By The Diary desk · Last verified 11 October 2026
Chinatown is one of the easiest half-day walks in Singapore. Start at Chinatown MRT and within about a kilometre you pass the Chinatown Heritage Centre at 48 Pagoda Street (open 10am to 8pm, last entry 7.15pm), the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple on South Bridge Road and Thian Hock Keng, the 1840s Hokkien temple on Telok Ayer Street. The temples cost nothing to enter; the Heritage Centre is ticketed. One change to know: the covered Chinatown Food Street on Smith Street closed in 2021, and Smith Street is now being rejuvenated, so plan to eat at the hawker centres nearby.
Wear comfortable shoes, bring something to cover your shoulders and knees, and let the five-foot ways do the rest. Here is the route, the opening hours and the small rules that make the day smoother.
Quick facts
- Nearest stations: Chinatown MRT (North East and Downtown lines) for Pagoda Street; Telok Ayer MRT (Downtown line) for Thian Hock Keng.
- Chinatown Heritage Centre: 48 Pagoda Street, 10am to 8pm daily, last entry 7.15pm.
- Sri Mariamman Temple: 244 South Bridge Road, 7am to noon and 6pm to 9pm daily.
- Thian Hock Keng: 158 Telok Ayer Street, 7.30am to 5.30pm daily.
- Temples: free to enter; cover shoulders and knees, and remove shoes where asked.
- Time needed: about three to four hours at an easy pace, including a meal.
The walking route, step by step
This loop keeps the ticketed stop near the start and the temples in the morning, when Sri Mariamman is open and the streets are cooler.
- Chinatown MRT, Pagoda Street exit. You surface among the souvenir shophouses of Pagoda Street.
- Chinatown Heritage Centre (48 Pagoda Street). Allow about an hour for the recreated shophouse rooms that show how early migrants lived.
- Sri Mariamman Temple (244 South Bridge Road). At the end of Pagoda Street. Go before noon or after 6pm.
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (288 South Bridge Road). A few minutes’ walk south along the same road.
- Lunch. Maxwell Food Centre sits across the road from the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple; Chinatown Complex is a short walk back towards Smith Street.
- Thian Hock Keng (158 Telok Ayer Street). Walk east to Telok Ayer Street and finish at Telok Ayer MRT.
The three temples at a glance
Three faiths sit within a few hundred metres of each other, which is the quiet marvel of this walk. Hours are from each temple’s own listings, as of October 2026.
| Temple | Address | Hours | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Mariamman Temple | 244 South Bridge Road | 7am–noon, 6pm–9pm (9.15pm Fridays) | Founded by 1827; Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple; National Monument since 1973 |
| Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum | 288 South Bridge Road | Open daily; check the temple’s website for current hours | Opened on Vesak Day, 31 May 2007; no shorts, mini-skirts, bare backs or off-shoulder tops |
| Thian Hock Keng | 158 Telok Ayer Street | 7.30am–5.30pm | Rebuilt 1839–1842; dedicated to Mazu, protector of seafarers; National Monument since 1973 |
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple also bans non-vegetarian food and pets inside. At Sri Mariamman you leave your shoes outside before entering. Photography rules can differ by hall, so look for signs or ask before taking pictures of worshippers.
The Chinatown Heritage Centre: hours and tickets
Set inside restored shophouses, the centre recreates the cramped cubicles and daily life of early Chinatown’s migrants. It is the one stop on this walk that charges.
| Item | Detail (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10am–8pm daily, last entry 7.15pm |
| Standard foreign visitor price | $25, shown as the usual price on the centre’s promotions page |
| Last-hour promotion | $15 for foreign visitors entering 7pm–8pm |
| Local rates | Separate local tickets are sold online; SG Culture Pass credits can be used |
| Children | Under 3 free; under 12 must be with an adult |
| Maintenance closures | Tuesday 13 October 2026 (all day); Friday 4 December 2026, 11.30am–4pm |
Local and child prices change, so pick your date on the centre’s ticketing page to see the exact rate before you go.
What happened to the Food Street, and where to eat now
The covered Chinatown Food Street on Smith Street, run by a private operator, closed in October 2021 after footfall fell. The Government then tendered the row of shophouses at 11 to 37 Smith Street and the next-door State land, and in August 2024 the Chinatown Business Association won the master tenancy, with plans for heritage-led food, retail and lifestyle concepts. What is open there changes as tenants settle in, so treat Smith Street as a stroll rather than a dinner plan.
For a reliable meal, the two big hawker centres are close by. Chinatown Complex Food Centre at 335 Smith Street is one of Singapore’s largest, and was scheduled for a three-month upgrade in 2026, so check NEA’s hawker closure notices before you set out. Maxwell Food Centre on Kadayanallur Street is across the road from the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Both close on some days for cleaning, which NEA lists in advance.
The WahLiao Verdict
Go on a weekday morning, wear something that covers your shoulders and knees, and start at the Heritage Centre at 10am so you reach Sri Mariamman well before it closes at noon. Eat at Maxwell, finish at Thian Hock Keng, and you have seen three faiths and two centuries in one easy loop for the price of a single museum ticket. Skip Tuesday 13 October, when the Heritage Centre is closed for maintenance.
Questions people ask
Is Chinatown Food Street still open?
No. The covered food street closed in October 2021. Smith Street is being rejuvenated under a new master tenant, so eat at Chinatown Complex or Maxwell Food Centre instead.
Do I have to pay to enter the temples?
No ticket is needed for any of the three temples on this walk. Donation boxes are there if you wish to give.
Why is Sri Mariamman closed in the afternoon?
The temple opens in two sessions, 7am to noon and 6pm to 9pm. Plan a morning or evening visit.
How long does the walk take?
Allow three to four hours including an hour at the Heritage Centre and a hawker lunch. The walking itself is short.
Sources: Chinatown Heritage Centre, hours, promotions and closure dates; Hindu Endowments Board, Sri Mariamman Temple hours and history; Chinatown Business Association, Thian Hock Keng visitor details; Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, dress code and address; Singapore Land Authority, Smith Street rejuvenation. The Diary explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Visiting Temples, Mosques and Churches in Singapore: Dress Codes and Etiquette · Kampong Glam: Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane and Visiting Tips · Back to The Diary
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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