Top 7 Museums in Singapore to Visit in 2025: Entry Fees, Timings & Travel Tips

Want to explore beyond Singapore’s iconic skyline and mouth-watering street food? Discover the city’s soul through its top museums, each offering a unique window into its culture, history, art, and innovation. Visiting Singapore museums opens a whole new avenue for a tourist brimming with curiosity to learn about the heart and history of this city. From the National Museum of Singapore and ArtScience Museum to the Asian Civilisations Museum and Peranakan Museum, this guide covers seven must-visit museums. Also featured are the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, and Science Centre Singapore, each offering immersive exhibits and unforgettable stories. Find out everything you need to plan your cultural day out: opening hours, ticket prices, exhibit highlights, and expert tips to make the most of your visit.

Top Museums to Visit in Singapore

• National Museum of Singapore
• ArtScience Museum
• Asian Civilisations Museum
• National Gallery Singapore
• Peranakan Museum
• Science Centre Singapore
• Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

1. National Museum of Singapore

Night-lit colonial architecture of the National Museum of Singapore

Best For: Historical storytelling and immersive heritage experiences

This is the oldest museum in Singapore, offering a well-rounded journey through the nation’s past, from colonial rule to post-independence development. Multimedia exhibits, artefacts, and reconstructed spaces bring Singapore’s history to life.

• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 7 PM (last entry: 6:30 PM)
• Entry Fee: SGD 15 (free for Singaporeans and PRs)
• Location: 93 Stamford Road
• Must-See: Singapore History Gallery, Growing Up Gallery

For anyone seeking the most insightful history museums Singapore offers, this is the perfect starting point.

2. ArtScience Museum

Futuristic lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands

Best For: Digital art, science, and futuristic exhibits

Boasting lotus-inspired architecture at Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum is rife with imaginative exhibitions. The attractions that people love the most are Future World, one where the light installations respond to your movements, and rotating displays on space, AI, and sustainability.

• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 7 PM
• Entry Fee: SGD 21 (adults), SGD 16 (children)
• Location: 6 Bayfront Avenue
• Tip: Buy tickets online to skip queues

This museum is a favourite among those enjoying family-friendly museum tours in Singapore.

3. Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM)

Asian Civilisations Museum with banners and trees in the foreground

Best For: Ancient cultures and cross-cultural trade

Nearby the Singapore River, ACM’s site tries to plumb the Asian heritage, in particular the influences on Singapore. These galleries hold ancient ceramics, religious statues, textiles, and maritime trade routes.

• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 7 PM (Fridays till 9 PM)
• Entry Fee: SGD 12 (free for Singaporeans and PRs)
• Location: 1 Empress Place
• Highlight: Tang Shipwreck gallery with over 60,000 treasures

Add this to your list of places to visit in Singapore for heritage and history in one elegant building.

4. National Gallery Singapore

Classic colonial building of the National Gallery Singapore

Best For: Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art

Located near the Singapore River, ACM involves itself in Asian and Singaporean heritage, especially the influences that have shaped Singapore. The galleries consist of Old Ceramics, Religious Statues, Textiles, and Maritime Trade.

• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 7 PM
• Entry Fee: SGD 20 (free for locals)
• Location: 1 St Andrew’s Road
• Must-See: UOB Southeast Asia Gallery and DBS Singapore Gallery

Include it in any Singapore travel guide that aims to combine art with heritage architecture.

5. Peranakan Museum

Front facade of the Peranakan Museum with colonial-style architecture

Best For: Culture, fashion, and heritage

The recently refurbished museum depicts various facets of the Peranakan communities, which exist at the crossroads of Chinese, Malay, and Indonesian traditions. It is all about the bright life of beaded slippers, wedding gowns, and elaborate home décor!

• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 7 PM
• Entry Fee: SGD 12 (free for locals)
• Location: 39 Armenian Street
• Extra Tip: Look out for free guided tours on weekends

Add it to your bucket list of cultural things to do in Singapore.

6. Science Centre Singapore

Stairway entrance to The Observatory at Science Centre Singapore, night view

Best For: Interactive exhibits for kids and science lovers

Hands-on exhibits bring this centre for science to life and include biology, physics, earth sciences, and robotics. There is also a water play area outside, a planetarium, and a garden of butterflies.

• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM (closed Mondays)
• Entry Fee: SGD 12 (adults), SGD 8 (children)
• Location: 15 Science Centre Road
• Don’t Miss: Omni-Theatre, Earth Alive, and KidsSTOP

This museum is super easy to reach using your EZ-Link Card in Singapore, which works on all public transport.

7. Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Exterior of Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum surrounded by greenery

Best For: Nature, biodiversity, and palaeontology

This museum is home to over a million specimens, from Southeast Asian wildlife and fossils to a massive dinosaur exhibit. It’s run by the National University of Singapore and is a hidden gem for biology lovers.

• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM (closed Mondays)
• Entry Fee: SGD 21 (adults), SGD 13 (students and seniors)
• Location: 2 Conservatory Drive
• Standout Exhibit: Three real dinosaur fossils, over 150 million years old

A must-visit for those planning eco-friendly Singapore trip that include nature and learning.

Tips for Visiting Museums in Singapore

• The best time to visit Singapore museums is weekday mornings to avoid crowds.
• Most museums are near MRT stations, so public transport should be your best friend.
• Carry a light jacket as galleries are air-conditioned.
• Museums allow free entry for locals with valid IDs.
• Several museums present seasonal exhibits, so check online before going.

Final Thoughts – Discover Singapore Through Its Museums

Dinosaur fossils on the one hand and digital arts and Southeast Asian masterpieces on the other: Singapore museums form an eclectic amalgamation of history, design, science, and heritage. Love for an ancient or futuristic-type culture? These eight museums provide adorable windows into every conceivable facet of Singaporean life. So, next time you are planning to book a Singapore tour packages or making a weekend plan, ensure that these cultural gems find at least some time on the Singapore  itinerary. These are more than mere attractions, these are essential storytellers of a nation that is forever evolving, but at the same time recognising its roots.