Hi, I’m Jaclynn Seah, a licensed Singapore tourist guide who conducts private small-group walking tours in English for travellers seeking local insights, engaging stories and a more personal introduction to my home country Singapore.
Whether you’re looking to visit iconic landmarks like Marina Bay and the Singapore River, or venture beyond the usual sights to explore offbeat neighbourhoods and hidden gems, I can tailor an itinerary that’s all about your interests.
I’m Singaporean and an established travel writer who co-wrote the 2023 edition of Lonely Planet Singapore. I write a lot about travel and Singapore for The Straits Times, Culture Trip and my own travel blog.
As an avid solo traveller, I have joined countless guided tours on my journeys so you know that I know what makes a tour great: local knowledge, thoughtful conversation and genuine experiences that don’t feel scripted.
Thanks to Jinee Chen for this photo of me in action on tour!
My Tours
Keen to explore Singapore with me? All my tours are customised. Tell me your interests and I’ll create an itinerary that’s just for you.
No two travellers are the same, my private Singapore tours are all about what you want to experience in Singapore, at your pace. Show me your bucket list of must-see sights in Singapore or tell me about your undying wish to eat kaya toast or revisit your childhood neighbourhood, I’ll plan a route that takes you to the places, stories and experiences that you want to discover.
Rate:
- Private customised Singapore tours start from S$130 (Min. 2 hour tour + S$10 platform fee).
- For tours longer than 2 hours, hourly rate add on starts from S$60/hour.
- Platform fee is S$10 for all bookings (S$20 if total fee over S$500)
- Note that this rate does not include any costs for transportation, food and attraction fees. These costs are added as requested.
Here are some examples of the private tours that I’ve created for my guests:
The request: A lovely couple emailed me asking to see local spots and get an insider view on local arts and culture. They’d been to Singapore several times and seen the main sights, but also enjoyed offbeat experiences like the Intan and Haw Par Villa previously.
The tour: I took them to walk through one of Singapore’s oldest neighbourhoods Tiong Bahru and check out local businesses, found a cool view of Chinatown from a public housing block corridor, and made a stop at underground creative enclave Pearl’s Hill Terrace.
She took us to places that showcased the young and vibrant art scene we knew was there but never would have found on our own.”
Daniel
Custom Singapore tour for young expats curious about their new neighbourhood
The request: Co-living space Cove SG organises regular events for their community, and were looking to explore local spots off the typical tourist path, in the area around their properties.
The tour: We took a walk down Joo Chiat Lane in the evening after work to see the vibes of this Peranakan district. I showed them the neighbourhood’s wall murals and explained the stories behind the art, recommended my favourite restaurants here and we ended with drinks and snacks at STORIES Joo Chiat.
Don’t quite know where to start? Here are some Singapore itineraries that I usually recommend to my visiting friends to help inspire your own trip:
The Civic District at the mouth of the Singapore River is where Singapore’s story began. It’s also where I like to introduce Singapore for those interested in how a small trading port grew into the modern metropolis. I’ll share some of my favourite stories (like Crazy Rich Asians film locations or Singapore’s most useless monument) as we follow the Singapore River towards Marina Bay and admire the hodgepodge mix of grand colonial buildings, quaint heritage shophouses alongside the futuristic architecture and towering skyscrapers.
Have more time? I’ll take you through the Bras Basah and Bugis district, the former European quarter and show you some of the overlooked historical sights in the middle of the city. We’ll pay a visit to the public housing estate at Waterloo Street neighbourhood for a glimpse of everyday Singapore life and how we live, eat and pray.
You’ll enjoy this tour if you…
I’ve been to Singapore about 10x but never seen it from the lens of a v well-versed guide. A balanced mix of history, art, culture, daily life and food – all in 4 hours! I also appreciated your insights and how you looked out after us.
laurice
Rates
Private Singapore River and Marina Bay walking tour – 2 hour @ S$130
- Singapore River and Civic District
- Marina Bay Waterfront and Merlion Park
Private Singapore River and Marina Bay walking tour – 4 hour walking tour @S$250
- Singapore River and Civic District
- Marina Bay Waterfront and Merlion Park
- Bras Basah and Bugis District
- Waterloo Street
It’s possible to customise longer tours or include other locations around Singapore as well, just let me know.
