Singapore Civic District Heritage Private Walking Tour

At Boat Quay, we'll explore one of Singapore’s earliest trading hubs, where merchants once unloaded goods along the river’s most prosperous bend. Conserved shophouses recall the bustling activity of coolies and river traders who shaped Singapore’s growth. Nearby stands the grand Fullerton Hotel, formerly the 1928 General Post Office, a landmark of colonial administration. Just a short walk away, the elegant Cavenagh Bridge—Singapore’s oldest suspension bridge—offers a glimpse into 19th-century engineering and the city’s early civic history.

Along the North Bank of the Singapore River, we’ll explore landmarks that trace the city’s colonial beginnings. We’ll view Anderson Bridge, a graceful 1910 structure linking the civic district. Nearby stands the Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall, its iconic clock tower watching over the riverfront. The Empress Place Building, once a government office, now anchors the area with grand neoclassical architecture. At the Raffles Landing Site, a statue marks where Sir Stamford Raffles is said to have arrived in 1819. Close by, the Old Parliament House—Singapore’s oldest surviving government building—offers a glimpse into the nation’s early political life.

At the National Gallery Singapore, we’ll explore two beautifully restored national monuments—the former Supreme Court, with its historic courtroom and grand rotunda, and the former City Hall, where key moments like the Japanese surrender took place in its ceremonial chamber. From the Rooftop Padang Deck, we'll enjoy sweeping views of the Padang and Civic District, while the Rooftop Coleman Deck offers a striking perspective of the city skyline and St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

At Esplanade Park, we’ll stroll through one of Singapore’s oldest public parks, shaded by towering Heritage Trees that echo the city’s natural past. The park’s centrepiece is the Cenotaph, a solemn war memorial honouring soldiers who fell in the two World Wars. Set along the Singapore River’s mouth, the park blends quiet greenery with historic monuments, offering a peaceful place to reflect on Singapore’s early civic life and the sacrifices that shaped its modern identity.

At Merlion Park, we’ll see Singapore’s iconic Merlion statue, a half-lion, half-fish figure symbolising the nation’s fishing-village origins and its name, “Singapura.” From the Jubilee Bridge, we’ll enjoy sweeping views of Marina Bay and the city skyline. The Fullerton Promenade leads us along the waterfront, offering close-up photo spots and a look back at the historic Fullerton precinct. The area blends national symbolism, heritage and stunning bayfront scenery in one memorable stop.

At Clifford Pier, we’ll stand where countless migrants once first set foot in Singapore, a landing point that shaped the island’s early multicultural community. The pier’s elegant red-beam structure recalls its 1933 design, now carefully preserved within a modern setting. It is also historically significant as the site where part of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed in the sea in 1948, a moment that drew crowds and reflected Singapore’s deep regional ties. Today, the waterfront offers a quiet place to reflect on these layered histories.

At Lau Pa Sat, we’ll discover one of Singapore’s most iconic hawker centres, housed in an elegant cast-iron structure dating back to the 1890s. Its intricate Victorian-style columns, towering roof and octagonal layout reflect the city’s colonial engineering heritage. Inside, rows of bustling hawker stalls offer local favourites like satay, noodles and traditional snacks.