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Kampong Gelam Historic District

Singapore Kampong Gelam Guide 2026: Sultan Mosque, Malay Heritage, Haji Lane & Arab Street

2026 guide to Kampong Gelam covering Sultan Mosque, the reopened Malay Heritage Centre, Haji Lane, Arab Street, conserved shophouses, MRT access and heritage history.

Statutory Overview & Urban Master Plan Framework

Kampong Gelam, also commonly written Kampong Glam, is a historic district in central Singapore associated with Malay royalty, Muslim communities, regional trade and conserved shophouse streets. URA defines the Kampong Glam Historic District as the area bounded by Ophir Road, Victoria Street, Jalan Sultan and Beach Road. The district was gazetted as a conservation area on 7 July 1989. Sultan Mosque and Istana Kampong Gelam are both National Monuments, while the former Istana now houses the Malay Heritage Centre, which reopened to the public on 25 April 2026 after a major revamp. Haji Lane, Arab Street, Bussorah Street and Bali Lane combine conserved streetscapes and traditional trades with contemporary shops, cafes and cultural activity.

What Kampong Gelam is today

Content

Kampong Gelam is a living historic district combining conserved two-storey shophouses, mosques, the former royal palace, traditional textile and Muslim-oriented businesses, restaurants, cafes, contemporary boutiques and street art.

Origins, Malay royalty and the name Kampong Gelam

Details

NHB's Kampong Glam Heritage Trail traces origins to early colonial period after 1819 when Sultan Hussein Shah settled in the area. Name derived from the gelam tree.

Sultan Mosque

Name

Masjid Sultan

Address

3 Muscat Street

Status

National Monument (Gazetted 14 March 1975)

Details

First built 1824–1826; current Indo-Saracenic building designed by Denis Santry of Swan & Maclaren built 1925–1928 with golden domes.

Istana Kampong Gelam and the Malay Heritage Centre

Name

Malay Heritage Centre

Address

85 Sultan Gate

Status

National Monument

Details

Reopened to the public on 25 April 2026 after a major revamp with 6 permanent galleries and 'Dari Rantau Ke Rumah' exhibition.

Haji Lane, Arab Street, Bussorah Street and Bali Lane

Details

Haji Lane (narrowest street in Singapore at ~4m width), Arab Street (textiles, perfumes, spices), Bussorah Street, and Bali Lane.

Heritage And Religious Sites

Hajjah Fatimah Mosque

National Monument (1846)

Historic mosque on Beach Road with leaning minaret.

Malabar Muslim Jama-Ath Mosque

Victoria Street mosque with blue-tiled facade and golden dome.

Gedung Kuning

Historic yellow mansion at Sultan Gate.

Getting to Kampong Gelam

Primary Station

Station

Bugis

Code

EW12 / DT14

Lines

East-West Line & Downtown Line

Nearby Stations

Jalan Besar

DT22

Nicoll Highway

CC5

Visitor Route

Start at Bugis MRT

Use Bugis EW12/DT14 as main arrival point and walk towards Arab Street.

Explore Sultan Mosque & Bussorah Street

Visit Sultan Mosque (open Sat–Thu 10am–12pm & 2pm–4pm) and Bussorah Street.

Visit Malay Heritage Centre

Explore the reopened Malay Heritage Centre at 85 Sultan Gate.

Walk Arab Street & Haji Lane

Browse textile shops, cafes, boutiques, and street art along Haji Lane and Arab Street.

Explore Gedung Kuning & Beach Road

Walk towards Gedung Kuning and Hajjah Fatimah Mosque on Beach Road.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Kampong Gelam is known for Sultan Mosque, Malay royal heritage, the Malay Heritage Centre, Arab Street's traditional trades, Haji Lane's conserved shophouses and contemporary boutiques, and a diverse Malay-Muslim food scene.

Yes. Singapore Tourism Board information says Sultan Mosque is open to visitors outside prayer times during its published visiting hours. Visitors should dress appropriately, follow mosque instructions, remove footwear when required and use the provided cover-ups where necessary.

URA states that the name probably derives from the gelam tree, which had practical uses for local communities including timber, bark and other products. Kampong Gelam was historically associated with Malay royalty and a diverse trading population.

Bugis MRT EW12/DT14 is the main rail gateway to the district. Jalan Besar DT22 and Nicoll Highway CC5 can also be useful depending on which part of the historic area you are visiting.

Yes. The Malay Heritage Centre reopened to the public on 25 April 2026 after a major revamp. NHB says the refreshed Centre has six permanent galleries and a new narrative, 'Dari Rantau Ke Rumah', exploring Malay identities in Singapore and links with the wider Malay world.

Visitors can explore the Malay Heritage Centre and Istana Kampong Gelam, walk the conserved streets around Arab Street, Bussorah Street, Haji Lane and Bali Lane, browse traditional textile and lifestyle businesses, visit other heritage sites such as Hajjah Fatimah Mosque and Gedung Kuning, and try Malay, Indonesian and Middle Eastern food.