- Armenian Apostolic Church of St Gregory the Illuminator
- Former Empress Place Building
- Esplanade Park
- Fort Canning Park
- Former City Hall and Supreme Court
- National Museum of Singapore
- Former Hill Street Police Station
- St Andrew’s Cathedral
- Former Parliament House
- Capitol Theatre, Former Namazie Mansions and Former Stamford House
- Armenian Street
- Former Methodist Publishing House
- Former Tao Nan School
- Masjid Al-Burhani
- Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Former Fullerton Building
- Padang
- Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall
- Sir Stamford Raffles Statue
- Central Fire Station
- Masonic Hall
- Former Anglo-Chinese School
From the northern bank of Singapore River to Fort Canning Park and down Bras Basah Road to the Padang, the Civic District is where Singapore’s story began more than 700 years ago. Before it became known as the "Civic District", the civic centre, home to Singapore's key government and public buildings, formed the core of the settlement since its early days as "Temasek".
Historical accounts from the 13th and 14th centuries describe a thriving port settlement here, bounded by the Singapore River and present-day Stamford Road. Though the port was destroyed by the late 14th century, the area remained inhabited on a smaller scale till the 1600s.
When the British arrived in 1819, it was here that they first settled. Though the new establishment quickly expanded beyond the original boundaries of former settlements, it was in this civic core that the British built important civic buildings such as the former Empress Place and City Hall buildings, while the Padang became the focal point for recreation and public life.
This area also bore witness to historical milestones in Singapore’s journey to nationhood, from the formal Japanese surrender in 1945 and post-war political rallies to the first sitting of Singapore’s parliament in 1965.
Today, the Civic District remains Singapore’s seat of governance. It has also since transformed into a vibrant cultural and lifestyle destination with world-class museums, arts and cultural institutions and exciting placemaking developments along the waterfront.
Uncover these transformations and discover what makes the birthplace of Singapore so special through our curated trails: explore the tales from pre-colonial times, British entrepot days and Singapore’s journey to nationhood.
MyMaps Route
Explore the Suggested Short Trail Routes:
- Journey to Nationhood, 0.5 hour on foot (550m)
- Functions of the Civic District, 1.5 hours on foot (2.2km)
- Seeking Fortunes, Forging New Lives, 1 hour on foot (1km)
Downloads
Civic District Heritage Trail Booklet
Civic District Heritage Trail Map - English
Walking Trails @ CDC is back with a Heritage Edition!
Selected sites in this trail are featured as part of the Walking Trails @ CDC (Heritage Edition). Click here to discover Singapore’s rich heritage in our neighbourhoods in a fun way! Complete digital challenges as part of the trail and earn rewards while spending quality time with friends and family!
Walking Trails @ CDC (Heritage Edition) is a collaborative initiative by the five Community Development Councils (CDCs), in partnership with the National Heritage Board (NHB) and Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore).