• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Want to see the best of Singapore? It’s all waiting in Chinatown & Downtown Core! And as in every Withlocals experience, the real excitement is the hidden gems of this area. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour in Chinatown & Downtown Core, so you can say: I experienced the real Singapore!

Destination

Singapore

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, 中文

Included

• Private Guide
• Local Drink & Snack
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to Attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 16 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

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.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at At the entrance of Chinatown Visitor Centre - Singapore to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. 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.

3. Chinatown & Downtown Core Exploring

   This Singapore tour takes you to explore Chinatown & Downtown Core, where you can see another area of the city. Check out its highlights and hidden gems and its many interesting insights that will show you Chinatown & Downtown Core at its best!

4. Area Highlights

   See from Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Raffles Hotel, St. Andrews Cathedral, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Singapore so unique

5. Hidden Gems

   Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience

6. Magical Storytelling

   Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!

7. Special Treat

   Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions

8. 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

Susan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Leo)

3 June 2025

Where do I begin? It was excellent! Being a solo traveler I like having tour guides and Leo is one of my top 5 memorable guides of all time. He met me at my hotel (very kind of him and convenient for me) and had a loaded metro card ready for me to use. We used the clean and air conditioned underground train and walked for our tour. He knows the Downtown Core like the back of his hand and shared all the past, present and future facts of Singapore with me. He is extremely knowledgeable and enjoys questions. He taught me about their judicial government, Chinese history, educational system, food, religion and even Formula 1 (I’m a big fan). His way of sharing all this information was interesting, personal and timed to perfection so that when we discussed a topic, we were literally standing in that spot. I don’t think there are many places in the world where a tour like this one can exist. Leo and I had a fabulous day together and I was sad for it to end. He gave me valuable information to continue my day and evening. I highly recommend this tour and definitely with Leo. By the way, my metro card still had money left on it so I gave it to a worker at my hotel. It’s good to pay it forward.Amazng day with Leo!

Unknown

(About local HJ)

5 May 2025

HJ führte uns an nicht für alle betretbare Orte: Housing-Project, wir machten einen eindrücklichen Rundgang über die Dächer. HJ erklärte uns das Prinzip. Weiter erhielten wir Einblick ins noch erhaltene ehemalige Chinatown mit den 2stöckigen, bunten Häusern, wir explorierten das Hafenquartier mit historischem Unterbau durch HJ zu den Anfängen von Singapore und dem heutigen Nimbus. Wir können HJ und diese Tour nur wärmstens weiterempfehlen. Mit HJ: umsichtig, klug und humorvoll

JORDAN

(About local Monica)

23 March 2025

My daughter and I had an excellent tour with Monica of Chinatown and the downtown core. Monica did an excellent job with sharing history while making the entire tour fun and interesting- she has a great sense of humor. She did a great job of checking in frequently to see if we needed a rest or refreshments, and adjusted the tour on the fly based on our interests. I would highly recommend taking a tour with her!Great tour with Monica

Susan🇺🇸 United States

(About local HJ)

3 June 2025

HJ was very good at introducing us to lots of Hawker Stalls and food shops in various parts of Chinatown. He also showed us murals and signage that helped explain the history of the Hawker stalls as well as the experience of the Chinese people coming to Singapore and how they lived. Lots of food! Come hungry! Great Hawker Chinatown Experience

Linda🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Monica)

3 June 2025

Monica picked me up at the hotel and showed me a side of Singapore that many tourists don’t see from the singing birds to the original village and local shopping areas. She was so considerate and aware of how hot it was for me that we popped into air conditioned places. So interesting to hear her personal life. A non tourist experience

Ryad🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

(About local Grayson)

29 May 2025

Thank you Grayson for this excellent tour!Top tour!

Lara🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Grayson)

28 May 2025

We had a great food tour with Grayson. In addition to being knowledgeable about the food, he shared lots of good information about Singapore and the history of the area. The foods he chose for us to sample were delicious and he provided a wide range of new flavours for us to try. He was great company all day and I would recommend him to anyone looking for a tour!Top-notch Food Tour

Annabel 🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Monica)

28 May 2025

I had an amazing experience thanks to Monica. She is friendly, passionate, knowledgeable, and considerate. The perfect guide. Highly Recommend!

