Travel information with destination guide in Geylang by GuideRooms.com   

Geylang, also known as Geylang Serai, is a neighbourhood in the city-state of Singapore east of the Central Area, Singapore's central business district. It is located to the East of the Singapore River.

The neighbourhood has been the centre of Singapore's ethnic Malay community since Malays and Orang Lauts settled there after the British authorities dispersed their floating village at the mouth of the Singapore River in mid-19th century. By the latter half of the 1800s, the area has also become the congregation area of wealthy Malays and Arabs, particularly the Alsagoff, Alkaff and Aljunied families. In the 1930s, several exclusively Malay districts were formed, such as Kampong Melayu (Malay Village), later evolving into the today's Geylang Serai. A modern-day development called the Malay Village was created to replicate the history and heritage of this early settlement.

Partly untouched by urban projects and developments and so far spared by the gentrification process that has changed the face of Singapore since the 1970s, Geylang's combination of shophouse scenery and hectic day and night life, including a red-light district, foreign workers quarters and karaoke lounges provides an alternative view of elements the rest of modern Singapore generally does not have. Shophouses along Geylang Road are protected from redevelopment, and several famous eateries have sprung up along the major road.

How to get there

To get to Geylang Road, there are several MRT stations in the vicinity of Geyland Road. They are the Aljunied, Kallang and Paya Lebar stations. There is also the Geylang Lorong 1 Bus Terminal situated in the Kallang planning area.