Pastel-coloured shophouses line the streets outside of the CBD, vibrant street art covers sides of buildings and beautifully coloured mosques and temples bring the neighbourhood together. This, is the beauty of Singapore.
Unlike other big cities, Singapore is anything but a concrete jungle. Sure, there are soaring skyscrapers and modern marvels (we’re looking at you, Marina Bay Sands!). But the city has done an excellent job maintaining and celebrating its colourful history.
On each visit, we’ve discovered new neighbourhoods that are absolutely bursting with colour. Here’s a few we keep going back to and recommend checking out.
Kampong Glam
Colourful things to see: Haji Lane, Bussorah Street, Masjid Sultan
How to get there: Bugis MRT station is within a short walk, and there are plenty of bus stops nearby.
The golden-domed Masjid Sultan attracts many to Kampong Glam, but its colourful shophouses and street art are a reason alone to visit the neighbourhood.
Haji Lane is packed with cute and colourfully painted shops, while Bussorah Street is lined with brightly adorned restaurants and trinket shops. The street paves the way to the iconic, 200-year-old Masjid Sultan, making a great spot to take photos.
Inside the mosque, the colour doesn’t stop. The interior is green and gold, which is sure to suit any Aussie that visits. It’s free to enter, as long as you’re dressed appropriately (cover-ups are provided though, if you’re not).
🏨 Looking to stay in the colourful Kampong Glam? Search for a hotel in Kampong Glam: Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
📸 Consider for these guided tours of Kampong Glam for a more in-depth view into the neighbourhood:
Joo Chiat
Colourful things to see: Candy-coloured Peranakan houses
How to get there: Eunos and Marine Parade are the closest MRT stations, however both are about a 15-20 minute walk. There are also bus stations closer by.
If a postcard from Singapore doesn’t have the Merlion or Marina Bay Sands on it, there’s a good chance it features the colourful houses of Joo Chiat. Instagram-famous for a reason, these pastel-coloured homes aren’t just beautiful. They’re part of Singapore’s rich heritage.
Koon Seng Road has become the most popular spot to see these well-maintained houses, but there are plenty of streets in the area where you’ll find them. And they’ll probably be less busy, too. Just remember when you’re visiting, that many of these are people’s homes. Don’t go through any gates or onto the properties unless invited.
Other roads with similarly designed houses nearby include Joo Chiat Terrace and Joo Chiat Place.
🏨 Looking to stay near the Peranakan houses in Joo Chiat? Find a hotel in Joo Chiat/Geylang/Katong: Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
📸 Consider for these guided tours of Joo Chiat for a more in-depth view into the neighbourhood:
Chinatown
Colourful things to see: Murals telling Chinatown’s stories, colourful shophouses, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.
How to get there: Chinatown and Maxwell MRT stations are the closest, depending on where you want to start your journey.
All over Singapore, the sides of buildings are covered in beautiful street art. But there’s something fun and whimsical about many of the ones found in Chinatown. They’re often much more than art, though.
Many of these tell the story of Singapore’s past, like this one at the corner of Smith Street and South Bridge Road in Chinatown. More of these painted in a similar style can be found all over the bustling neighbourhood, including just one block over on Temple Street.
But wandering around Chinatown will reward you with much more than murals. Here, you’ll find more of Singapore’s iconic shophouses, painted in bright colours, of course. There’s also plenty of street stalls selling everything from tacky souvenirs to affordable chopsticks.
One of our favourite temples in the city can be found here, too. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is painted in bright reds on the outside and adorned with gold on the inside. But it’s actually the rooftop that captured our heart. Up here, you’ll find a beautiful, peaceful orchid garden. It’s the perfect spot to, very literally, stop and smell the flowers in an otherwise very busy part of town.
🏨 Looking to within walk distance of the Chinatown street art and hawker stalls? Find a hotel in Chinatown: Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
📸 Consider for these guided tours of Chinatown for a more in-depth view into the neighbourhood:
Little India
Colourful things to see: House of Tan Teng Niah, Sri Veerakaliamman Temple, Serangoon Road
How to get there: Little India MRT will take you straight to the Tekka Centre in the heart of Little India.
Probably the most colourful building in all of Singapore, the House of Tan Teng Niah is something we always swing by whenever we’re in the ‘hood. The rainbow-hued villa is the last of its kind in Little India, and is just around the corner from the Tekka Centre (where we recommend grabbing a bite to eat).
The surrounding streets are full of storefronts painted in similar colours. While in the area, it’s worth talking a walk along Serangoon Road to Sri Veerakaliamman Temple. It’s a Hindu temple that’s adorned with a classic gopuram entranceway. It depicts Hindu deities, while the interior is dedicated to the goddess Kali.
🏨 Looking to stay in the heart of Little India? Find a hotel in Little India: Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
📸 Consider for these guided tours of Little India for a more in-depth view into the neighbourhood:
Petain Road
What to see: Well-maintained shophouses.
How to get there:
This one is a bit of a secret, so don’t spread the word too much… okay?
Not in many guidebooks and with far-less Instagram posts than the Peranakan houses in Joo Chiat, the Petain Road shophouses are simply stunning. Vibrant tiles line the walls, coloured murals cover the pillars between each home and the shutters feature colourful stained glass windows.
It is a strip of about a dozen or so houses, but you can make the trip to the area worthwhile by also popping into a chic local coffee shop (we went to Drip and Drool on Lavender Street) or grabbing some dim sum at Swee Choon.
🏨 Looking to get off the beaten track and stay near colourful Petain Road? Find a hotel in Kallang: Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
