Singapore is home to some of the finest museums in Asia, offering rich insights into history, art, and science. Each museum tells a unique story—some tracing the nation’s past through artifacts and archival records, others showcasing artistic movements or groundbreaking innovations. From restored heritage buildings to cutting-edge digital exhibitions, these institutions provide immersive experiences that bring knowledge and creativity to life.
This guide features 10 standout museums that capture the essence of Singapore’s evolving identity and global influence.
1. History & Heritage Museums
Singapore’s history is deeply rooted in its cultural diversity, colonial past, and rapid modernisation. These museums allow visitors to explore artifacts, stories, and traditions that have shaped the country over centuries.
1.1 National Museum of Singapore
📍 Address: 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
🕒 Opening Hours: 10 AM to 7 PM (Monday to Thursday), 10 AM to 9 PM (Friday to Sunday)
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free (Singaporeans & PRs
Established in 1849, the National Museum of Singapore is the country’s oldest museum. It offers an in-depth look at Singapore’s evolution through immersive exhibits, storytelling, and multimedia displays. Visitors can walk through Singapore’s major historical milestones, from its early settlement to its rise as a modern metropolis.
Permanent Exhibitions:
- Singapore History Gallery: Explores Singapore’s history from pre-colonial times to the present day and features artifacts like the Singapore Stone, Majapahit armlet and earrings, and a vinyl record of the national anthem “Majulah Singapura”.
- Singapore, Very Old Tree: A photography exhibition showcasing the stories of 17 trees in Singapore and highlighting their historical significance.
- Wings of a Rich Manoeuvre: An art installation featuring eight kinetic chandeliers that create a symphony of light.
- Story of the Forest: A digital art installation by teamLab featuring magical nightscapes of Singapore’s native plants and animals.
1.2 Asian Civilisations Museum
📍 Address: 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
🕒 Opening Hours: Saturday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free admission for permanent galleries (Singaporeans & PRs)
The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) is one of the few museums in the region dedicated to Asian heritage and culture. It features thirteen permanent galleries covering over 3,923 square meters. These galleries are organised thematically to highlight the networks and flows of people, ideas, and artistic traditions across Asia. Exhibits include the Fashion and Textiles Gallery, Jewellery Gallery, and Chinese Ceramics. Special exhibitions showcasing objects borrowed from museums worldwide are also regularly presented.
Key Exhibits:
- Tang Shipwreck Collection – Features over 50,000 artifacts, including ceramics and gold pieces, from a 9th-century shipwreck discovered near Singapore.
- Ancestors and Rituals – Displays sacred objects, masks, and relics that reflect Asian spiritual traditions.
- Islamic Art Gallery – Showcases centuries-old Islamic calligraphy, textiles, and jewellery.
- Christian Art Gallery – Showcases Christian art from Asia.
1.3 Peranakan Museum
📍 Address: 39 Armenian Street, Singapore 179941
🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 10 AM – 7 PM
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free for Singaporeans and PRs
Dedicated to Singapore’s Peranakan culture, this museum delves into the traditions, arts, daily lives, and descendants of Chinese and Indian immigrants who married locals in the region. Its colourful displays, intricate artifacts, and rich storytelling make it a fascinating experience. The museum is the sister museum of the Asian Civilisations Museum and is housed in the former Tao Nan School building on Armenian Street, which was built in 1912.
Notable Artifacts:
- Peranakan Wedding Bed: Once belonged to Mrs. Quah Hong Chiam of Penang, where she gave birth to seven of her children.
- Intricate Beadwork and Textiles: Showcase the unique blend of cultural influences in Peranakan fashion and crafts.
- Exquisite Jewellery: Highlights the craftsmanship and beauty of Peranakan jewellery.
2. Art & Design Museums
Singapore’s art and design museums offer diverse exhibits, from traditional Southeast Asian paintings to contemporary installations. These museums cater to both seasoned art aficionados and curious visitors, offering an immersive journey into artistic creativity and innovation.
2.1 National Gallery Singapore
📍 Address: 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 10 AM – 7 PM
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free for Singaporeans & PRs, $20 for tourists
The National Gallery Singapore is the largest museum in Southeast Asia dedicated to modern art. Housed in two national monuments, the former Supreme Court and City Hall, it offers a rich blend of history and artistic exploration. The museum features over 9,000 artworks from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and beyond.
Key Exhibits:
- Singapore Gallery: Explores Singapore’s cultural and aesthetic identity from ancient times to the present day and features works by notable Singaporean artists such as Georgette Chen, Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, Cheong Soo Pieng, and Liu Kang.
