll make stops to visit unique spots that will give you a full picture of the city. Visit Chijmes, Cavenagh Bridge, Raffles Hotel, and more and see how these cultural highlights are part of the local life but have so much history behind them!
Storytelling Journey
As you discover the cultural side of Singapore, you’ll be able to embrace it thanks to the amazing stories and storytelling skills of your local host. Feel free to ask any questions and feel as if you are reliving history in the present time.
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
Flexible cancellation policy
Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
Charlotte and Richard🇳🇿 New Zealand
(About local )
8 September 2025
We chose tour in order to learn about the colonial history of Singapore. Grayson was an excellent guide and certainly did not disappoint us. He is knowledgeable, interesting and took us to buildings and places that played important roles in the colonial times. He relayed the history of Singapore around these buildings.
Grayson had great communication from the moment we booked. We highly recommend Grayson as a guide and this tour.
Excellent tour - highly recommend
b9ckzjdthd
(About local )
19 August 2025
We really had a good time with Jon. He explained a lot about Singapore’s local culture and took us to one local hawker centre. When you want to see the old Part and the new Part and of Singapore‘s Chinatown, choose Jon! He listened carefully to our questions and answered them well. Great tour
Paolo🇮🇹 Italy
(About local )
7 August 2025
Tinneke🇦🇹 Austria
(About local )
13 September 2025
We had such a great time with Grayson! He’s super friendly, very thoughtful, and his English is excellent – he’s got such a rich vocabulary. What really stood out was that he didn’t just tell us about the dishes we tried, but also shared so much about life in Singapore and its different cultures.
The food was amazing – every dish was tasty and the order they came in made perfect sense. Our top favorites were definitely the curry puffs, ondeh-ondeh, and the popiah.
All in all, it was a really fun and delicious experience. We’d 100% recommend doing this tour with Grayson!More Than Just Food – A Fantastic Tour!
Basile
(About local )
12 September 2025
Maeve🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
10 September 2025
Jonathan🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
10 September 2025
A great all round experience. Thank you Grayson, you were excellent! No hesitation in recommending others to enjoy this tour. Bravo!!5 Singapore Stars!
Ernest
(About local )
10 September 2025
We have just finished a wonderful walking tour through Gardens of the Bay with Marcus and cannot express how happy and satisfied we felt after the tour. Marcus was incredibly knowledgeable about Singapore and the Gardens and was very caring and ensured we remained comfortable in the heat. He obliged by taking many pictures of us and we have a great photographic record of the visit.
We were very impressed by his courtesy and friendliness and if you are booking a tour through the Gardens make sure Marcus is your allocated guide.Ernest and Adrianne
Stephen
(About local )
9 September 2025
We loved our tour with Grayson, took us at a comfortable pace so that we never felt rushed. The food was delicious and we now feel comfortable navigating hawker markets (110 in Singapore!) and the MRT thanks to G’s tips.
We will definitely be sampling some of these delights again before we leave Singapore!!Knowledgable local, super chill
Gwyn
(About local )
9 September 2025
Very informative about the food, culture and history of Geylang and Joo Chiat. It was great to try different dishes we would not normally experience. The condensed milk hot tea was an unexpected pleasure for a coffee drinker. Marcus was excellent. 10 Tastings: Geylang & Joo Chiat Food Tour
Michelle🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 September 2025
Jon was an incredible guide and host. The tour was wonderful - all the food stops were delicious and we learned so much about the food, the culture and the amazing nation of Singapore. Highly highly recommended!! Thank you Jon!!!Singapore Food Tour with Jon
Julian🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
6 September 2025
We loved our tour with Grayson. Since one of us is vegetarian, he organized a perfect vegetarian friendly tour. Food was delicious and time was well spent. Perfect tour, oerfect guide
David and Nicola🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
5 September 2025
Great tour with Jon who not only introduced us to some great food but told us a lot about life in Singapore and the history of the country Jon is ace
Ron🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
5 September 2025
The tour was great and Grayson was wonderful. We saw areas of Singapore we had never seen before and Grayson's knowledge of history was great. The food tasting were good. Visiting the various hawker centres was a great way to taste local. Not all the food was too our liking, but that's part of the experience.A Great Tour
Sean🇳🇿 New Zealand
(About local )
2 September 2025
Tour was really good, excellent value and Jon was an excellent tour guide, he was extremely informative of culture and history in Singapore. Highly recommend this tourCrazy Rich Asians Tour
Hugo
(About local )
29 August 2025
Grayson has been an exceptionally empathetic guide to our family, sharing profound knowledge of local history, architecture, and traditions. We were thoroughly satisfied with his services and would highly recommend him. Thank you, Grayson.Wonderful experience and excellent service
Stephanie🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
28 August 2025
Our family had a great time with Kang! He is very knowledgeable about the past and stories of Singapore and loves to share his knowledge. Kang was really thoughtful and flexibly adapted the tour for my children, finding interesting activities for them and making sure they were comfortable in the hot, humid weather. The places we visited on the tour were really interesting and I wouldn’t have found them by myself. And the tips on where to have lunch and what local specialties to try were awesome! Go with Kang, he is a very thoughtful and knowledgeable person who will look after you!
