Singapore's Art District — Four Museums in One City Core

At a Glance

Singapore's major museums cluster in the Civic District and around Marina Bay, so four or five can be strung together on foot in a single day. The mix is distinctive: colonial 19th-century fabric next to 21st-century architecture.

1. National Gallery Singapore

Opened 2015 in the combined former Supreme Court and City Hall, linked by a glass canopy designed by studioMilou. The focus is Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art—one of the few places to compare Philippine, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese art side by side. The rooftop bar overlooks Marina Bay.

2. Asian Civilisations Museum

On the river's opposite bank, ACM surveys Asian civilisations by region, with Chinese ceramics, Islamic crafts, and South Asian Buddhist art. The central hall features treasures from the 9th-century Tang Shipwreck.

3. Peranakan Museum

Reopened in 2023 after a full renovation. The most concentrated look at Peranakan (Baba-Nyonya) culture—clothing, ritual objects, furniture, and cuisine—showing Singapore's multicultural depth.

4. SAM & ArtScience Museum

The Singapore Art Museum now operates from Tanjong Pagar Distripark, concentrating on Southeast Asian contemporary practice. Marina Bay's ArtScience Museum is the lotus-shaped building famous for teamLab's permanent Future World.

Getting Around

Walk National Gallery → ACM → Peranakan Museum, then taxi or MRT across to ArtScience Museum. Most museums open daily 10:00–19:00 (Friday extended). Schedule indoor visits for the hot midday and break in Chinatown or Clive Street between sets.