- Southeast Asia Gallery: Located in the former Supreme Court building, this gallery presents the history of Southeast Asian art from the 19th century onwards. Some of the highlights are works by artists like Affandi (Indonesia), Latiff Mohidin (Malaysia), Le Pho (Vietnam), Montien Boonma (Thailand), Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (Philippines), and Raden Saleh (Indonesia).
- Special Exhibitions: The Gallery regularly hosts international exhibitions, collaborating with museums worldwide, such as the Centre Pompidou and Tate Britain. Past exhibitions include “Between Worlds: Raden Saleh and Juan Luna” and “Reframing Modernism: Painting from Southeast Asia, Europe and Beyond”.
2.2 Singapore Art Museum (SAM)
📍 Address: 39 Keppel Road, Singapore 089065 (Temporary location)
🕒 Opening Hours: Varies by exhibition
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free (Singaporeans & PRs)
Established in 1996, the Singapore Art Museum is Singapore’s first dedicated contemporary art museum. It is known for its extensive Southeast Asian contemporary art collection. Although the main museum buildings are currently closed for renovation, SAM continues to host exhibitions and programs at partner venues like Tanjong Pagar Distripark and online platforms.
Key Features:
- Collection: SAM has built one of the world’s most important public collections of Southeast Asian contemporary art, with a growing component in international contemporary art.
- Exhibition Spaces: SAM operates across multiple venues, including Tanjong Pagar Distripark and partner venues, offering a versatile space for large installations and community interactions.
- Singapore Biennale: SAM has been the organiser of the Singapore Biennale since 2011, providing a platform for international contemporary art in Singapore.
2.3 Keppel Centre for Art Education
📍 Address: 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957 (Located in National Gallery Singapore)
🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 10 AM – 7 PM
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free
The Keppel Centre for Art Education is a vibrant and dynamic space located on the first level of the National Gallery Singapore’s City Hall Wing. It is designed to inspire young learners aged 4 to 12 by fostering a lifelong love for art through interactive and immersive experiences. Originally opened on 24 November 2015, it was the first dedicated art education facility in Singapore and the region. The Centre reopened on 16 December 2023 after a major renovation, featuring a new theme, “Art & Wonder.”
Key Zones:
- A Brush with Forest Fire: An immersive forestscape inspired by Raden Saleh’s Boschbrand (Forest Fire), where children can create digital art.
- Illuminate!: An interactive exhibit where kids experiment with shapes, colours, light, and shadow to create abstract art.
- Makers Studio: A collaborative space for inventing and creating with various materials and tools.
- Book Nook: A cosy area for reading and relaxation.
3. Science & Innovation Museums
Singapore’s science and innovation museums provide an exciting, hands-on learning experience for visitors of all ages. These museums explore space, technology, natural history, and the intersection of art and science, making them ideal for families, students, and anyone curious about the world around them.
3.1 ArtScience Museum
📍 Address: 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
🕒 Opening Hours: 10 AM to 7 PM (Monday to Thursday), 10 AM to 9 PM (Friday to Sunday)
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Varies by exhibition, from $12 – $22
The ArtScience Museum is a premier cultural institution at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. It is known for its unique lotus-shaped building designed by architect Moshe Safdie and is a key attraction of the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort. The museum explores the intersection of art, science, culture, and technology through innovative exhibitions.
Key Exhibits:
- Future World: Where Art Meets Science: This exhibition features interactive digital installations that blend art and science, creating an immersive experience. It includes a giant planet model and other unique artworks, showcasing how space has influenced art, movies, and our collective imagination.
- Currently undergoing an upgrade with new interactive artworks.
- Crystal Universe: This immersive artwork allows visitors to interact with it through a mobile app. The app lets visitors launch celestial elements, such as sun flares and asteroids, into the display, creating a dynamic and ever-changing universe.
3.2 Science Centre Singapore
📍 Address: 15 Science Centre Road, Singapore 609081
🕒 Opening Hours: Tue – Sun, 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Mondays)
🎟️ Entrance Fees: $12 for Singaporeans & PRs, $18 for tourists
The Science Centre Singapore is a leading educational attraction in Jurong East, Singapore. It was established to promote interest and learning in science and technology among students and the general public.
Key Attractions:
- Omni-Theatre – Southeast Asia’s first 8K digital dome theatre, offering breathtaking astronomy shows.
- KidsSTOP – Designed for children aged 18 months to 8 years, offering interactive play areas focused on science and learning.
- Waterworks – An outdoor water playground teaching kids about water conservation.
- Snow City – Provides a winter wonderland experience in tropical Singapore, with snow play areas and ice skating.