Salvo🇮🇹 Italy
(About local )
27 August 2025
I recently took part in a walking tour of Singapore and was thoroughly impressed by the experience. Our guide Jack was incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and friendly, making the history and culture of the city come alive at every stop. From the bustling streets of Chinatown to the serene gardens of the Colonial District, each location had its own fascinating story, which the guide explained with clarity and enthusiasm.
One of the highlights was learning about Singapore’s multicultural heritage and how the city has evolved over the years. The guide also shared insider tips on local food stalls and hidden gems, which made the experience feel personal and unique.Excellent Walking Tour in Singapore!
Angelika
(About local )
26 August 2025
Monica did a great job. She was very friendly, habe the right amount of historical and new facts. We had rain and took most of the time ways with a ceiling. We Had fun together.Cooler Guide
Adam🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
26 August 2025
Our tour with Grayson was simply fantastic. From the moment we were greeted by Grayson at our meeting place we knew we were in for a brilliant 3 hours. We explored three neighbourhoods that Grayson brought to life with his knowledge and wit. We learned so much about Singapore life and history, which beautifully complemented the delicious food we sampled. Over three hours we sampled foods we would have otherwise never tried if we were on our own. Grayson's knowledge of the foods we tried were the cherry on top.
We would recommend Grayson's tour to anyone visiting Singapore!A tour of food and life in Singapore
Ross🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
22 August 2025
Stephan was a really good guide , had good knowledge and history of the area. As far as a foodie tour , yes we tried a number of foods of different cultures however we felt we could have tasted these foods at random ourselves. For the price we felt it was not good value. Foodie trip
Imelda🇫🇷 France
(About local )
21 August 2025
Grayson was superb. He was punctual, super informative, full of local information in addition to historical information of the 3 cultural centers. He also adjusted our visit based on what we wanted to do. For example, we passed a durian stand and I wanted my daughter to try it so we took a moment to sit down and enjoy some durian. I am sure that was not part of our walk but he was great about accomodating our wants. It was a hot day and Grayson was always mindful of asking us if we need drinks while we walk. Another reason why we really appreciated Grayson is that he brings his own stories to the visit. For example, for our snack in Little India, he explained to us how his family would buy the snack for him as a child. If you want an informative, interesting visit that pulls in a real local's perspective then Grayson is your man. Super Interesting Walk w/ a Super Guide
Nicoletta
(About local )
19 August 2025
This tour was such a wonderful experience! Instead of the usual tourist spots, we got to see the real Singapore — where locals shop, how they live day-to-day, and even visit beautiful temples. Our guide was amazing: warm, funny, and full of interesting insights that made everything come alive. It truly felt like stepping into the authentic side of the city.