Singapore’s heritage ethnic neighbourhoods are a reflection of the country’s multicultural identity. I like to show my guests the Singapore that I know by poking around the local shops, getting a taste of Singaporean food at the hawker centre or observing the rites and festivities around the places of worship.
Which neighbourhood should you see? They all have their own charm. Chinatown, once the heart of the early Chinese immigrants has a surprisingly multicultural side and plenty of hawker food options. Or head to Kampong Gelam, former seat of Malay royalty and historic centre of the Malay community – I spent many a day exploring murals and hip Haji Lane when my office was located here. You can also explore Little India, the current South Asian community that happened by accident and home to some of my favourite roti prata.
I recommend spending at least 3 hours in a single district to properly see the sights. If you have more time, you could squeeze in a visit to 2 districts with a minimum of 4 hours. Add on an additional hour if you plan to spend some time eating! You will need a full day and some stamina if you want to see all 3 districts.
You’ll enjoy this tour if you…
- want deeper perspective on how Singapore’s multiethnic people have shaped its culture
- are curious about the local histories and traditions behind Singapore’s major ethnic groups
- want a closer look at the life of an everyday Singaporean
Jaclynn made my first trip to Singapore amazing! On our first day, she gave my parents and I a tour of Chinatown, and I’m so glad we started our trip with this. It was really grounding. She’s very knowledgeable about the history of Singapore, and even shared her own family’s history, which we really appreciated.
Will
Rates
1 Location, min 3 hours @ S$190
Pick one location:
- Chinatown – Kreta Ayer (Pagoda Street, Sri Mariamman Temple, Chinatown Complex, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple), or
- Little India – Tekka Market, Campbell Lane, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, or
- Kampong Gelam – Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane, Bussorah Street
2 Locations, min 4 hours @ S$250
- Chinatown + Little India
- Little India + Kampong Gelam
- Chinatown + Kampong Gelam
These are the district highlights, but it’s possible to visit the less touristy areas within/around these ethnic enclaves as well, just let me know.
Learn about Singapore’s neighbourhoods through the street art on its walls. Pick an area that you are curious about, and I’ll show you the coolest murals there and tell you the hidden stories behind the art and how it relates to the neighbourhood and the surrounding sights. I’ll also share what I know about the artists behind the works and the unique evolution of the Singapore street art scene despite the country’s strict laws and obsession with cleanliness.
I love street art hunting when travelling because it tells you so much about its surroundings and has led me to so many interesting places I wouldn’t find on my own. I first encountered Singapore’s street art while working in the arts sector and have been documenting street art on my blog and on Instagram @singaporestreetart for many years.
You’ll enjoy this tour if you…
- like street art and mural hunting to explore neighbourhoods
- enjoy learning about Singapore’s history and culture through its visual art and artists
- want to hear the stories beyond the usual tourist attractions and hotspots
It was absolutely marvelous! She didn’t only know all the murals’ locations, which in itself was a massive time saver, but she was also a true treasure trove of knowledge not only about the street art scene, its artists and the stories behind the murals’ creation but equally about the history of Singapore and its districts.
Alex (Wanderlust Walks)
Rates
1 Location, min 3 hours @ S$190
Check out the locations that I’ve covered in my Singapore street art guides:
There are other more offbeat locations to find murals in Singapore, but these ones also include historical and cultural sights alongside the art. Check with me if you’re interested in other locations.
- Tours will go on rain or shine, with amendments made to itinerary as required by circumstances on tour date at discretion of guide.
Rescheduling
- If guest reschedules tour more than 7 days before original tour date, no additional payment is required.
- If guest reschedules tour less than 7 days before tour date, additional payment of S$50 will be required to confirm the new tour date.
