Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam

Beyond the gleaming skyline, the multicultural soul of Singapore lives in its vibrant historic ethnic quarters. Chinatown blends ornate Chinese temples, a Hindu temple and old shophouses with markets and food; Little India bursts with colour, the scent of spice and flowers, saris and the ornate Sri Veeramakaliamman temple; and Kampong Glam, the old Malay-Arab quarter, centres on the golden-domed Sultan Mosque, with the hip, mural-lined Haji Lane alongside. Together they tell the story of the city's rich cultural mix.

What you actually see

• Chinatown - the Chinese temples, shophouses and markets.
• Little India - the colourful streets, spice shops and Hindu temple.
• Kampong Glam - the golden Sultan Mosque and trendy Haji Lane.
• The temples and street food - the places of worship and hawker food.

When to go

Year-round; the quarters are liveliest in the cooler evenings, and festivals like Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Ramadan light up the respective districts spectacularly. Singapore is hot and humid, so morning and evening are the pleasant times to explore.

Honest expectations

The quarters are somewhat gentrified and, in places, polished for tourists, but they retain genuine living culture, working temples and mosques, and excellent, authentic food. As places of worship, dress modestly at the temples and mosque. They are compact and easily combined in a day. They offer the historic, cultural counterpoint to Singapore's futuristic face, and the food is a highlight.

Nearby

Marina Bay, the colonial civic district and the food centres are close.