Museums in Singapore

Home to a myriad of historical artefacts and exhibits, the National Museum of Singapore is country’s oldest museum. There are 11 permanent galleries housing displays exhibiting the history of Singapore, its culture, the history and transformation of its landscape. The Singapore History Gallery is the chief attraction here. NUS also hosts workshops, film screenings, story-telling sessions, and activities.

Timings : 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Among the most popular museums in Singapore is The National Gallery Singapore, located in the Downtown region, which is an art museum showcasing the world's largest collection of colonial and post-colonial Asian and Southeast Asian art. Housed in the iconic former Supreme Court Buildings and the City Hall, its 8000-plus collection of modern and contemporary art forms from the 19th century to the present day, is spread over two major gallery spaces.

Timings :
Saturday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Last entry 30 minutes before closing

The ArtScience museum at Marina Bay is a premier exhibition space featuring touring exhibitions, colliding the world of art and science. One of the quirkiest buildings in Singapore, Moshe Safdie designed the building to look like a giant white lotus, making it a major attraction for its architecture as much as for the exhibitions in fields as varied as art, science, design, media and technology.

Timings : 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
(Last admission at 6:00 PM)

Ranked as one of the top museums in Asia, the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore is an engrossing experience, taking one through the fascinating journey of the cultures and civilisations of Asia. Covering a massive area of 14,000 square metres, there are over 2000 artefacts spread across seven galleries on three levels within this building, tracing more than 5000 years of history of the various Asian civilisations that currently inhabit Singapore.

Timings :
Saturday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
(Last entry 15 minutes before closing)

Trace the history of life on earth at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, a museum of natural history housed at the Kent Ridge Park campus of the prestigious National University of Singapore. Amongst the most fascinating museums in Singapore, this comprehensive institution possesses a catalogue of over 560,000 specimens, including the Raffles Natural History Collection.

Timings :
Monday (including Public Holidays) : Closed
Tuesday–Sunday : 10 AM–6 PM
(Last Admission 4:30 PM)

The Singapore Art Museum, popularly known as SAM, is a striking white building with Singaporean and Southeast Asian Art as its forte. Housed in a restored Catholic school, this museum was formerly named the Fine-Art Museum. This ancient museum in Singapore is home to brilliant artworks which transport the visitors into a world where they can imagine, think, and experience.

Timings :
Monday - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM (The last admission is at 6:15 PM)
Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM (The last admission is at 8:15 PM)

The Singapore Tyler Print Institute (STPI) is a renowned international space for artistic experimentation in contemporary art through print and paper mediums. Located next to the National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum, the STPI or Singapore-Creative Workshop & Gallery is an ideal place for tourists that have a creative bent of mind and love exploring the world of art. It’s a non-profit entity that is dedicated to offering support to budding artists in creating modern artworks as well as offering expertise in areas like printing.

Timings :
Monday-Friday- 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed on Sunday

The Red Dot Design Museum, located along Waterfront Promenade at Marina Bay, is an innovative design gallery of gadgets and art. This boutique museum is a branch of the Red Dot Design Museum in Germany and is among the popular museums in Singapore among younger tourists. It showcases over 200 contemporary designs - all of which are winners of the International Red Dot Design Award, considered to be one of the most prestigious design competitions in the world.

Timings : 
Museum Exhibition, Shop and Cafe: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

From traditional paintings to modern art, from splendid sculptures to charming ceramics, the NUS Museum in Singapore is a treasure trove of significant artefacts. While the artwork in this glorious museum ranges from the Lee Kong Chian Collection to the Straits Chinese Collection, the number of artefacts exceeds eight thousand.

Timings : Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Fort Siloso is Singapore's only preserved coastal fort converted into a military museum containing World War II memorabilia like guns, remains of fortified military structures and tunnels. The main attraction of Fort Siloso is the Skywalk. Eleven storeys high, it provides visitors with a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.

Timings :
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Last Entry: 5:30 PM

Among the important historical museums in Singapore, the Changi Chapel and Museum narrates the story of the sufferings of Singapore under the attack of Japanese soldiers during WWII. The museum houses the photographs, personal objects, and letters that are now proof of the incarceration of more than 50,000 civilians and soldiers in Changi Prison. Right in the middle of the museum in the open-air courtyard is the Changi Chapel, a replica of several other chapels built during WWII.

Timings : 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Singapore Philatelic Museum portrays the history of Singapore's postals and stamps. The museum features an assortment of stamps along with the heritage and history of various philatelic items spread across many galleries. The interactive exhibitions offer a window into the Lion City and other parts of the world through the postage stamps.

Timings : 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Located in the historic Chinatown district of Singapore, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a Chinese Buddhist Temple. The Buddhist Cultural Museum located on the third floor of this stunning edifice houses sacred artefacts of Lord Buddha while the beautiful rooftop garden centres the world’s biggest Buddhist prayer wheel, topped off by an elegant pagoda.