- All rescheduled tour dates will be at the discretion and availability of the tour guide.
Cancellation
- If guest cancels tour more than 7 days before tour date, 50% deposit will be refunded in full (100% refund). Any service/transfer fees will be deducted as required.
- If guest cancels tour less than 7 days before tour date or no show on tour date, deposit will NOT be refunded (0% refund).
- Any other cancellation/refund decisions will be at the discretion of the tour guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tour guiding is something I do alongside my full-time job, so I’m generally available on:
I’m typically NOT available on weekdays during working hours. However, I do have some off days and flexibility so if you contact me with enough lead time to plan, I may be able to do a weekday morning or afternoon tour, just check in with me.
My minimum rate for a private tour is 2 hours @ S$60/hour (S$120) + platform fee (S$10) = S$130
Longer tours are typically charged at an additional S$60/hour.
Note the following is NOT included in this fee:
- Cost of transportation
- Cost of food/drinks consumed
- Cost of attraction/entrance fees
Any expenditure of the above items incurred on the tour will be added to the total final bill, payable at the end of the tour.
If private transport is required, my rate will go up to S$120/hour to include the additional transport fee.
To book a tour, please contact me through the Google Form or send me an email with details about your tour.
Once we’ve agreed on a date, time and itinerary, I will send you a booking confirmation. Full payment (for tours under S$200) or 50% deposit (for tours more than S$200) is required to secure the tour booking. The remaining balance payable should be made by the end of the tour.
Overseas guests: Payment can be made via Paypal, Stripe (credit cards accepted), or transferred via Wise or Revolut.
A platform fee of S$10 will be added to all online payments to cover fees charged by the platforms. The platform fee is S$20 for bookings over S$500.
Singaporean guests: payment can be made via Paynow or Bank transfer.
There are no additional platform fees for Paynow and local bank transfer payments.
Detailed payment instructions will be provided via email upon confirmation of availability and itinerary.
My tours tend to be walking-only and if there are multiple locations, rely on taking public transport like bus/MRT (pay your own way) or Taxi/Rideshare (I book and pay first, total expenditure is added to final cost paid at the end of the tour).
For large groups that require a van or bus, please arrange your transport separately, or I can put you in touch with transport providers who can help.
For couples or small groups where private transport is essential for your tour, please contact my friend over at Wayward Tours who have private hire drivers that are also licensed tourist guides.
My tours are conducted in English which is my native language. I grew up learning and speaking English at home.
I can converse, read and understand Mandarin/Chinese well as I learned it as a mother tongue in school. I typically don’t conduct tours in Mandarin but I’m happy to do a quick translation mid-tour or help you communicate with local Chinese-speakers if necessary.
I also speak a little Spanish after my travels in South America and studying it in Singapore, but I’m probably at an A2 level at best – I can understand and speak simple phrases quite slowly but I don’t offer tours in Spanish at this point.
Yes! While my private tour rates are indicated for individuals, couples and small groups of up to five people, I’m happy to arrange tours for larger groups, including corporate groups, school groups and family gatherings.
For the best experience, I generally recommend a maximum group size of around 20 people. Larger groups may require additional planning, support or audio equipment, and there may be an additional fee depending on the group size and tour requirements.
Whisperer sets are available for larger groups or upon request, making it easier for everyone to hear the commentary clearly while we explore Singapore.
My Guiding Journey
I love taking guided tours in new cities that I visit, but never thought I’d be the one guiding tourists instead. Here’s how I became an officially licensed Singapore tourist guide in 2024.
Volunteer art walks
I had my first taste of proper guiding as a volunteer guide for OH! Open House, an independent art organisation that led art walks in various Singapore neighbourhoods. I guided walking tours around Joo Chiat (2015), Emerald Hill (2018) and Kampong Gelam (2024).
These art walks are a great combination of things that I love: site-specific art installations inspired by its surroundings and telling stories about offbeat corners of Singapore with local secrets.
