5 Best Museums in Singapore (2026)

National Gallery Singapore occupies the restored former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, housing the world's largest collection of modern Southeast Asian art. Current exhibitions on its own site range from a study of desire and eroticism in Southeast Asian art to a retrospective on ink artist He Xiangning. The building's Padang Deck offers a rooftop view over the surrounding cityscape, and the site also houses a Michelin-rated restaurant.

National Museum of Singapore is the country's oldest museum, tracing Singapore's history from its early days as a fishing village to its rise as a modern city-state. The centerpiece Singapore History Gallery uses interactive multimedia and digital installations, and the museum also runs the Singapore Odyssea, a journey-through-time exhibit, alongside a free option called Once Upon a Tide. The neo-classical building itself blends historic architecture with modern additions.

ArtScience Museum sits at Marina Bay Sands in a distinctive lotus-shaped building and blends art, science, culture and technology across ten gallery fingers covering more than 64,000 square feet. Its main permanent exhibition, Future World, was created with digital art collective teamLab and features the widely photographed Crystal Universe installation. The museum hosts touring exhibitions alongside its permanent collection and includes a cinema and VR gallery.

Singapore Discovery Centre in Jurong covers Singapore's history, values and national defense through immersive galleries, a SAFTI Military Institute bus tour, laser tag and a Sandbox exhibit on contemporary Singaporean life. The centre runs family-oriented programs including a monthly SingaPaw event and scam-awareness games designed to educate younger visitors on current issues. It sits further from the city centre than the other museums on this list.

Science Centre Singapore in Jurong offers hands-on exhibits across science, technology, space and nature, aimed at both children and adults. Recent draws include a dinosaur exhibit and the One Ocean VR Experience, alongside permanent interactive zones covering light, water, robotics and the natural world. The centre is run as a learning institution with an emphasis on making science approachable through play.