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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–?
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.
Usually Opens 07:00
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Plan

What to know before you go, how long it takes, when to be there

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.
  • 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.

Plan this visit

saved in this browser only
Time inside
Crowd on arrival
quiet
Worst while inside
light
Leave by
09:00
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.

Ticket types

2026 estimate · check the posted board
TicketPriceWhere to buySkip-the-line reality
General entryfree—No ticket.
Relic chamber (4th floor)free (check)Lift to the 4th floorViewing from behind a screen; a short line at peak times.
Museum (3rd floor)free (check)Lift to the 3rd floor—
Guided tourfree volunteer tours on some days (check)Ask at the information counter—

No paid areas are known; the temple runs on donations.

What's inside, in walking order

50 min without detours

  1. 01

    15′

    Hundred Dragons Hall

    The main hall with the Maitreya Buddha and rows of small Buddha statues along the walls.

  2. 02

    15′

    Museum of Buddhist culture

    Third floor; statues and relics from across Asia with English labels.

  3. 03

    10′

    Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic chamber

    Fourth floor; the relic in a large gold stupa, viewed from a public area; no photos.

  4. 04

    10′

    Rooftop Vairocana prayer wheel and orchid garden

    Turn the large prayer wheel clockwise; shade in the pavilion.

  5. 05 · optional

    20′

    Vegetarian dining hall

    Basement; simple vegetarian meals at set hours.

    check

Pairs well with

after · eat · 3′ walk

Maxwell Food Centre

Hawker lunch before 11:30 or after 13:30.

after · walk · 3′ walk

Sri Mariamman Temple and Pagoda Street

The oldest Hindu temple, then the Chinatown lanes.

before · place · 30′ walk

Gardens by the Bay

Outdoor gardens at 08:00, then the blue line to Chinatown for the temple.

How to do it well

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

  1. heat

    Museum floors inside the temple (AC)

  2. rain

    Covered halls inside the temple

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

Combine in the same cluster

  • Sri Mariamman Temple (next door)

Red lines

  • Shoulders and knees covered; do not photograph worshippers at close range.
More on the groundPhoto spots · Facilities · Step-free route · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if · Closures · Rules on site · Access and kids · Next door

Closed days and closures

WhenStatusWhat it means for you
WeeklynoneOpen every day.
Opening hourscheck before you goAbout 07:00–17:00; the relic chamber and museum have shorter hours.
Ceremoniescheck before you goParts of the main hall close to visitors during some prayer services and festivals.

“Check” means the date moves year to year or is not published far ahead: confirm on the official page for your date.

Rules on site

enforced at the gate or by guards
photos
Allowed in the main halls; not in the relic chamber. Do not photograph worshippers at close range.
drones tripods
No tripods or drones.
shoes
Shoes on in most areas; off where signed, such as the relic chamber (check).
food
No food or drink in the halls; the basement dining hall serves vegetarian meals (check hours).
bags
Small bags only; no lockers.

Access and kids

wheelchair: okstroller: okkids: ok
steps
A few steps at the main entrance with a ramp to the side (check).
wheelchair
Lifts reach all floors; ask staff for the ramp at the front (check).
stroller
Fine in the lifts; fold it in the relic chamber.
seating
Benches on the roof garden and in the museum.
with kids
The prayer wheel and the gold relic stupa hold attention; quiet voices during chanting.

Next door, in walking order

  1. +3′Sri Mariamman Temple — The oldest Hindu temple; shoes off.
  2. +3′Maxwell Food Centre — Hawker lunch across the road.
  3. +5′Chinatown street market (Pagoda Street)
  4. +10′Thian Hock Keng Temple — Hokkien temple on Telok Ayer Street.

Photo spots and rules

SpotWhenRule on the spot
The red temple front from across South Bridge RoadMorning lightStay on the pavement; do not stand in the road.
Rooftop pavilion with the prayer wheelLate morningLet people turning the wheel pass.
Rows of Buddhas in the main hallBefore 10:00No photos of worshippers at close range; no flash during services.

Facilities on site

WhatStatusWhere / note
ToiletsyesInside the temple (check location).
Accessible toiletcheckAsk at the counter.
Lockers or cloakroomnoNone.
Café or foodlimitedVegetarian dining hall in the basement at set hours (check); Maxwell across the road.
Drinking waterlimitedBuy at the shops outside.
SeatinglimitedRooftop and museum benches.
Wi-FinoNone known.
Card paymentcheckGift shop only; entry is free.

Step-free route

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

Seasons, festivals and night openings

WhenWhat happensEffect on your visitDates
Jan–FebChinese New Year prayersQueues and crowds; incense and offerings.check
MayVesak DayCeremonies, processions and long queues; the busiest day of the year.check
Aug–SepHungry Ghost monthMore prayer services and visitors.check

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

Who it suits

TravellerFitWhy
First visitgoodFree, central, air-conditioned upper floors, done in under an hour.
FamiliesgoodLifts, a prayer wheel to turn and a short visit.
Wheelchair usersgoodLifts to every floor; small steps at a few doors.
Visitors after old architecturecautionThe 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