Organized Tours

Although touring Singapore is simple enough for DIY travelers, visitors with little time, or who want to delve deeper into local sights, can take advantage of convenient organized activities.

Coach Tours

Tour East (tel. 65/6738-2622) organizes typical half-day coach tours of the city (adults S$30/US$19/£9.90, children S$15/US$9.60/£4.95), and full-day coach excursions to some of the main attractions around the island (adults S$70/US$45/£23, children S$35/US$22/£12), some with meals included. The Peranakan Trail takes visitors out to Katong, a suburban neighborhood that is the focal point of Peranakan heritage (adults S$40/US$26/£13, children S$20/US$13/£6.60).

For something different, go for the DUCKTour (tel. 65/6338-6877; www.ducktours.com.sg) a combined coach and boat tour in an amphibious vehicle, a decommissioned military craft, that circles you around the Historic District for a tour of the harbor. The hour-long tour starts every hour, departing from the Suntec City Mall Galleria, with additional transfers from the DUCKTours office on Orchard Road (at the corner of Cairnhill Rd.) Reservations are highly recommended and tours cost S$33 (US$21/£11) adults, S$17 (US$11/£5.60) children ages 4 to 12, and S$2 (US$1.30/65p) kids under 3. DUCKTours also operates the HiPPO Tour aboard an open-top double-decker bus, cruising Orchard Road, Little India, Kampong Gelam, Chinatown, and the Historic District. Pick it up at the DUCKTours office on Orchard Road or at Suntec City, then get on and off at sights that interest you along the way. The day ticket costs S$33 (US$21/£11) adults, S$13 (US$8.30/£4.30) children 4 to 12, and S$2 (US$1.30/65p) for kids under 3. Call DUCKTours for information.

Walking Tours

The National Museum of Singapore (tel. 65/6332-4075; www.nhb.gov.sg) usually offers a selection of tours that I highly recommend. The Overview of Singapore History & Culture is a half-day historical look at the city's ethnic enclaves with guide Geraldine Lowe, Singapore's local authority on history and heritage. The Cemetery Tour takes you outside the city to see a side of local culture that is rarely explored. At the time of writing tours were temporarily on hold until after the festivals surrounding the reopening of the museum cool down (it was tough to get any info at all!). Tours were expected to resume in early 2007; call for details.

Singapore Walks (tel. 65/6325-1631; www.singaporewalks.com) is another reputable outfit that organizes guided walking tours of the Historic District, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Gelam, and other neighborhoods Monday through Saturday. Call them to find out the meeting time and place for the tour you want; adults pay S$18 (US$12/£5.95), children tour for S$12 (US$7.70/£3.95).

River Tours & Cruises

Singapore Explorer (tel. 65/6339-6833; www.singaporeexplorer.com.sg) operates boats up and down the Singapore River and into the harbor from 9am to 11pm daily. A bumboat ride with recorded info about the riverside sights costs adults S$12 (US$7.70/£3.95) and children S$6 (US$3.80/£2). If you want to ride in an air-conditioned glass-top boat, tickets for adults are S$15 (US$9.60/£4.95), children S$6 (US$3.80/£2). They also offer a wine-and-dine cruise, but I say spend your time and money savoring the best food in one of the restaurants reviewed in chapter 5. The boats can be picked up from Clarke Quay or the Raffles Place MRT Jetty.

The Imperial Cheng Ho, operated by Watertours (tel. 65/6533-9811; www.watertours.com.sg) is a huge boat modeled after the sort of Chinese junk that Admiral Cheng Ho might have sailed when he explored this region in the 15th century. A 2 1/2-hour cruise takes you past the Singapore skyline, the mouth of the Singapore River, then out past Sentosa with a stop on Kusu Island. I recommend the Morning Glory Cruise at 10am (adults S$25/US$16/£8.25, children S$12/US$7.70/£3.95). There's also a High Tea Cruise at 2:30pm (adults S$29/US$19/£9.60, children S$14/US$9/£4.60) and a dinner cruise at 5:30pm (adults S$53/US$34/£17, children S$27/US$17/£8.90). Watertours can arrange hotel transfer with your booking.

Trishaw Tour

These cycle rickshaws were once a staple form of public transportation. Now they're only permitted on busy streets with special permits, and only for guided tours. Singapore Explorer (tel. 65/6339-6833; www.singaporeexplorer.com.sg) coordinates regular outings through Chinatown from 10am to 7pm daily. You can either call ahead to book a ride, or you can just show up at the corner of Sago and Terrenganu streets; you'll see the collection of trishaws under cover. The half-hour trip takes you through Chinatown's quaint streets for a charge of S$36 (US$23/£12) per person. You can also combine the trishaw tour with a half-hour bumboat trip for only S$2 (US$1.30/65p) extra. Singapore Explorer can arrange pick up from anywhere if you book in advance.