- Tinkering Studio –Offers STEM-based activities and workshops, including arts and crafts sessions.
- Mirror Maze and Laser Maze – Engaging optical illusions and challenges that test spatial awareness and agility.
3.3 Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
📍 Address: 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377
🕒 Opening Hours: Tue – Sun, 10 AM – 6 PM (Closed on Mondays)
🎟️ Entrance Fees: $9 – $17 for Singaporeans & PRs
The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, housed in the iconic rock-like building at NUS, Singapore, is a hub for Southeast Asia’s biodiversity, environment, and conservation. It is a one-stop facility for exhibitions, education, and research, supporting biodiversity initiatives in Singapore and the region.
Key Exhibits:
- Dinosaur Fossils – The museum showcases three diplodocid sauropod fossils, among the largest and heaviest creatures to have roamed the Earth. Notably, over 80% of their skeletons are preserved, with two featuring skulls.
- Singapore Sperm Whale – A 10.6-metre female sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), Singapore’s first recorded specimen.
- Slice of Changi Tree – The Chengal Pasir (Hopea sangal), a rare dipterocarp tree believed to have inspired Changi’s name.
4. Family & Specialty Museums
Singapore’s family and specialty museums cater to visitors with niche interests, offering experiences that range from child-friendly interactive exhibits to historical narratives.
4.1 Children’s Museum Singapore
📍 Address: 23-B Coleman Street, Singapore 179807
🕒 Opening Hours: Tue – Sun, 9 AM – 6 PM (Closed on Mondays), closed daily 12:45 – 2 pm for cleaning
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free for Singaporeans & PRs
The Children’s Museum Singapore is the country’s first museum dedicated exclusively to children. Designed for kids aged 12 and below, the museum provides interactive play-based exhibits that spark curiosity and creativity in young learners.
Key Attractions:
- A Voyage Back in Time – A hands-on exhibit teaching children about Singapore’s past through interactive storytelling.
- The Hidden Chamber – A themed play area where kids can solve puzzles and mysteries.
4.2 Mint Museum of Toys
📍 Address: 26 Seah Street, Singapore 188382
🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM
🎟️ Entrance Fees: $25 for adults, $15 for children (inclusive of guided tour)
The Mint Museum of Toys features a vast collection of vintage toys from around the world, some dating back to the 1840s. The museum’s four thematic levels cover classic toys, collectables, and pop culture memorabilia.
Key Exhibits:
- Childhood Favorites – Highlights how toys, from stuffed animals and dolls, foster empathy and comfort and how puppets encourage social skills and storytelling.
- Outerspace – This collection showcases 20th-century space-themed toys, from astronauts and robots to rockets and aliens, symbolising humanity’s boundless imagination and pursuit of technological advancement.
- The Little Prince – A special showcase featuring a thoughtfully curated collection graciously gifted by The Little Prince ambassador in France.
4.3 Changi Chapel & Museum
📍 Address: 1000 Upper Changi Road North, Singapore 507707
🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
🎟️ Entrance Fees: Free for Singaporeans & PRs
The Changi Chapel and Museum stand as a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, preserving the stories of prisoners of war (POWs) through 114 artifacts across eight exhibition zones. Central to this history is the Changi Chapel, a replica of St. George’s Church, built and rebuilt by POWs as a symbol of faith, solace, and hope amidst their struggles from Changi to the Thai-Burma Railway.
Key Exhibits:
- The War Museum – Preserves the history of Changi Prison, which housed Australian and British POWs during World War II as they fought to defend Singapore from Japanese occupation.
- Changi Chapel Replica – A reconstructed version of the original chapel built by POWs.
- Treasure Hunt – Join a treasure hunt through the museum, uncover clues and keywords, and take home a free souvenir.
Plan Your Visit
Singapore is home to a rich variety of museums that offer unique cultural and historical experiences. To get the most out of your visit, here are a few tips:
- Plan Ahead: Check the museum’s official website for opening hours, ticket prices, and any special exhibitions.
- Best Time to Visit: Weekdays are less crowded, especially during the morning or late afternoon. Visiting in the early hours also allows you to explore exhibits at your own pace.
- Wear Comfortable Footwear: Museums can be large, and you’ll be doing a lot of walking, especially if you plan to visit multiple museums in one day.
- Don’t Forget Your Camera: Some museums, like the ArtScience Museum, offer stunning photo opportunities. Check for any restrictions on photography before taking pictures.
- Local Tip: Many museums are close to each other in Singapore’s Civic District, so exploring multiple spots in one trip is easy. The Singapore Museum Pass gives access to a variety of museums and is perfect for first-time visitors.
