Hotels near Sultan Mosque and Kampong Glam

Sultan Mosque at 3 Muscat Street anchors Kampong Glam and has been a National Monument since 8 March 1975. The present building went up from 1928 and was completed on 26 February 1932 to a design by Denis Santry of the firm Swan & Maclaren, replacing the 1820s mosque founded under Sultan Hussein Shah. Look at the base of each golden dome: the dark band circling it is a belt of glass bottle ends, collected and donated by poorer members of the congregation so that everyone contributed something to the building. The two-storey prayer hall holds up to 5,000 worshippers.

This is the closest entry to the convention centre, about three kilometres north, and the proximity cuts both ways. Kampong Glam is standard territory for TOKEN2049 side events, and Bussorah Street and Haji Lane change character completely after dark in the first week of October. Come at 10:00 instead. Visitor access for non-worshippers generally runs 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:00 outside Friday prayers, entry is free, and robes are lent at the visitor gate if your shoulders or knees are uncovered. Ring ahead on +65 6293 4405 to confirm, because the hours move around prayer times and Friday is effectively exterior-only.

Treat the mosque as the opening of a walk rather than the whole visit. Bussorah Street runs straight at the main facade and gives the cleanest view of the domes, Arab Street behind it still sells textiles by the bolt, and Haji Lane is pleasant in daylight and unbearable after 21:00 during conference week.

Pro Tip: Enter through Gate 5 on Muscat Street rather than the worshippers' entrance, and arrive at 10:00 sharp. Bugis MRT station (EW12/DT14) is seven minutes on foot, and the Downtown Line puts you back at Bayfront in two stops for an afternoon session.