What made it even better was that after showing us the local life, she gave us fantastic recommendations on which tourist attractions to visit the next day, so we got the best of both worlds. I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see beyond the usual sights and experience the true spirit of Singapore.What an amazing experience
Jo🇳🇿 New Zealand
(About local )
18 August 2025
We have done many Foodie tours around the world & consider HJ's private Hawker tour absolutely outstanding. For our first time to Singapore we wanted to try Hawker food and find out more about Singapore. That's where going with a local guide you learn so much. The food we sampled was absolutely delicious and we saw alot of Chinatown. Thank you HJ for a memorable night. Fantastic Hawker tour
Lucy Rachel🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
18 August 2025
I’d recommend doing this tour with Jon in the morning and early on in your time in Singapore:
1.its cooler
2. Jon takes you a number of places so great way to get your bearings
3. Jon explains how to use the MRT and get around and suggests other places to visit
4. You won’t need lunch lol
Loved hearing all the cultural and historical insights form Jon so way more than just a food tour a real locals insight. The food tour ticked all our boxes of getting toa number of different hawker markets whilst removing all the guess work of where to go, how to get there, what to order and how to order it and associated etiquette as unsurprisingly in Singapore there are lots of rules for the unwary
Jon was also just a really nice bloke. This was a treat for my wife’s birthday and as if by magic a sparkling candle appeared at our last stop
Thanks Jon - we had a blastQuite literally a full morning
Akiko🇯🇵 Japan
(About local )
17 August 2025
Marcus provided a great tour.
This exceeded our expectations. He's a very friendly and wise guide,
He provided us with a lot of history, culture and background information and answered our questions.
He also took occasional breaks to keep us from getting tired, prepared hand towels to make sure we were comfortable, and recommended delicious food. He was a wonderful, kind and considerate guide.
Would highly recommend.Marcus provided a great tour
Derin🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
17 August 2025
Great day with HJ getting my first intro to Singapore. HJ is a great personality, very cheerful, knowledgeable, very kind and thoughtful. I got very good coverage of the city and the time went quickly. I could have done a couple more hours.
Thank you HJ. HJ is a cracking guide
acfeiner
(About local )
17 August 2025
Here's a possible review for a food tour in Chinatown, Singapore:
*5/5 stars*
"I recently joined the food tour in Chinatown, Singapore, and it was an absolute culinary delight! Our guide, Marcus was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the food and culture.
We visited several iconic eateries and street food stalls, sampling a variety of dishes that showcased the rich flavors and diversity of Singaporean cuisine.
The tour was well-organized, and the portions were just right, so we could try a little bit of everything without feeling overwhelmed. The guide also shared fascinating stories about the history and cultural significance of each dish, which added depth and context to our culinary experience. And of course his inside knowledge of Buddhisme.
What impressed me most was the connections, which allowed us to access some hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path eateries that we wouldn't have discovered on our own.
Overall, I highly recommend this food tour to anyone looking to explore the flavors and culture of Singapore's Chinatown. It's a fantastic way to experience the city's vibrant food scene and make unforgettable memories.
*Recommended for:* Foodies, culture enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a unique and immersive culinary experience.Great personal tour
Jessica🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
9 August 2025
A big thank you to Monica. We spend some realy great hours with her. It was our second time in Singapur and we wanted to explore the city further than usual sights. Monica took us to her neighborhood and showed us how people live in Singapur, how the different religions exsist side by side, showed us the last original houses from 1970 and many more things. While walking with her she shared personal Stories, answered all questions and was really fun talking to. We strongly recommend the tour with her, Monica is a true expert and a gem!Wonderful tour with Monica
Amy🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
7 August 2025
Joisse is a wonderful tour guide. She was so friendly and enjoyable to spend time with. She completely customized the itinerary to our needs and preferences and really made our quick 2 days in Singapore special. Highly recommend!Excellent guide!
David
(About local )
5 August 2025
Marcus was a fantastic guide, who provided an experience that was so much more than a food tour. He was very engaging, and highly knowledgeable about the food and the history of Singapore. We were given more food and drink than we could eat, and such a variety. Cannot recommend Marcus highly enough.Fantastic tour and guide
David
(About local )
5 August 2025
Stefan had great knowledge and led us through the history and future plans of Singapore.
Gary🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
1 August 2025
An absolutely fantastic food tour with Arthur, taking in the tastes of Arab Street, Little India and Chinatown.
Arthur is a superb guide, very funny and engaging, with some fascinating stories about the history of Singapore.
