Best Singapore Staycation Ideas for Nostalgia Lovers

panoramic view of Little Guilin panoramic view of Little Guilin

Best Singapore Staycation Ideas for Nostalgia Lovers

Looking for a staycation itinerary in Singapore that brings back the sweet taste of nostalgia? One where you can travel back in time while on a local getaway? 

Evolving from a rural village less than a century ago to a thriving metropolis, traces of Singapore’s heritage are slowly fading away. Thankfully, Singapore still has some local places of interest that pay tribute to its unique history. 

Take some time off from work (you need to clear your leave anyway!) with a Singapore local staycation that offers a healthy dose of nostalgia? The teams at Pan Pacific Singapore, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, PARKROYAL on Beach Road, PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard and PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Singapore recommend this list of 20 places that will take you back in time.

 

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Walk Down Memory Lane at Kampong Lorong Buangkok

Kampong Lorong Buangkok Kampong Lorong Buangkok

 

Kampong Lorong Buangkok

Address 7 Lor Buangkok, Singapore 547557                                                     

 

Savour a slice of kampong life (rural living) at Kampong Lorong Buangkok, mainland Singapore’s last surviving kampong. Domestic chickens still roam freely here, and old, colourful houses with zinc roofs line the road. As you meander along the small cluster of decades-old houses, gaze appreciatively at the open green spaces, feel the breeze wafting through the air, and tune in to the barks from friendly neighbourhood dogs. 

 

Get directions to Kampong Lorong Buangkok

 

Purchase and Savour Old-school Snacks

 

Biscuit King

Address 130 Casuarina Road, Singapore 579518                                                                                                                               
Phone Number
+65 6458 0925
Opening Hours
11am to 10pm (Tuesday to Friday, and Sunday), 12pm to 10pm (Saturday), Closed on Monday

 

Ready for the literally sweet taste of nostalgia? Relive the taste of your childhood with beloved old-school Singaporean snacks. With more than 75 types of traditional biscuits, be spoilt for choice at Biscuit King. Apart from biscuits, the store sells a kaleidoscope of sweets as well as the physical games that local children used to play. Use this opportunity to introduce your children to games like “chatek” and “zero-point” as well as “five stones”.  

 

Get directions to the Biscuit King

 

Transport to Yesteryear at the Rustic Cafe Colbar

 

Cafe Colbar

Address 9A Whitchurch Road, Singapore 138839                                                                                                                          
Phone Number
+65 6779 4859
Opening Hours
11:30am to 8:30pm (Tuesday to Sunday), Closed on Monday

 

Set in the “wilderness” at Portsdown, a visit to the rustic Cafe Colbar is like travelling back in time. With old archival photos hanging on the walls, an un-furnished concrete floor, and 70s and 80s style furniture, the cafe screams nostalgia every which way you turn. Staying true to its roots as a mess hall for British soldiers when Singapore was under British rule, even Colbar’s menu harkens back to the past. The food served are dishes served to locals and British soldiers back in the day, such as fried rice, hor fun (thick rice-based noodles), sausage and eggs, and more.  

 

Get directions to Cafe Colbar

 

Reflect on Singapore’s Wartime Heritage at Bukit Chandu

 

Bukit Chandu

Address 31 - K Pepys Road, 118458                                                                                                                                             
Phone Number
+65 6375 2510
Opening Hours
9am to 5:30pm

 

Learn about Singapore’s sordid WWII history with a trip to Bukit Chandu, once a battleground during the Battle of Pasir Panjang. This was where a Malay Regiment fought valiantly against the Japanese during World War II. The place has since been turned into a World War II learning centre. Uncover the story of wartime hero Lieutenant Adnan Saidi of the Malay Regiment’s 1st Battalion, who died valiantly fighting the Japanese in one of the fiercest battles in Singapore.

 

Get directions to Bukit Chandu

 

Unleash Your Inner Child at the Toa Payoh Dragon Playground

toa payoh dragon playground toa payoh dragon playground

 

Toa Payoh Dragon Playground

Address 28 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310028                                                     

 

Enjoy a blast from the past at the Toa Payoh Dragon Playground. Dating back to 1979, the iconic outdoor park used to be one of the most popular playgrounds in Singapore. Although there are four such playgrounds left, this is the only one still housed in a sandbox. (The playgrounds today are built on rubber mats to better protection children from falls.) This Dragon playground made it to the Top 15 Amazing Playgrounds From All Over the World by Flavorwire.com, a culture blog based in New York.

 

Get directions to the Toa Payoh Dragon Playground

 

Relive Old Kampong Days at Pulau Ubin

Wooden hut in Pulau Ubin Wooden hut in Pulau Ubin

 

Changi Point Ferry Terminal

Address 51 Lor Bekukong, Singapore 499172                                                     
Phone Number
+65 6542 7944

 

Retreat to life in the 1960s as you journey by bumboat to Pulau Ubin, home to Singapore’s last (offshore) village. To get there, take an old-school style ferry from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Amid the lush greenery is an abundance of wildlife like wild boars, otters, birds and reptiles, which remained unchanged since its early days. Here, outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, or cycling await you. 