Creating my first audio tour
My first experience curating and creating my own walking tour came in 2016 when I was introduced to Voicemap, an immersive audio tour app for self-guided audio walking tours. I knew immediately that I wanted to create a tour around some of my favourite things: street art and murals, and my favourite neighbourhood Kampong Gelam where I spent a lot of my early working life.
The result? I curated and recorded Street Art Hunting in Kampong Gelam, which has been updated in 2024 as the streets and artworks changed.
Pandemic virtual tours
I’m an avid traveller and the pandemic was the longest period of time I went without travel as an adult, for almost 2+ years! I turned to creating and hosting virtual tours on Amazon Explore with Fourwinds from 2021-2022, showing an international audience the tourist sights that they couldn’t visit, like Chinatown, Fort Siloso and the Singapore River.
It gave me a chance to talk to foreigners when I wasn’t able to travel and made me consider getting my tourist guide license officially. Unfortunately, this beta programme on Amazon was shut down in 2022 after two years, but I treasure the experience and training I received in this short period.
Taking the plunge
I’ve always been an occasional traveller, juggling a love for travel with my full time job which pays the bills for travel. In mid 2023, I was unfortunately retrenched from my day job. Now I finally had the time and motivation to commit to getting my Tourist Guide license to tide me over in case finding a new job took awhile, and give me more options as my age/salary puts me on the frontline when it comes to retrenchment. You can read more of my story on CNA Women.
I’m happy to say that I passed this notoriously tricky test on my first try, earning my big red badge in 2024, woohoo!
Freelance guiding
I was lucky enough to find a new full-time job, so guiding is something I do on weekends and evenings for now.
Tourist guiding in Singapore largely consists of freelance gigs. I do private tours for people who reach out to me directly, but also work with several cool tour companies on their tours – check out my guest reviews and keep a look out for me around Singapore.
Tour Reviews and Testimonials
Don’t just take my word for it – here’s what people I’ve guided have to say about me and my tours.
My Private Customised Tours
Jaclynn was very friendly and approachable from the outset when we first contacted her about a small private tour for my organisation, World Link for Law. She listened to my thoughts on areas we wanted to cover and places to see and helped us come up with a plan for a four hour trip. We decided to see parts of Little India and Chinatown.
She is extremely knowledgeable on the history of the areas and relays facts and information in a fun way. We enjoyed seeing the various murals, shops and temples with her. We visited a few hawker centres too and had a refreshing break. Her English is amazing and we found her very easy to understand.
She also assisted with group photos. We really enjoyed our time with her and would highly recommend her services as a Singapore guide.
Rachel
Private Walking Tour (4 hours) – Chinatown, Little India
We had a wonderful experience exploring Chinatown, Singapore with our guide Jaclynn. She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the history and culture of the area.
Jaclynn brought the streets to life with fascinating stories about Singapore’s heritage, temples, and traditional shops. She also made the tour engaging with interesting local insights and personal recommendations for food and hidden gems we would have otherwise missed.
Her warmth, humour, and clear explanations made the walk both enjoyable and informative. We truly appreciated her patience in answering all our questions and ensuring everyone in the group was comfortable.
We highly recommend Jaclynn to anyone wanting to experience the real spirit of Chinatown and understand the cultural roots of Singapore. Thank you for making our visit so memorable!
Rahul
Private Walking Tour (3 hours) – Chinatown
Will definitely reach out to you when I get to go back to singapore. I loved how the tour was v personalized to taste and in “open architecture” format without the rigidity of a strict itinerary. I’ve been to Singapore about 10x but never seen it from the lens of a v well-versed guide. A balanced mix of history, art, culture, daily life and food – all in 4 hours! I also appreciated your insights and how you looked out after us.
Laurice
Private Walking Tour (4 Hours) – Civic District, Bras Basah-Bugis, Kampong Gelam
We wanted to thank you again for making Singapur once again a wonderful trip for us. You are such a great person and the tour with you was a great pleasure!