Paul🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Adam )

27 May 2025

The tour was excellent. Adam was friendly and knowledgeable and provided an insight into Singapore’s history and modern culture. I would recommend Adam to any visitor to Singapore Excellent guided tour

Emily🇺🇸 United States

(About local Grayson)

26 May 2025

My friend and I had a private tour of the hawker centres in Kampong Glam, Little India and Chinatown arranged within a day's notice. We had great food and lots of insights into both historical and modern Singapore. Grayson was kind, funny, considerate and so knowledgeable. This was the highlight of our trip.Wonderful afternoon, wonderful host!

Claire🇦🇺 Australia

(About local HJ)

23 May 2025

We had a fantastic food tour with HJ. He was so knowledgeable about not only the food but also culture and history. We were able to try dishes that we would have missed out on without HJ’s guidance. Thoroughly recommend.Fantastic insights in Hawker Markets

Brian🇺🇸 United States

(About local Adam )

20 May 2025

Don't let the lack of reviews fool you. Adam was an excellent guide for my city tour. We checked in beforehand about my interests and he customized our time to maximize the experience. If you're needing a guide, consider Adam. You won't regret it!Excellent and Knows His Stuff!

Makaylaa

(About local Grayson)

20 May 2025

Grayson was very attentive, professional, and shared lots of information points throughout our tour. He promptly guided us to many different food areas and we sampled Indian, Malaysian, and Chinese dishes. There is a bit of walking involved, so I would recommend bringing a fan and/or an umbrella to cool down. All of the places we stopped to eat at did not have aircon, so just be prepared for the hot weather. Grayson noticed we were thirsty and led us to a nearby 7-11 to hydrate, as well. Grayson also went into more detail about the history of each area we visited and answered all of our many questions about housing, daily life, and more in Singapore. I would definitely recommend this tour with Grayson for anyone looking for an insider view of the city. And to enjoy a variety of delicious treats!Great food with Grayson!

Ulrike

(About local Jack Zhao)

19 May 2025

Jack adjusted the tour to my wishes which was great, I saw a lot and he also extended the schedule. Unfortunately he was quite unfriendly and not in the right mood. Sometimes he weren't listening and didn't answer my questions or in a complete different context and kind of arrogant. Sorry to say that, but I didn't feel welcome. Highlights of Singapur

Sue

(About local Grayson)

9 May 2025

Grayson was a wonderful host as well as trying many food samples he also explained the history of Singapore to us as we went. Having a private tour was great as we were able to stop along the way as well as ask many questions. Highly recommend Grayson as a guide.Great walking tour

Unknown

(About local Grayson)

7 May 2025

Learned a lot about food as well as about old and new Singapore. Grayson knows lots about everything !As promised!

Winifred

(About local Leo)

4 May 2025

Leo was top notch—-great historian, knowledgeable about Singapore’ cultures, government, future development plans, and how Singapore has achieved its current success. Took us to important points of interest. Grew up and lived most of his life in Singapore; shared personal and worthwhile anecdotes! Leo accommodated our interests. Lastly and importantly, Leo is a great communicator! We recommend him highly!!!Wonderful day with Leo!

Martyn

(About local Grayson)

2 May 2025

Grayson was a great guide. We were very happy that not only did he give us such a thorough and interesting food tour, but added so much extra historical facts and information too. We really enjoyed our time with him. Thoroughly recommend him!

Kirsti🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Grayson)

2 May 2025

Great few hours learning about the city’s food and cultural scene. Grayson really took on board what our interests were and based the tour around that which was excellent! Highly recommend. Perfrct intro to Singapore

MICHAEL🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Grayson)

30 April 2025

Helpful and knowledgeable - easy to listen to and learn from in a non complicated manner. Grayson answered all our questions fully and with great patience and helped us get to know Singapore and all its wonderful history and food! If you like food and history we cannot more highly recommend Grayson - he’s the BEST! Fantastic tour with a great guide

Irina

(About local HJ)

30 April 2025

Great host with profound knowledge. Very interesting Tour. Excellent food. A pleasure to listen to the fascinating stories about people and country.Great tour with HJ

Kevin

(About local Kenny)

