The best museums for kids present information in fun and innovative ways, entertaining while informing, leaving young ones with fond memories of their visit. And, that is certainly the case at the best museums for kids in Singapore.
With bite-sized information and hands-on exhibits that stimulate learning, the top museums for children in Singapore provide unique experiences for little ones.
We have shortlisted over 20 fabulous museums and galleries just for families to head to. Apart from air-conditioned comfort, these places are perfect for learning about art, science, culture, history, heritage, our environment, nature, transport and more!
20+ Best Museums For Kids in Singapore
Art, Nature & Science
ArtScience Museum
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Shaped like a lotus flower rising up from the waters of Marina Bay, ArtScience Museum is explores the possibilities when art and science intersect. Its permanent exhibition, Future World, is targeted at kids with digital exhibits such as a virtual aquarium and a digital city.
ArtScience Museum also regularly hosts blockbuster exhibitions. Past exhibitions have covered subjects such as dinosaurs, deep sea creatures and animation. Every Friday, up to four children under 12 can enter the ArtScience Museum for free with every adult ticket purchased.
Address: 10 BayFront Avenue, Singapore 178957
Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am to 7 pm (Last admission at 6 pm).
Admission Fees: Check website for details
Website
Forest Discovery Centre
Located within a colonial-era bungalow at 5 Gallop Road, the Forest Discovery Centre at Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Gallop Extension is a space where people can learn about Singapore’s forests, its biodiversity and the importance of conserving these eco-systems. The displays with the Forest Discovery Centre that allow visitors to learn more about the rich biodiversity found in Singapore’s forests. These include both the flora and fauna found within our island’s green spaces.
Address: 5 Gallop Road
Opening Hours: 9am to 6pm daily, closed every last Monday of the month
Website
Keppel Centre for Art Education at National Gallery Singapore
The National Gallery Singapore’s collection focuses on modern Southeast Asian art. The Gallery has a dedicated space for kids, The Keppel Centre for Art Education. This is aimed at providing young ones an introduction to art through play. Here, kids can explore an Art Playscape, dream up art at a Project Gallery and visit an artist’s studio mock-up.
Address: 1 Saint Andrews Road, Singapore 178957
Opening Hours: Sun to Thu & PH, 10 am to 7 pm (Open till 10 pm on Fri & Sat, Eve of PH).
Admission Fees: Free to the Keppel Centre for Art but admission charges apply to the National Gallery Singapore’s art galleries for non-Singaporeans.
Website
Science Centre Singapore
Explore the world of Science at Science Centre Singapore. The exhibits in its halls explore topics like electricity, the Earth and local innovations. Here, kids can also interact with live butterflies in a vivarium, enter the digital realm at an immersive space and learn by tinkering, all within a day.
Science Centre Singapore also has a water play area and digital planetarium. Budding scientists eight years old and below can visit a children’s science centre, KidsSTOP.
Address: 15 Science Centre Road, Singapore 609081
Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am to 6 pm (Last admission at 5.15 pm).
Admission Fees: Check website for details
Website
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Conceived as a teaching museum for university students, the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is also a fascinating museum for kids to visit. The stars at the Museum are undoubtedly Prince, Apollonia and Twinky, the three dinosaur fossils that dominate the museum. But there are plenty of other specimens on display, ranging from plants to sea creature to mammals, exposing the rich diversity found in the natural world.
Address: 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun, 10 am to 7 pm (Closed on Mon, except PH).
Admission Fees: Singapore Resident Rate – Adult: $16; Child: $9; Standard Rate – Adult: $21; Child: $13.
Website
Singapore History
Children’s Museum Singapore
Children’s Museum Singapore is guaranteed not to bore the littlest and it takes the littlest back in time at its permanent galleries and delights many with special exhibitions that change annually. AT CMSG, everything can be touched and any giggle, chatter, scream of joy is tolerated! It engages all of the children’s senses as there are many things to smell, feel, move and play with!
Address: 23-B Coleman Street, Singapore 179807
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sundays, 9 am to 1 pm; 2 pm to 6 pm
Free admission till 31 March 2023. Charges for adults apply at $10 per ticket thereafter
N.B. Due to limited capacity, visitors are strongly encouraged to book tickets online in advance, or they may not be able to enter if the museum is full.
All children must be accompanied by adults.
