Chinatown, Little India & Kampong Glam: Singapore's Three Historic Quarters
A guide to Singapore's three most distinct historic neighborhoods — what makes each one different, and how to see all three in a single day by MRT.
Three Neighborhoods, Three Completely Different Feels
Singapore's ethnic quarters — Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam — sit within a few MRT stops of each other, but each has kept a genuinely distinct character: different temples, different street food, different architecture, and different pace. Visiting all three in one day is a common (and easy) way to see a side of Singapore beyond the skyline.
| District | Highlights | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Chinatown | Sri Mariamman Temple, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Pagoda Street shophouses | Temples, souvenir shopping, and Chinatown Complex hawker food |
| Little India | Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Tekka Centre, Mustafa Centre (24-hour shopping) | Indian cuisine, spice shops, and the most colorful street art in the city |
| Kampong Glam | Sultan Mosque, Bussorah Street, Haji Lane boutiques | Middle Eastern and Malay food, independent fashion shops, and café culture |
Getting Around
All three neighborhoods sit on or near the MRT: Chinatown Station (NE4/DT19) for Chinatown, Little India Station (NE7/DT12) for Little India, and Bugis Station (EW12/DT14) is the closest stop for Kampong Glam, a short walk from Bussorah Street and the Sultan Mosque. Traveling between all three by MRT rarely takes more than 10–15 minutes per hop.
