Top Things to do in Raffles Place
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5 Budget-friendly Things to do in Raffles Place That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Raffles Place, Singapore including Singapore City Gallery, Thian Hock Keng Temple, Telok Ayer Street, Boon Tat St, Nagore Durgha Shrine.
1. Singapore City Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 513 reviews
Singapore City Gallery is a great starting point to get to know the city for free. Located beside the Maxwell food centre in the historic district of Chinatown, this 3 storey visitor centre goes beneath the skin of the city to understand how the city came to be, that even though it’s a dense built-up city of tar, glass and concrete, it is still so green, has memorable buildings, historic districts and walkable streets. You can imagine and design your own version of Marina Bay or explore plans long into the future like Greater Southern Waterfront city. The main draw is an enormous model replica of the City Centre with uncannily accurate miniatures of building and streetscapes. Look out for an illustrative map drawn by Lee Xin Li. It will sure to bring back memories of Singapore, past and present. Before you leave, catch the dramatic 3-min Island Wide Model show screened every 20 mins at level 1.
Reviewed By fuzzyfred - Reno, United States
This free place was an education on how the city grew and what good city planning can mean. It has exhibits spread over three floors. Enjoyed the section of what other cities are doing for the future. Wish my home town would have good city planners like this place. It took me around two hours.
2. Thian Hock Keng Temple
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 306 reviews
The Thian Hock Keng Temple was erected in 1821 by seamen grateful for safe passage, and stands where Singapore's waterfront used to be, before the land was reclaimed.
Reviewed By Ginnyleeinwonderland - Hai Phong, Vietnam
It was a very old temple in China town near Amoy street. I was there to pray at the end of Chinese new year and the second day of Chinese new year. The place was always crowded with local people and tourists. At the opposite site of the road, there was a building, on top of that building, they design it like the image of eyes looking down from the sky. Although it was crowded, everything was so calm inside. On the right side, there was a wishing well. I saw some European throw coins there but it was not the way they should do to make a wish. Long time ago, people used to drink water from the well believing that water was blessed. Right now, they didn't drink water from the well anymore. They just ring the bells, each bell was a symbol of a wish, then put the hands together and wish. The letters on the bells were Chinese so I couldn't read. I dragged my phone out to use Google translate in order to know that they mean. The security guy saw me and thought that I was taking pictures so he came to me and reminded me not to take pictures. I explained what I was doing so he stopped and translated for me although they were about to close. He was so helpful and kind
3. Telok Ayer Street
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 68 reviews
This is Singapore's historic original waterfront zone.
Reviewed By alhasan1909 - Lahore, Pakistan
This street has the second best hawker center in Singapore in my opinion known as Lau Pa Sat. The street is technically in the Outram area but is very different from the Chinatown area. It has the iconic Shop houses beautifulfly restored surrounded by giantic Financial buildings during lunch hours you'll see a lot of people in suits walking around or having lunch. There are also some amazing Boutique cafes, bars, bakeries and restaurants on or near the street. We visited a bunch of times just to try different foods definitely worth a visit.
4. Boon Tat St
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 77 reviews
Reviewed By eixalag
Boon Tat is probably the most centrally located Hawker Centre (an area where independent street food vendors are collected together with facilities for preparing and serving food in hygienic surroundings,) and it apparently differs from the others around Singapore in that active hawking is allowed, presumably so that tourists experience the “authentic” atmosphere. One therefore battles in and through the main area (collected under a Victorian cast iron structure that I believe may have started life as the fish market on another site,) waving aside the bearers of plastic picture cards of the food offered by their various stalls. Inside it is crowded but not too stuffy due to the vast ceiling fans draped over the concourse. There are dozens, if not scores of small built-in stalls each selling its own cuisine: and the range is enormous from Singapore’s own Peranakan cuisine to many Chinese regional outlets, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Malay, Thai and all points north, south east and west. Singapore is famous for its street food and choosing what to eat is a matter of wandering past th stalls until something catches the eye or nose. Whether you want meat, fish of vegetarian, hot or not, one course or ten, it will be there somewhere, fresh cooked, delicious and cheap. There is no point recommending individual stalls as it is not possible to try them all: but no one should come away disappointed. One eats at plastic tables wherever one can be found free. The tables are kept clean and wiped down. If you can’t handle chopsticks, it is best to buy a spoon and fork set in a tin from a local stall in advance of eating and keep that for a next visit. A better bet than one-shot plastic spoons. Paper napkins are either bought separately (a practice that happens in some restaurants outside the Hawker centres,) or your bring your own. There are sinks to wash off afterwards and the loos seems to be well looked after. Great place to eat.