Tickets for December 2022 are sold out. Tickets for January 2023 onwards are available for booking 30 days in advance.
National Museum of Singapore
Go on a journey through time at the National Museum of Singapore. Its Singapore History Gallery traces the island’s journey from fishing village to modern city. Other galleries at the Museum provide perspectives on life during the colonial period, the war years, and in Seventies Singapore.
Experience Story of the Forest, an immersive digital installation that brings the Museum’s prized William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings to life. Kids can interact with the digital artwork with via a free mobile phone app.
Other permanent exhibits include thematic exhibition galleries at level 2. They provided an immersive experience into Singapore’s past from its colonial days, war times, growing years and the retro times in 70s.
Each year, the National Museum of Singapore is one of the major venues for Children’s Season, a large-scale festival of fun children’s activities.
Address: 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am to 7 pm.
Admission Fees: Free for Singapore Citizens & PRs; Foreigners – Check website for details
Website
Singapore Sports Museum, SportsHub
The Singapore Sports Museum at the SportsHub contains a collection of memorabilia and memories of Singapore’s sporting endeavours. It provides a look at sports development in Singapore as well as the personalities that have made a nation’s dreams come true.
Singapore Sports Museum is divided into several permanent galleries which trace Singapore’s sporting history and pays homage to local sports heroes. On display are artefacts preserved from the old stadium including gallery seats, lights and the stadium’s turnstiles.
Address: 6 Stadium Walk, Singapore 397698
Opening Hours: Weekdays 10 am to 8 pm, Weekends, Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays 10 am to 9 pm
Website
Singapore Discovery Centre
Want to know what makes Singapore tick? Find out at the S’pore Discovery Centre. This Centre is filled with interactive exhibits and games aimed at educating children about Singapore’s National identity and Total Defence. Situated at the doorstep of SAFTI Military Institute, the Centre has a slant towards military defence. There are interactive exhibits such as Battlefield Command where up to four persons can play different roles in a battle simulation. Ideally, visit the S’pore Discovery Centre as a group because some exhibits are best enjoyed with multiple players.
Address: 510 Upper Jurong Road, Singapore 638365
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun, 9 am to 6 pm (Closed on Mon, except PH).
Admission Fees: Free for Singapore Citizens and PR; Foreigners – Adult: $10 to $15; Child: $6 to $10.
Website
MOE Heritage Centre
MOE Heritage Centre showcases Singapore’s education story from the early 19th century to present days. It consists of six galleries, each dedicated to certain periods of our education story. There are also two theatrettes where visitors can view short films about our education journey.
Share memories of school days, listen to the school anthems of various schools, learn more about the history of schools in Singapore and be enriched about the immense task of educating generations.
Address: 565 Balestier Rd, Singapore 329927
Opening Hours: Term Time
Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm (last entry 4.30 pm)
School Holidays
Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm (last entry 4.30 pm)
Website
Culture & Heritage
Singapo人 at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
SINGAPO 人: Discovering Chinese Singaporean Culture has been curated to take visitors on a journey which traces the origins of local Chinese practices, festivals and traditions through five different exhibition zones. Examine the commonalities and differences between Chinese Singaporeans and other Chinese diasporas around the world in the first zone, What Makes “Us” Us?
Gain an understanding of the Chinese community’s migrant roots and how it has developed to the present day. Multimedia stations await families – “ feast” on treasured local food such as Hainanese Chicken Rice and Chilli Crab and try making kopi as fast as you can.
Address: Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Gallery, Level 2, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore 018906)
Opening hours: 2 pm to 8 pm on Monday, and from 10 am to 8 pm, Tuesday to Sunday
Free Admission
Website
Indian Heritage Centre
The Indian Heritage Centre at Little India provides a look at the ties between South Asia and Southeast Asia and the history of the Indian community in Singapore. Spread over two floors, the Indian Heritage Gallery’s permanent collection is divided into thematic zones. Through exhibits and artefacts, the Centre’s collection tells the story of early Indian pioneers and local leaders.
Address: 5 Campbell Lane, Singapore 209924
Opening Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays: 10 am to 6 pm
Closed on Mondays
Website
Malay Heritage Centre* [Closing for renovations end of October 2022]
Once the residence of the Malay royalty in Singapore, Istana Kampong Gelam is better known today as the Malay Heritage Centre. The journey starts upstairs where galleries provide an account of the history of the Malays in Singapore and the region, and also paints a picture of daily life. There is a small play space for children, between 3 to 6 years old, based on stories from Singapore and the region too.
