By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
To see the Singapore where most people actually live, spend half a day in a heartland town. Start with Tiong Bahru for art deco flats and a famous market, Joo Chiat and Katong for Peranakan shophouses and laksa, or Punggol for a waterfront park and an island reached on foot. Each is a short MRT ride from the centre, and each costs little more than the train fare and lunch.
Most Singaporeans live in public housing towns built by the Housing and Development Board, the HDB. Each has its own market, hawker centre, playgrounds, temples and parks, and its own character. Visitors rarely go, which is exactly why they should.
Six heartland towns at a glance
| Town | Why go | MRT | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiong Bahru | Pre-war art deco public flats, independent cafés and bookshops | Tiong Bahru (East West) | Tiong Bahru Market’s hawker centre |
| Joo Chiat and Katong | Colourful Peranakan shophouses and heritage streets | Marine Parade or Tanjong Katong (Thomson-East Coast) | Katong laksa and Peranakan food |
| Toa Payoh | One of Singapore’s oldest HDB towns, with its famous dragon playground | Toa Payoh (North South) | The town centre’s hawker centres |
| Punggol | The newest waterfront town: a waterway park, a promenade and Coney Island | Punggol (North East), then LRT or bus | Waterway Point and the hawker centres |
| Sengkang | A riverside park with a floating wetland, and a working family town | Sengkang (North East) | Local coffee shops and food courts |
| Bukit Timah | The island’s highest hill, a nature reserve and the Rail Corridor | Beauty World or Hillview (Downtown) | Beauty World’s food centres |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Cost | A few dollars in train fares and S$5 to S$10 for lunch. |
| What you get | Ordinary Singapore: markets, playgrounds, void decks and neighbourhood food. |
| The alternative | Another mall on Orchard Road, which looks like malls everywhere. |
| Worth it for | Second-time visitors, food lovers, photographers and anyone staying five days or more. |
| Skip it if | You have only two days; see the centre first. |
Tiong Bahru: the easiest first step
Tiong Bahru’s curved, low-rise flats date from before the war, built by the Singapore Improvement Trust long before the HDB existed. Today they house small cafés, bakeries and bookshops among the long-time residents. Go early for breakfast at Tiong Bahru Market’s hawker centre, then wander the streets. It is ten minutes from Chinatown.
Joo Chiat and Katong: Peranakan colour
East of the city, Joo Chiat and Katong are known for rows of ornate, pastel shophouses and for Peranakan culture, the mixed Chinese and Malay heritage of the old Straits families. Come for the architecture and a bowl of Katong laksa. The Thomson-East Coast Line now brings you close; allow a morning.
Toa Payoh: the heartland original
Toa Payoh was one of Singapore’s first HDB towns, and it still feels like a complete small city: a town centre, markets, temples and a park. Its terrazzo dragon playground is one of the city’s best-loved pieces of design. Go at lunchtime to eat where the office workers do.
Punggol: the waterfront town
Punggol, in the north-east, is Singapore’s newest large town, built around a waterway park, a long promenade and a bridge to Coney Island, a quiet nature park with a sandy shore. Take the North East Line to Punggol, then hire a bicycle or walk the waterway. Our sister site, written by residents, keeps The Complete Punggol Guide, including a first-timer’s itinerary.
Sengkang and Bukit Timah
Sengkang, next door to Punggol, has a riverside park with a boardwalk across a floating wetland, and the quiet rhythm of a young family town. Bukit Timah is the opposite: a nature reserve around the island’s highest hill, with forest trails, old railway land and busy food centres at Beauty World. Go early, before the heat.
How to do a heartland half-day well
- Go in the morning, when the markets are busiest and it is coolest.
- Eat at the hawker centre, not the mall.
- Be a guest: people live here. Keep voices down in the corridors, and do not photograph residents without asking.
- Pair a town with a nearby sight: Tiong Bahru with Chinatown, Punggol with Coney Island, Bukit Timah with the Botanic Gardens.
Heartland towns: FAQ
What is a heartland town in Singapore?
A residential town of public housing flats built by the HDB, with its own markets, hawker centres, parks and transport links. Most Singaporeans live in one.
Which heartland town should visitors see first?
Tiong Bahru. It is close to the centre, easy to walk, and packs heritage flats, a famous market and good coffee into a few streets.
Is it OK for tourists to visit HDB estates?
Yes. They are public, open and safe. Treat corridors and void decks as people’s front doors, and be considerate with cameras.
How do I get to Punggol from the city?
Take the North East Line to Punggol station; the waterway park is a short LRT, bus or walk away.
Read next
This page belongs to Visiting Singapore, our guide for first-time visitors. Our 5-day itinerary builds in a heartland morning. For how Singaporeans choose where to live, read The Address.
Sources checked 28 September 2026: The Complete Punggol Guide, eduKatePunggol. Town descriptions are desk knowledge from people who live here; check opening hours for specific venues before you go. Last updated 28 September 2026.
