Place · Chinatown & Maxwell

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple佛牙寺龙华院

Go in the morning before the heat: 45 minutes, free entry, dress covered; the museum floors are air-conditioned.

go at hour · at openingadmission: unknownNot field-verified

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Key facts

Time on site: 45–60 min; p95 90 min
Price: free; adult, 2026 estimate
Hours: 07:00–?7:00 AM–?; typical, check
Best time: at opening; quietest window
28″ bags: Painful; Chinatown & Maxwell: painful
Getting there: MRT Chinatown, exit A, then a 3-minute walk

Free entry
Shawls lent at the door
Lifts to every floor
Go at opening
Queue: switch at 15 min
Works with kids

Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.

Rules in force · 8Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…MRT 07

Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
Singapore ↗Foreign visitors fill in the SG Arrival Card on the official ICA site or the MyICA app within 3 days before arrival; it is free, and sites that charge are not ICA.
Singapore ↗Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal to bring in, buy, carry or use; fines rose in 2025 and etomidate (Kpod) vapes are dealt with under drug law. Leave them at home.
Singapore ↗No eating or drinking on the MRT or buses, and no durian on public transport or in most hotels; fines apply.
Singapore Island ↗Short heavy storms are common in the afternoon: keep a compact umbrella and an indoor option within 10 minutes.
Singapore city ↗MRT 07:30–09:30 and 17:30–19:30 is crowded: large suitcases are hard to board; take a taxi with bags.
Singapore city ↗No eating or drinking on the MRT; fines apply.

Actions

Usually Opens 07:00

Map & directions

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Directions

From where I am

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Plan

Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes

Go now?

hours and prices: check on the day

Open: Usually Opens 07:00Usually Opens 7:00 AM
Crowds: Quietest around 07:00–08:00 · go at opening
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Quietest Mon–Fri · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
Tickets: Adult: free
Time to spend: 45–60 min · up to 90 min if you linger

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Know before you go

Entry is free every day; donations boxes are optional.
Shoulders and knees must be covered; free shawls are lent at the entrance.
The temple opens early (about 07:00, check); the relic chamber and museum open later and close earlier.The temple opens early (about 7:00 AM, check); the relic chamber and museum open later and close earlier.
Five floors, all served by lifts; plan 45–60 minutes including the rooftop.
Morning chanting fills the main hall: stand at the back and stay quiet.
Chinese New Year, Vesak and the Hungry Ghost month bring large crowds and ceremonies.

Best time of day

Go at opening. Plan 45–60 min inside.

quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; tour groups peak late morning; add one level on weekends and festival days

Weather here, next 7 days

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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Time on site

minutes

Minimum

30min

Worthwhile

45min

Typical

60min

p95

90min

Opening hours and prayer-service closures change; not printed until verified for your date.

Tickets & entry

2026 estimate · check the posted board

Where to buy: No ticket needed.
Relic chamber (4th floor): Lift to the 4th floor
Museum (3rd floor): Lift to the 3rd floor
Guided tour: Ask at the information counter
No paid areas are known; the temple runs on donations.
Official site ↗
Queues: Arrive at opening, about 07:00 (check), from Chinatown or Maxwell MRT; the morning chanting is on the ground floor.Arrive at opening, about 7:00 AM (check), from Chinatown or Maxwell MRT; the morning chanting is on the ground floor.
Dress code: Shoes: Shoes on in most areas; off where signed, such as the relic chamber (check).
What to wear: dress-code checker
Bags & lockers: Small bags only; no lockers.
Lockers or cloakroom (no) None.
Photos: Allowed in the main halls; not in the relic chamber. Do not photograph worshippers at close range.
No tripods or drones.
What's closed: WeeklyOpen every day.
Opening hourscheckAbout 07:00–17:00; the relic chamber and museum have shorter hours.About 7:00 AM–5:00 PM; the relic chamber and museum have shorter hours.
CeremoniescheckParts of the main hall close to visitors during some prayer services and festivals.
Inside: Vegetarian dining hallcheckBasement; simple vegetarian meals at set hours.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.

Ticket	Price	Where to buy	Skip-the-line reality
General entry	free	—	No ticket.
Relic chamber (4th floor)	free (check)	Lift to the 4th floor	Viewing from behind a screen; a short line at peak times.
Museum (3rd floor)	free (check)	Lift to the 3rd floor	—
Guided tour	free volunteer tours on some days (check)	Ask at the information counter	—

Inside, in order

50 min without detours

Hundred Dragons Hall
15 min
The main hall with the Maitreya Buddha and rows of small Buddha statues along the walls.
Museum of Buddhist culture
15 min
Third floor; statues and relics from across Asia with English labels.
Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic chamber
10 min
Fourth floor; the relic in a large gold stupa, viewed from a public area; no photos.
Rooftop Vairocana prayer wheel and orchid garden
10 min
Turn the large prayer wheel clockwise; shade in the pavilion.
Vegetarian dining hall
20 min
Basement; simple vegetarian meals at set hours.
optionalcheck

Plan this visit

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I reach the gate at

Time inside

Crowd on arrival: quiet
Worst while inside: light
Leave by: 09:009:00 AM
Closing buffer: 450′

Good window: go.

Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 16:30. Closing time is about 17:00; the relic chamber and museum may close earlier (check).
Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.

