Some of Singapore's best art galleries have no doors, no tickets and no closing time. In Kampong Glam and Little India, the walls themselves are the canvas: murals about old trades, community memories, dancers and everyday heroes, tucked along shophouse lanes.

This guide pulls together a simple walking route for each neighbourhood, with the stories behind some of the works. Street art changes quickly, as pieces get repainted, removed or hidden by construction hoarding, so treat our list as a starting point and enjoy the surprises along the way.

Everything here is free to see from the street. A few tips: go early for photos, be respectful of residents and shop owners, and ask before photographing people.

Why These Two Neighbourhoods?

Both are conserved heritage districts. According to NLB's Infopedia, Kampong Glam dates to 1824, when land was set aside for Sultan Hussein Mohamed Shah, and it was gazetted as a conservation area on 7 July 1989. Little India was gazetted on the same date, as URA notes.

Their old shophouses, narrow lanes and long-running family businesses make good backdrops for art. NHB's Kampong Gelam Citizen Engagement Project documented 45 heritage businesses in the precinct, from Arab Street textile shops to fragrance sellers, so you can pair your art walk with a look at living traditions.

Kampong Glam and Haji Lane: Four Easy Clusters

Kampong Glam and Haji Lane: Four Easy Clusters
For illustrative purposes only. Actual locations, scenes, and appearances may vary.
Credit: InSingapura.com (AI-assisted)

The Occasional Traveller groups Kampong Glam's murals into clusters. Here is a simple way to walk them, starting from Bugis or Nicoll Highway MRT (both about 5 to 10 minutes away on foot).

  1. Haji Lane and Bali Lane: the busiest stretch, with bold murals near the Beach Road end. Didier Jaba Mathieu's Aztec-style wall is one of the area's pioneering pieces.
  2. Baghdad Street and Bussorah Street: alleys near Sultan Mosque, including Gelam Gallery, a back-lane outdoor gallery with artist plaques.
  3. Aliwal Street and Sultan Gate: quieter, with walls at Aliwal Arts Centre and Sultan Arts Village that change often.
  4. Victoria Street and Jalan Kledek: large murals, including works featuring children, by artists such as Ernest Zacharevic.

A community mural at 45 and 47 Sultan Gate, A Particular Place, is worth a look. NAC describes it as a living community map, created by AKAI Chew, Leonard Yang and Leow Weili with input from residents and passers-by. It was supported by the Lively Places Fund and Archifest 2023.

Little India: Murals of Trades, Dancers and Everyday Heroes

Little India: Murals of Trades, Dancers and Everyday Heroes
For illustrative purposes only. Actual locations, scenes, and appearances may vary.
Credit: InSingapura.com (AI-assisted)

Start outside Little India MRT. Sassy Mama SG's walking guide, written in 2019, and CityNomads point out several works. Some may have changed since, so use them as a guide.

  • Kerbau Road, near Tekka Market: cow murals nod to the area's cattle-trading past.
  • Race Course Road: a galloping horse recalls the old racecourse.
  • Belilios Lane: Traditional Trades of Little India.
  • 86 Serangoon Road: dancers in bold colours.
  • Dunlop Street and Clive Street: Alive@Clive by TraseOne at 104 Dunlop Street.
  • 11 Hindoo Road: Working Class Hero by ZERO.

You can also stop by NHB's Street Corner Heritage Galleries, small displays inside shops that have operated for 30 years or more, such as Haniffa Textiles, Ananda Bhavan and Jothi Store and Flower Shop. NHB's page does not list opening hours, so the galleries are best visited during shop hours.

A Family-Friendly Treasure Hunt

A Family-Friendly Treasure Hunt
For illustrative purposes only. Actual locations, scenes, and appearances may vary.
Credit: InSingapura.com (AI-assisted)

Sassy Mama SG suggests turning the walk into a game for children: count the cows on Kerbau Road, or ask them to invent a story for each mural. Short walks of about 1km per area keep it manageable.

Bring water, hats and a small umbrella, and pick one neighbourhood per outing. Remind children to look with their eyes, not their hands, and to stay clear of traffic in narrow lanes.

Tips for a Good Street-Art Walk

Go early. Haji Lane is closed to traffic on weekend evenings and becomes very crowded.
Expect change. Murals get repainted, removed or hidden by construction, so a piece listed in a guide may be gone.
Respect people. Ask before photographing residents, shop owners or worshippers.
Dress modestly when stepping near mosques or temples, and keep noise down.
Pause for chai or a snack. Both districts are full of heritage eateries.

Who knows, you might find your new favourite wall. Happy exploring!