Things to do in Kampong Glam

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
The colorful Kampong Glam district in Singapore, with the golden dome of the Sultan Mosque visible behind the palm trees.

One of Singapore’s hippest ‘hoods, Kampong Glam is an Instagrammer’s dream, all colorful 19th-century shophouses, cute cafés, chic boutiques, vibrant street art and heritage grandeur. Take a stroll along this buzzy district’s atmospheric lanes with us as we take a deep dive into the coolest things to do in Kampong Glam.

Kampong Glam and How to Get There

Image of Lamp, Light Fixture, Window,

Once ruled by super-wealthy Malay sultans, Kampong Glam is known as Singapore’s Muslim district, its magnificent 200-year-old gold-domed mosque a gleaming beacon above the labyrinth of streets and alleys that surround it. The sultans may have long since departed but this treasure trove of heritage buildings, eye-popping street art and beautiful Peranakan buildings in sunset reds, lime greens and turmeric yellows still bear a certain regal charm.

Being tucked handily between Chinatown and Little India, Kampong Glam is easily walkable – it would take around an hour to stroll east out of Chinatown to Kampong Glam and then onward to Little India. This timeline of course assumes the impossible, i.e. that you won’t be tempted to pause for delicious dumplings, souvenir shopping and perfect photo opportunities along the way. Alternatively, buses serve many nearby roads including Victoria Road and Beach Road, or you can hop on the super-efficient automated MRT metro. The Green Central Line will take you direct to Bugis station, from where it’s a short walk to the heart of the Kampong Glam action.

Things to do in Kampong Glam

Image of Wall, Art, Painting, Mural,

Start your Kampong Glam sightseeing trip with a stroll through the streets, getting an eyeful of the funky street art that adorns nearly every available surface: in Arab Street alleys, on hotel facades, even on the sides of several museums! Look out for works by internationally acclaimed artist Ernest Zacharevic, especially along Victoria Street towards North Bridge Road, and spot pieces by mural maestro Didier ‘Jaba’ Mathieu on Arab Street, the side of the Cuturi Gallery and elsewhere.

Muscat Street’s Gelam Gallery takes the theme and runs with it, filling two sides of a narrow back-alley with a technicolor explosion of works from artists including PrettyFreakyFantasy, Liyana Farzana, Helene Le Chatelier and local legend Slacsatu.

Of course, no Kampong Glam itinerary would be complete without a visit to the splendid Sultan Mosque, commissioned by the first Sultan of Singapore in the early 19th Century. Its opulent golden dome, ornate parapets and vast prayer hall are among the most admired features, but look out too for the glass bottle ends that decorate the base of each domes, contributed by lower-income Muslim families during the mosque’s construction.

Image of House, Housing, Villa, Hotel, Resort, Fountain, Water, Person,

The Malay Heritage Centre adds further color to Kampong Glam’s rich history with historical artifacts, interactive exhibitions and occasional cultural performances held inside what was once the royal palace of the Singapore sultans. Or, for something altogether more quirky, mosey over to the Vintage Cameras Museum, where the fascinating collection of over 1,000 cameras dates back as far as the late 19th Century and includes examples of spy cameras and cameras used as weapons during the Second World War. You can’t miss this one: the facade itself is designed to look like a vintage camera and there’s a colorful painting of a camera-toting dude by Singapore artist Ceno2 on the side of the building.

Kampong Glam Shops

Image of Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Bag, City, Pedestrian, Road, Street, Urban,

Putting the ‘glam’ in Kampong Glam, Haji Lane is an impossibly narrow lane crammed with cool indie boutiques, cute cafés and hip bars. This is where you’ll find in-the-know Singapore fashionistas shopping the latest styles, while arty types browse for one-off avant garde jewelry pieces. Arab Street and Bussorah Street are where you can explore seemingly timeless antiques stores like Dwiz and Grand Bazaar. These absolute treasure troves of Turkish goods and handicrafts including ceramics, textiles and intricate mosaic lamps are stalwarts of the neighborhood. Meanwhile, you’ll find the most exquisite hand woven antique rugs and carpets in family-run stores including the mighty Samad & Sons and Amir & Sons.

Image of Art, Handicraft,

Kampong Glam is also a hub for Singapore's best-loved perfume businesses, where oils, unguents, fragrances, balms and more can be bought ready-made or customized to your own personal tastes. Head to Sifr Aromatics’ fabulous laboratory-like emporium on Arab Street to have your own blends of scents created and bottled to take away in delightfully decorative vessels. Royal Fragrances and Aljunied Brothers also merit a stop to sniff and purchase some of their scent-sational products.