Thank you, Arthur, for such a memorable day. Memorable food tour with Arthur
Marianne
(About local )
31 July 2025
James🇸🇬 Singapore
(About local )
31 July 2025
Enjoyable tour with Stefan. Temples, hdb tour and last remaining kampung visit. Good facts, questions answered and steady pace in hot weather. Nice to see a side to Singapore that is away from the shiny MBS and Singapore sling at the raffles hotel. A refreshing change
Cathy
(About local )
29 July 2025
We have just spent a wonderful afternoon being shown around various locations and tasting some wonderful food along the way (don't eat before you go !!!). Marcus was a fantastic host and really knows his stuff! We learnt so much about the history and culture of Singapore which we would never have done just wandering around ourselves. It also gave us a good grounding of where everything is so will be able to go back to the places again. Marcus was very considerate - making sure we were in the shade when we stopped, supplying us with drinks to keep us hydrated and tickets for the MRT. All in all a fantastic day - thank you Marcus!!! Fabulous food tasting day with Marcus
Lydia🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
27 July 2025
Die Führung mit Grayson war super toll. Er hat uns das Alltagsleben eines Singaporers näher gebracht, verborgene Streetart gezeigt und als Highlight die Nation Gallery.Tolle Führung mit großartigen Highlights
Lydia🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
27 July 2025
Die Führung mit Marcus war sehr informativ. Er wusste vieles zu erklären und erzählen, speziell im Buddha Tempel. Auch alle anderen Sehenswürdigkeiten.Interessante Tour
koen 🇧🇪 Belgium
(About local )
25 July 2025
the perfect start to our Singapore trip
Grayson is a top-notch guide. He takes his time to explain everything clearly and in detail, and we learned so much about Singapore thanks to him. It was 100% worth starting our city trip with his tour. I would absolutely book Grayson again – highly recommended!Outstanding guide
Timo🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
25 July 2025
Grayson is a very knowledgeable guide, who is giving his absolute best for you to make the tour completely worth it: It is not too much information and not to little, just exactly right!
We had an amazing 4 hours with the local Grayson.
Thank you so much! 👍🏼🤩Fun and interesting Tour!
Sascha🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
24 July 2025
thank you so much Jack for your time and experience. it was such a great day and we will never forget the time with you...Highly recommend ... wonderful Guide
Maria🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 July 2025
Jon was very accommodating. He included all the spots we requested based on our short transit time in SIN. Very informative and funny too!
Anna
(About local )
21 July 2025
Would highly recommend Joisse as a tour guide. She met us in our hotel lobby and took us to all the areas we requested and she had a really thorough knowledge of Singapore and its history. She was such a lovely person too - thank you Joisse!Great personalised tour with Joisse
Shirley 🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
19 July 2025
Ze laat je kennismaken met Singapore en zoekt koele routes waar mogelijk.
Gezellig dame, die zegt dat je tenminste 10000 stappen zet en veel van de stad ziet.Vriendelijk, weet alles over de stad!
Dirk🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
18 July 2025
We really had a good time with Arthur. He explained a lot about Singapore’s local culture and took us to the local hawker centres. When you want to see the local side of Singapore, choose Arthur!
Also nice interaction with our daughters, he listened carefully to their questions.Perfect guide for our family!
Andrea🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
18 July 2025
Exceptional knowledge and enthusiasm was passed on to us during the whole tour.A Tour with Arthur
Jacqueline🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
18 July 2025
Grayson was very informative and interesting. It was our first day in Singapore and the tour was a good start to getting to know the place. Very enjoyable!A good introduction to Singapore
Merel🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
16 July 2025
Arthur truly knows his stuff! His tour is 5 hours of delicious food, drinks, history and more. He’s got so much knowledge and takes you to places you wouldn’t normally find yourself. If you are looking for a good tour in Singapore, look no further. A must do in singapore!
Gregory🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
15 July 2025
Fantastic experience from start to finish - including booking.
Could not find tour on website to book - emailed Monica and her quick
reply enabled my booking to proceed - Yay Monica
Ended up at wrong meeting point - messaged Monica and she came
to our location - yay Monica
Tour was for our 5 year old Granddaughter and was exactly what we
wanted to introduce her to food and culture from other countries - including local food , markets etc - yay Monica
Thank you again MonicaTasty Tour for Little Foodies
Laura🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
13 July 2025
Grayson met us on time in the Arab quarter, where we had our first tastings. He selected traditional dishes that locals would choose. He explained how the dish came about and how they are prepared.
Next stop was little India where we visited a Hawker center. On the way over there he explained some aspects of Singaporian life as public housing.
The last stop was China town which we got to with the MRT. The food in Chinatown was really good and interesting. These were dishes that we wouldn’t have selected on our own.
Overall great experience and glad we did it.Great Food Tour
Withlocals experiences
are always
Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.