Sarah
Private Walking Tour (4 Hours) – Civic District, Bras Basah-Bugis, Kampong Gelam
Jaclynn made my first trip to Singapore amazing! On our first day, she gave my parents and I a tour of Chinatown, and I’m so glad we started our trip with this. It was really grounding. She’s very knowledgeable about the history of Singapore, and even shared her own family’s history, which we really appreciated. She’s open, honest, and direct, which helped me to have a better understanding of Singaporean culture. If you’re coming to Singapore, I highly recommend you connect with Jaclynn and schedule a tour with her.
Will
Private Walking Tour (3 hours) – Chinatown
I’m so glad to have you as our tour guide for two local walking tours in November. I’m happy to meet you as a new friend in our first destination and see more street arts. […] I would like to visit Singapore again to see more other neighborhoods.
Tiffanie
Private Walking Tour (4 Hours) x 2 – Chinatown and Katong
We feel so lucky to have found Jaclynn through her website. We had been to Singapore a number of times before and seen all the major attractions, but were hoping to find someone to give us an insider’s view of local culture. We told her we had loved The Intan and Haw Par Villa and she immediately understood what we were looking for. She took us to places that showcased the young and vibrant art scene we knew was there but never would have found on our own. Thank you, Jaclynn – we’ll be back for more!
Daniel Castor
Private Tour with Car (4 hours) – Tiong Bahru, Pearl’s Hill, Chinatown
I first came across Jaclynn through her IG account a long while back and was amazed to see how much street art there was to be found all around Singapore which she had so wonderfully captured. I had been to Singapore before and located some of the murals but never did I imagine that there was so much more to see. During my next trip to Singapore, I was super happy to find out that Jaclynn was actually offering street art tours, so I went ahead and booked one with her. And what can I say?
It was absolutely marvelous! She didn’t only know all the murals’ locations, which in itself was a massive time saver, but she was also a true treasure trove of knowledge not only about the street art scene, its artists and the stories behind the murals’ creation but equally about the history of Singapore and its districts. On top, she also knew great places for ice cream and traditional Singaporean “kopi” too. I can highly recommend exploring Singapore’s street art with Jaclynn.
Alex (Wanderlust Walks)
Private Street Art Tour
Guided Tours for Other Companies
We did the Friday tour of Chinatown with Jaclynn, and we loved it!! Jaclynn is very close and passionately conveys very interesting information about this part of Singapore. Fully recommended.
Signature Chinatown Walk – free walking tour (Indie Singapore)
[…] Such great info, and with local stories and perspectives. I could really see her love of her country shining through. At one stop I wanted to know the price of the dried lizards at a Chinese medicine shop and she walked in and asked for me. I learned so much.
Signature Chinatown Walk – free walking tour (Indie Singapore)
Back in 2022 we did 3 tours with Indie Singapore (Kampong Glam, Chinatown and Tiong Bahru). We were back in Singapore this week for a couple of days and didn’t hesitate to look at what else we should do. We picked the Blair Plain Conservatorium area walk and it was fantastic. Really an architecture walk looking at shophouses from different eras – how they have been conserved on the outside, how they have been changed inside, street art in the area, a drink break in a local kopitiam, and finished in Singapore’s highest public housing (Pinnacle at Duxton) where we went up to the rooftop for the most phenomenal view of Singapore with an explanation of what we were seeing, how things have changed and what is planned in different parts of Singapore. Our guide was excellent. Her name is Jaclynn, a local Singaporean like the 2 guides we met in 2022. Well prepared, outstanding communication skills, passionate about travel and provided us with some Ang Ku Kueh that we enjoyed post tour from a very busy Chinese shop called Ji Xiang. Post tour Jaclynn gave us restaurant ideas via WhatsApp and then a detailed email outlining exactly where we went on the tour. Next time we are in Singapore we will need to do our 5th tour with Indie Singapore. Pretty amazing that all 4 so far have been outstanding.
Signature Chinatown Walk – free walking tour (Indie Singapore)
I would thoroughly recommend doing this tour, it far exceeded my expectations. Jaclynn was our guide and was excellent! I learnt so much about the history of Chinatown, and visited some wonderful places there.
