The Tipple Exchange

As this somewhat academic tour begins you might wonder when you get to drink. Don’t worry: at the end, when you’re belting out the Irish folk song ‘Molly Malone’ with your new friends from around the world, you’ll have no more queries about tipple time.

Along the way, you’ll learn such things as how to smoke an opium pipe, why there were no pockets in the pants worn by coolie workers on the Singapore River, and why you should shout ‘yam-seng!’ as long and loud as you can before tipping back a pint. The tour begins by taking in the People of the River exhibit at the Asian Civilisations Museum (where the opium pipe is stored safely behind glass) before heading outside and winding its way through Boat Quay.

To quench the thirst that will build up from listening so intently to your tour guide (well, you need some excuse, don’t you?), you can indulge at such fine establishments as The Penny Black, Archipelago Brewery and Molly Malone’s – the three pubs visited on the walk. Drink coupons sold before the tour for $6 each are a smart investment and increase the chance that you won’t remember much of the interesting info doled out by your guide. But at least you’ll be in perfect form for singing about those cockles and mussels at Malone’s, Singapore’s first official Irish pub.

Meet at the entrance of Asian Civilisations Museum. Walks (approx three hours) run regardless of attendance or weather. No pre-booking needed.

Cost: $15 children; $30 adults.