Get directions  to the Changi Point Ferry Terminal (for the ferry to Pulau Ubin)

 

Visit the People’s Park Food Centre

 

People’s Park Food Centre

Address 32 New Market Rd, Singapore 050032                                                     
Phone Number
+65 6225 5632
Opening Hours
7:30am to 10:30pm (Tuesday to Sunday), Closed on Monday)

 

Feast on all-time favourites at the People’s Park Food Centre, which started off as a humble food shelter in 1923. Interestingly, the hawker centre turned into a part of Singapore’s biggest “shopping cum residential complex” in 1969. The food centre today has seen a few facelifts but still retained many local favourites.

A visit here gives you the chance to sample tasty dishes such as the Zhen Zhu Fang Roasted Delights, which sells Cantonese roast meats like roasted pork, duck, and chicken. The stall has been listed in a Michelin Guide with a Michelin Plate for several years. Other stalls of note include Yong Xiang Xing Dou Fu (Hakka Chinese cuisine consisting primarily of tofu filled with ground meat mixture or fish paste) and Toh Kee Roast Duck.

 

Get directions to the People’s Park Food Centre

 

Explore Singapore’s Oldest Chinese Temple

Exterior of Thian Hock Keng Temple Exterior of Thian Hock Keng Temple

 

Address 158 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068613                                                                                                                                        
Phone Number
+65 6423 41616
Opening Hours
7:30am to 5:30pm daily

 

Step foot into the oldest Chinese temple in the country—the Thian Hock Keng Temple. Built by the island’s Hokkien speaking population, the temple received an honourable mention in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage 2001 Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The temple’s interior has not withered with time, but is continually restored and repainted. Its tiled roof has detailed carvings of soaring dragons, while its pillars feature intricate carvings depicting scenes from Chinese mythology. Look out for the regal lion and tiger statues guarding the grand entrance of the temple.

 

Get directions to the Thian Hock Keng Temple

 

Visit Singapore’s Once Famous Cantonese Opera House

 

The Majestic

Address 80 Eu Tong Sen St, Singapore 059810                                                                                                                                 
Phone Number
+65 6227 8130
Opening Hours
Monday: 10:00am to 6:00pm (Tuesday to Sunday)

 

Make a trip down to The Majestic—a historic building previously known as the Majestic Theatre when it laid claim to being Singapore’s most famous Cantonese opera house. The landmark was renovated into a three-storey shopping mall in the early 2000s, retaining the original building's structure, which combines Western and Chinese architectural styles. 

 

Get directions to The Majestic

 

Sneak a Peek at Singapore’s World War II Defence Quarters

fort canning fort canning

 

Battle Box (Fort Canning)

Address 2 Cox Terrace, Singapore 179622                                                                                                                                    
Phone Number
+65 6338 6133
Opening Hours
9:30am to 5:30pm (Friday to Saturday), Closed on Monday to Thursday)

 

Steeped in history, Fort Canning is a hill that holds many of our country’s war stories. And one of the Fort’s areas of significance during this period is the Battle Box. Constructed with tunnels that burrowed deep into the hill, the bomb-proof bunker originally served as Britain’s Headquarters for the Malaya Command operation. Today, it hosts visitors as a museum depicting the final days of the WWII Battle of Singapore, with displays of moving figures, wax figures and wartime artefacts.

 

Get directions to the Battle Box

 

Relive Childhood Toys at the Mint Museum of Toys

 

Mint Museum of Toys

Address 26 Seah St, Singapore 188382                                                                                                                                          
Phone Number
+65 6339 0660
Opening Hours
9:30am to 6:30pm

 

Be swept by waves of nostalgia as you step into the Mint Museum of Toys, with its rows of vintage collectibles, toys and comics from yesteryears proudly displayed for all to see. Some may be familiar to the older generation, while others—especially those which hail from countries such as Germany—may be eye-opening. A treasure trove of tin, wooden and plastic old school toys, the museum boasts of more than 50,000 toys, with some dating back 120 years. 

 

Get directions to The Mint Museum of Toys

 

Check Out Our Defence Systems During WWII at Fort Siloso

Fort Siloso in Sentosa Fort Siloso in Sentosa

 

Fort Siloso

Address Siloso Rd, Singapore 099981                                                                                                                                                     
Phone Number
+65 6736 8672
Opening Hours
10am to 6pm

 

One of the three forts used to defend Singapore from sea invasion, Fort Siloso is the only preserved coast defence fort. A popular historical site for visitors to Sentosa, Fort Siloso is likely to be visited by older Singaporeans at least once in their childhood. Revisit the free attraction to look at Singapore’s World War II-era military cannons, tunnels and structures through adult eyes. 

 

Get directions to Fort Siloso

 

Pay Homage to the Oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore

 

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Address 141 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218042                                                                                                                                  
Phone Number
+65 6293 4634
Opening Hours
8am to 12pm, 6:30pm to 9pm daily

 

Admire the elaborate religious carvings and intricate architectural details on the facade of the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, located in the middle of Little India. The oldest Hindu temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali, the religious building is well over a century in age but remains well-maintained thanks to its regular worshippers. 