29 April 2025

Kenny was awesome. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the history and culture of Singapore. His recommendations were spot on, and the food he directed us to was the best I'd had on my vacation. He speaks several languages, and his English was very clear. My friend and I booked a 4 hour tour, and it FLEW by. I gained an immense appreciation for the city, and quickly realized we should have booked even more days there. I had no idea how much Singapore really had to offer, and I'm SO glad we booked this tour. 10 out of 10, worth every penny. When I come back, I'll likely book another tour with Kenny!Stop here--you've found a FANTASIC guide!

justincirone

(About local Chingmeng)

28 April 2025

My new wife and I were recommended to Ching Meng by a friend who toured with him seven years ago and it was incredible! We both absolutely loved the history, the tour, and the food was fantastic. He made the whole trip so simple and worthwhile. He also took pictures of us along the way at beautiful locations. Our parents are visiting Singapore next year and we told them they must do this tour! We cannot speak highly enough of our experienceAmazing!!

Amanda

(About local HJ)

27 April 2025

We did a private tour for the 2 of us with HJ. It was really good, learning about Singapore with a local guide and being guided about the many dishes we got to eat. Everything we ate was delicious, and it was a perfect introduction to Singapore. There was lots of food as well. Great tour with lots of excellent food

Joe

(About local Arthur)

26 April 2025

We recently had the pleasure of exploring Singapore with Arthur - "Hundred" from Withlocals, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the onset, Arthur’s passion for his city and its diverse cultures shone through. He shared fascinating stories and history that were not only engaging, but factually accurate, bringing every neighbourhood we visited to life. Arthur introduced us to a range of quirky, authentic experiences along the way, always tailoring the pace and activities to what we enjoyed most. His attention to detail, kindness, and deep knowledge made this much more than a tour—it was a truly personalized adventure. We highly recommend him to anyone looking to experience the heart and soul of Singapore, truly!Unforgettable Singapore Tour with Arthur

Jodi🇨🇦 Canada

(About local HJ)

26 April 2025

HJ was very knowledgeable about town and we liked how we saw a great deal in a short visit. It was a very hot day and he took us in to many spots that still showed us great info on Singapore while giving us an air con break! Much appreciated! He was generous when taking us to try a hawker area for lunch and we had good conversation. He sent us a pic of himself when he had arrived at the meeting point which was very helpful as his picture on the app does not really look like the same person! lol. Thanks HJ! Very informative tour of Singapore

Gertraud

(About local HJ)

26 April 2025

HJ took me to many different famous places in Singapore. Little China and little India with tempels , hawker centers, shopping streets, the Arabian quarter. He took me up to skyscrapers with an georgous view over the city. He showed me Fort Canning with the history. We did different little walks and he told me little stories. Sometimes I would have liked, that he talks more about the systems, the history, the habits and other things. But it was a great day for me. And for an stop over in Singapore many impressions. Thank you HJ for your guidance. One day in Singapore

Unknown

(About local Jon)

26 April 2025

Couldn’t be happier with our experience with Jon, who is both very knowledgeable and good at adjusting to his group, as well as meeting specific requests!Fantastic guy!

Deborah

(About local Monica)

25 April 2025

We spent a fabulous morning with Monica on our first visit to Singapore with my elderly mother who had never visited before. Monica was so informative and incredibly considerate and patient with us throughout the morning we spent with her. She used different methods of transport for us and found ‘off the beaten path’ little gems to share with us. We spent lunch with her in a fabulous Hawker centre. She has a great sense of humour and was very caring and considerate thoughout the time we spent with her. We couldn’t have asked for any more; 100% amazing lady! Fantastic Guide!

Rebecca🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Joisse)

23 April 2025

Joisse provided my family with a wonderful personalised tour of the cultural and culinary highlights of Singapore. She was so friendly and positive and the kids loved having a local they could ask all their questions about everyday life as well as the history there. A wonderful local specialist

Tim🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Chingmeng)

22 April 2025

Chingmeng provided a great tour. This exceeded our expectations. Not only did we get lots of amazing food and drink, he provided us with a lot of history and background information and answered our questions. The walk between stops was just as valuable as the food stops as we visited places we probably wouldn't have ourselves. Some previous reviews did note a lack of food stops. We disagreed; while there were only three stops, there was plenty of food at each, and we were very full by the end of it. Chingmeng was very responsive to our needs - e.g. avoiding getting wet in torrential rain and ensuring we knew how to get back to our hotel after the tour. Would highly recommend.Great food tour

Timothy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Monica)

