Singapore’s Hidden Gems: The Top 5 Museums You Need to Explore

If you are interested in Singapore’s history, National Museum of Singapore is the first place you should visit. Established since 1887, the National Museum of Singapore is the oldest museum in our island sity. Standing out through challenging and vibrant festivals and events, this museum has displayed great exhibitions and artifacts in Singapore. Besides, you can more or less discover the inceptions of Singapore along with cultural interests and national pride of Singaporeans in this museum.

Guide to National Museum of Singapore
Singapore History gallery
You can experience major events as well as personal stories of individuals who witnessed the history of Singapore.

Singapore Living galleries with 4 themes: Fashion, Food, Film & Wayang and Photography.

Fashion gallery
You can see different kinds of costumes worn by women from different areas, and the backroom will tell you about how various garments are made.

Film & Wayang gallery
There are three big screens for you to watch old films, movies paraphernalia and listen to various movie theme songs. In addition, you will be surprised by the Chinese opera costumes and accessories worn by the opera actors in the backroom.

Food gallery
You can see Singapore’s street life vividly shown from the display of food-related artifacts and sound installations, such as satay, chicken rice, etc… to the enticing aroma of spices displayed in the backroom.

Photography gallery
Through family portraits, albums, precious artifacts and collection of old photographs, you will certainly have a full view about Singapore’s local life.

Singapore history gallery guided tour
English
Monday to Friday 11:00, 14:00
Saturday & Sunday 11:30, 13:00, 14:00, 14:30, 15:30

Mandarin
Monday 13:30
Saturday & Sunday 11:00, 13:30

Japanese
Monday to Friday 10:30
Every first of Saturday of the month 13:30

French
Every 1st Thursday of the month 10:00

Admission
Admission to the Museum building is free. Admission charges are applicable to the galleries and selected exhibitions and programmes.

Exhibition and Stamford galleries
– Citizens & Permanent Residents: Free admission
– Foreign Visitors: Adult admission is S$6.00, student admission is S$3.00

How to get there
Bus lines: 64, 65, 139 and NR6 (Walking 1 mins from bus stop B07509)
Nearest  MRT station: Bras Basah MRT (CC2) (Walking 2 mins from Exit C)

Asian Civilisations Museum is the only museum in Singapore dedicated to exhibiting artifacts and collections representing different regions of Asia including China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia/ Islamic. The museum, located on the bank of the Singapore River, is where you can learn about Asia’s history and cultures.

Guide to Asian Civilisations Museum
Singapore River gallery
With an open window, you can have good views across the Singapore River to the glinting towers of steel and glass of the busy financial district. This gallery tells many stories from coolies’ to Chettiars, and the indigenous Orang Laut to the newly arrived Europeans.

Southeast Asia galleries
The three Southeast Asia galleries cover over 2,500 years of history, and cultures of Southeast Asia countries.

West Asia gallery
West Asia galleries focus on Islam religion, which still has a major impact on the shaping of Singapore and the surrounding region.

China gallery
In this gallery, you are exposed to many artifacts related to Chinese cultures including stone statues, ceramic and bronzed items, and contemporary Daoist objects.

South Asia gallery
With the South Asian collection, you can explore the wealth of diversity in the region through themes such as religion, science, and the performing arts.

ACM highlight guided tour
English
Monday to Thursday 11:00, 14:00
Friday 11:00, 14:00, 19:00
Saturday & Sunday 11:00, 14:00, 15:00

Mandarin
Saturday & Sunday 11:30, 14:30

Japanese
Tuesday to Friday 10:30
Every second of Saturday of the month 13:30

French
Every third Thursday of the month 10:15

Korean
Every first Wednesday of the month 11:30

Spanish
Every second Thursday of the month 11:30

Special exhibition guided tour
English
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 11:30
Wednesdays, Fridays 11:30, 14:30
Saturdays, Sundays 15:30

Chinese
Saturdays, Sundays 15:00

Japanese
Tuesdays, Thursdays 13:00

Admission fees
– Citizens & Permanent Residents: Free admission
– Visitors aged 6 and below: Free admission
– Concession admission: S$4.00
– Others: S$8.00

How to get there
Bus lines: 75, 100, 107, 130, 131 and 167 (Walking 2 mins from bus stop B02011)
Nearest  MRT station: Raffles Place MRT (NS26/EW14) (Walking 3 mins from Exit H)

The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is a contemporary art museum. The SAM focuses on art-making and art thinking in Singapore, Southeast Asia and Asia comprising a worldwide perspective on contemporary art practice. The SAM advocates and makes accessible interdisciplinary contemporary art through research-led and evolving curatorial practice.

