NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE

The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest museum of this nation and was established in 1887. This museum is shaped like a colonial building dating back to the 19th century and offers a vivid perspective of the country’s history and culture. 

The museum is a home to galleries that showcase the development of Singapore for the past 700 years. From artefacts to even technology, the museum showcases creative storytelling that continues to attract tourists.

This museum is also a cultural landmark in the city and is also considered to be a National Monument of Singapore. Apart from the regular exhibits, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and exciting events throughout the year. Out of all the festivals, one is the Singapore Night Festival, which is the go-to festival for both children and adults. Tourists planning to visit this museum can opt for a guided tour or even explore the museum on their own.

Highlights

• Take a guided tour and explore the premises of the museum and learn more about its history and significance. 
• Explore the museum independently and discover its exhibits at your leisure.
• Book any of the children-specific programs while in the National Museum of Singapore for your kids to have fun. 
• Visit the cafe at the museum and have a hearty meal after touring the museum and checking out the different types of exhibits. 
• Attend a special exhibition in the museum and check out the theme based exhibits and shows. 

How To Reach

• By Car: The activity location is 14 km from the city centre, it will take 28 min via the Central Expressway route.
• By Bus: Take a bus to Nafa Campus 3 station which is 600 metres away from the museum. You can reach the activity location from the bus station with a 9-minute walk

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Best Time To Visit

The National Museum is open throughout the year, so we recommend planning your visit at any time of the year.

• The best season to visit the National Museum will be in the winter season from February to April. We recommend this season because the climate is more favourable.
• We recommend visiting the National Museum on the weekdays due to less crowds.
• You can head to the National Museum in the morning due to less crowds, particularly during the opening hours. 

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Other Essential Information

Programmes at National Museum of Singapore

1. #Doseofculture: From learning traditional Singaporean recipes from the celebrity chefs, finding out your capabilities and creativity, enjoying the cultural performances of the award-winning groups to get the taste of history through encounters with celebrities or migrants, the #Doseofculture is a unique way to interact and enrich the visitors.

The National Museum of Singapore also organises such programs and has made this available digitally so as to reach a wider audience throughout the world. With #Doseofculture, the museum wants to inspire the audience and visitors through unique ways of learning, relaxing and creativities.

2. Early Learning Resources: The National Museum of Singapore offers the Early Learning Resources Programmes for the kids of ages between 1 to 6 years. In these programmes, kids need to take a set of resource kit at a price of $8/set from the Museum Label shop situated on Level 1 and complete the task by visiting the museum's permanent galleries and spotting the right artefact.

The colourful booklet kits come in different themes and prove to be a great way to introduce preschoolers with numbers, colors, and English alphabets. Now, the museum has also introduced special online resource kits with Wigglepods to make parents and caregivers use the Early Learning Resources at home.

3. Family Fun at the National Museum: The National Museum of Singapore offers many interesting ways to help families discover the rich history of Singapore with their kids and elderly members.

From Lunar celebrations, Christmas Celebrations, Early Learning Resources, March Holidays, June Holidays to many more events, the planner is full of programmes that will certainly make your family time full of fun and excitement.

You can explore the galleries with the interactive Get Curious! Family Guide, or help your kids in spotting artefacts in the Early Learning Resources task, or keep yourself busy through intergenerational workshops and sensory playdates, etc. The choices are plenty and truly enthralling!

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4. A Lighter Side Of History: Another interesting program organized by the National Museum of Singapore, the Lighter Side of History celebrates Singapore’s diverse culture. From heritage, foods, dresses, languages to customs belonging to Singaporeans and different communities living in the country, these programs let the visitors learn about each one of them.

The programs feature a variety of fun-filled and engaging hands-on workshops, lectures, performances, and demonstrations by experts and practitioners. These offer a deep insight into Singaporean history and are suitable for curious visitors to history enthusiasts.

5. #MuseumFromHome: A timeless treasure of online resources and programs, the #MuseumFromHome is developed by the National Museum of Singapore to make families enjoy a range of activities with their kids at home.

These programs require gathering materials available in and around the house to complete the task, engaging in musical and movement activities, or something else.

With mindfulness programs, kids also learn new exercises and breathing techniques, etc. for keeping themselves healthy and fit. Suitable for kids aged between 1 and 10 years, these activities are full of fun and entertainment and enhance the creativity and thinking levels of the kids.

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Restaurants in National Museum of Singapore

1. Flutes: With a promise of fine food, fine wine, and refined ambiance, the Flutes Restaurant serves a variety of contemporary to modern dishes with a twist. Listed at No 27 in Asia’s Best Restaurants List, the restaurant boasts of its culinary delights served in exclusive brunch, lunch, high-tea, and dinner menus.

The restaurant also arranges for corporate meetings, conferences, parties and even assures memorable weddings.

2. Food for Thought: Food for Thought Restaurant serves locally-inspired Southeast Asian food but with a globalized influence. Ranging from pastas, salads, fries, snacks to local main-course dishes, here you can enjoy a variety of multi-cuisine recipes.