Ceramics are big business here too, and you’ll find plenty of fine local pottery at Supermama’s on Beach Road. Pick up something blue-tiful from their signature Singapore Blue range of plates, saucers, cups and more and browse the kaleidoscope of other souvenirs including homewares, candles and more.

Kampong Glam Restaurants

Image of Brunch, Food, Food Presentation, Meal, Dining Table, Table, Cutlery, Spoon, Fork,

Gourmands rejoice! Kampong Glam is among Singapore’s top foodie destinations, with a deliciously decadent hotch-potch of cuisines to explore, from Malaysian to Indonesian, Swedish to Singaporean. Authentic Indonesian fare is the name of the game at Sari Ratu, an unpretentious eatery on Pahang Street that serves up some of the best nasi padang in Asia, as well as sticky peanut satay, zingy lamb rendang and impossible-to-resist beef tendon curry. Head over to Arab Street’s Fika Swedish Café & Bistro for halal meatballs. Yep, you read that right: enjoy these perfectly moreish meaty treats with roasties and a dollop of lingonberry jam.

Cheap and cheerful with street tables in view of the Sultan Mosque, Kampong Glam Cafe serves no-frills Malay favorites to hungry tourists, students and locals. Try curry served with homemade rotis or a warming bowl of mee rebus for the win. Hit up tiny, trendy Brine for French-Japanese fare that includes dishes such as charred cauliflower with hummus, spicy sambal octopus, and braised beef cheeks with couscous.

Image of Dessert, Food, Pastry, Pork,

Fans of baked goods will not be disappointed by the Kampong Glam food scene either. Mother Dough is Singapore’s premier purveyor of almond croissants – and not without good reason. Get there early to avoid disappointment.

Meanwhile, pop culture mavens will delight at the names of some of the sweet treats to be found at Guilt and The Fabulous Baker Boy. Guilt’s menu of kooky cookies includes the Tinder Surprise, a vanilla choc chip cookie that’s wrapped around a decadent double chocolate fudge brownie with salted caramel. Then there’s the Fifty Shades of Grey with its orgasmic combination of Earl Grey tea, creamy white cocoa butter, pistachios, sea salt and honeycomb toffee. The Fabulous Baker Boy is no slouch in the name game either, with signatures including the very lemony Beyonce (inspired by her Lemonade album, of course) and The Ed Sheeran Carrot Cake, for which no further explanation is necessary. Tuck in!