How to do it well

1Arrive at opening, about 07:00 (check), from Chinatown or Maxwell MRT; the morning chanting is on the ground floor.
2Take a shawl from the entrance if your shoulders or knees are uncovered; return it on the way out.
3Go up by lift: the relic chamber (4th floor) opens later in the morning, then the rooftop prayer wheel and orchid garden.
4Finish in the 3rd-floor museum, then cross to Sri Mariamman Temple or Maxwell for lunch.

On the ground

Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work

Getting in

Stop: MRT Chinatown, exit A, then a 3-minute walk
Exit: —
Ticket: free · official site
Stairs: unknown
Shoes: Shoes on outside; take them off where signed.

Crowds and switching

Crowd clock: Tour groups mid-morning; quieter at opening.
Sensory load: 2/5
Exposure: medium
Queue rule: Switch if the queue passes 15 min; come back when under 5.

Bailouts

heat
Museum floors inside the temple (AC)
rain
Covered halls inside the temple

Nearest rescue anchor: A — Buddha Tooth Relic Temple forecourt (WC, shade)

Step-free check

wheelchair: ok

Step-free entrance: partly · partlyA few steps at the main entrance with a ramp to the side (check).
Lifts: yes · yes
Accessible toilet: check · checkAsk at the counter.
Ramps: yes · yesLifts reach all floors; ask staff for the ramp at the front (check).
Wheelchair: yes · yesLifts reach all floors; ask staff for the ramp at the front (check).
Stroller: yes · yesFine in the lifts; fold it in the relic chamber.
Places to sit: yes · yesBenches on the roof garden and in the museum.

Lifts to every floor; small steps at some hall doors and into the relic chamber.

Step-free route

1Arrive at the South Bridge Road entrance; ask staff for the side ramp if the front steps are a problem (check).
2Use the lifts for every floor; the relic chamber has a small step at its door.
3The roof garden is level from the lift.

Combine with

nearest first

3 minSri Mariamman Temple — The oldest Hindu temple; shoes off.
3 minMaxwell Food Centre · eat — Hawker lunch across the road.
3 minSri Mariamman Temple and Pagoda Street — The oldest Hindu temple, then the Chinatown lanes.
5 minChinatown street market (Pagoda Street)
10 minThian Hock Keng Temple — Hokkien temple on Telok Ayer Street.
30 minGardens by the Bay — Outdoor gardens at 08:00, then the blue line to Chinatown for the temple.Outdoor gardens at 8:00 AM, then the blue line to Chinatown for the temple.

Walk the Chinatown & Maxwell area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes

Best photo time today

Sun times for today load in your browser.

Spot	When	Rule on the spot
The red temple front from across South Bridge Road	Morning light	Stay on the pavement; do not stand in the road.
Rooftop pavilion with the prayer wheel	Late morning	Let people turning the wheel pass.
Rows of Buddhas in the main hall	Before 10:00Before 10:00 AM	No photos of worshippers at close range; no flash during services.

Red lines

Shoulders and knees covered; do not photograph worshippers at close range.

More on the groundFacilities · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if · Rules on site · With kids6 parts

Rules on site

enforced at the gate or by guards

food: No food or drink in the halls; the basement dining hall serves vegetarian meals (check hours).

With kids

kids: okstroller: ok

with kids: The prayer wheel and the gold relic stupa hold attention; quiet voices during chanting.
child price: free

Facilities on site

What	Status	Where / note
Toilets	yes	Inside the temple (check location).
Accessible toilet	check	Ask at the counter.
Lockers or cloakroom	no	None.
Café or food	limited	Vegetarian dining hall in the basement at set hours (check); Maxwell across the road.
Drinking water	limited	Buy at the shops outside.
Seating	limited	Rooftop and museum benches.
Wi-Fi	no	None known.
Card payment	check	Gift shop only; entry is free.

Seasons, festivals and night openings

When	What happens	Effect on your visit	Dates
Jan–Feb	Chinese New Year prayers	Queues and crowds; incense and offerings.	check
May	Vesak Day	Ceremonies, processions and long queues; the busiest day of the year.	check
Aug–Sep	Hungry Ghost month	More prayer services and visitors.	check

“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.

Who it suits

Traveler	Fit	Why
First visit	good	Free, central, air-conditioned upper floors, done in under an hour.
Families	good	Lifts, a prayer wheel to turn and a short visit.
Wheelchair users	good	Lifts to every floor; small steps at a few doors.
Visitors after old architecture	caution	The building dates from 2007 in Tang style; Thian Hock Keng is the historic temple.

Skip it if

You want an old temple: go to Thian Hock Keng or Sri Mariamman instead.

Deep dive

Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated

Are there English signs?

Yes; the museum floor has English labels throughout.

Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk

Is it good in the rain?

Yes: all five floors are indoors, and Maxwell's covered hawker centre is across the road.

Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk

Is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple free?

Yes. Entry, the museum and the relic viewing area are free; donations are welcome.

What should I wear?

Cover shoulders and knees. The temple lends shawls at the entrance for free.

Can I see the tooth relic?

You see the gold stupa that holds it from the viewing area on the 4th floor; the relic itself is shown only on special occasions (check).

How long does a visit take?

45–60 minutes for all floors and the roof.

How old is the temple?

It opened in 2007, built in a Tang-dynasty style; it is not a historic building.

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Sources

officialBuddha Tooth Relic Temple (official)