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National Gallery Singapore

National Gallery Singapore

National Gallery Singapore
4.5
Architectural BuildingsArt Museums
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
National Gallery Singapore is a leading visual arts institution in Southeast Asia which oversees the world’s largest public collection of modern art in Singapore and the region. Situated in the heart of the Civic District, the National Gallery Singapore has been beautifully restored and transformed from the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings into an exciting new visual arts venue.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Admission tickets
from
AU$16.86
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Top ways to experience National Gallery Singapore
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: City Hall
How to get there
  • Raffles Place • 9 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Sandra Artist
    London, United Kingdom465 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Don't get lost and choose your galleries carefully amongst this huge museum.
    Amazing Liu Kuo exhibition of his beautiful ink artworks: large and organic, dreamlike and very inspiring. One other set of rooms have 300 contemporary paintings from the Straight settlements, Malaysia, Indonesia... There's also a temporary exhibition about the influence of Latin American cultures and South East Asian with each other; through trades and exchanges. Some signage is missing and it's easy to get lost and walk around aimlessly in this huge,2 wings renovated Court Houses.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 February 2024
  • annielina
    Houston, Texas45 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Hidden Gem
    We went on open house Sunday and it was very peaceful, no crowds when everything is open for free. The museum is well kept with fee guided tours run by volunteers. Very rich in ASEAN and Asian arts, but collection obviously pale comparing to some European icons. If you go to the roof top, it has the best city view in town with no crowds and free. This museum with its architectural wonders and meticulous well organized management, could make a nice half day date for leisure
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 February 2024
  • RoverP
    Inverness, United Kingdom799 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The story of modern Singapore through art
    Two galleries tell the story of Singapore through paintings and a bit of photography. It is well worth spending some time to visit both to learn more about the history and also to appreciate some very skilful and beautiful art. The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. Certainly the most helpful staff I have ever come across in an art gallery. There are also robot “guides” which whizz around and display information about the picture they move to, together with some audio information. There is much more than this in the gallery as a whole but the 2 main galleries are the core and all that would be of interest to us.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 February 2024
  • Oscarpepper
    Boston, Massachusetts102 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Singapore National Gallery
    Great way to spend Sunday morning. The National Gallery Singapore is a worthwhile and fascinating visit, especially for foreigners with little knowledge of Singapore’s history. The building is beautiful and easy to navigate. Unfortunately, many galleries were closed due to construction, but the main galleries of Singapore’s history are open and excellent.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 9 February 2024
  • Anthony S
    Singapore, Singapore199 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Into Arts? Must visit Gallery in Singapore
    If you are into Arts, this Gallery in Singapore is not to be missed. Always fun to explore and see art pieces / exhibits. Spacious, Convenient and worth the time. If you are residing in Singapore, you can join under an Insider Membership so you’ll get first hand updates on upcoming events and can visit the Gallery anytime without extra charges other than the membership fee.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 February 2024
  • Jeff K
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania2,441 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Large and Interesting
    I had underestimated this museum as it was very impressive. It is quite large and has a huge assortment of art. I found it quite interesting and was glad I went. It’s pretty close to the Asian Civilizations Museum so it’s easy to see both of them if you have the time.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 March 2024
  • Jessicas
    Jakarta, Indonesia142 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Raden Saleh exhibition
    A lot to explore. When I visited, the main exhibition was about Indonesian famous Artist: Raden Saleh. Amazing art collection. Some area was open for public. There was also a nice cafe to chill. We bought our tickets from klook, because it was cheaper, instant and easy to use. We bought it in front of the place to buy tickets, to make sure we bought the correct one. A good things to do in the city if you are somebody who appreciates art.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 2 June 2024
  • Jierre
    London, United Kingdom696 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    No city walk is complete without visiting a local gallery
    The National Gallery was renovated from the Singapore City Hall and the former Supreme Court. It not only has a rich collection, but also has a profound historical heritage. Today we can still see Court No. 1, which has been converted into an exhibition hall, inscriptions from the British colonial period, and even the hall where Japan surrendered. The art exhibits in the museum are also very thoughtful. It is definitely worth a visit.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 16 June 2024
  • Samantha
    73 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wow. And it’s free
    This place is absolutely amazing. It’s awesome. The building is beautiful. It’s inspired. The children’s interactive element regarding art is phenomenal. The link between art work and letting children create is well thought out and actually fun for everyone. Learning through play should be fun and this hits every mark. Our grandson had the best time but so did we. It’s free and so much better than places that try to mimic learning through play and inspires conversation, it was hours of play and excitement. Definitely visit.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 17 July 2024
  • Kari S
    35 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Just what a national museum should be
    A classic museum in a (two) stunning building which in itself is worth the visit. Not the easiest museum to navigate in so I spent some time knowing where to start. Large plus for a separate part arranged for the children with interactive exhibitions.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 25 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,339 reviews
Excellent
783
Very good
387
Average
114
Poor
38
Terrible
17

dyhx
Singapore6,618 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020 • Friends
This tour is ticketed separately at $15 per pax but with the annual pass we get 20% off (else by right you need to also separately get a General Admission ticket).

