Things to Do in Bugis: Solve a Murder With Sherlock Holmes
Bugis packs a lot into a few streets. There's a covered market with more than 600 shops, two malls linked by a bridge, a temple founded in 1884 and the cafés of Kampong Glam a short walk east. Since August 2026 it also has a murder to solve: A Study in Red, the official Sherlock Holmes experience by HIDDEN, which sends you through Bugis Street, Bugis+ and Bugis Junction on your phone. Here are the best things to do in Bugis, starting with the case.
- Must-play: A Study in Red: The Official Sherlock Experience
- Best for shopping: Bugis Street, Bugis Junction and Bugis+, all linked and mostly indoors
- Don't skip: a walk down Haji Lane once you've cracked the case
- Start: 221B, #02-141 Bugis Street, 261 Victoria Street
- Nearest MRT: Bugis (East–West and Downtown Lines)
- Time needed: 2 to 3 hours, including the game
- Good for: friends, couples, teens aged 13 and up, team outings, mystery fans
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Cost: free to walk around. A Study in Red is a paid ticket.
Why Bugis is a good place for a mystery
From the 1950s to the early 1980s, Bugis Street was one of Singapore's most famous nightspots, known for street dining, late-night drinking and its drag queens. The shophouses were cleared in 1985, partly to make way for the new MRT line, and Bugis Junction opened on the site ten years later.
A Study in Red borrows from that history. It's loosely based on A Study in Scarlet, the first Sherlock Holmes story, but the case is set in Bugis and plays out in the same streets and malls you'd shop in anyway.
7 things to do in Bugis
Start with the game, since it takes you through all three of Bugis' big shopping spots. Everything else is within about 10 minutes on foot, so follow this order and read on for each stop.
1. Solve a murder with Sherlock Holmes
Where: 221B, #02-141 Bugis Street | Time: about 90 minutes
A Study in Red is a murder mystery game you play on your phone, and the world's first officially licensed Sherlock Holmes experience played in the real world. HIDDEN made it with the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate, and teams of up to five work the case together.
Report to 221B on the second floor of Bugis Street to collect your case file. From there the case moves between Bugis Street, Bugis+ and Bugis Junction, and most of the route is sheltered and air-conditioned.
Tip: On-screen text can be small, so zoom in on your phone rather than squinting.
2. Shop Bugis Street, one of Singapore's biggest street markets
Where: Victoria Street, opposite Bugis Junction | Time: 30 to 60 minutes
Bugis Street has more than 600 shops packed into covered lanes, selling cheap clothes, accessories, cosmetics and souvenirs. It's busy and cramped in a good way. It's also where the game's first crime scene is staged, with clues you can only see under UV light through your phone's camera.
Tip: Weekday afternoons are the easiest time to browse. Evenings and weekends get crowded.
3. Walk the glass-covered streets of Bugis Junction
Where: 200 Victoria Street, next to Bugis MRT | Time: about 30 minutes
Bugis Junction opened in 1995 on the site of the old Bugis, Malay, Hylam and Malabar streets. The covered walkways on the ground floor follow the old street layout, with shophouse fronts and street-name signs under a glass roof. There are about 200 shops across three floors, and the InterContinental Singapore hotel is part of the same development.
4. Step into a virtual crime scene at Bugis+
Where: 201 Victoria Street, linked to Bugis Junction by a bridge | Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Across the bridge from Bugis Junction, Bugis+ is the mall with the glowing media facade. It opened as Iluma in 2009 and was renamed Bugis+ in 2012. Since December 2025 it's also had Chick-fil-A's first Singapore store. In the game, this is where the second crime scene puts you inside a 360-degree virtual scene.
5. Visit Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple
Where: Waterloo Street | Time: about 15 minutes
Founded in 1884 and dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, this is one of the busiest temples in Singapore. Expect incense, fortune sticks and a steady stream of worshippers at any time of day.
Tip: Dress modestly and keep your voice down. On the eve of Chinese New Year, expect very large crowds.
6. Eat at Albert Centre
Where: Albert Street | Time: about 30 minutes
Albert Centre is a hawker centre and market a few minutes from the temple. It's an easy place for an early dinner after the game, and one of the cheapest meals in the area.
7. Cross into Kampong Glam for Sultan Mosque and Haji Lane
Where: Muscat Street and Haji Lane | Time: about 45 minutes
Walk east for about 10 minutes and you're in Kampong Glam. Sultan Mosque and its golden dome sit at the end of Bussorah Street, which is lined with cafés and restaurants. A few streets over, Haji Lane is a narrow row of restored shophouses with boutiques, murals and small bars.
Tip: If you go into the mosque, check visiting hours and dress modestly. Robes are usually available at the entrance.
More things to do near Bugis
With more time, these are all close by.
- Arab Street: Middle Eastern and Malay restaurants a short walk from Sultan Mosque.
- National Library: the main building on Victoria Street is free to visit and a quiet place to cool down.
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Partner perks: your 221B Employee Pass gets you discounts at partner shops and food spots around Bugis, so check the list on the game site.
Play A Study in Red: The Official Sherlock Experience
Teams follow Sherlock's lead through 16 waypoints around Bugis, scanning evidence, taking calls from characters and checking CCTV footage. There are two physical crime scenes: a staged scene at Bugis Street with clues revealed under UV light through your phone's AR camera, and a 360-degree virtual scene at Bugis+. It runs in a web app, so there's nothing to download.
- Start point: 221B, #02-141 Bugis Street, 261 Victoria Street.
- Team size: 1 to 5 players.
- Age: 13 and above. The story includes some gory scenes and mature themes.
- Duration: about 90 minutes, or up to 2 hours if you take your time.
- What you get: exclusive merchandise and a 221B Employee Pass with discounts at partner vendors.
- Tickets: $29 per adult on weekdays, $39 on weekends and public holidays, and $19 for students with a valid student ID. Prices and hours change, so check the booking page.
"Even the grumpiest teen would approve!" – Little Day Out review
Tips before you go
Go with three or four people so you can split the work: one reads the case file, one hunts for clues and one enters answers. Charge your phone and bring a power bank. If you're bringing teens, read the age guidance first, as the story has some darker moments. Late afternoon works well, because you'll finish in time for dinner in Kampong Glam.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Bugis?
Solve A Study in Red, the official Sherlock Holmes experience, then shop Bugis Street, Bugis Junction and Bugis+. Visit Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple and end with dinner and a walk down Haji Lane in Kampong Glam.
How long does the Sherlock Holmes experience take?
About 90 minutes, or up to 2 hours if you take your time. Add another hour or two for the rest of Bugis.
Where is the nearest MRT?
Bugis station on the East–West and Downtown Lines. Bugis Junction is right next to the station, and Bugis Street is just across Victoria Street.
Is it suitable for kids?
It's designed for ages 13 and above, because the story includes gory scenes and mature themes.
Is it indoors?
Mostly. The route is sheltered and largely air-conditioned, moving between Bugis Street, Bugis+ and Bugis Junction, which makes it one of the easier indoor activities in Singapore on a wet day.
Do I need to know Sherlock Holmes stories to play?
No. The story is loosely based on A Study in Scarlet, but you don't need to have read it.
Do I need an app to play?
No. You play in a web app on your phone's browser.
What if it rains?
The game is fully sheltered, so rain won't stop it. Bring an umbrella if you plan to walk to Kampong Glam afterwards. For another indoor option, try MONOPOLY: HIDDEN at Suntec City.
Ready to solve the case?
Book A Study in Red on the official Sherlock experience site, then report to 221B on the second floor of Bugis Street.
