Journey Through Time at Singapore Odyssea, Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda’s brand new immersive experience from 8 August 2025 at National Museum Singapore. Families will love this new experience that takes visitors and their magical companions on a time-travelling voyage through Singapore’s 700-year history.
The multimedia experience took two years to create by local creators and in-house designers and serves as a prelude to Singapore History Gallery which will be closed in November 2025 for a revamp. After completing the experience at Glass Rotunda, we think this will be a hit for families and kids can definitely learn more about Singapore’s history in a stunningly engaging manner.
Highlights of Singapore Odyssea: Journey Through Time
1. Pick Your RFID-enabled Wristband
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First up, visitors have to pick their RFID-enabled wristbands. Three options are presented in orange, green and dark blue which correspond to sky, land and sea respectively.
Each wristband will unlock one of nine companions each inspired by Singapore’s native fauna. You can expect to see a pangolin, a coastal crab, a hornbill, an otter, a swordfish, a hawksbill turtle, a butterfly and a straw-headed bubul! One tip is to pick a different coloured wristband from your companions! Sometimes you need different combinations paired to unlock some magic.
Now that you feel like the Power Rangers with powerful wristbands, move on to the boarding area.
2. Board your Time-travelling vessel
A futuristic-like vessel greets visitors at the entrance of Singapore Odyssea. It felt like we were boarding a ship, this time a time-travelling vessel that takes us back 700 years. After the onboarding video, we step into the darkness and get greeted by a suspended LED globe the showcases Singapore’s network of maritime trade routes.
The reflective mirrors that capture the globe in various angles exuded a very magical vibe, as if we were entering a time portal. The two-minute show maps the intricate network of maritime routes that connect Singapore to the rest of the world over the years. Then we get greeted by a beautiful image of present-day Singapore’s Marina Bay area.
3. Set Sail & Descend the Spiral Ramp in Reverse Chronology
Visitors can set sail from an imagined future Singapore to pre-colonial beginnings as you move down the ramp. This is when your magical companion appears during your voyage through time.
There are four episodes shown as you descend the ramp: Setting Sail, Riding out the Storm, Age of Exploration then Shore of Singapura. The animated scenes and rich soundscapes are a fun way to learn about the history of Singapore, especially for the younger generation.
Setting Sail features scenes from independence to present-day Singapore. see modern-day developments as well as the biodiversity present here.
Your magical companion in a form of an animal will be journeying alongside you and even unlock portions of the animations to unveil surprises. Doesn’t it feel like a Disney movie with animal companions?
Riding Out the Storm shows scenes of wartime and postwar Singapore where you can spot and hear past leaders like Lee Kuan Yew, while Age of Exploration is about the scenes from Colonial Singapore. Here is where you can peek into how the early immigrants lived and see the scenes of Singapore River filled with bumboats.
The last episode is on Shores of Singapure, taking us back to when Sang Nila Utama set foot on Temasek. See how carvings of the past are made on stones such as the Singapore Stone. To this day, no one has ever managed to interpret the language on the ancient relic.
4. Interactive Waterfall that Unveils Scenes of Singapore
As you reach the base of the Glass Rotunda, encounter a waterfall all around in the floor to ceiling projections.
Families will love interacting with the various elements on the floor like golden orbs and even shreds of surrender notices. The motion, light, and sound is a surreal experience that everyone will enjoy.
Through the curtain of falling water, visitors can see historical scenes from Singapore’s past like the mouth of Keppel Harbour when junk ships arrive to trade, Boat Quay’s bustling riverscene, scenes of wartime Singapore, and Changi Beach’s intertidal zone, The level of detail will have visitors lingering for a while. Look for the Dragon Teeth Gate famously chronicled by Chinese Explorer Wang Da Yuan and famous buildings like the Fullerton Post Office.
5. Release of the Magical Companions
Awaken a giant crab in tis final interactive kiosk. First, you can tap your wristbands against the rim of a well to release magical companions.
Then all the magical companions will merge into a multimedia show inspired by the old Malay myth of Pauh Janggi, a crab that lives below a great tree of life in the middle of the ocean and its movements cause the tides to rise and fall.
As the crab awakens, visitors can see visuals of Singapore’s myths such as the story on Sang Nila Utama spotting a lion, the tale of the boy and the swordfish and Raja Chulan exploring the seas using a diving bell.
6. Returning the Wristbands and Doing Our Part
Singapore Odyssea ends with an invitation to release the RFID-enabled companions at a digital well. This is a symbolic gesture that reminds visitors to return nature with care. The messages on protecting nature and appreciating our nation’s flora and fauna rung consistently through the experience.
Visiting Singapore Odyssea
Singapore Odyssea opens to the public on 8 August with timed entry options to ensure an optimal experience for all visitors. Admission is free for Singaporeans and permanent residents.
Singapore Odyssea will run alongside other complementary showcases including the commemorative exhibition Once Upon A Tide that explores Singapore’s maritime evolution from settlement to global city.
Book your timed entry to Singapore Odyssea from this link.
