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The Best Things to Do in the Singapore Discovery Centre Where Learning Is Fun!
- Things to Know
- How to Get There
- Things to Do
- Browse the Through the Lens of Time gallery
- Get lost in immersive augmented reality in Sandbox
- Test your wits in the Black Lake Facility
- Watch movies with your family in iWERKS Movies
- Experience movies in 4D in XD Theatre
- Go on an eco tour
- Relax and enjoy a cup of coffee in Bottle Tree Cafe
I’ve always been a big nerd, and now that I’m an adult with nephews and nieces, I’ve made sure to pass on the torch of curiosity to them. That’s why when it’s my time to babysit them, I sometimes bring them to the Singapore Discovery Centre.
The SDC markets itself as a place of “edutainment” (education and entertainment). Not only does it have exhibits displaying the history of Singapore, but it also has interactive games and augmented reality!
If you’re also planning to visit, these are the best things to do here!
Things to Know
Address: 510 Upper Jurong Rd
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—12 pm to 6 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—11 am to 7 pm
How to Get There
By MRT: Ride the East-West Line train from the Raffles Place Station and alight at the Joo Koon Station. From there, walk to the SDC, which should take about 11 minutes.
By Bus: Ride bus service 174 or 174E and alight at Boon Lay Int. From there, ride bus service 192 and stop at the bus stop opposite the SAFTI Military Institute. The walk to the SDC should take about eight minutes.
By Car: There’s a parking lot at the SDC. Just keep in mind that it’s managed by an electronic parking system, so you need a CashCard or Autopass Card.
Things to Do
Browse the Through the Lens of Time gallery
From: singaporediscoverycentre
Through the Lens of Time is the SDC’s main permanent gallery, and it tackles the evolution of Singapore—from the very start to now. Because of how broad the topic is, this gallery comes with various mini-galleries, each dedicated to a specific period.
What’s so great about this attraction is that you don’t just have walls of text to read. Instead, the gallery takes on an immersive approach. For example, in The Beginnings, the room looks like a colonial port, which is what Singapore was like during British rule!
My nieces’ and nephews’ favourite mini-gallery is The Turning Point because it has short films and augmented reality games—on top of props—to educate them about World War II in Singapore.
Pro Tip:
This gallery is pretty huge, so you might want to book a guided tour instead of exploring it on your own.
Get lost in immersive augmented reality in Sandbox
From: singaporediscoverycentre
Sandbox looks like a set in one of those sci-fi movies for children, so I’m not surprised that most children visitors make a beeline to check it out.
This gallery focuses on contemporary Singaporean society, and the topics discussed are all so fascinating. My favourite has to be the one about military defence and the fast-evolving threats that we might face in the future.
There are many mini-galleries here. The one that nephews and nieces love is Battlefield Command because it lets them play as soldiers fighting enemies on land, air, and sea!
Pro Tip:
Good news: if you already purchased a ticket for the permanent exhibits gallery guided tour, it includes entry to Sandbox!
Test your wits in the Black Lake Facility
From: singaporediscoverycenter
As much as I love exploring the galleries and learning about history, I have to say that the Black Lake Facility is my favourite attraction at the SDC—and my nieces and nephews agree with me. After all, this place is home to many escape room adventures!
When I’m with the little children, we usually try The Research Lab because it’s the easiest one but still super thrilling.
If I’m with friends, The Basement is our go-to. This escape room is dark and dank, so the thrill factor is through the roof—almost like we’re in a horror movie!
Pro Tip:
These rooms use intense sound effects and strobe lights. Keep that in mind if you want to play but are sensitive to these things.
Watch movies with your family in iWERKS Movies
From: singaporediscoverycentre
Did you know that the SDC has its own movie theatre with 344 seats? So, now, you can also watch movies on top of the other activities you can do here!
The movies shown here are mostly family-friendly ones, so expect a lot of animated ones. Popular blockbusters are also staples here. This is where my nieces and nephews watched the new Jurassic World films and the new movies in the Marvel franchise.
Pro Tip:
Do take note that the theatre will be closed for maintenance from January 6–20, 2025. For that short period, there will be no movie screenings.
Experience movies in 4D in XD Theatre
From: singaporediscoverycentre
Watching something on a giant screen is fun and all, but you know what makes it better? Being able to experience it as well! If you’re curious to know what it would be like to immerse yourself in a visual adventure, you need to head to XD Theatre.
XD Theatre offers a 4D simulation experience, which means that if the scene is windy, you’ll also be feeling that.
There are many movies to choose from, but my ultimate recommendation is Sky Hunt. This one has your character jumping from skyscrapers and hanging from helicopters. Watching this, I felt like Tom Cruise in one of his action flicks!
Pro Tip:
If you want to make a corporate booking, send your request to [email protected].
Go on an eco tour
From: singaporediscoverycentre
Aside from being a museum of sorts, the SDC is an advocate for eco-sustainability, which is why they have set up several green facilities. And you can go on a tour to see them!
The Living Green Eco Tour takes you and your loved ones to Discovery Lake, which has over 600 floating solar panels. I learned during my first visit that the lake is apparently situated near the equatorial belt, making it an ideal location to harvest solar energy!
There’s also an urban garden, which is my personal favourite. It’s fun to see all the plants thriving and learn about traditional and modern farming methods.
They even offer a microgreens planting workshop, which I’m planning to take in the future.
Pro Tip:
Contact [email protected] if you want to book a tour for a group.
Relax and enjoy a cup of coffee in Bottle Tree Cafe
From: singaporediscoverycentre
Hungry after exploring every inch of the SDC? Well, now you can fill your energy well back up by dining in Bottle Tree Cafe.
Overlooking the picturesque Discovery Lake, this halal restaurant features an array of authentic Asian and local tze-char-style cuisine. My favourite thing to order here is the white pepper crab; I love the mildly sweet crab meat and the sharp, peppery sauce!
Pro Tip:
If you’re planning to host a special dinner with a group, send your request to [email protected].