This is a new tour that just started in Feb this year and then paused during Circuit Breaker and resumed later in Phase 2 reopening. They used to do it in bigger groups of 20 but now due to COVID regulations, they can only take groups of 4. Which was perfect for us and I always preferred smaller group tours.

The starting point is at the ticketing area at the basement where we met our guide Mr Goh, who is a volunteer with the Gallery. He then led us thru the old Supreme Court with a short history lesson along the way.

We also got to climb the original stairs from the holding cells to the accused dock inside the courtroom (which is now an art gallery but the dock remained). We also got to go up to the viewing gallery of Court 1 (where many major appeal cases were heard). These are all restricted places where one couldn’t roam freely without a Gallery staff.

An enriching experience, well worth the $12 and 1.5 hrs. A walk into history, of Singapore, of the building, of the path of the accused. Definitely gained new knowledge, and in my preferred mode of learning – storytelling.

If you are interested in the arts, you can also spend another 2-3 hrs going through the other exhibits and gallery.
Written 24 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Koloblicin
Singapore, Singapore591 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
National Gallery had a open house, so we could visit the entire place for free. There is so much history and so many art exhibitions, it would take at least half a day to go through all of them. The place is also well maintained and very elderly friendly. Really a great place to learn more about Singapore's history.
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Travelswithboxers
Bowdon85 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
A super museum. Last time we went, we took a guided tour of the DBS gallery which was terrific. This time we didn't and felt a little worse of for it, but it must be said that all the staff in the rooms who we thought were "security" are very knowledgeable and worth engaging with.

This time the gallery hosted the Bienalle exhibits - a bit to avant garde for our taste, but interesting to see.

There is a lot to see, a couple of hours won't do it justice. A special mention to the painting called something like "language class" which when explained has a very powerful story behind it.
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew Y
Singapore, Singapore5,135 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
If I were visiting another country, I would not spend time at such a place unless my stay is more than a month. It is a very pleasant place if you need to rest your legs and enjoy the cool and free air-con. So far this is the only art gallery/museum that has left me generally unimpressed. Perhaps better works were not showcased. So my advice is not to pay the hefty entrance fees until better art is displayed in the future. The Visitor Officers were just waiting for me to step across the line so that they can reprimand me in less than a second. I received a more hostile reception than my 6 year old son when he crossed the line to have a closer look at Mona Lisa in the Louvre. This also happened once when I was just reading a plastic plaque whose fonts were too small for my old eyes. Anyway this is the most excellent reflection of the Singapore culture. Just walk around the place and admire the architecture. A better place to see the real Singapore would be the building behind called Funan.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CAROLINE W
Datchet, UK82 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
As with a lot of stuff in Singapore, you end up walking loads - between 2 buildings and 5 floors. However art is so thinly spread out, it really is very sparse when looked at.
Very disappointed and not worth the fee for foreigners when you see what else is around.
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PC
12 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022 • Solo
The large and imposing National Gallery, comprising the former City Hall AND Supreme Court Buildings, promises a lot with its appearance (and price of entry, S$30 for a tourist for all exhibits).

But that promise mostly fell flat. A lot of the art on display was aggressively mundane. The space didn’t feel tastefully laid out, but rather over-stretched, straining to meet the promise of the size and the presumed wealth of the government sponsoring it.

The special exhibition from Nam June Paik (early 2022) was quite great and was the sole highlight of note.
Written 23 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mel
Singapore, Singapore13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Solo
I’d strongly recommend the National Gallery for those who appreciate art and architecture. Each work is accompanied with a write-up in English, but even if you’re not interested in reading, there’s plenty of art to visually take in.

Your ticket should allow you access to multiple exhibitions, including those on Singapore’s art history, Southeast Asian art through the last few decades, and a couple more that are regularly rotated throughout the year. Tickets are also free for locals, which is awesome! Do look up the exhibitions prior to coming down, in case some are closed in preparation for the next installation.

The gallery isn’t too crowded - I went down on a Sunday afternoon and had lots of space to myself. If you intend on carefully going through pretty much every art piece, I suggest you dedicate a full day here (or more). Otherwise, an afternoon should be sufficient for a simple walk-through of the various exhibitions.
Written 27 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CZ1143
Aurora, IL213 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
The museum opened in 2015, and it combines the historic city hall and Supreme Court buildings in a combined, modern structure. There is a broad array of art, which is billed as the most significant collection in Singapore and S.E. Asia.

Admission is free until August 31, which made the visit even better. We spent about three hours exploring the museum.
Written 10 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ahliao
Singapore, Singapore436 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Solo
Handful of different arts exhibitions going on. Both locals and foreigners artwork. Being a novice, i do not know what to comment on, the total visual experience and moods was soothing. Spent almost 3 hours there, am sure a second visit will help me better comprehend more valuable art piece! Nicely space and details descriptions for some artwork.
Written 13 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mina g
Greater London, UK34 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The building - actually two buildings combined, the former City Hall and the former Law Courts - has been tastefully transformed into a vast series of galleries. I went to a multi media presentation on the history of Singapore and thought it excellent. I also visited two other galleries, one a photographic exhibition. I found navigating the building just a little confusing and thought the content could do with a bit more enlivening.
Written 18 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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