Address: 85 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198501
Wee’s Collection
Wee’s Collection is a collection of memorabilia, tools, crockery, toys, signages, modes of transport that hark back as far as the 50s to 90s. From floor to ceiling, it is filled with memories in the form of items and trinkets. There are four sections to the museum – Barber shop, Kopitiam, Provision shop and Tailor’s shop.Each themed section displays items and tools relevant to the context.
Address: 512 Changi Road
Website
Fort Canning Heritage Gallery
The Fort Canning Heritage Gallery provides a window into the hill’s 700-year history. This history starts back in the 1300s and carries on through to the present day. Kids can enjoy a digital interactive colouring panel based on the Heritage Trees found around Fort Canning Park too.
Address: Fort Canning Centre Levels 2 & 3
Opening Hours: 9a m to 6 pm daily, closed on last Monday of the month
Fort Canning Park Artisan’s Garden
Artisan’s Garden at Fort Canning Park provides a unique opportunity to take a look into the past. This archaeological dig site on the Eastern slopes of Fort Canning Park is a place where you can peer back into Singapore’s ancient past. It was the location of an archaeological investigation back in the 1980s. This yielded the remnants of buildings and other artefacts from Fort Canning Hill’s past. The excavation site is still open and, from a walkway, visitors can view the finds.
Address: Behind Registry of Marriages, Fort Canning Park
Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery
Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery offers a glimpse into the cultural heartland of Chinatown, capturing the forms of entertainment in early Singapore and preserving traditional art forms such as Chinese opera, hand puppetry, nanyin music and calligraphy. The Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery has a Chinese puppet theatre display with two string puppets on the stage.
Address: 28 Kreta Ayer Rd, Singapore 088995
Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery Opening Hours: Tue to Sun, 12 pm to 8 pm. Closed on Public Holidays and Mondays.
War History
Fort Siloso
The only “museum” with a Heritage Monument status, and also the only preserved coastal fort in Singapore, Fort Siloso is a must-visit to learn about WW2 in Singapore. One can see the impressive gun displays, including the captured Japanese ones. See “allied soldiers” in action as well as Chinese coolies assisting, head down to the tunnels to see what military operations underground was like and don’t miss the Surrender Chambers.
Address: Siloso Point
Opening Hours: 9a m to 6 pm
Admission Fees: Free
Website
Former Ford Factory
The Former Ford Factory was the site of the British surrender to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. The weight of history hangs heavy at this rather unassuming site for it was within its walls that Singapore fell to the Japanese in what has been described by Winston Churchill as “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history.”
Apart from the famous boardroom frozen in the time of 6.20 pm, 15 February 1942, one can see the horrific conditions POWs faced during the war, learn about local war heroes and post-war developments.
Address: 351 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 588192
Opening Hours: 9 am to 5.30 pm Tuesdays to Sundays
Admission Fees: Free for Citizens and PRs, $7 for Foreign visitors
Website
The Battlebox
The Battlebox provides a fascinating look into Singapore’s World War Two history for older kids. It is uniquely located in tunnels dug into Fort Canning Hill once used as a command bunker by the British. Go on a tour to find out what life was like inside the tunnels and the events that led to Singapore’s surrender in February 1942, described by Winston Churchill as “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history”.
Address: 2 Cox Terrace, Singapore 179622
Opening Hours: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Admission Fees: Adult: $18; Child (7 to 12): $9.
Website
Changi Chapel and Museum
The Changi Chapel and Museum is a space centred on a narrative of remembrance and reflection of the personal stories of prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians interned in Changi prison camp during the Japanese Occupation. The narrative is presented in eight exhibition zones – Changi Fortress, Fallen Fortress, The Interned, Life as POW, Resilience in Adversity, Creativity in Adversity, Liberation and Legacies.
Address: 1000 Upper Changi Road North
Singapore 507707
Opening Hours: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays
Closed every Monday except Public Holidays
Admission Fees: Free for Citizens and PRs, $8 for tourists
Website
Transport & All Things Mechanical
Civil Defence Heritage Gallery
Housed inside the red-and-white Central Fire Station at Hill Street, the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery pays tribute to Singapore’s brave firefighters. The highlight of the small gallery is the display of bright red, vintage fire engines on the ground floor. Kids can climb onboard an engine and imagine rushing to the scene of a fire. The gallery’s second floor houses several exhibits showcasing modern fire fighting techniques and the role of today’s Singapore Civil Defence Force. For those with young children who like trucks, this is one of the best museums for kids in Singapore.