For being housed in the heritage ambiance of the National Museum of Singapore, this restaurant provides an impressive and rich backdrop and ambiance for all special events like birthday parties, engagement ceremonies, weddings, or corporate events.

With a seating capacity of 170 guests and customizable services, it is a great location for intimate gatherings.

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Places to Visit near National Museum of Singapore

1. Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum: Located at the National University of Singapore, this is the only natural history museum in the country. The museum is housed in an iconic rock-like building and is home to more than 2,000 specimens and interactive displays, including three real and gigantic sauropod dinosaurs.

It is a one-stop education, research, and exhibition facility offering a range of biodiversity activities in Singapore.

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2. Gardens by the Bay: A paradise for nature lovers and horticulturalists, the Gardens by the Bay amuses the visitors for being an incredible oasis of lush greenery and artistic landscapes. Nestled by the Marina Bay Waterfront, its Flower Dome is one of the World’s Largest Glass Greenhouses.

Flower Fantasy and Cloud Forest cooled conservatories are home to a vast variety of plants and flowers. Whereas, Supertree Grove is an amazing architectural marvel featuring a 50-meter-high observation deck that offers unobstructed views of the magnificent Marina Bay district.

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3. Asian Civilizations Museum: This museum is dedicated to the artistic heritage of Asia and lets the visitors discover the historical connections between different cultures of Asia and the world. Asian Civilisations Museum Tickets can give you the best experience to great collection of artifacts and artworks associated with trade & exchange, the Tang Shipwreck collection, contemporary art pieces, magnificent Chinese ceramics, and much more. Special programs and events are also held here to connect visitors with rich culture and art.

4. Clarke Quay: A bustling nightlife hub, the Clarke Quay is located along the banks of the Singapore River. A historical place, it looks gorgeous with beautiful colonial-era architecture but transforms into a boisterous nightlife destination when it's popular nightclubs come alive.

Earlier, it was the center of commercial enterprise, now it is home to a range of restaurants, bars, entertainment points, and retail shops.

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5. Peranakan Museum: Discover the rich heritage, art, and culture of the Peranakan community at this museum that is specifically dedicated to them. The museum houses the world’s finest collection of Peranakan artifacts, jewelry, furniture, textiles, etc. These are displayed here in ten permanent galleries spread over three floors.

6. Singapore Flyer: Situated in the heart of spectacular downtown Marina Bay, it is Asia's largest giant wheel. With a spin, it takes the passengers up to 165 m or approx. 42 storeys above ground. The experience is not only thrilling but magnificent as you get to see the panoramic views of iconic and historical sights of Singapore.

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Things to Do near National Museum of Singapore  

1. Bowling And Ice Skating: Kallang is one of the world-class skating centers and Bowling Alleys located near the National Museum of Singapore, offering real fun and entertainment. Enjoy an unbeatable skating experience at the Kallang Ice World, offering a superior ice surface complete with quality finishes.

The place is perfect for beginners and amateurs as they can learn tips on skating here from professionals. Or, try your hands in bowling at the Kallang Bowl that features 22 competition standard lanes well-equipped with state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

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2. Visit The Intan: Another interesting thing to do near the national museum is to visit the Intan or the Peranakan Museum. The place lets you learn about the history, life, art, and culture of these people, through its collection of artifacts and artworks. A 90-minute tour offers a great insight into the life of the hybrid community and is certainly a thing to learn something new and amazing.

3. Have Fun At Mega Adventure Park: A paradise for thrill-seekers and adventure lovers, this adventure park lets you test your adrenaline. With a variety of crazy rides and slides, you will have plenty of choices to try your hand and feel the thrills. The ambiance, food, and hair-raising activities must not be missed at this park if you are looking for some real fun near the National Museum.

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4. Visit Merlion: Visiting Merlion Park to get a glimpse of the national symbol of Singapore is really rewarding. The half-fish and half-lion statue, protruding water from its mouth, symbolizes Singapore's modest beginning as a fishing village and original name, Singapura or Lion City in Malay. The Merlion statue is 8.6 m tall and weighs 70 tonnes and amazes everyone with its unique appeal and charm.

5. Explore Singapore Art Museum: Get lost in the world of contemporary art at the Singapore Art Museum which showcases a multitude of art forms, including paintings, sculptures, installation arts, and interactive media.

The major part of the museum is dedicated to the temporary exhibits displaying the artwork of Singaporean and Asian artists. The museum also conducts workshops, programs, and tours to make art available to all.

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Tips for Visiting National Museum of Singapore

• We recommend buying a pass for accessing public transportation in Singapore. 
• Restaurants may be pricey, so we recommend eating at hawker markets as they are relatively cheaper. 
• Singapore is a pretty strict country in terms of rules and laws, so make sure you do not violate any. 
• Chewing gum is banned in Singapore, so make sure you do not carry any. 
• Opt for comfortable footwear since you will have to walk a lot in the National Museum.
• Make sure you book your passes well in advance for a guaranteed entry into the museum. 

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