The days of museums filled with old, tired and dull exhibits are long gone.
Museums today offer full sensory experiences for visitors, with interactive, immersive galleries that will leave you engaged and enlightened.
Whether you’re into history, art, science, or design, Singapore’s outstanding museums – some of the best in Asia – will leave you in awe.
National Museum of Singapore
If you want to delve into Lion City’s fascinating history, then the National Museum of Singapore should be at the top of your list.
Founded in 1887 as the Raffles Library and Museum, this museum, now housed in a stately neoclassical building, spans 18,400 square meters and boasts six cutting-edge galleries.
A popular draw is the Singapore History Gallery, where visitors are taken on an immersive journey through the nation’s history, starting from the 14th century.
There’s also the Story of the Forest, a mesmerizing installation that transforms the natural history drawings of Singapore’s first British resident William Farquhar into 3D animations.
The Living Galleries, which feature everything from Singapore’s fashion and film through the eras, are equally as fun.
But don’t leave without visiting the Moving Memories. This section lets you experience old Singapore sights, sounds, and scents through animated life-size murals, digital projections, and real-life soundscapes.
ArtScience Museum
Set within the integrated resort of Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum, a modern structure that mimics a welcoming hand, is one of Singapore’s most iconic architectural wonders.
Its exterior is as impressive as its interior, which features three stories of installations that inspire imagination by merging art, science, culture, and technology.
There are 21 galleries with touring exhibits from museums worldwide, but Future World is the museum’s only permanent exhibit – and one you shouldn’t skip.
This section is a collaborative installation with award-winning Japanese art collective teamLab; this section is filled with whimsical digital art and engaging, interactive installations, perfect for kids and grown-ups alike.
There’s plenty to see and do, from navigating your way through the trippy Crystal Universe that sparkles with 170,000 LED lights to areas where visitors’ drawings are digitally rendered onto large screens.
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum officially opened in 2015, but its collection dates 1878.
Today, the museum – housed in a seven-story green building on the National University of Singapore grounds – has amassed over a million specimens of flora and fauna from across Southeast Asia, with more than 2,000 specimens on display.
With 15 zones dedicated to Mother Earth’s many life forms, you won’t run out of things to marvel at.
Feast your eyes on the 10.6-meter sperm whale that washed ashore Jurong Island in 2015, the leatherback turtle found in Singapore 138 years ago, or the big highlight – three dinosaur fossils from Wyoming, USA.
The museum’s beautifully landscaped phylogenetic gardens, furnished with all kinds of native plants, are also worth visiting.
Asian Civilisations Museum
The first and only museum in the region dedicated to Asia’s rich cultural diversity, the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), sits in the former Empress Place Building, a 154-year-old neoclassical beauty.
The collection spans three levels which you can explore with daily guided tours or if you like going solo, audio tours.
The first level is devoted to Asia’s long trade history, from treasures discovered in a Tang dynasty Chinese shipwreck to relics of furniture and decorative arts from centuries-old maritime routes.
If you want to get acquainted with the roots of the region’s myriad faiths, rituals, and a host of beautiful religious sculptures, level two is the go-to.
However, one of the museum’s best collections is the newly minted space on the third floor. Opened in 2020, it features three galleries dedicated to decorative arts such as ceramics and jewelry and the centuries-old evolution of fashion and textiles in Asia.
Singapore Art Museum
The Singapore Art Museum (SAM), the country’s very first museum of its kind, is home to some of the most celebrated contemporary artworks in Southeast Asia and Asia.
The primary wing, opened in 1996, is housed in the beautifully restored former St Joseph’s Institution, a European Renaissance-style building constructed in 1867.
There’s a spectrum of art forms from across the region lined up here, from photography and paintings to sound and light installations, videos, and sculptures.
In 2015, the 86-year-old Catholic High School across the road was converted into SAM at 8Q, a fantastic art gallery and incubator space dedicated to the work of up-and-coming young artists.
NUS Museum
The NUS Museum has an astounding collection of over 8,000 artifacts and artworks divided into four galleries, three of which are located on the National University of Singapore grounds.
Check out the Ng Eng Teng Collection – 1,200 sculptures, sketches, and paintings by this celebrated Singaporean artist – and the Lee Kong Chian Collection, featuring ancient Chinese pottery, jade, and classical ink paintings.
The South and Southeast Asian Collection includes some contemporary works but mainly draws on the ancient aspects of Indian scriptures from the 9th century and textiles and ceramics from 18th century Singapore and Malaya.
To appreciate the museum’s fourth gallery – the incredible Straits Chinese Collection – make your way to the NUS Baba House on Neil Road, where the artifacts are showcased in a real-life Peranakan Chinese home.
Science Centre Singapore
The Science Centre Singapore is highly engaging, enjoyable, and educational. With such a wide variety of awesome interactive activities, you’ll need a whole day to enjoy it fully.
Seven spacious halls explore the wonders of science, from physics and chemistry to Earth science and astronomy, plus expansive outdoor spaces that include a kinetic garden and an observatory.
Some standouts include Asia’s most giant mirror maze filled with a dizzying number of mirrors and hallways, Phobia Square, a journey into the science of fear, as well as Butterflies Up Close, where you can witness the winged insect’s metamorphosis.
Another must-see is the Omni Theatre – Southeast Asia’s first 8K 3D digital dome theatre – where you can enjoy an immersive, experiential tour of the galaxy.
Stop by the Curiosity Shop to snap up a couple of educational kits, science gadgets, and toys as souvenirs on your way out.
Red Dot Design Museum
Named after one of the world’s most prestigious international design awards, the Red Dot Design Museum is a haven for anyone seeking creative inspiration.
The boutique space, a sister of the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany, is the only museum in Asia.
The geometrical, glass, and steel building sits along the Waterfront Promenade in Marina Bay and features a collection of Red Dot-winning designs.
Browse through thousands of innovative, aesthetically-pleasing, whimsical, and even whacky creations that range from sleek furniture and book lamps to 3D-printed backpacks and funky paperweights.
You can also get yourself some excellent, locally designed products at the Design Museum Shop, or sip coffee and enjoy local desserts at the museum’s cafe bar, furnished entirely with Red Dot award-winning pieces.
Temporarily closed until 8 April 2022.
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