Plan your Civil Defence Heritage Gallery visit on a Saturday morning and you have the double-bonus of the Fire Station Open House. At the Open House, firefighters put up demonstrations of their skills and the public also can try using fire-fighting equipment too.
Address: 62 Hill Street, Singapore 179367
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun, 10 am to 5 pm. Closed on Mon.
Admission Fees: Free
Website
Changi Experience Studio
Changi Experience Studio at Jewel tells the story of Changi Airport in fun and interactive ways. Found on Level 4 of Jewel Changi Airport, Changi Experience Studio will take you on an interactive journey through Singapore’s iconic airport using new and novel experiences. There are more than 20 touch points laid out across 10 zones at Changi Experience Studio. Enjoy the interactive exhibits that are all about aviation!
Address: Level 4, Jewel Changi Airport
Opening Hours: 11 am to 8 pm daily
Admission Fees: From $13 for children, from $19 for adults
Website
Air Force Museum
Located at Paya Lebar Air Force Base, the Air Force Museum captures the heritage of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. View displays of fighter planes, helicopters and other weaponry at a ground floor outdoor display. The journey continues indoor where there are fun simulators and plenty of information about the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
Address: 400 Airport Road, Singapore 534234
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun, 8.30 am to 5 pm (Closed on Mon and PH).
Admission Fees: Free
Website
Singapore Maritime Gallery [Currently closed for a refresh from Oct 2022 to est. Feb 2023]
This gallery at Marina South Pier has a dedicated children’s area where kids can learn how to tie knots or how to balance a container ship. However, the highlight is the ship simulator where they can try to steer a vessel in different scenarios. Read more about the Singapore Maritime Gallery.
Address: 31 Marina Coastal Dr, Level 2, Singapore 018988
Website
Environmental Education
Sustainable Singapore Gallery
The Sustainable Singapore Gallery at Marina Barrage provides an overview of Singapore’s commitment to sustainable development. It recounts past milestones and also looks forward at the challenges for the future.
The 1,600 square metre Sustainable Singapore Gallery is divided into six zones which trace Singapore’s sustainability journey.
Address: 8 Marina Gardens Dr, Marina Barrage, Singapore 018951
Opening Hours: 9am to 6pm daily, closed between 12 pm to 1 pm and on Tuesdays
Website
NEWater Visitor Centre
NEWater Visitor Centre is where you can learn about one of Singapore’s National Taps. Make a booking before visiting. Tours are conducted multiple times a day and you will need to join one to enter the facility. Among the interactive exhibits is a multi-person game, Water Heroes. In the game, each player’s avatar has to try to collect as many water droplets as possible to score points. This is one of the best gallery / museums for kids in Singapore.
Where: 20 Koh Sek Lim Rd, Singapore 486593
Website
Just For Fun
Museum of Ice Cream
Throughout the Museum of Ice Cream, there are different ice cream spots that you can get. Enjoy a Pina Colada ice cream on the beach as well as other flavours such as Pulut Hitam Potong ice cream, Lemon Bliss Balls, Apple Pie Soft Serve, Lychee Bandung and Taro Milk Tea ice cream sandwiches. Visitors can play on the colourful slides and bridges at the Unicorn playground. Swim in a sea of sprinkles at the largest MOIC Sprinkle Pool ever created!
Address: 100 Loewen Road, S248837
Opening Hours: Monday 10 am to 6pm, Thursday to Sunday 10 am to 10 pm
Website
MINT Museum of Toys
MINT stands for Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys. This museum displays vintage toys and memorabilia from countries around the world, including old space toys and early versions of characters such as Mickey Mouse. It is the largest vintage toy museum in Asia with 50, 000 vintage toys and collectables, vintage posters, confectionery tin boxes and large-item displays.
Address: 26 Seah Street, Singapore 188382
Opening Hours: Monday 7.30pm to 10.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am to 6.30pm, 7.30pm to 10.30pm, Sunday 9.30am to 6.30pm
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