For an edutaining time with your little ones, here are 7 family-friendly museums in Singapore you should visit!

Source (from left to right): National Museum of Singapore, National Gallery Singapore, GSM Project, ArtScience Museum, Asian Civilisations Museum

Now that the museums in Singapore have reopened, gone are the days of touring museums from around the world online. You’re finally free to experience the splendor of the museums, stimulate your mind and cultivate imagination together in-person!

Before you grab your kids and put on your shoes to go exploring, you should familiarize yourself with the safety management measures put in place at the respective museums, which includes the use of SafeEntry upon entry and exit, temperature taking and wearing masks at all times. Each group is limited to 5 visitors and you should maintain a safe distance of at least one meter at all times. We’ve also highlighted some of the other safety management measures you should take note of below!

1. Asian Civilisations Museum

Location: 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
Operating hours: Sat – Thu: 10 am – 7 pm | Fri: 10 am – 9 pm
Admission: Adult: $8 | Concession (child/student/senior): $4
Free for local residents & children 6 years and under

Though the doors of the Asian Civilisations Museum have once again opened for visits, they have not stopped their digital offerings. The museum’s collection of artifacts explores the different cultures and heritage of Asia but you don’t have to visit the historical building to discover the stories housed within.

You can explore the museum’s collection online, tour the Materials and Design galleries and get hands-on with activities without even leaving your house. But if you would like to visit the museum, you might want to purchase your tickets online before your visit to reduce waiting time at the museum.

2. National Gallery Singapore

Location: 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
Operating hours: Mon – Sun | 10 am – 7 pm
Admission: Adult: $20 | Concession (child/student/senior): $15
Free for local residents & children 6 years and under

Did you know that the National Gallery Singapore administers the world’s largest public collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian modern art? Made up of the former Supreme Court Building and City Hall, the museum showcases a collection of over 8,000 artworks by prominent artists from around the world, including Raden Saleh (Indonesia), Latiff Mohidin (Malaysia) and Nguyen Gia Tri (Vietnam).

The museum also houses Keppel Centre for Art Education, immersive space for kids, families and youth. The Centre’s interactive artworks seek to cultivate imagination, creativity and self-led exploration. If you’re dropping by for a visit, do take note of the intervals the Centre will be closed for cleaning and disinfection as well as the exhibits that are temporarily suspended. 

Tickets to the National Gallery Singapore are available online, and so are a line-up of family-friendly programs. #GalleryAnywhere allows you to explore artworks and discover more about art from the comfort of your home. If you have little ones, #GalleryKids offers plenty of interactive games, activities, tips, stories, and much more to help kids and families to learn more about the art on display at the Gallery as well as its rich history.

3. National Museum of Singapore

Location: 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
Operating hours: Mon – Sun | 10 am – 7 pm (last admission: 6.15 pm for Glass Rotunda & 6.30 pm for all other galleries)
Admission: Adult: $14 | Concession (child/student/senior): $10
Free for local residents & children 6 years and under

With its history dating back to the 1800s, the National Museum of Singapore is the nation’s oldest museum. With exhibits that showcase the city-state’s development through the years, the museum is an ideal place to introduce your little ones to the Singapore story.

All of the galleries are open for visitors, though guided tours and programs continue to remain suspended. To reduce waiting time at the museum, you are encouraged to pre-purchase your tickets online. 

4. ArtScience Museum

Location: 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
Operating hours: Mon – Sun | 10 am – 7 pm (last admission: 6 pm)
Admission:
Any 1 Exhibition – Adult: $16 | Concession (child/student/senior): $12 | Family (2 adults & 2 children): $45
Any 2 Exhibition - Adult: $27 | Concession (child/student/senior): $20 | Family (2 adults & 2 children): $68

The ArtScience Museum houses immersive exhibits that have seamlessly combined art and technology to teleport you into a world of fantasy. Currently, the museum has two exhibitions – Future World: Where Art Meets Science, a collection of digital interactive installations created in collaboration with teamLab and Planet or Plastic? which traces the history of plastic and explores the negative impacts of plastic pollution. 

While guided tours and programs remain suspended, ArtScience on Screen, featuring short films centered on a theme depending on the month, has returned. The screening is limited to 10 visitors at any time so you might want to visit during off-peak hours.

Due to the reduced capacity and timed entry to exhibitions, you’re advised to pre-purchase your tickets online. You can also opt to explore the museum’s offerings from home with ArtScience at Home. You will get to access a line-up of virtual tours, workshops, screenings, performances, and more. 

5. Singapore Sports Museum

Location: 6 Stadium Walk, Singapore 397698
Operating hours: Mon – Fri: 10 am – 8 pm | Sat – Sun, Eve & PH: 10 am – 9 pm
Admission: Adult: $10 | Child/Student/Senior: $5
Free for local residents & children under 6 years

Amongst Singapore Sports Hub’s many facilities, such as the Sports Hub Library and Splash-N-Surf, is the Singapore Sports Museum. Divided into different permanent galleries, the museum takes visitors across time, highlighting Singapore’s sporting history.

The interactive exhibits and rare collection of artifacts, which includes memorabilia donated by fans and athletes, paint an inspiring image of the many milestones achieved in Singapore’s sporting scene. They also used to offer free sports-themed craft activities for kids, however, it has been temporarily suspended due to the current pandemic.

To visit the museum, you have to purchase tickets at the Visitors Centre, though do note that it’s limited to 75 visitors at any one time.   

6. Civil Defence Heritage Gallery

Location: 62 Hill Street, Singapore 179367
Operating hours: Tue – Sun | 10 am – 5 pm
Admission: Free (Pre-registration required for all visits)

Located within the Central Fire Station, the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery showcases Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) long history. You will be able to learn about the evolution of firefighting and civil defense from the late 1800s to the present day.

No walk-ins are allowed at the gallery; all visits must be pre-registered with SCDF and each pre-registration is capped at a maximum of 5 visitors. Each visit is up to a maximum duration of 45 minutes. If you’re interested in learning more about SCDF, you can book a visit by filling up a form or contacting 6332 2996.

7. Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Location: 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377
Operating hours: Thu – Sun | 10 am – 6 pm (last admission: 4.30 pm)
Admission:
Singapore/PR: Adult: $16 | Child/Student/Senior: $9
Standard Rate: $21 | Child/Student/Senior: $13
Free for children under 3 years

Even if you’ve not been to the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at the Kent Ridge Campus of the National University of Singapore, you probably have seen images of the huge dinosaurs’ fossils on display.

Home to not just dinosaurs’ fossils but also a wide-ranging collection of specimens, from plants to animals, the museum is where you go to satiate your curiosity about the life forms on Earth. Before you decide to pop in to explore the museum though, be sure to purchase your tickets online through SISTIC as the museum has limited daily capacity.