Singapore has a fantastic range of museums for all ages and for all interests: for kids, for history and for architecture lovers, for art enthusiasts…
Check my list of the museums I’d suggest you to visit during the visit to this amazing city.
1. ArtScience Museum
The ArtScience museum near the Marina Bay Sands opened in 2011 and has gained enormous popularity since then. Being the first ArtScience museum in the world, it holds a permanent exhibition in collaboration with teamLab. It has also undergone some refurbishment lately.
Back to our first ever visit, there were many rooms filled with different entertainments, from sliding among the digital fruits to immersive art installations and a room filled with L.E.S. strings hanging from the ceiling just like I saw a few years ago in Tokyo in their TeamLab Planets. Lots of fun activities for kids were awaiting for you: for instance you can draw a fish on a special piece of paper, scan it and let it float on a digital display among the drawing of others.
There are also temporary exhibitions: during our first visit in 2024, we had a chance to learn about the history of Mars exploration and the sci-fi surrounding it.
There are a few new openings too: first of all, there is a permanent ArtScienceLaboratory, a learning space with LEGO and iPads where kids can learn about science and technology, for instance, about quarks, protons, electrons, and neutrons, or draw pictures for AI to recognize.
The temporary exhibition “Mirror Mirror: Journey Into the Mind” in 2025 was dedicated to consciousness, memory processes, and the creativity of the human mind. It felt a bit like the movie “Inside Out,” where you can learn how our brain works in a simplified and fun way, but you can also gain deeper scientific insights on your way too.
Don’t skip a cafe inside the ArtScience museum too as the majority of desserts were in the shape of cutest clouds! For instance, the sunny cloud dessert with Kaya cloud coffee is a match made in heaven indeed.
2. National Museum of Singapore
The National Museum of Singapore’s gorgeous historical building, constructed in Neoclassical style back in 1849, is currently under renovation, but the main gallery is still open. Come here to see the main events of the 700-year-old history of Singapore.
The exhibition is divided into four sections: Singapura (1299-1818), Crown Colony (1819-1941), when Singapore became a thriving port under British rule; Syonan-To (1942-1945), when the Japanese occupied the area; and finally Singapore (1945 to present), when Singapore regained its independence.
The Singapore Art Museum located close by is currently under reconstruction.
3. Asian Civilisations Museum
The Asian Civilisations Museum is a unique museum dedicated almost solely to Asia (there are also some exhibitions on Islamic and Christian art), and it’s a must-visit location in Singapore!
Here you can learn about the maritime trade that shaped the entire area of Southeast Asia, including insights into the Tang shipwreck that welcomes you into the galleries. The second floor is dedicated to a set of religious and folk beliefs common among the people of the region.
The last floor contains marvelous examples of Asian decorative elements such as textiles from India and jewelry: get prepared for dazzling gems and colourful prints.
The temporary exhibition is dedicated to a pagoda collection originally carved by hand in 1915 in Shanghai and now reunited.
This museum is also super family-friendly! There are tasks and trails for kids, and there’s also a pagoda corner where you can construct your own pagoda from LEGO or paper.
4. Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, a part of the National University of Singapore, focuses on evolution, biodiversity, Malaysian and Singaporean flora and fauna.
The idea of the museum belongs to Stamford Raffles (yes, that man again!), and the collection was initially started as part of the Raffles Museum in the mid-19th century (it was later turned into the National Museum of Singapore). We loved it a lot: it features numerous educational short films and highlights important scientific concepts that all kids must be aware of from a young age.
5. Haw Par Villa and Hell’s museum
There is a very unusual Singapore landmark you probably haven’t heard of — the Haw Par Villa! It’s an open air park dedicated to Chinese folklore, mythology, and various religions – with probably the most unusual museum of this list: the Hell Museum.
And yes, the Hell museum is a really informative and picturesque part of it.
Here you can explore the afterlife beliefs in different religions and walk through the dioramas of the Chinese Ten Courts of Hell! Of course, it’s a bit scary but educational as well.
6. National Gallery Singapore
National Gallery Singapore occupies two iconic historical buildings: City Hall and Supreme Court. Both buildings were modernised, keeping their historical outlay.
The gallery houses a large collection of Southeastern Art and some temporary exhibitions all housed within a historical settings and also has a kids zone.
The gallery is widely recognised internationally and collaborates with Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Orsay, Tate Britain, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT), and National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA).
7. Chinatown Heritage Centre
Chinatown of Singapore is used to be very different from what we see today. To get the glimpse in the past, visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre museum, which has been recently redeveloped.
There are several floors inside a historical house on Pagoda Street in the heart of Chinatown where you can explore the life of tenants from back in the 1950s. The place has a very authentic vibe! You’ll explore the tiny rooms occupied by a tailor and his apprentices, a trishaw rider, a carpenter, a hawker woman and her family, a samsui woman, a clog maker, and a family with eight kids. They all ate, slept, and even worked inside these confined spaces with no windows.
Additionally, there is an extensive insight into the daily life of Chinatown back in the day: where the people came from, how they worked, what they celebrated, and the festivals they struggled with. Don’t miss this museum if you’d like to truly feel how Chinatown has changed over the years!
8. Peranakan Museum
If you’re interested in local traditions and culture, don’t miss the Peranakan Museum! This museum showcases the Peranakan culture, where travelers and traders from China, India, the Middle East, and Europe settled in Southeast Asia and started families with local communities.
As a result, colorful and distinctive designs used in daily life and at home were born! The museum is divided into several sections: Origins, Family & Community Life with magnificent furniture and ceramics on display; and Fashion, including pieces used in modern cinematography.
The temporary exhibition ‘Batik Nyonyas: Three Generations of Art and Entrepreneurship’ is dedicated to the lives and art of three women who were batik masters.
9. Children’s Museum Singapore
The Children’s Museum is located inside a historical colonial house near Fort Canning Park, which was previously part of a school.
There are two floors of activities for kids under 12, all linked to Singapore’s history, including hawkers and street food, traditional markets, a post office, and exhibits about maritime history. It is highly recommended for kids for an hour or two on a rainy day!
10. Red Dot Design Museum
The Red Dot Design Museum, located in the Marina Bay district, showcases the objects that won the Red Dot Design Award.
The Award was launched in 2005 in Singapore, and it is now one of the most prestigious design awards in the world. Come here to get amazed by the creativity of human mind and to have a look at their shop with many jaw-dropping items.
Where to Stay in Singapore: Conrad Singapore Marina Bay
We spent a few nights at the Conrad Centennial Singapore, which was renamed to Conrad Singapore Marina Bay during our stay.
Our room was spacious, and their lounge offered a delightful afternoon tea in a stylish hall with panoramic windows. The staff were very accommodating and friendly.
The hotel exudes old-fashioned luxury with large chandeliers, high ceilings, and beautiful views of the Golden Ring, also known as The Fountain of Wealth. This fountain is notable for having been the largest in the world and was included in the Guinness Book of Records in 1998. It is located inside the Suntec City Mall, and you can walk around the central section three times to make a wish!
Although the hotel is generally close to Marina Bay, accessing it is not straightforward and requires some effort. The nearby attractions include CHIJMES, Raffles Hotel, St. Andrew’s Cathedral, and Merlion Park.
You might also like my other blogs about Singapore.
Hope you liked my blog!
Yours, Anna
Xxxx
