Singapore HDB Public Housing Home Visit & Chinatown Shophouse Tour

Start in Chinatown and learn
the history of Singapore homes

Meet your English-speaking guide on Pagoda Street in Chinatown for a tour of about 3 hours, with transport included. Hear how a growing population led to a housing shortage, and how the government moved people from slums and squatter settlements into new high-rise public flats known as HDB flats, as you discover how the Singapore home has evolved.

Walk the streets of early shophouses

Explore the early shophouses lining Trengganu Lane, Temple Street and Smith Street. Find out how private condominiums, colonial black-and-white houses and landed houses differ from public housing, and learn what the Ethnic Integration Policy is, how it is implemented and why.

Visit a host family's HDB home

The highlight of the tour is a visit to an HDB home where a Singaporean family lives, arranged exclusively with the homeowners. Learn about their lives, how they handle daily chores, the dos and don'ts between neighbours, and local customs and culture. Enjoy homemade snacks and desserts while chatting freely, with no topic off limits. After the tour, you return to the starting point in Chinatown.

※ The tour is only confirmed with a minimum of 4 participants.
※ The tour may continue in poor weather, as sheltered walkways are available throughout the journey.