21 April 2025

What a delightful time! I just finished a weekend exploring Slngapore with Monica. Monica is experienced and extremely well prepared. If you had expressed special needs or interests ahead of time, you can rest assured that they will be well attended to. Monica knows her city well and is able to make quick schedule adjustments as necessitated by rain, excessive heat, exhaustion or changing interests. She is very sensitive to your physical needs and can always find the clean bathroom, rehydration location or attractive eating or resting spot. Monica knows the back alleys and finds the expeditious routes that minimize crowds and provide maximum cover. She seems to know the stories behind every nook and cranny of the multicultural city that is Singapore. Monica is an infectious student of history. I found that Monica anticipated my needs well and was a delightful and interesting person to converse with. She seems to have a great curiosity and passion for people and places. In ten days I will be returning to Singapore for another short visit. Monica was a real treasure source and I now feel prepared to venture out on my own in this lovely city. . Don' miss this opportunity!

Doris🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Leo)

21 April 2025

Dear Leo Thank you so much for the wonderful tour through the history of Fullerton, Singapore's Old Town, Chinatown, and Malaysiatown. It was so exciting, entertaining, diverse, and fun with you. The pace was perfect, too... The four hours went by so quickly... You're doing a great job, and we wish you continued success and lots of fun as your city's tour guide. All the best, Doris and Dany 4 wonderf.+interest+funny hours with Leo

Suzanne🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Joisse)

20 April 2025

Joisse is very knowledgeable and was very accommodating to our needs. We strongly recommend her as a guide to see Singapore10 hearts to Joisse

Ingeborg Gisela

(About local HJ)

20 April 2025

We enjoyed our day in Singapore with HJ. He went out of his way to show us as much as possible in a short time. Thank you HJ!Singapore with HJ

Marie-Claude

(About local Peter)

20 April 2025

Peter est un excellent guide! Il connaît les bijoux cachés de Singapore et il connaît très bien l’histoire de cette belle cité indépendante! Marcher dans la ville, aller visiter Singapore City Gallery est un must pour connaître l’histoire de cette capitale, le développement des 60 dernières années depuis leur indépendance pour en faire une ville hyper technologique, branchée et respectueuse de l’environnement, de sa population! Je vous recommande fortement Peter!!!Super

Jörg🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Monica)

19 April 2025

Monica was a friendly, funny and very knowledgeable tour guide. Monica left none of our questions unanswered and showed us places in Singapore that we would never have seen without her. She also gave us tips and recommendations for the remaining days in Singapore. We could bring in our wishes to the tour planning. We can absolutely recommend Monica and the tour! Thank you so much, Monica, for the great experience!Perfect insights into Singapore

Amy

(About local Arthur)

17 April 2025

We began this experience by using WhatsApp to correspond with Arthur and tailor a tour based on exactly what we wanted to see during our short time in Singapore. He was incredibly accommodating and open to all suggestions! We ended up doing the Chinatown Hawker Stalls (Arthur being lovely enough to take us to one of the Michelin stalls (as requested) in addition to a few others) in addition to Garden by the Bay, Marina Sands, and the Merlion. Arthur was conscious of the weather and impending rain when he took us to the places requested; he attempted to keep us out of the rain and heat which was nice! He even took pictures of us throughout the tour as well and sent some via WhatsApp after! Finally, he provided some history and facts sprinkled in and was lovely throughout! I would highly recommend scheduling a tour with him!!! He made our experience in Singapore a memorable one!Amazing tour with Arthur!

jkqnyfv9n6

(About local Jack Zhao)

17 April 2025

Having never set foot outside of Changi Airport before my wife and I wanted to see as much as possible. Jack expertly guided us through the highlights of Singapore giving us some great memories along the way. When we finally finished it was hard to believe exactly how much we had covered in so little time.Perfect start to a great holiday

Andre🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local HJ)

