Kampong Glam Walking Tour

(27 reviews)

Singapore audio tour: Kampong Glam Walking Tour

This is a 0.8mi walking tour

It takes an average of 30 mins to complete.

Singapore

$4.99

Access all 17 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

Did you know that Malay is Singapore's National Language? Not English or Mandarin! Want to know why? Take a walk around Kampong Glam for some clues.

This walk traces the historical influence of Malays in Chinese-dominated Singapore.

Despite the proliferation of 'unIslamic' bars and restaurants serving alcohol, Malay influence is abundant in central Singapore's Kampong Glam district. It's home to the Malay ruler's historical palace and was once the centre of the region's Haj trade – a trade serviced by a port located within walking distance from the Sultan's palace, on nearby Beach Road.

Modern Singapore is immersed in Malay food, culture, traditions and language – the local 'Singlish' tongue could not exist without Malay – and the city's Malay history is an essential part of truly experiencing Singapore!

Tour Producer

Imran Ahmed

2 tours

I moved to Singapore in 1997 and quickly started to call the city home. It’s not hard to understand why: Singapore is a fantastic blend of east and west, old and new, edgy and traditional. But even after many years here, I realized I knew little about the city’s rich history and diverse people – other than the some typical ‘expat’ experiences. Sure, I could tell you about Singapore’s economy and markets, but could I give you an idea of what makes it tick?

So I challenged myself to unravel the mystery of the city and understand its secrets. This quest to understand Singapore led me to transition into guiding from my twenty five-year long career in finance!

Preview Location

Location 1

Welcome to Bugis

You're standing on Victoria Street. If you face it, you can see a set of four buildings, colourfully painted in yellow, blue, green and red, called the Rochor Centre. These buildings are scheduled for demolition, to make way for a new highway in 2016. But while I sit recordin... You're standing on Victoria Street. If you face it, you can see a set of four buildings, colourfully painted in yellow, blue, green and red, called the Rochor Centre. These buildings are scheduled for demolition, to make way for a new highway in 2016. But while I sit recording, they still stand, proudly representing the type of apartments in which 85 percent of Singaporeans reside. They were built by a government agency fondly called the HDB.

Get used to three letter acronyms in Singapore – they are on the tip of every Singaporean’s tongue. Think CPF, ERP, MRT, HDB, EDB, MOE, PIE, ECP. The list is endless.

But let's go back in time a bit now, because our walk is through two of Singapore's oldest districts: Kampong Glam and Bugis.

In 1822, colonial authorities allocated different parts of Singapore to different ethnicities, under the ‘Jackson Plan’. This created the areas that would become today’s Chinatown and Little India, along with the Malay neighbourhoods we're exploring today.

Did someone just whisper divide and rule or am I hearing things?

This area is where many Bugis people were relocated.

The Bugis are one of many subgroups within the Malay community. Originally from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, they were great seafarers in the 1800s and controlled much of the maritime trade between Singapore and other islands in the region. This gave them an important part to play in Singapore’s development as a trading hub.

Until the 1960s, this area was notorious for having a parade of transvestites that appeared at around 11 in the evening and carried on until the early morning hours. Before Singaporeans went clubbing they went to Bugis Street!

Okay, let's start walking. If you're still facing Victoria Street, turn right and carry on going. VoiceMap uses your location to play commentary automatically, and you can place your phone in your pocket and focus on your surroundings. You'll hear my voice again when at the intersection with Ophir Road, up ahead. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Sultan Mosque
Istana Kampong Glam
Sultan Gate
Arab Street

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
261 Victoria St, Singapore 189876
Total distance

1km
Final location
695-707 N Bridge Rd, Singapore
Distance back to start location

307.97m

Directions to Starting Point

The route starts on Victoria Street, Bugis, near one of Singapore's most centrally located shopping malls, Bugis Junction.

Bugis is well connected to all parts of Singapore through the city's MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) subway system as well as by many public buses.

MRT: Bugis station along the East-West (Green) Line.

Bus: The bus stop at Victoria Street, near the starting point, is served by bus numbers 2, 12, 33, 130, 133, 960. Additionally, Bugis Junction is also served by the following buses: 32, 51, 63, 80, 124, 142, 145, 166, 174, 174E, 197, 61, 851 and 980.

Car: Ample car parking facilities are available in the Bugis Junction car park and other nearby car parks.

Taxis: Available at the Bugis Junction taxi stand.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

No Name Serabat Stall, Mamanda, Malay Heritage Centre, Zam Zam Restaurant, Victory Restaurant

Best time of day

Early morning before the afternoon sun heats up the city. Alternately, late afternoon or early evening, particularly if one wishes to end the tour with dinner at a traditional restaurant in the Kampong Glam district.

The Istana Kampong Glam grounds – featured in the tour – are accessible from 8 am to 8 pm Tuesday to Sunday, and between 8 am and 10 pm on Friday and Saturday.

The Malay Heritage Centre is closed on Monday but otherwise open from 10 am until 6 pm (last entry 5.30 pm) Tuesday to Sunday. On Monday, the Istana Kampong Glam gardens can only be entered through the courtyard of the Yellow Mansion.

Precautions

Singapore typically has a hot and humid climate, with rain sometimes appearing quite unexpectedly. It is advisable to wear comfortable walking shoes, carry some water and pack an umbrella, just in case.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”