11 best heritage trails in Singapore for a walk down memory lane

With 2025 being Singapore’s 60th anniversary, there’s no better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than by exploring some of its most historic neighbourhoods. As it can be hard for a newbie to get started (unless you are a history buff), the National Heritage Board has kindly developed heritage trails in Singapore.

Here’s our list of the 11 best heritage trails in Singapore. They are included due to the rich history of the areas, the large number of stops and the wide diversity of its landmarks.

1. Changi 

1.  Bungalows and Beaches in Changi (4km, 1 hour with public transport): The natural beauty of Changi has been drawing visitors to the Changi area since the mid-1800s.

Discover Changi’s bungalows, beach resorts, and clubs with their coastal views, and explore the holiday houses built and frequented by the colonial elite, as well as the stretch of chalets well-loved by Singaporeans today. Sites include Changi Village and Changi Cottage.

2. War and Peace in Changi, (7.6km, 1.5 hours with public transport): Changi is a site of memory for many as it developed from a corner of the island into a British military base and endured the Japanese Occupation. Discover Changi’s military heritage and learn what life was like at the military base and for Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and survivors of the Japanese Occupation. Sites include the Changi Prison and the old Changi Hospital.

3. Gateways and Communities in Changi (12km, 2 hours with public transport): Changi has long served as a meeting point for diverse communities, even before the development of Changi Airport in 1981 transformed the area into a global gateway.

Discover the histories of these communities, as well as where they lived, worked and played. Sites along the trail include the Changi Point Ferry Terminal and the Changi Beach.

2. Bedok

From pirates to beach parties and fishing villages, the story of Bedok shares common themes with coastal settlements across the world. Yet simultaneously, the intertwined legacies of Bedok, Siglap, Tanah Merah and East Coast are peculiar in their own ways.

From the days of yore when Orang Laut fleets peered up the red cliffs of Tanah Merah, through to colonisation all the way to Singapore’s independence and the present day, discover Bedok’s transformation through the interlinking stories of Bedok and the East Coast. Sites include Chai Chee, Siglap Frankel Estate, Opera Estate and Kampong Bedok.

3. Queenstown

The Queenstown Heritage Trail recounts the past of Queenstown and visits the iconic landmarks that have defined its skyline for the past 6 decades, such as the Queenstown Public Library, Alexandra Fire Station and the Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre.

Queenstown was Singapore’s first satellite estate and this heritage trail in Singapore also shows trail-goers the evolution of public housing in Singapore through the personal stories of older residents.

4. Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru Road stretches for over 3 kilometres from Redhill MRT to Outram Road. For most Singaporeans, Tiong Bahru is a quaint estate that hosts eateries and eccentric stores.

Before the early 20th century, Tiong Bahru was largely undeveloped. Most of the land along Tiong Bahru Road was occupied by farms and cemeteries. After the turn of the century, some businessmen started building houses and shophouses, with one cluster at the intersection of Tiong Bahru and Henderson Roads and another at what is now the Tiong Bahru estate.

Explore some of the sites along the heritage trail in Singapore including the Graves of Tan Tock Seng, Chua Seah Neo and Wuing Neo, the Bird Corner and the Former Hu Lu Temple.

5. Toa Payoh

Toa Payoh has 3 curated trails for heritage lovers:

1. Of Public Housing and Shared Spaces (4.5km, 1.5 hours on foot): As the first town built by the Housing & Development Board (HDB), Toa Payoh has led the evolution of public housing. This trail looks at the development of HDB blocks that reflect the changing aspirations of homeowners. Sites include The Peak@Toa Payoh and the Dragon Playground.

2. Of Faiths & Beliefs (6km, 2 hours with public transport): Religious institutions have been an enduring presence in Toa Payoh. This trail brings trail-goers to the temples, mosques, churches and institutions that represent the communities in Toa Payoh. Sites include the Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery and the United Five Temples of Toa Payoh.

3. Of Community Institutions & Common Spaces (1.5km, 30 minutes on foot): Over time, community institutions and common spaces have left a mark on the lives of residents. Sites include the Tree Shrine at Block 177 and the Toa Payoh Sports Complex.

6. Little India 

Little India has 3 curated trails for heritage lovers:

1. Serangoon in the 1900s (1.35km, 40 min): The early 20th century was a defining period that shaped today’s Little India as migrants from India, China and Britain settled there and started a range of trades. Navigate their rich past through religious sites such as the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and landmarks including the Former Tekka Market.

2. Walk of Faiths (2.6km, 1 hour): The Little India area contains a great number and wide diversity of religious spaces such as the Leong San Se Temple and the Abdul Gafoor Mosque. These institutions span all the major ethnic and religious groups in the country. This trail offers insights into religious spaces, their architecture and the practices common to the area.

