Our Visit To Singapore Buddhist Temple | The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Singapore is a multi-cultural city, meaning you'll find Buddhist temples near Hindu temples, Mosques and Churches all living in harmony with each other in this city metropolis. That in itself makes Singapore an amazing place to take kids and open up discussions on peace and harmony and living together as one. As our world schooling subject at the time was on Buddhism, we were on the lookout for the best Singapore Buddhist temple and we took the opportunity to visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Singapore.

Read on to find out more about Visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore With Kids: What You Need to Know. In our family-focused travel blog post about visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore— we hope it's informative for you when planning your trip, with practical tips and things to consider when planning to visit with kids:

Visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore With Kids: What You Need to Know

Tucked into the heart of Singapore’s bustling Chinatown is a place of calm, culture, and awe: the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. During our family’s first visit to Singapore, this sacred site left a lasting impression on all of us—adults and kids alike. So much so that myself & Si decided to return the day after to watch the Awakening of The Tooth Ceremony to meditate within the hall (without kids as the first time round we were on full on learning & exploring mode).

But this adult visit is something we absolutely treasure as a couple and if you get the chance too Mum's & Dad's to take a few hours away from the kids we full recommend. We're not Buddhist btw, but we enjoy the spiritual aspect of the religion and we love learning about all religions and getting involved wherever we can - check out our Hindu Melukat Water Purification if you enjoy doing this kind of thing too)

If you're planning to visit with your little ones, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this memorable experience. Watch our Singapore visit to The Sacred Tooth Relic Temple here (P.S. Skip to 2 Mins 22 Seconds in For the Temple Bit)

🛕 What Is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple?

This majestic four-story temple is a relatively new addition to Singapore’s cultural scene, completed in 2007. Despite its age, it’s steeped in ancient significance—it’s named after what is believed to be an actual relic of The Buddha, the canine tooth relic of Buddha, housed in a golden stupa on the top floor.

Inside the temple, you’ll find stunning architecture, intricate carvings, rows of golden Buddhas, and rooms full of spiritual artefacts that capture centuries of Buddhist history and devotion. A real learning activity for kids. If you check out the Temple website here you can find a timetable of things going on at the temple to plan your next visit. It's a working temple so you may visit at specific times to see beautiful ceremonies going on should you wish.

📍 Where Is It and How to Get There

• Location: 288 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058840 (Right in the heart of Chinatown)

• MRT Station: Chinatown Station (Exit A) – Just a 3-minute walk

• Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily

• Admission: Free! Donations are welcomed, but not required

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Is It Kid-Friendly?

Absolutely. While it’s a spiritual and sacred place, it’s also incredibly family-friendly—quietly fascinating for kids and educational without being overwhelming.

Our kids (aged 8 and 16) were both engaged, in different ways. There’s so much visual stimulation—from the statues to the colourful paintings—and the stories around Buddhism are a great way to bring some world schooling into your day.

Here’s what helped:

• Prepping the kids: A quick chat about temple etiquette before arriving helped them know what to expect—quiet voices, respectful behaviour, and no running.

• Making it a learning moment: We talked about Buddhism, meditation, and relics beforehand. It helped them feel more connected when we actually saw monks meditating beside the relic. We lit incense and held an intention and gave thanks and gratitude upon lighting the incense alongside practicing Buddhists to help them put context around the importance for others and having respect and appreciation for others beliefs.

• Taking breaks: There are benches and shaded areas nearby, and Chinatown’s food markets are a short walk away for a break or snack. There is also a vegetarian restaurant downstairs in the temple and the food looked AMAZING! But we'd already eaten.

🙏 What to See Inside

• The Main Hall: Towering golden statues and rows of miniature Buddhas. Truly breathtaking.

• The Sacred Relic Chamber: Located on the fourth floor, this is where the actual Buddha tooth relic is enshrined in a golden stupa. It’s a silent space—shoes off, and no photography allowed.

• Museum Floors: There’s an entire level dedicated to Buddhist artifacts and history—great for older kids and teens interested in world religions or history.

• Rooftop Garden and Prayer Wheel: A peaceful, open-air space with an enormous prayer wheel that you can spin together—our kids loved this part most!

🧘‍♀️ Tips for a Smooth Visit With Kids

• Dress respectfully: Shoulders and knees should be covered. If you forget, sarongs and shawls are provided at the entrance.

• Arrive early: Mornings are less crowded, cooler, and calmer—ideal for families. The temple opens at 7am and this is also the time of the Awakening of The Tooth where you can see the opening and meditate there with practically nobody there. Total peace as the city wakes!

• Bring water: It gets warm inside, especially for little ones. There’s no air-conditioning in most areas.

• Plan a follow-up treat: The nearby Chinatown Complex has affordable and delicious food options—perfect for a post-temple meal with kids.

📝 Final Thoughts

Visiting the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple turned out to be one of our most meaningful experiences in Singapore. It gave our kids a quiet moment of reflection (yes, really!), and us as parents, a reminder of why we travel in the first place—to connect with the world and all the beautiful traditions within it.

Whether you’re spiritual or not, this temple is a peaceful pause in the midst of the city’s energy, and we’d highly recommend adding it to your Singapore itinerary.

Want help planning your Singapore adventure? Let me know in the comments & I can help you create the perfect itinerary for you. I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below:

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