Singapore Guided Tours & River Cruises
Although Singapore is one of the world's easiest cities for self navigation, guided tours can open up the city and its history in unexpected ways. Tours and cruises span everything from fun, family friendly overviews to specialised themed adventures.
Neighbourhood Tours
Original Singapore Walks
These popular tours (6325 1631; www.singaporewalks.com; adult S$32-60, child 7 12yr S$15-30; 9am 6pm Mon Fri) deliver irreverent, knowledgable on foot excursions through various districts and war related sites, lasting from 2½ to three hours. Most tours do not require a booking; simply check the website for meeting times and places.
Chinatown Trishaw Night Tour
This Chinatown tour (in the US 1-702-648-5873; www.viator.com; adult/child under 13yr S$88/66) includes dinner, a traditional Chinese medicine hall visit, a trishaw ride through the night market and a bumboat river cruise. Hotel pick ups and drop offs are provided.
Trishaw Uncle
An old fashioned trishaw ride ( %6337 7111; www.trishawuncle.com.sg; Albert Mall Trishaw Park, Queen St; 30min tour adult/child from S$39/29, 45min tour S$49/39; mBugis) through Bugis and Little India, with the 45 minute tour also taking in the Singapore River. The trishaw terminal is on Queen St, between the Fu Lu Shou Complex and Albert Centre Market and Food Centre.
Hop On, Hop Off Tours
City Sightseeing
This double decker, open top tourist bus (www.singapore7.com; adult/child S$43/33) runs several routes, passing major tourist areas such as Orchard Rd, the Botanic Gardens, Little India, Kampong Glam, Boat and Clarke Quays, Marina Bay Sands and Chinatown. Tickets are valid for 24 hours, allowing you to hop on and off as many times as you like.
SIA Hop On
Singapore Airlines' tourist bus (6338 6877; www.siahopon.com; Suntec Hub, Suntec Mall; 24hr ticket Singapore Airlines passengers adult/child S$19.50/14.50, non-passengers S$39/29) traverses the main tourist arteries every 15 to 60 minutes daily, over four different lines. Trips start from Suntec Hub, with the first bus departing at 8.30am and the last bus departing at 6pm, terminating back at Suntec Hub at 7.10pm. Buy tickets from the driver; see the website for route details.
River Tours
Singapore Ducktours
Jump into a remodelled WWII amphibious Vietnamese war craft for a surprisingly informative and engaging one-hour tour (6338 6877; www.ducktours.com.sg; 01-330 Suntec City, 3 Temasek Blvd; adult/child under 13yr S$37/27; 9am-6.30pm; mEsplanade) that traverses land and water. The route focuses on Marina Bay and the Colonial District.
Singapore River Cruise
The 40 minute bumboat cruises (6336 6111; www.rivercruise.com.sg; bumboat river cruise adult/child S$25/15; mClarke Quay) that ply the stretch between the Quays and Marina Bay depart from several places along the Singapore River. The running commentary is a little cringe inducing, but the trip itself is relaxing, with spectacular views of the skyline and Marina Bay.
Themed Tours
Betel Box: The Real Singapore Tours
These insider tours (6247 7340; www.betelboxtours.com; 200 Joo Chiat Rd; tours S$50-80; mPaya Lebar) include culture and heritage walks, city kick scootering and food odysseys through historic Joo Chiat (Katong), Kampong Glam and Chinatown, and a Friday night tour through red light Geylang.
Jane's SG Tours
Specialising in tours (www.janestours.com; group tours S$30-80) of colonial black and white private homes across the island, Jane offers rare insights you may not usually be afforded as a tourist. Her other tours, covering architecture, history, religions, botany and culture are also popular it's best to book a month in advance.
East West Planners
Exploring the city's iconic dishes and where best to eat them, these bespoke, top end tours (9674 5861; www.eastwestplanners.com; 03-03 Tan Chong Tower, 15 Queen St; 8.30am-5.30pm Mon Fri; mBras Basah, Bencoolen) are aimed at the more affluent visitor prices and itineraries are available on request.
Walking Tours
Bukit Brown Tour
Take a walking tour (www.facebook.com/groups/bukitbrown) through one of Singapore's most historic, wild and beautiful cemeteries, currently under threat from development.
Charlotte Chu Tours
See how locals live, work, eat and play on these tours (8101 1003.; charlottechutours@gmail.com; 3hr tour S$240) of lesser known aspects of Singapore's history, heritage and culture.
Diana Chua
Offers tours (9489 1999; dianachua1999@yahoo.com.sg; 3hr tour S$240) that uncover Singapore’s history, architecture and religions; tours often align with festivals. Diana also touches upon more esoteric and less touristy subjects.