16 April 2025

We had a 10 hour layover in SIngapore and decided to try and make the most of it by including a tour to the city. We were able to correspond and even whatsapp our selected tour guide HJ prior to the tour. He met us at the airport as requested, spot on time, and we set off. We had some fantastic sightseeing including a rooftop garden visit which was so panoramic. Unfortunately inclement weather was setting in and placed a bit of a damper on our visit to the light show at garden on the bay, albeit that HJ was able to provide all 4 of us each with an umbrella, to try and make it better. The show was good but unfortunatley we got wet and opted to return to the airport a littel earlier than what we had hoped for, due to being wet. It is no fault of HJ and he was adapting the tour to driving and viewing sights from within the car until the rain stopped. Its a pity our tour got cut short but hey, one doesnt get to dicate the weather. HJ is so friendly and likeable and knowledgeable about so many aspects regarding SIngapore, We posed all sorts of questions and he answerred each, with ease. If we were to return to Singapore again and take another bash at a full tour, i know who we will be contacting, we already said as much to him too, HJ of course.SIngapore highlights tour rain or shine

Robert

(About local Arthur)

15 April 2025

The first thing Arthur did was ask us about what we were planning on our visit so that he would not overlap with the food tour we had planned. The Dim Sum lunch he orchestrated at Gardens by the Bay was outstanding. We then toured Marina Bay Sands and he knew all the tricks to see the best and avoid the crowds. Very intelligent, insightful discussion on Singapore history and demographics. Arthur made it special.Singapore in a Day

Justin🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Jack Zhao)

15 April 2025

We spent a morning with Jack, he had designed a tour around Chinatown and the Hawker centres for our group. We had a great time, ate some really excellent food and Jack was really knowledgeable. An excellent host and would highly recommend his tours!Lunch with Jack

Hendrik 🇩🇪 Germany

(About local HJ)

14 April 2025

We (4 adults) booked 2 tours with our guide HJ. The first tour was the hawker market tour, where HJ took us around Chinatown, away from the tourists. We were able to try Singapore's most popular dishes. The next day, HJ showed us for 6 hours around the city and explained a lot about the origins and development of Singapore. The crowning glory was a visit to a secret skyscraper roof garden with a sensational view of the entire city, far away from any tourists. HJ is a fantastic guide who knows and loves his city. Thank you for allowing us to immerse ourselves with you in this vibrant city with some quiet hidden spots.City tour and Hawker tour with HJ

lianne

(About local Grayson)

13 April 2025

I had a totally enjoyable tour with Grayson. He was so informative and I learnt so much in a short time. Easy to be with and knew all the great places to go. The one on one was a nice way to wander around and see everything. Enjoyed checking out the shops and different food in China town and little India. Grayson was very accommodating and was happy to cater to what I wanted to do. Money well spent and a extremely enjoyable 4 hours Informative and enjoyable

Abby🇺🇸 United States

(About local Arthur)

13 April 2025

Arthur showed us great local food spots with a variety of food at each location. Everything was delicious and plentiful. He was very knowledgeable about the history of each neighborhood and tailored the experience to what we wanted. Would highly recommend doing this on the front end of your trip so get to know the local food scene with a knowledgeable guide. A must do in Singapore

Varsha🇮🇳 India

(About local Peter)

11 April 2025

We had a wonderful experience in Singapore, thanks to our amazing tour guide. He was extremely polite, knowledgeable, and made sure we felt comfortable throughout the tour. Peter helped us plan our itinerary efficiently, covering all the key attractions while giving us interesting insights and stories along the way. His attention to detail and warm personality made the trip even more memorable. Highly recommended if you're looking for a smooth and enriching travel experience!Amazing experience

Julie_D

(About local Deonne)

9 April 2025

Deonne was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and well prepared. We would recommend this tour. You need to do this trip.Deonne was an excellent…

Hagay

(About local Arthur)

8 April 2025

Arthur is a fantastic tourguide. He was very knowladgable, enthusiastic and attentive to our needs. The tour was prolonged to 5 hours so the experience was even more in-depth than we anticipated! The itinerary was diverse, it included Little India, China Town and the Muslim/Arab Quarter. We were contacted by Arthur immediately after signing up, he explained about the tour and checked for any allergies or preferences. He made many recommendations for our time in Singapore, beyond the tour, which were very appreciated! I would highly recommend Arthur and his tours!Fantastic Tour Guide

Tomasz🇵🇱 Poland

(About local Kenny)

7 April 2025

It was a pleasure to have Kenny as our guide. His passion for Singapore and its history truly stood out. He took us to some of the most remarkable places and enriched the experience with fantastic local food. I highly recommend Kenny as a guide for anyone visiting Singapore.

Tomasz🇵🇱 Poland

(About local Peter)

4 April 2025

Peter is a passionate guide, very patience and kind. I do recommend Peter.Great guide