Timings :
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM daily
Stupa Chamber and Museum: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Situated in Little India, the Indian Heritage Centre is a cultural centre and museum showcasing the culture, heritage and history of Singapore's Indian community. Modelled like a traditional Indian stepwell or Baoli, this four-storey building is home to five permanent galleries.

Timings :
Tuesday to Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed on Mondays

The Malay Heritage Center exhibits the culture, history and heritage of the Malay Singaporeans. Located at the Sultan Gate in Kampong Glam, it is made up of several magnificent bungalows, set in a beautifully landscaped garden. There are six permanent galleries in the Malay Heritage Center, which are spread over two levels. These galleries house various exhibits, displays and artefacts which show the contribution of the Malay community to the history of Singapore.

Timings :
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Closed on Mondays

The first of its kind in the world, the Peranakan Museum is devoted to exploring the Pernankan cultures present in Singapore, the former Straits Settlements in Malacca and Penang, and other regions of Southeast Asia that are home to the Peranakan community. Housed in the iconic Old Tao Nan School Building, this classic museum once acted as an extended wing of the famous Asian Civilisations Museum which used to be located here, and is currently a sister museum to the same, specialising in tracing the origins and development of Peranakan culture.

Timings :
Saturday to Thursday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

The Chinese Heritage Centre is an autonomous institute of the prestigious Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. The centre includes a library, research centre and a museum with the building being a landmark reputed to be the only university created by the Chinese people living outside China.

Timings :
Monday - Friday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on Public Holidays

Science Centre Singapore, located in Jurong East, is a scientific institution having around a thousand exhibits spread over fourteen exhibition galleries. Formerly known as the Singapore Science Centre, this geeky science museum houses the largest collection of educational material related to science in the Lion City.

Timings :
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:15 PM)
Closed on Mondays

Among the most interesting museums in Singapore, The Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys – or MINT Museum of Toys showcases a private collection of vintage toys from all around the world. Located near City Hall at Seah Street, it houses a vast collection of over 50,000 toys from around the world, some of them more than hundred and fifty years old. Considered the largest toy collection in all of Southeast Asia, the MINT Museum of Toys is ideal for both children and adults.

Timings :
Monday - Sunday: 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM (Last admission at 6:00 PM)
Every last Saturday of each quarter-end: 9:30 AM – 9:30 PM (Guerrilla Night: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM)
First day of Lunar New Year: Closed

SAM at 8Q - which stands for Singapore Art Museum - is the extension of the Museum’s main building, named so because of its location on 8 Queen Street. The experimental art gallery is located 88 steps away from the main building, adding to its quirky charm. The youngest annexe of the Art Museum, SAM at 8Q houses the most diverse and unconventional art exhibits – the contemporary paintings, sculptures, photographs, performance art, sound art, and other new media interactive exhibits.


Timings :
Saturday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Last admission: 6:15 PM)
Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Last admission: 8:15 PM)

Singapore City Gallery is a three-storey visitor centre located between the historic Chinatown and the Centre Business District, famed for housing an enormous model replica of Singapore. Formerly known as the URA Gallery, it traces the evolution of Singapore's physical transformation spread across 10 thematic areas and 50 audiovisual interactive exhibitions.

Timings :
Monday - Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

An important historical site among the museums in Singapore, The Battlebox is a war bunker dating back to World War II, now converted into a museum. Located at Fort Canning Hill, this former bomb-proof command centre/shelter is regarded as one of the prime touristic spots in Singapore, also known as Fort Canning Bunker. It was inside the walls of Battlebox that the British decided to surrender Singapore to the Japanese.

Timings : 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM

The Trick Eye Museum is a museum of optical illusions and 4D entertainment at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. The Garden City’s first 4D and AR-enabled gallery, this museum hosts six themed attractions that leave visitors gaping in amazement and wonder. The special effects and experiences are perfect for families with children and couples looking for excitement and fun!

Timings :
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Last admission: 8:00 PM

Reflections at Bukit Chandu is a small, interactive museum and heritage centre recounting the fierce 1942 Battle of Pasir Panjang (against the Japanese in Singapore during World War II). This tiny museum is filled with interactive exhibits, artefacts, audio and video recordings, and wax mannequins depicting the battle and paying tribute to the 42 brave soldiers of the Malay Regiment, many of whom lost their lives during the Second World War.

Timings :
Tuesday - Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Closed on Mondays

Positioned adjacent to Thian Hock Keng Temple, Singapore Musical Box Museum is the first musical box museum to have ever been opened in Singapore. The museum attracts visitors that come here to gain knowledge regarding the rise of musical boxes in Singapore during the 19th century.

Timings :
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed on Tuesdays
Hourly tours start from 10:00 AM, with the last tour entry at 5:00 PM

Madame Tussauds Singapore is the Singapore branch of the popular Madame Tussauds wax museum based out of London. The museum in Singapore has life-like wax statues of notable personalities and global icons in the fields of art, music, movies, sports, and politics.

Timings : 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM