Experience the bohemian charm of Tiong Bahru

What you'll do

You'll spend a few hours with one of our Singapore hosts, exploring one of the city's most hip(ster) historic neighborhoods - Tiong Bahru. This old housing estate used to be a cemetery, but the creepy factor has since diminished. After some regeneration, it is now one of the most incredible areas in the city.

Out with the old and in with the hipsters. Marvel at the pre-war Art Deco architecture as you wander through the quirky streets lined with old-school shophouses. Browse the endless supply of vinyl record stores, unique bookstores, pop-up boutiques, eccentric design shops, and independent coffee roasteries.

And don't miss the wet market - on the ground floor, all manner of fresh and live (but not necessarily wet) produce can be bought, and on the first floor is a hawker center. Wrap things up with a mian jian kueh (a kind of peanut pancake) or some fried noodles.

  • Private & 100% personalized tour

  • 3 hours

  • Matched to your ideal host

  • Walking tour (may use public transport)

  • Hosted in English (On request: Cantonese, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Marathi, Russian)

  • Meet at your accommodation or a central location

Experience outline

  • Visit one of Singapore's trendiest neighborhoods - the historic Tiong Bahru, with your host
  • See the area’s iconic Art Deco architecture and traditional Taoist temples, soaking up Tiong Bahru’s history and culture - it’s not all finance and skyscrapers in Singapore you know
  • Visit the local wet market and grab some delicious street food at a hawker centre
  • Browse the unique independent shops, galleries and pop ups
  • Stop by an independent coffee shop, craft beer bar or trendy rooftop joint
  • Get tips from your host about other neighborhoods to explore during your visit

Things to know

What’s included

  • Private and personalized experience
  • 3 hours with a host
  • Walking experience
  • Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

What’s not included

  • Food and drinks (additional to the ones provided in the experience)
  • Tickets to any attractions
  • Transportation costs
  • Gratuities (optional)

Cancellation

  • Cancel 7 days before the experience for a full refund
  • Worry-free cancellation terms: book with peace of mind knowing that you can cancel for free up to a day before the experience and receive a full refund.

Photos taken by our hosts and guests

City Unscripted guests photos

Reviews

    Unique district of Singapore with a guide who is born and bred from the area. A great tour for those who are looking for something a little different.

    December 2022

    Anne P

    Our local host Nengyi was fantastic, showing my brother (9 y.o.) and I around Singapore’s Tiong Bahru area, with a wealth of local insight. Not only did he share his knowledge on the history and culture of Tiong Bahru, the experience was interactive, and we had the chance to order food and express ourselves the local way, weave through different housing complexes and markets to get a glimpse of everyday life in the bustling neighborhood. Definitely something that goes beyond the standard guide book - our first but certainly not our last City Unscripted experience. Really looking forward to exploring other cities!

    July 2019

    Tiffany S

    We had a great time with our tour guide Nengyi in Singapore. In advance of our tour, he provided us with options where to visit and then showed us interesting sights/places while giving us information about the history and city life of Singapore throughout our walking tour. He also took us the iconic Marina Bay Sands roof next to the pool to show us the amazing views of Singapore. Thank you Nengyi for your professional and friendly tour...

    June 2019

    Peker A

    My family and I tried out the kickstart tour on the day we arrived and the advice we got was so helpful that we thought we must come back for more and see something my son told me didnt exist in Singapore- creativity and bohemians- Mami proved him wrong!!!

    February 2018

    Alok K

See more reviews

Meet our local hosts in Singapore. One of them will tailor this experience to your wishes!

We’ll expertly match you to your best suited host based on your interests, personality and the experience vibe you’re after.

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