Save on attractions and activities in Singapore

Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

Continue reading

Looking over Marina Bay in Singapore
Blog

Famous hotels in Singapore

The Lion City is famous for many things – cleanliness, shopping malls and a famous cocktail, for a start. But when it comes to visual charms, Singapore is definitely up with the likes of New York and Paris for recognizable landmarks – there’s the iconic Supertrees, the world heritage botanic gardens and the charming yet fierce-looking Merlion statue. And we can’t forget, of course, its famous hotels – from neo-classic renaissance villas to modern skyscrapers with living walls, there’s much to admire in the luxury accommodation stakes. And whether you’re staying in one, or just there for a gawp, they’re all worth having a look at for their history, uniqueness or glamor – and sometimes all three! Our list of Singapore’s most famous hotels includes: Raffles Shangri-La Marina Bay Sands The Outpost Hotel Sentosa Oasia ParkRoyal on Pickering The Fullerton St Regis Raffles Dating from the early 19th century, this neoclassical colonial era building wins the prize for the most historic hotel in the city. Named for the city’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles, the hotel has welcomed such illustrious guests as Charlie Chaplin, Sir Rudyard Kipling and Queen Elizabeth II, to name a few. Non-guests are welcome to visit and stroll along its many covered porticos, admiring the intricate white arches and surrounding forest of tropical palm trees. Get there on the yellow line of the Big Bus Tour, and be sure to stop by the famous Long Bar and sample the hotel’s signature cocktail, the Singapore Sling. Shangri-La As the name suggests, the Shangri-La is a utopian idyll tucked away in the heart of the city. Its three grand wings are enclosed in 15 acres of tropical gardens, pools and water playgrounds, and there are so many optional activities you could enjoy an entire holiday without leaving the hotel at all – although it would be a shame to miss the city’s official Botanic Gardens nearby. Despite its immensity and range of unique art installations, it’s probably most famous for being the first of Shangri-La’s world-renowned brand of luxury hotels, and for pioneering their signature brand of ‘Asian Hospitality’ – service characterized by humility, respect, helpfulness and sincerity. Marina Bay Sands Of all the iconic hotels in Singapore, the Marina Bay Sands may be the most recognizable – with its distinctive triple towers and surfboard-shaped terrace at the top, it probably appears in the background of more selfies than any other building in the city. Non-guests can pay a small fee to get to the top (or use your pass for access to the Ce La Vi SkyBar) where you’ll find the world’s largest infinity pool, and possibly a celebrity or two. 57 floors up is a marvelously lofty place to overlook the city, and you’ll have great views of Supertree Grove in the Gardens by the Bay and the nearby Floral Fantasy. While you’re there you can also check out the hotel’s own casino, celebrity chef restaurants, a shopping mall and the ArtScience Museum. The Outpost Hotel Sentosa Set on the island of Sentosa at the southern tip of the city, The Outpost Hotel Sentosa is recognizable for its curved exterior walls and living foliage that drapes like green frosting over the building. Here is the ultimate in luxury for grown-ups, as the adults-only rooftop infinity pool and bar transforms from a sun-drenched oasis during the day to a trendy chill-out bar at night. Overlooking the Singapore Strait, it’s the perfect place to sip a cocktail and watch the sunset – although if you do want to venture out, you’ll find Madame Tussauds, the S.E.A. Aquarium and southeast Asia’s only Universal Studios nearby. To complete your relaxation experience, get there via the cable car from Faber Peak and sit back as it takes you over the bay and the island’s lush coastal canopies. Oasia Hotel The Oasia Hotel in Downtown Singapore is instantly recognizable for its striking pink and green façade. Built by local architecture firm WOHA, the Oasia is a sleek and modern skyscraper designed around the concept of bringing green spaces to population dense areas. From the outside, it’s an imposing mixture of wood, stone, copper and foliage – from the inside, it’s like a multi-story tree house full of sky gardens, cool terraces and living walls – a perfect escape from the concrete jungle outside. ParkRoyal on Pickering Another offering from the minds at WOHA, from a distance the ParkRoyal on Pickering looks a bit like an alien starfighter – but up close it’s a marvel of modern architecture and innovative landscaping. Three towers encircle eight living balconies of gardens, waterfalls and reflective pools, decorated with colorful birdcage cabanas. All this is right in the middle of the busy city, about halfway between Chinatown and Clarke Quay. An unexpectedly green and curvy gem, the ParkRoyal must be seen to be believed. The Fullerton Champagne breakfast, anyone? That’s what awaits exclusive guests of the Fullerton Hotel overlooking Marina Bay. It’s a great spot for photographing the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, but it’s also a gorgeous building in its own right – it was built in the neoclassical style in 1928 and at various points in its history it’s been the home of the Singapore General Post Office, the Exchange, the Chamber of Commerce, and the prestigious Singapore Club. It was declared a national monument in 2015 and sits right at the tip of the Marina near the Jubilee Bridge. On the roof, where you’ll find a rich jungle landscape complete with hot tubs and pool, you can look over the Merlion Statue to the mouth of the Singapore River, or back across the city over Chinatown to Sentosa Island. St Regis The epitome of luxury with a price tag to match. Silk wallpaper, crystal chandeliers and marble bathrooms are just a taste of the opulence that awaits guests at the St Regis Hotel near. As well as all the amenities you’d expect the hotel also has its very own art collection, featuring pieces by Chagall, Miró and Picasso, no less. But perhaps it’s most famous for its butler service, reminiscent of an English stately home at the height of high society. If your dream holiday is to be awoken by a friendly face opening your drapes and bringing you coffee in bed, then expertly packing your case for your onward journey, this is the hotel for you. Travel in style with Go City Whether you’re staying in a luxury hotel or just stopping by for a peek, you’ll feel like the rich and famous with Go City. Grab your Explorer or All-Inclusive Pass today and get instant access to dozens of exclusive attractions around the city.
Karleen Stevens
Best Time to Visit Singapore
Blog

Best Time to Visit Singapore

Singapore is one of the most diverse countries in Southeast Asia. With so many cultures and ideologies living peacefully in one place, it's no wonder it's such a popular tourist destination! However, planning a trip is another thing entirely. What will you do when you get there? Where will you stay? And, perhaps most importantly, what will the weather be like when you visit? See, Singapore has predictably unpredictable weather throughout the year. Sadly, it's not always beaming sun and clear-blue skies. So let's talk about the best time for you to visit Singapore, season by season, and how to make the most of your trip! Including: How many days is enough to see Singapore? Is Singapore expensive to visit? What is the hottest month in Singapore? Is spring the best time to visit Singapore? Is summer the best time to visit Singapore? and more! How many days is enough to see Singapore? Three days is likely enough to tick off everything on your Singapore itinerary. However, five days should cover it if you want to add some downtime between your adventures or take your vacation a little easier. Is Singapore expensive to visit? It's ranked as the second most expensive place in the world, so yes, it can lean on the dearer side of things. But don't worry about that; Go City's got your back. With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can book your spots way in advance and get the best prices around. Don't even worry about it. What is the hottest month in Singapore? It's not one month, but two - lucky you. Both May and June hold the highest average monthly temperature at 82°F. That might sound reasonable, but considering the average high is closer to 90°F, it can be hotter than you'd expect. So, let's go through the seasons and determine the best time for you to visit Singapore! Is spring the best time to visit Singapore? Singapore's spring is at the backend of the wetter seasons, though you can expect some of that rain to splash over into March. Temperature-wise, you're looking at average highs of 88-89°F and lows of 76-77°F. Therefore, make sure to pack plenty of light spring/summer wear, and maybe a light raincoat or umbrella just in case. It's also one of the busiest times of the year for tourism, with plenty of people venturing the Singapore's shores in spring to get their fix. Attraction-wise, you can look forward to a good mix of indoor and outdoor activities! If the sun is shining, dare to try the Giant Swing at Sentosa, or take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of the city's best bits. You can get off and explore any stop that piques your interest, and then hop back on the next bus to continue on. If you're experiencing some of that March rainfall, head inside and get some culture in you at the National Museum of Singapore. You'll learn all about Singapore's history, and the many cultures that have called it home over the centuries. Is summer the best time to visit Singapore? Surprising nobody, summer is the peak heat season for Singapore. From June to August, you can expect peak temperatures of 90°F and lows of 76°F. So it's not a dramatic shift from spring's average temperatures, but every degree counts, right? Even in Singapore's hottest months, you're still likely to experience some rainfall. Sadly, no season is safe from the dreaded pitter-patter of sky water. So as far as how to pack for your trip, take light clothing, lightweight waterproofs or an umbrella, and sunscreen, because even on overcast days, that shiny little beauty can still get you! Surprisingly, summer is one of the quietest times for tourism in Singapore. That could be because it doesn't get hot enough for some sun-seeking vacationers, or because of the higher-than-usual amount of rainfall. But either way, traveling then will at least lead to smaller queues and fewer travelers, if that's your thing. Attraction-wise, brave a biking tour of the city to get your sweat on and see the sights. And then, cool off with a trip to one of Singapore's most exclusive rooftop bars (and a free drink on us, of course). If rain's getting in the way, take your thrills indoors at Sentosa 4D AdventureLand, and then cool off at an indoor bar instead. Is fall the best time to visit Singapore? Fall, or autumn to everyone else, is the beginning of the wet season in Singapore. Especially towards the back end of the season, you'll see a marked increase in rainfall - November is actually the second-wettest month of the year! However, a glance at the mercury can be deceiving, with average temperatures hitting highs of 87°F. Whether you like it or not, the rains go hand in hand with the heat. So dress appropriately - light clothes, light jackets, and umbrellas. If we sound like a broken record, that's because temperatures stay pretty steady throughout the year in Singapore! Whether because of the increased rain, or the 'off-season' nature of fall, this is the quietest period for tourism. So, if you dare brave the monsoons, it could be the best time to be a tourist in the country! Attraction-wise, we're going to dodge the rain with our suggestions. Experience outdoor fun in another, drier reality at Virtual Room Singapore - perfect for solo travelers and groups. History buffs will get a kick out of The Battlebox, where the US directed the Battle of Singapore in the Second World War. Or, have your mind boggled at Trickeye. Is winter the best time to visit Singapore? Winter is a real tale of two cities in Singapore. On the one hand, December has the highest monthly rainfall of the year, beating November by a whopping 2 inches. On the other hand, February is the most visited month of the year! Predictably, the temperature's not affected by the rains, either, with average highs of 85°F. So it's not coat weather, but if you don't bring some sort of waterproof with you, you're gonna have a bad time. But why is February so popular? Well, firstly, it normally spells the end of the 'wet season', with rainfall nearly half of December's usual downfall. And because of the steady high temperatures, Singapore makes a great winter/early spring escape! Attraction-wise, Christmas is amazing in Singapore, so if you're around for December, you'll find plenty to do. And, when the rain chills out, see Pulau Ubin on a kayak, or go on a night safari and see some exotic animals in the natural, sleepy habitat. Now, it's up to you to decide when is the best time to visit Singapore! Whatever the weather, you'll have a blast.
Dom Bewley
Singapore skyline showing the Marina Bay Sands Resort
Blog

