The 10 Best Museums in Singapore

The National Museum of Singapore is the city’s oldest museum at over a century old, first opening in 1887 along Stamford Road as Raffles Library and Museum. Within the walls of this stately 19th century Neo-Palladium architecture are cutting-edge galleries that tell the story of Singapore’s development through immersive and interactive exhibitions. Explore the Singapore History Gallery for a fun introduction to the city-state’s history, from as early as the 13th century before the arrival of the British.

The Singapore Art Museum along Bras Basah Road hosts a rotating collection of local and Southeast Asian contemporary artwork. Its well-maintained grounds and buildings once hosted Singapore’s first Catholic school: St Joseph’s Institution. The adjacent extension building, 8Q at SAM on Queen Street, was the former Catholic High school that’s now been completely renovated for the 21st century and equipped for film screenings. Check your calendar to see if you’re around for the Singapore Biennale, which showcases the very best contemporary artworks and installations from around the region.

The Peranakan Museum spotlights the hybrid culture unique to Singapore and the Malayan region. Peranakan culture resulted from the intermarrying of indigenous Malay communities and immigrant Chinese traders hundreds of years ago – a community that is also widely famous for their delicious cuisine. The museum is home to one of the best collections of Peranakan artefacts in the world. Visitors can learn about the culture’s unique practices and see stories of prominent Peranakans in Singapore’s history come to life through interactive multimedia exhibits.

The Singapore Science Centre is popular with school groups and families as it hosts over 1,000 interactive science exhibits spread over 14 galleries, a fun and educational way to entertain children for an entire day. The Science Centre is also home to the Omni-Theatre, Singapore’s only domed IMAX theatre that makes watching nature documentaries a rather surreal experience. For those who can’t bear the tropical heat check out Snow City, the only place in Singapore where you can frolic in the snow in sub-zero temperatures.