Chinatown is one of Singapore’s oldest and most colourful neighbourhoods, a grid of restored shophouses, temples, markets and hawker centres just south of the Singapore River. It’s where you’ll find some of the city’s best cheap food, as well as Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim places of worship within a few streets of each other.
The area is free to wander and easy to reach by MRT. This guide covers its history, the main sights, where to eat and how to plan your visit. For a quick list of highlights, see also our 10 things to do in Chinatown.
Plan your visit to Chinatown
- Entry: free to explore; temples free
- Best time: late afternoon into dinner
- Time needed: 3–4 hours
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History of Chinatown
In the 1822 town plan drawn up for Stamford Raffles, the area south-west of the Singapore River was set aside for Chinese settlers. Immigrants from southern China settled here by dialect group (Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese and others), and the district became known in Malay and Chinese as Kreta Ayer, after the bullock carts that delivered water.
By the early 20th century Chinatown was densely crowded, with families sharing tiny cubicles in shophouses. From the 1980s many shophouses were conserved and restored, and today the area mixes heritage buildings with cafés, bars and shops while still hosting big festivals such as Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Attractions at Chinatown
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum: A striking Tang-style Buddhist temple with a museum and rooftop prayer wheel. Free entry.
- Sri Mariamman Temple: Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, with a colourful gopuram (entrance tower) on South Bridge Road.
- Chinatown Heritage Centre: Restored shophouses on Pagoda Street that show how early immigrants lived.
- Maxwell Food Centre: A famous hawker centre, home to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.
- Chinatown Street Market: Stalls on Pagoda, Trengganu and Sago Streets selling souvenirs, snacks and trinkets.
- Ann Siang Hill and Club Street: Hilly streets with restored shophouses, cafés and bars.
Things to Do at Chinatown
- Visit the temples: See the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Sri Mariamman Temple, and dress modestly for both.
- Eat at hawker centres: Try chicken rice at Maxwell, or explore the huge Chinatown Complex Food Centre.
- Shop the street market: Pick up souvenirs, snacks and Chinese New Year decorations.
- Learn the history: The Chinatown Heritage Centre gives a vivid picture of shophouse life.
- Go out in the evening: Club Street, Ann Siang Hill and Keong Saik Road are popular for dinner and drinks.
- Time it with a festival: Chinatown is at its most festive during the Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn light-ups.
Chinatown – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
Chinatown is a public neighbourhood, free to explore at any time. Opening hours of the main sights:
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple: Generally 7am to 7pm daily; free.
- Sri Mariamman Temple: Roughly 6am to noon and 6pm to 9pm; free.
- Chinatown Heritage Centre: 10am to 8pm daily (last entry 7:15pm); ticketed.
- Hawker centres: Most stalls open from morning to evening; many close one day a week.
Cover shoulders and knees when visiting temples. Hours can change on festival days, so check before you go.
Tours and tickets
- Chinatown heritage walking tour (Klook): a 3-hour guided walk with food tastings.
- Go City Singapore Pass: includes the Chinatown Heritage Centre.
Some links in this guide are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
How Long to Spend at Chinatown
Plan 3 to 4 hours to see the temples, the heritage centre and the street market and have a hawker meal. Stay into the evening if you want dinner or drinks around Club Street.
How to Get There
- By MRT: Chinatown station (North East and Downtown Lines) exits straight onto Pagoda Street. Maxwell station (Thomson-East Coast Line) is next to Maxwell Food Centre, and Outram Park is close to Keong Saik Road.
- By bus: Many routes run along New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road; use Google Maps to plan.
- By taxi or Grab: Ask for Chinatown Point or a specific attraction.
- On foot: About 15 minutes from Clarke Quay or Raffles Place.
Arriving at Changi Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your hotel.
Eateries Nearby Chinatown
- Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice: At Maxwell Food Centre; expect a queue at lunchtime.
- Chinatown Complex Food Centre: One of Singapore’s largest hawker centres, with hundreds of stalls.
- Liao Fan Hawker Chan: Soya sauce chicken rice from the stall once known as the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred meal.
- J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff: A popular snack stall at People’s Park Food Centre.
- Keong Saik Road and Club Street: Restaurants and bars for a sit-down dinner.
Other Attractions Nearby Chinatown
- Clarke Quay: Riverside restaurants and nightlife, a short walk north.
- Fort Canning Park: A historic hilltop park across the river.
- Merlion Park: About 20 minutes on foot via Boat Quay.
- Little India: Another heritage district, a few stops away on the North East Line.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Singapore: Chinatown hotels are central, good value and close to two MRT lines.
- Get a Singapore eSIM before you land, for maps and ride-hailing apps.
Chinatown is where Singapore’s past and present meet: temples of three faiths, restored shophouses and some of the best cheap food in the city. Come hungry and give yourself a few hours.
Don’t miss the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and see our 10 things to do in Chinatown for more ideas.