3. Shop Till You Drop! (1km, 30min): Little India features traditional businesses that offer experiences which cannot be found elsewhere. Indulge in genuine Indian dishes, purchase traditional clothing and hunt for retail bargains at the Mustafa Centre.

7. Balestier 

Balestier has 3 curated trails for heritage lovers:

1. Historical Landmarks of Balestier (1.7km, 45 min on foot): Balestier is home to historical sites from colonial-style villas to traditional shophouses and temples. This trail introduces you to the landmarks that have shaped Balestier from the past to the present. The sites include the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall and the Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple.

2. Building Balestier (2.3km, 1 hour 30 min on foot): This trail takes you to places that played a role in building Singapore during its independence. These include the Former Middleton Hospital which treated patients with diseases such as typhoid and smallpox during the mid-1900s and the Former Mandalay Road Hospital built in the 1920s to treat pauper women.

3. Faith, Film and Food (1.7km, 45 min on foot): The Balestier area houses many places of worship, traditional food trades as well as landmarks from the Golden Age of Malay Cinema. This trail brings you to religious buildings such as the Phang Pheng Mei Temple, the Former Malay Film Productions Studio as well as “makan places” in the area.

8. Sentosa 

Sentosa has 3 curated trails for heritage lovers:

1. Kampong and Barracks (3km, 2 hours with public transport): From the Orang Laut to British Army personnel, diverse communities have called Sentosa home. This trail explores their lives and the living spaces that spanned kampongs, barracks and bungalows. These include the Former Recreation Ground and Barracks and the Former Military Hospital.

2. Forts (4km, 2 hours on foot): Pulau Blakang Mati had been identified as a potential defence outpost in the 17th century but it was only in the late 1800s that the British militarised the island. This trail looks at the fortifications on Sentosa, such as Fort Siloso, Imbiah Battery and Fort Serapong, which played a crucial role in defending the country.

3.  Memories of Sentosa (2.5km, 1 hour on foot): Since the 1970s, Sentosa has been refreshing its attractions to meet the changing tastes of tourists and locals. Former unique attractions such as the Musical Fountain and the monorail defined Sentosa in the 1980s and 1990s. This trail revisits some of these landmarks and the memories associated with them.

9. Sembawang 

Sembawang has 3 curated trails for heritage lovers:

1. Historical Landmarks of Sembawang (7km, 2 hours with public transport): Sembawang houses historical landmarks established by the British and local communities, such as the Sembawang Shipyard. It also hosts the only natural hot spring on mainland Singapore in the Sembawang Hot Spring Park. This trail introduces you to these sites.

2. Communities of Sembawang (8km, 3 hours with public transport): Since the 19th century, Sembawang has been home to many communities, from coastal villagers to British families based in the former naval base. This trail brings you through these former neighbourhoods, including the Former Admiralty House and Houses at Gibraltar Crescent.

3. From Dockyard to Shipyard (5km, 2.5 hours with public transport): Sembawang Naval Base, established by the British in 1938 to defend their territories in the Far East, came with a ship repair dockyard that was transferred to Singapore in 1968 and later became Sembawang Shipyard. Today, the shipyard remains a part of Singapore’s marine industry. This trail takes you to various landmarks that were part of the former naval base.

10. Bukit Timah 

Bukit Timah has 3 curated trails for heritage lovers:

1. Kampong Life Trail (3km): Buildings once part of Bukit Timah’s kampong past can still be found in the area today. This trail features the Former Bukit Timah Railway Station and houses of faith such as the Hoon San Temple. They were once key to the religious and social lives of the residents.

2. WWII Legacy Trail (3.2km): This heritage trail explores WWII-linked sites, such as The Former Ford Factory, and locations that bear the legacies of the Japanese Occupation.

3. Learning and Leisure Trail (1.25km): Bukit Timah houses several well-loved social and leisure landmarks. This trail covers some of them, including eating haunts such as the Adam Food Centre and Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Botanic Gardens.

11. Orchard 

Orchard has 3 curated trails for heritage lovers:

1. Orchard Road’s Historical Gems (2.2km, 40 min on foot or 30 min walk and bus): The Orchard district has a history spanning nearly 2 centuries. It houses historical landmarks that tell the tales of those who lived and worked there. This heritage trail introduces Orchard’s lesser-known historical sites such as Emerald Hill and Ngee Ann City.

2. Communities & Cemeteries (3.6km, 1 hour 15 min on foot): The Orchard Road of today is filled with shopping centres, but it used to have a different character. Back then, it was dotted with religious places of worship, community organisations and cemeteries. This route shines a light on these sites, such as Dhoby Ghaut Green and House of Tan Yeok Nee.

3. From Orchard to Garden (4.7km, 2 hours on foot or 1.5 hours with a bus ride): The Orchard district was once covered with nutmeg farms. Although they are gone, the area still has green spaces such as the Butterfly Trail@Orchard and Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Botanic Gardens. Uncover Orchard’s natural beauty on this heritage trail.

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