Singapore is a country that, below the surface, has a lot going on for it. Between its myriad of attractions, attractive food scene, and heart-pumping nightlife, I would call it one of the best “starter countries” in the world. Among its offerings are its collection of amazing museums. From museums about history and culture to art and science, there’s bound to be something for every museum lover. For this post, I’m going to focus on what I think are the five best museums in Singapore. These are in no particular order, and all of them are worth visiting.
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I’ve got links below to Klook pages where you can buy tickets to most of these museums. To skip to that section, use the table of contents!
National Gallery
Spanning 64,000 square meters, the National Gallery contains over 8000 works of art in its collection. Featuring art from the 1900s onwards, the National Gallery puts a spotlight on Southeast Asian art. In fact, it’s actually the largest collection of Southeast Asian art anywhere in the world. I really enjoyed my time in this museum. I remember seeing sculptures and pieces made with different kinds of materials and techniques, all of which were fascinating. There are also two restaurants in the museum, including Odette, a Michelin starred restaurant.
Note that it’ll take longer to get through this museum than the others because of the sheer number of artworks and galleries on display. Be sure to dedicate at least 2 to 3 hours to see and appreciate everything in their collection.
National Museum
Delving into Singapore’s rich history, the National Museum is a joy to walk through. In its Singapore History Gallery, the country’s entire history is on full display. From its humble beginnings as a fishing village, to its current state as an economic powerhouse, the museum delves deep into all the intricacies of Singapore’s history in a way that is both educational and entertaining. The exhibits are well-designed, immersive, and informative. I appreciated learning different things about the country, like that a plane takes off or lands in Changi airport every 90 seconds or that their GDP grew over 4780% since 1965.
Also included in the National Museum is the Story of the Forest, a sight and sound exhibition inspired by the museum’s William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings. It was made by the same team that made the ArtScience museum, another museum on this list. Dedicate anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours to see everything in this museum. This is a standout among the Singapore museums that you shouldn’t miss.
Peranakan Museum
An entire museum about the Peranakan people of Singapore, this museum tells the story of their unique culture through three galleries: Origins, Home, and Style. Its sister museum is the Asian Civilizations Museum, another museum on this list. The Peranakan Museum explores the history, culture, customs, and beliefs of the Peranakan people in Singapore and their settlements in other countries.
Peranakans are those who come from both Chinese and Malay descent, with the intermingling of these ethnicities forming this very unique culture. The museum houses a variety of Peranakan artifacts, from clothing and glassware to jewelry and furniture. I haven’t had the chance to visit this museum yet, but it is on the top of my list for my next visit. If you want to learn more about this particular subculture, definitely make a trip to this museum.
Asian Civilizations Museum
Celebrating “Asian imagination, craft, and aesthetics” the Asian Civilizations Museum has three galleries for you to explore: the Maritime Trade, Faith & Belief, and Materials & Design galleries.
The Maritime Trade gallery focuses on objects from the maritime silk route, which includes the Tang shipwreck collection. It focuses on the history of Asian port cities. Faith and Belief focuses on the different religions in Asia and how they spread, as well as how they were contextualized in different communities. The Materials and Design gallery celebrates Asian craftsmanship as it explores the ceramics, fashion, textiles, and jewelries of Asia. I haven’t visited this museum as well, but it comes highly recommended by people who have, so I think it deserves a place in your itinerary if you have the time for it.
ArtScience Museum
Probably the most unique of the Singapore museums on this list, the ArtScience Museum explores the intersection of art and science through interactive exhibits. While mainly aimed at a younger demographic, anyone can appreciate the exhibits in this museum. From uniquely themed play areas, interactive projections (you can draw a fish on a piece of paper, scan it, and see it come to life in a big aquarium-like projection), and a dazzling infinity lights room, this is a must-see Singapore museum and showcases the world-class work of TeamLabs.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It should take you about 90 minutes to go through the whole museum, as it is smaller than the others on this list. If you have time, check out the other rotating exhibitions in the ArtScience museum as well.
Ticket Purchase Links
For the following Singapore museums: the National Museum, National Gallery, Asian Civilizations Museum, and ArtScience Museum, I recommend buying tickets through Klook. Klook offers discounted rates to some of these attractions and allows you to skip buying tickets at the desk. I’ve got them linked below.
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