Get directions to Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

 

Have a Vintage Meal at Lau Pa Sat

 

Lau Pa Sat

Address 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582                                                                                                                                      
Phone Number
+65 6220 2138
Opening Hours
24 hours

 

Feast to your heart’s content at Lau Pa Sat, also known as Telok Ayer Market. Originally built in the 19th century, the market has long been a Singapore landmark, thanks to its unusual octagonal shape and clock tower. Honoured as a national monument in 1973, the market has undergone several renovations. Thankfully, the original spirit of the popular eating place remains—it still serves local Singapore favourites such as satay (skewered meat) and chicken rice. 

 

Get directions to Lau Pa Sat

 

Revere Singapore’s Oldest Anglican Church

Revere Singapore’s Oldest Anglican Church Revere Singapore’s Oldest Anglican Church

 

St Andrew’s Cathedral

Address 11 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178959                                                                                                                                  
Phone Number
65 6337 6104
Opening Hours
9am to 6pm daily

 

Built in 1836, the majestic St Andrew’s Cathedral is Singapore’s oldest Anglican house of worship. Anybody who passes by the City Hall area of Singapore would have easily seen its captivating spires. Apparently, the original structure had a tower and spire which were destroyed by lightning. Thankfully, these were reconstructed and faithfully kept to their original architecture. Today, the cathedral’s Neo-gothic architecture, stained-glass windows and memorials draw both churchgoers and other visitors week after week.  

 

Get directions to St. Andrew’s Cathedral

 

Relive the Valour of Singapore’s Firefighters Here

Central Fire Station Central Fire Station

 

Central Fire Station

Address 62 Hill Street, Singapore 179367                                                                                                                                           
Phone Number
+65 6332 3000

 

Built in 1908. this striking white-red building along Hill Street, is the oldest active fire station in Singapore. It also houses the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery—an interpretative centre which narrates the history and development of Singapore’s Civil Defence Force. Pop inside the Central Fire Station to see a showcase of old fire-fighting equipment, uniforms, and stories of major fire incidents in Singapore. You can also gain hands-on experience of the latest firefighting technology currently deployed by Singapore’s firefighters.    

 

Get directions to The Central Fire Station

 

Saunter and Dine at CHIJMES

The CHIJMES Hall The CHIJMES Hall

 

CHIJMES

Address 30 Victoria St, Singapore 187996                                                                                                                                              
Phone Number
+65 6337 7810
Opening Hours
24 hours

 

Made famous by the movie Crazy Rich Asians as the lavish wedding venue of the rich, CHIJMES is a hub of upmarket restaurants and pubs located right smack in the City Hall area. Popular as the backdrop for theatrical performances and weddings, CHIJMES Hall is an exquisitely restored early Gothic-style 19th Century chapel with intricate design and detail. CHIJMES dates back to the 1950s, where it began its life as a convent operated by French Catholic nuns. Declared a national monument in 1990, it is one of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks.

 

Get directions to CHIJMES

 

Catch a Show at Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

victoria theatre victoria theatre

 

Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

Address 9 Empress Pl, Singapore 179556                                                                                                                                                    
Phone Number
+65 69088810
Opening Hours
Monday: 10:00am to 6:00pm (Tuesday to Sunday)

 

Once upon a time, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall were the de facto places to catch arts and cultural performances. Up and running in 1909, the neoclassical venues were refurbished from 2010-2014 in a major exercise that thankfully preserved and enhanced its historic features. Catch a performance here to enjoy a trip to the past.

 

Get directions to the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

 

Explore the Sleepy Changi Village

 

Changi Village

Address 2 Changi Village Rd, Singapore 500002                                                         

 

Urbanisation has changed the landscape of much of Singapore’s neighbourhoods, but rustic charm still defines Changi Village. The laid-back neighbourhood is home to old-school hawker centres that serve up local comfort food, dotted with rare three-storey flats and a handful of old colonial houses. You can also spot bumboats near the jetty, ready to pick up passengers for a trip to Pulau Ubin or other islands. A trip here is like entering a time capsule where life slows to a crawl. 

 

Get directions to Changi Village

 

Pay Tribute to the Civilian War Memorial

The Civilian War Memorial The Civilian War Memorial

 

Civilian War Memorial

Address War Memorial Park, Beach Rd, Singapore 189768                                                                                                                         
Opening Hours
24 hours

 

Marked by four pillars towering 65 metres high in a park, the Civilian War Memorial literally sticks out in the city hall area. Most locals would have visited it at least once during their school excursions. The memorial opened on February 15, 1967, and is lovingly nicknamed “The Chopsticks”. A visit here again would bring back school memories, as well as thoughts on Singapore’s wartime heritage. 

 

Get directions to the Civilian War Memorial

 

Explore Nostalgia In Comfort and Ease

 

Let the Pan Pacific Hotels Group which has both Serviced Suites and Hotels be your companion in your walk down memory lane. With establishments around central Singapore, your nostalgic staycation will be made all the sweeter. Book a room and rest each night in comfort as you reflect upon your day’s adventures.

 

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