The Istana Chinese New Year Open House 2024 will place on Monday, 12 February 2024. From 8.30 am to 6 pm, members of the public will be able to pay a visit to the verdant grounds of the Istana.
The Istana Chinese New Year Open House, also referred to as the Lunar New Year Istana Open House is one of several times during the year when the public is able to pay a visit to the grounds of the official residence of the President of Singapore.
Visiting the Istana Chinese New Year Open House 2024
The Istana Chinese New Year Open House 2024 is open to all visitors.
Entry to the Istana grounds is free for Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents (including their caregivers).
All other visitors are required to pay an entrance fee of $20 per adult and $10 per child (4 to 12 years).
There will be added fees for entrance to the Main Building and the guided tours. Entry to the Istana Heritage Gallery is free for all visitors. Only cashless payments via Credit/Debit Card and QR Code will be accepted.
Those who are visiting the Istana grounds can also join guided tours and enjoy performances scheduled to take place throughout the day.
All proceeds from the entrance into the Istana grounds, tours and the President’s Challenge merchandise booth will go towards charities supported by the President’s Challenge. Proceeds from the SSAs booths will go towards the SSAs.
Merchandise Booths on the Istana Grounds
There will be merchandise booths with limited-edition Istana and President’s Challenge souvenirs.
Available merchandise include caps, mugs, bookmarks, postcards, luggage tags, keychains and magnets
Souvenirs are available while stocks last.
Only cashless payments via Credit/Debit Card and/or QR Codes will be accepted.
All proceeds will go towards the benefitting agencies supported by President’s Challenge. Benefitting agencies supported by President’s Challenge 2024 include those from the following sectors:
- Children, Youth & Family
- Disability
- Eldercare
- Mental Health
- Rehabilitation
- Healthcare
- Disability Sports
There will also be food stalls and a food truck on the Istana grounds during the open house.
Performances and Activities at the Istana Chinese New Year Open House 2024
Visitors can look forward to a series of traditional and contemporary performances.
There will be musical ensembles on instruments such as the dizi, pi pa and guzheng, local renditions of pop songs, and multicultural dances.
The performances at the open house will be put up by LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Sheng Hong Arts Institute, Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre, Taman Jurong Community Club Juboon Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe, Tampines Arts Troupe, TheDanceTribeSG and Yuan Ching Secondary School.
Visitors can also take part in activities such as Chinese calligraphy.
Walking around the grounds of the Istana some of the sights that you can look out for include Swan Pond, Japanese Garden and the Inclusive Garden.
Buildings located within the Istana Grounds include Sri Temasek, 19th century bungalow that is designated as the Prime Minister’s official resident and the Military Guard Room.
Istana Main Building Tour
The Istana Main Building was built between 1867 and 1869 and has neo-Palladian architecture with louvred windows and a grand portico. Like many other civic buildings constructed during that colonial period, it was built by convicts.
Take a walk through the Reception Room and Banquet Hall, view the state gifts and the State Room, used for ceremonies such as the swearing in of a newly-elected Cabinet or presentation of awards.
You can pay a visit to the Istana Main Building on both guided and self-guided tours.
Guided tours of the Istana Main Building will be conducted from 9.30a m to 4.30 pm.
Read more about what it is like to visit the Istana Main Building.
Visiting the Istana Chinese New Year Open House
A visit to the Istana Chinese New Year Open House is an opportunity to enjoy the open grounds of the Istana and also take in a bit of history.
If you are planning a visit to the Istana Chinese New Year Open House 2024, you may wish to note that entry is via the Main Gate along Orchard Road, just beside Plaza Singapura.
Find out more about the Istana Chinese New Year Open House.
If you enjoyed this story, you may also enjoy reading about the Istana Heritage Gallery or things to do for Chinese New Year in Singapore.
