Cultures of Singapore

The Arab Quarter, Chinatown and Little India

Singapore is a diverse melting pot of cultures and races, with four official languages: English, Malay, Tamil and Mandarin.

Find Singapore’s traditional roots and enjoy the exotic sights and sounds of the Arab Quarter, Chinatown and Little India.

The Arab Quarter

Also known as Kampong Glam, the Arab Quarter is one of the most atmospheric places of old Singapore. The main attraction is the Sultan Mosque, with its golden dome. Interesting, the mosque was designed by an Irish architect and the dome base is a ring of black bottles!

Colorful shops, ethnic restaurants and small coffee shops line the streets.

Take a break and try the Turkish coffee in one of the many cute coffee shops in the Kampong Glam. A handful of restaurants still offers “shisha” (hookah) to customers, despite a ban on shisha being imposed in Singapore.

Sultan Mosque Singapore

Arab Quarter Singapore

Happy for a photo!

Haji Lane

Also in the Kampong Glam, Haji Lane is the place to find cool stuff, crazy fashion and graffiti art.

“Visual Orgasm”, “Pedra Negra”, “Wet Market”, “Selfie Coffee”, “Desperados”, Spoil Market”, “Sexy Coffee” and with names like these, you are hooked!

Haji Lane Singapore

The Barber Shop

Merdandy Cafe, Haji Lane

Chinatown

The main attractions of this sanitized version of a “Chinatown” are the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the nearby Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple and the old shophouses.

Chinatown Singapore

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple Singapore

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple Singapore (the prayer hall)

Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple Singapore

Little India

Bright colored shops, cheap food and all the scents of India! Venture on the backstreets of Little India and be surprised.

Little India market, Singapore

Little India stores, Singapore

Backstreet, Little India, Singapore

Highlights of Singapore

• Let’s go to Singapore – introduction to the “Lion City”
• A Touch of the Past: Geylang – the red light district and old shophouses
• Singapore’s Spectacular Architecture – Marina Bay photos
• 10 Weird Laws in Singapore You Should Know Before You Go
• Fun Places to Go in Singapore