Guide to Singapore Art Museum
Established since January 1996, SAM has built one of the most valuable collections of Southeast Asian contemporary artworks. The SAM seeks to seed and nourish a stimulating and creative space in Singapore and to deepen visitors’ experience through good exhibitions and public programmes including outreach and education, research and publications as well as cross-disciplinary residencies and exchanges.

You are advised to visit both of its art spaces: The main space at the old St Joseph’s Institution on Bras Basah Road built in 1855 and its annexe at 8Q SAM, a conservation building on Queen Street which used to be the old Catholic High.

Current Exhibitions
Imaginarium
A Voyage of Big Ideas is inspired by the crescent moon on the Singapore flag, which symbolizes a young nation on the rise and its capacity to dream big and think large. It focuses on themes of adventure, discovery, new possibilities and ‘Big Ideas’. This exhibition runs from 14th March 2015 to 19th July 2015.

Once Upon This Island
Explores our daily stories and lives on the island nation. The exhibition presents a series of contemporary works by Singapore artists that navigate ideas of home, community, identity and memories to coincide with Singapore Jubilee celebrations in 2015. This exhibition opens on 7^th November, 2014.

After Utopia
Revisiting the Ideal in Asian Contemporary Art is Singapore Art Museum’s latest exhibition that examines humanity’s eternal yearning for a better world. This exhibition runs from 1^st May, 2015 – 18^th October, 2015.

Museum Guided Tours
English
Monday to Thursday 11:00, 14:00
Friday 11:00, 14:00, 19:00
Saturday & Sunday 11:00, 14:00, 15:30

Mandarin
Friday 19:30
Sunday 11:30

Japanese
Tuesday to Friday 10:30

Admission Fees
– Citizens & Permanent Residents: Free admission
– Foreign visitors: S$10.00 for adult admission; S$5.00 for concession admission

Note
Incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee on 13^rd November, 2013, the SAM is now operated under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. It is no longer a part of the National Heritage Board.

How To Get There
Bus lines: 7, 14, 14E, 16, 36, 77, 106, 111, 128, 131, 162, 162M, 167 and 171 (Walking 2 mins from bus stop B04179)
Nearest  MRT station: Bras Basah MRT (CC2) (Walking 1 mins from Exit E)

Operated by Asian Civilisations Museum, Peranakan Museum is a special dedicated museum showcasing the unique culture of Peranakan communities in South-East Asia. This museum contains distinctive collections of artifacts, furniture, and era clothing, representing the living culture of the Peranakan communities in the region.

Guide to Peranakan Museum
The Peranakan, also known as Straits Chinese, were the early Chinese immigrants to Indonesia during the 15^th and 16^th centuries who eventually settled in Malaysia and Singapore. The Peranakan culture, a unique hybrid culture, is still a component of Singapore’s living heritage.

The museum has 10 galleries displaying the finest and most comprehensive collections of Peranakan objects.

Peranakan Museum highlight guided tour
English
Monday to Friday 11:00, 14:00
Saturday & Sunday 11:00, 14:00, 15:00

Mandarin
Saturday & Sunday 11:30, 14:30

Japanese
Tuesday to Friday 10:30

French
Every second Thursday of the month 11:30

Special exhibition guided tour
English
Tuesday to Thursday 12:30
Saturdays, Sundays 16:00

Admission fees
– Citizens & Permanent Residents: Free admission
– Visitors aged 6 and below: Free admission
– Foreign visitors: S$6.00 for sdult admission; S$3.00 for concession admission

How to get there
Bus lines: 124, 147, 166, 174, 174E and 190 (Walking 2 mins from bus stop B04143)
Nearest  MRT station: Bras Basah MRT (CC2) (Walking 5 mins from Exit B)

Singapore Philatelic Museum is one of the most interesting museums in the island city. Its collections include stamp and archival philatelic materials of Singapore from the 1830s to present day and stamps from member countries of the Universal Postal Union. The museum often organizes educational events for visitors to discover the heritage of Singapore and other countries through philately.

Guide to Singapore Philatelic Museum
Singapore Philatelic Museum’s gallery showcases the world of philately, the world’s first stamp, and how stamps are a window to the world. It has a myriad of stamp collections covering different topics such as science, technology, history, and culture.

SPM guided tour
Guide tour service is offered for group visits at S$1.00/person. Contact the museum for more information.

Admission fees
– Citizens & Permanent Residents: Free admission
– Foreign visitors: S$6.00 for adult admission; S$4.00 for child admission

How to get there
Bus lines: 2, 12, 32, 33, 51, 61, 63, 80 and 197 (Walking 1 mins from bus stop B04142)
Nearest  MRT station: City Hall MRT (NS25/EW13) (Walking 6 mins from Exit B)