Day 2: Self-Guided Tour of the Civic District & Chinatown | Singapore Purple Travel Guide
On your second day, you will journey through the architectural evolution of the city, moving from the colonial elegance of the Civic District to the vibrant, incense-filled streets of Chinatown. This self-guided Singapore Purple Travel Guide is curated to help you beat the crowds at the most famous landmarks by starting early at the historic heart of the nation. By following this Backpack and Snorkel path, you will discover how 19th-century Neo-Classical buildings and ancient temples now stand in the shadow of the futuristic, glowing Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay.
A = National Museum of Singapore
B = Fort Canning Tree Tunnel
C = Central Fire Station
D = Old Hill Street Police Station
E = Clarke Quay
F = Singapore River Cruise
G = Chinatown
H = Sri Mariamman Temple
I = Murals at Mohamed Ali Lane
J = Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
K = Chinatown Street Markets
L = Gardens by the Bay
M = Garden Rhapsody Show
Here at Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides, we promote self-guided walking tours.
But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the GuruWalk and Viator tours below.
free GuruWalk tours
paid Viator tours
Morning: Culture and History
National Museum of Singapore
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideAs the oldest museum in the nation (dating back to 1887), this landmark is a masterpiece of Neo-Palladian architecture. The most striking feature is the $27$-meter high Rotunda dome, which is covered in over 3,000 silver fish-scale tiles. Inside, the museum uses immersive technology and rare artifacts to tell the story of the journey from a 14th-century fishing village to a global metropolis.
Fort Canning Tree Tunnel
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideTucked away at the edge of Fort Canning Park, this spiral stone staircase has become a global sensation for its "secret garden" aesthetic. Looking up from the base, the frame is filled by the lush canopy of a massive Yellow Rain Tree that arches perfectly over the masonry. It is a stunning visual representation of the urban greenery of the city, but there is a specific strategy you need to beat the long photo queues.
Midday: Colonial Landmarks and the River
Central Fire Station
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideAs the oldest surviving fire station in the country, this 1908 National Monument is impossible to miss due to its "Blood and Bandage" architecture—a striking pattern of red bricks and white plaster. The building features a $30\text{-meter}$ lookout tower that was once the highest point in the area, used by firemen to spot smoke rising above the city. If you visit on a Saturday morning, you can experience a unique open house where the firefighters demonstrate their equipment and modern emergency vehicles.
Discover the 'Open House' schedule and historical facts in our Singapore Purple Travel Guide.
Old Hill Street Police Station
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideYou cannot miss the 927 rainbow-colored windows of this building, which make it one of the most vibrant National Monuments in the country. Once the largest government building in the city, this 1934 masterpiece features a unique cantilevered balcony design and six main internal courtyards. The windows are painted in a specific gradient that accentuates the Neo-Classical masonry, creating a perfect backdrop for urban photography.
Clarke Quay
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideWalking through Clarke Quay during the day offers a quiet look at the beautifully restored 19th-century warehouses that once stored spices, rubber, and tea. Today, these colorful facades house world-class dining, but the real charm is the historic 'Read Bridge', which has served as a social gathering spot since 1889. It provides an unobstructed view of the traditional "bumboats" as they navigate the river.
See the photo gallery of the colorful shophouses in our Singapore Purple Travel Guide.
Singapore River Cruise
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideTo truly appreciate the history of the 'Lifeline of Singapore', you should board a traditional wooden bumboat for a Singapore River Cruise. This 40-minute journey takes you past the historic quays and colonial bridges, offering a dramatic contrast between the old shophouses and the towering skyscrapers of the Financial District.
Afternoon: The Soul of Chinatown
Chinatown Historic District
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideOften referred to as Niu Che Shui (Bullock Cart Water) because water was once hauled through these streets by animal-driven carts, this area is the largest historic district in the city. It is a labyrinth of beautifully restored pre-war shophouses, characterized by their "five-foot ways"—covered walkways designed to protect pedestrians from the tropical sun and rain. As you wander, you will notice a unique mix of Baroque, Rococo, and Chinese architectural elements that reflect the diverse heritage of the early immigrants.
Sri Mariamman Temple
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideDedicated to the Goddess Mariamman, who is known for her power to cure illnesses, this is the oldest Hindu temple in the city. The most iconic feature is the 5-tiered 'Gopuram' (entrance tower), which is adorned with hundreds of hand-painted sculptures of deities and mythological beasts. Visiting this National Monument offers a deep look into the Dravidian architectural style and the enduring traditions of the local community.
Murals at Mohamed Ali Lane
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideFor a glimpse into the past, head to this quiet lane to see the famous street art by Yip Yew Chong. These detailed, life-sized murals depict traditional trades from the 1960s, such as the ‘Paper Mask Seller’ and the ‘Lion Dance Head Maker.’ They provide a nostalgic look at the daily lives of early immigrants and are essential for understanding the heritage of the area.
Discover the locations of all the heritage murals in our detailed Singapore Purple Travel Guide.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideThis massive Tang-style temple is a spiritual oasis that houses a sacred relic in a stupa made from $320\text{kg}$ of solid gold. While the main hall is breathtaking, you should not miss the rooftop garden, which features a massive Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel surrounded by thousands of miniature Buddha statues. It is one of the few places in the city where you can find complete silence amidst the bustling streets of Chinatown.
Uncover what is on each floor of the temple in our detailed Singapore Purple Travel Guide.
Chinatown Street Markets (Pagoda Street)
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideEnd your afternoon by wandering through Pagoda Street and Sago Street. This is the best place to find traditional snacks, silk robes, and unique souvenirs. The market is framed by beautifully restored shophouses, giving you a chance to see the intricate "peranakan-style" tiles and shutters that define the architecture of the district.
Evening: The Grand Finale
Gardens by the Bay
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideSpanning 101 hectares of reclaimed land, this award-winning horticultural destination is a surreal blend of nature and high-tech engineering. While the paid conservatories like the Cloud Forest are famous, much of the outdoor gardens are free to explore, including the Heritage Gardens and the Sun Pavilion. Walking through this "City in a Garden" masterpiece at dusk allows you to see the transition from lush greenery to the glowing, neon landscape of the futuristic Supertree Grove.
Garden Rhapsody Show
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Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel GuideEvery evening, the Supertree Grove transforms into a stage for the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show. These massive vertical gardens, standing up to 50 meters tall, come alive with a choreographed symphony of lights that "dance" to a changing musical score, ranging from cinematic soundtracks to cultural classics. The show runs twice nightly at 7:45pm and 8:45pm and is an essential, free experience that showcases the technological creativity of the city.
Find the best free spots to lie down and watch the show in our Singapore Purple Travel Guide.
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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel
Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.
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