JMurray65
Signature Chinatown Walk – free walking tour (Indie Singapore)
[…] enthusiastic story tellers as they love and are proud of their city. Jaclynn guided us a group of 8 through the Chinatown neighbourhood. Walk the walk. Talk the talk. And so presented a good narrative of the history and geography of the city […] So many questions she answered. (3.5 hours). My friend and I were inspired to spend the afternoon at the National Museum of Singapore to get an even fuller story.
Signature Chinatown Walk – free walking tour (Indie Singapore)
[…] I booked a specific walking tour of the Chinatown area, I was alone and three more people were added so a very small group. It was a pleasure to be accompanied by Jaclynn, a dynamic and passionate Singaporean girl of Chinese ethnicity. The walk was pleasant, full of interesting notions and never boring. Jaclynn speaks perfect English and keeps her attention high with the details she has to tell. Walk absolutely recommended. […]
Signature Chinatown Walk – free walking tour (Indie Singapore)
Absolutely fantastic group. We took two tours with them, one with Wei and the other with Jaclynn and both of them were really good. They are both really knowledgeable not only on historical facts but also the contemporary landscape.
I wish all our tour guides were like them!!
Signature Chinatown Walk – free walking tour (Indie Singapore)
Eunice and Jaclynn lead fantastic neighborhood tours! It’s clear they do tours out of love of their country and are happy to share their own experiences with you. They are super friendly and welcome to all kinds of questions.
No rushing from top site to top site. See some hidden art, get snacks and food recommendations, then explore more with their timely follow up email with more info and links based on the tour and your personal preferences!
Signature Chinatown Walk – free walking tour (Indie Singapore)
Tour guides […] and Jac were great storytellers, very engaging and knowledgeable about the content they were presenting. Not only that, they constantly injected their personality into the tour by sharing their own personal anecdotes and stories. 100/10 experience, highly recommended
Audience Member
OH! Kampong Gelam: Palimpsest (OH Open House)
I had the best tour guides. Having tour guides that interjects their own anecdotes, stories and experiences really makes the entire tour more engaging. Bonus points for being super knowledgeable about the history and context of the place.
Audience Member
OH! Kampong Gelam: Palimpsest (OH Open House)
Virtual Tours
This is the 2nd tour we’ve done with Jaclynn, and it was awesome again! She really feels like a friend who’s showing you around, and does well with engagement. This was a great look at Little India, and there’s plenty of street art and brightly colored buildings to keep you interested.
She does a good job of pointing out interesting oddities that give a better look into what life is like there, which makes it feel different from other tours. You get a bigger picture of the area, which gives a deeper appreciation. And it’s just cool to wander around (ok she knows where she’s going) and take in the sights while getting tidbits of culture and history. Overall, really awesome tour, will book another!
Murals & History in Little India (Amazon Explore)
This was my first Amazon Explore tour. What’s the big deal, I thought. I can just see and learn stuff on the internet. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by the experience. Our tour guide, Jaclynn was fabulous. She invited us to ask questions, which we did. […]
She molded the tour based on our questions and made the 1 hour tour a really good experience. I had my computer video output connected to our big screen TV. There were 4 family members in the room, all sitting on our comfortable couch and experiencing some of the sights and sounds of Singapore!
Shrines & Shophouses of Telok Ayer (Amazon Explore)
This was my second tour with Jaclynn and I really enjoyed it. She makes you feel as though you are right there and does a great job of weaving together history and fun facts, occasionally interjecting helpful maps or pictures to really hit home a point. […]
Jaclynn will suffer through the incredible heat for you so you can enjoy Singapore without even breaking a sweat. I knew virtually nothing about Singapore before these tours but have learned alot and enjoyed these tours very much. Someday, I hope to see it in person, but this is definitely the next best thing.
Sultans & Street Art in Kampong Gelam (Amazon Explore)
Amazon Explore reviews were archived before the platform was removed.