As a Singapore tourist guide with a background in the arts, I’m often asked which museums and galleries are worth visiting in Singapore. I love a good museum when I travel – they are great places to better understand about the local history, culture and heritage. But unless you’re a Singaporean, most of our museums and art galleries charge an entrance fee for tourists.
If you’re travelling on a shoestring budget, or are just looking for a free museum in Singapore to pop into on your own time, I created this guide that lists the best free museums in Singapore to add to your itinerary, no entrance fee required.
Click each entry to see more detailed reviews of each museum/gallery to help you decide if you want to add it to your Singapore itinerary. I’ll continue to update this list as I discover more spots, but if you rather have me do the work in person and show you around, feel free to engage me as a Singapore tourist guide.
Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
Learn why only certain Chinese customs, phrases and celebrations exist in Singapore
The interactive SINGAPO人 exhibition at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre is a fun way for those curious about how Singapore’s many multicultural influences have made the Singaporean Chinese identity quite unique. As a Singaporean Chinese myself, I learned quite a lot about my own heritage here!
Singapore City Gallery at URA Centre
Probably the most interesting government building to visit in Singapore
Get deeper insight into how Singapore developed and modernised with this visual gallery that details past and future plans for land use in this tiny country. It’s a great place even for locals to learn about Singapore’s development and everyday things like public housing, infrastructure and sustainability through the years.
Haw Par Villa
Haw Par Villa is temporarily closed though the Hell Museum remains accessible. Check out their website for more updates.
Nowhere else in Singapore will half-human half-crab sculptures be a common occurence
Weirdly wonderful park with eclectic sculptures and dioramas showcasing Chinese stories and ethics. Nostalgic for older Singaporeans who remember its heyday, it’s also a great option for someone who wants to see a really offbeat side of Singapore. Unfortunately the 10 Courts of Hell is now part of a paid museum, but the rest of the park is still fascinating.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
See the temple’s treasure: what is apparently the Buddha’s left canine
This modern Buddhist temple is the perfect place to see how local Buddhists worship, and admire the intricate decor and vast collection of Buddhism art and sculptures from all across Asia. It’s beautiful both inside and outside.
Fort Canning Heritage Gallery
Diving into the mystery of Fort Canning and Singapore’s history
Located in a colonial building on the the top of Fort Canning Hill, this is a great free option if you don’t want to pay for the National Museum
ArCH Square
A rare look at unearthed archaeological finds in Singapore
This little gallery in Kampong Gelam is Singapore’s first centre dedicated to archaeology and intangible cultural heritage. It’s a nice spot for a quick cultural breather without being too intensely historical or artsy, and run by a small but really friendly team.
Fort Siloso
Rumour has it that the coastal guns were pointed the wrong way to defend Singapore properly
Singapore’s last remaining British fortress stands in a quiet corner of the resort island Sentosa. This gazetted national monument has dioramas and recreations amidst restored bunkers as a reminder of Singapore’s WWII occupation days. I think it’s a great mix of history, kitsch dioramas and nature all in one spot.