Singapore in November

It’s hot, it’s humid and it’s often wet. But in reality, Singapore’s climate is pretty uniform year-round, with very few weather extremes to worry about. November heralds the start of monsoon season so yeah, you can expect a few short, sharp downpours in the afternoons and evenings, but nothing a small umbrella or pocket poncho can’t handle. You’ll find it pleasantly warm the rest of the time, so be sure to pack light cottons and linens, floppy sun hats and sunscreen as you would for any vacation in the tropics. Oh, and don’t forget the mozzie repellent – those bitey little blighters just adore that sweet Singapore humidity! As ever, booking well in advance is the best way to lock in cheap prices on flights and accommodation but, as this is low season, you can also expect late deals as hotels push to fill rooms. Either way, November is one of the best times of year to grab a Singapore bargain. Things to do in Singapore in November Mandai Wildlife Reserve Nature lovers need look no further than Singapore’s premier wildlife reserve. This vast expanse of jungle, rainforest and wetland north of the city boasts not one but four distinct parks. Bird Paradise, the newest addition at time of writing, is a colorful cornucopia of pretty plumage and sweet birdsong; an enormous aviary where you can get up close to pink flamingos, turacos, toucans, rockhopper penguins and all manner of other feathery critters. The reserve is also where you’ll find Singapore Zoo and the famous Night Safari, as well as the awesome River Wonders attraction, where water-loving beasts of the world – manatees, piranhas, Indian gharials, giant pandas and more – live their best lives. Sentosa Island A day trip to Sentosa is a quintessential part of any Singapore experience. Heck, you could spend at least a week on this fun-packed south coast resort island, and still not have enough time to see it all. Start with the quite excellent cable car ride from the main island, easily Singapore’s most scenic ride, before diving into everything else this tropical playground has to offer. We’re talking the epic Universal Studios Singapore, SEA Aquarium and Adventure Cove water park. And that’s just for starters! Hit up Siloso Beach for powdery white sands, balmy waters and, um, forest luge tracks, or take the scenic route to Fort Siloso – an elevated Skywalk that takes you high above the forest canopy. Foodie Fantasia All that activity making you hungry? Singapore’s hundreds of world-class food courts and hawker centers have your back. Dodge the afternoon downpour to while away a few hours in old-school favorite Lau Pa Sat, a Singapore landmark with street food so exquisite it might just prove life-changing. The sheer variety of international cuisines here – Vietnamese, Filipino, Malaysian, Korean, Indonesian – is mind-boggling, so you’re sure to find something to tickle those tastebuds. Our advice? Look for the stalls with the longest lines and gorge on small plates from as many vendors as you can manage. Think umami chili crab (the Singaporean national dish), delicious sambal-laced laksa, red-hot rendang curry and – for the truly adventurous (and unsqueamish) only – fried pigs’ fallopian tubes in kung pao sauce. Yum! Get Some Culture Singapore’s galleries and museums are second to none. Start by immersing yourself in thousands of years of Asian history at the epic National Museum of Singapore where trying to decipher the enigmatic Singapore Stone is just one of the many fun activities available. The National Gallery houses more than 9,000 contemporary and modern artworks from Singapore and southeast Asia, with highlights including Georgette Chen’s evocative series of family portraits and Singaporean Choo Keng Kwang’s woodcuts and oil paintings. Hit up the futuristic ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands for immersive exhibitions and a gallery that’s packed with eye-popping VR artworks. The museum’s in-house cinema screens a curated selection of classic movies, documentaries and arthouse films for Singapore’s hip crowd. What’s on in Singapore in November? Visitors to Singapore in November – especially late November – will find a city already gearing up for the festive season. Never anything short of spectacular, the gorgeous Gardens by the Bay ramp things up to the all-singing all-dancing max with their awesome Christmas Wonderland event. Get your snow fix at Blizzard Time, visit Frosty’s Fairground for all manner of prize-winning opportunities, and enjoy a romantic stroll beneath the 75,000 festive bulbs that illuminate the aptly named Walk of Lights. And if it’s lights you want, you’ll find some of the very best along Orchard Road, which also just happens to be home to the finest (and largest) malls in town. This popular annual attraction, titled ‘Christmas on A Great Street’, more than lives up to its boastful name, with oodles of street food stalls, pop-up gift stores and more carnival rides and Christmas villages than you can shake a candy cane at. November is also when the Singapore International Film Festival rolls into town, giving fans of (mostly) Asian and world cinema a rare chance to catch exclusive screenings, as well as attending industry workshops, discussions, director Q&A\s, awards ceremonies and more at glittering venues across the city. It’s always worth going along, even if just for the celeb-spotting opportunities alone! Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

Thick check Icon