Categories > Guides and Tips
Everything You Need To Know About The National Gallery Singapore
- Things to Know
- How To Get There
- Ticket Pricing
- What to Do in the National Gallery Singapore
- Learn about Southeast Asian Art from the 19th century and beyond at the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery
- Deepen your understanding of Singaporean art at the DBS Singapore Gallery
- Take your kids to GalleryToddlers and create artwork together
- Go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the former Supreme Court Building
- Where to Eat in National Gallery Singapore
- GEMMA
- National Kitchen by VioletOon
One of my favourite places in Singapore is the Civic District. I’m a proud lover of Singaporean art and culture, so visits to this historic district are a regular occurrence in my life.
Whenever I’m in the district, I always visit the National Gallery. Housed in the beautifully preserved former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, it’s the island’s national museum that’s wholly dedicated to Southeast Asian art and regional artefacts.
If you’re visiting Singapore’s Civic District for the first time and need a detailed guide to the National Gallery, let me show you what to expect, what to do, where to eat, and even where to stay during your visit.
Things to Know
Address: St. Andrew’s Road
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Contact: +65 6271 7000
How To Get There
By Train: You can take the MRT to get to the National Gallery and alight from City Hall MRT Station. There’s a sheltered pathway from North Bridge Road that takes you to the Coleman Street Entrance.
By Car: You can get to the National Gallery via car by entering St. Andrew’s Road. There are three car park entrances along the road there.
By Bus: To reach the National Gallery’s Coleman Street entrance, you can take Bus 130. You can also take buses 107, 100, 131, 130, and 167 to reach Victoria Concert Hall, then walk 5 minutes to the National Gallery Singapore
Ticket Pricing
| Attraction | Tourists & Non-Resident | Singaporean Citizen & Permanent Resident |
| General Admission (includes guided tours) | Adult: $20 Child: $15 Senior: $15 | Free admission |
| Special Exhibitions | Adult: $25 Child: $20 Senior: $20 | $15 |
| All Access Pass (includes General Admission and access to Special Exhibitions) | Adult: $30 Child: $25 Senior: $25 | Getting the Special Exhibitions pass automatically upgrades your ticket to the All Access Pass |
| Gallery Insider Membership* *Includes access to all exhibitions, shopping and dining perks, priority booking and access, access to Gallery Insider events, and rewards points. | Individual: $35 Students/Seniors: $30 | Individual: $20Students/Seniors: $15 |
| GalleryToddlers/Kids | $10 for one pair of parent + child | $10 for one pair of parent + child |
What to Do in the National Gallery Singapore
Learn about Southeast Asian Art from the 19th century and beyond at the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery
– From artasiapacific
Location: UOB Southeast Asia Gallery, Supreme Court Wing, Level 3–5
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
The UOB Southeast Asia Gallery, located in the former Supreme Court Building, houses “Between Declarations and Dreams: Art of Southeast Asia since the 19th Century,” an ongoing exhibition of over 300 artworks from across Southeast Asia.
Spanning periods preceding the region’s independence from colonial rule, these pieces offer a profound glimpse into the cultural heritage and artistic evolution of the region.
All of the artworks are arranged in chronological order, starting from the 19th century. The exhibition aims to encapsulate how Southeast Asian artists back then expressed their desire for independence.
| Tip: Some of the political artworks in the exhibitions portray sensitive imagery that may not be suitable for younger viewers. It’s best to visit this gallery with a tour guide, especially if you’re visiting it with children. |
Deepen your understanding of Singaporean art at the DBS Singapore Gallery
– From littledayout
Location: City Hall Wing, Level 2, DBS Singapore Gallery
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
If the only Singaporean art you’ve seen is the city murals, then a visit to the DBS Singapore Gallery at the City Hall Wing is essential. Showcasing Singaporean art dating back to the 19th century, it offers a deeper dive into the nation’s artistic heritage.
One of its main exhibitions is called “Siapa Nama Kamu?” (translated to What’s your name?), and it features over 300 Singaporean artworks from the National Collection, arranged in chronological order.
The exhibition is divided into 6 parts, each dedicated to specific periods in Singaporean history. Paintings, photographs, and sculptures depict scenes of Singapore’s early port life, ethnic vendors selling in markets, and natural landscapes over the decades.
| Tip: The DBS Singapore Gallery is currently undergoing renovation work, but one section of the exhibition will be open to the public. Therefore, not all of the artworks you see on the website or gallery brochures will be shown during your visit. If you wish to learn more about the full collection of the “Siapa Nama Kamu?” exhibition, I highly recommend booking a guided tour! |
Take your kids to GalleryToddlers and create artwork together
Location: 1 St Andrew’s Rd, Keppel Centre for Art Education
Operating Hours: Dates and start times vary, usually starting at 10:30 am (check website for more info)
Thinking of a fun activity you can do with your kids while at the National Gallery Singapore? I highly recommend booking a session at GalleryToddlers to keep your little ones occupied with creative activities inspired by featured artworks in the gallery.
It only costs an extra $10 for a pair of one parent and one child to join in on the fun. Materials and tools will be provided by the gallery and teachers, so just show up with your kids and listen to the instructions.
Basically, you and your child will recreate famous or featured artworks from any of the gallery’s ongoing exhibitions. The workshop runs for about 45 minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time to visit the rest of the National Gallery Singapore after the activity!
| Tip: The GalleryToddlers activity happens every month, so dates and start times may differ each month. You can learn more about the activity here and book your passes in advance to secure slots! Also, the activity is designed for children ages 2 to 3 years old. Older toddlers may join in, though! |
Go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the former Supreme Court Building
– From yorkhotelsg
Location: Padang Atrium, Padang Atrium, Level 1
Chief Justice’s Chamber & Office, Supreme Court Wing, Level 3 and the Supreme Court Historical Lobby (Foundation Stone), Supreme Court Wing, Level 1
Operating Hours: Saturday and Sunday, starting at 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 4:30 pm
Did you know that the National Gallery Singapore is housed within the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings? That’s two national monuments in one, so visiting the gallery for its architecture is like hitting two birds with one stone for first-time tourists!
Besides viewing Southeast Asian artworks and artefacts, you can also join an exclusive tour of the restricted areas of the Supreme Court building. The tour will take you through hidden passageways, secret trapdoors, the old prisoner’s dock, and so much more.
You’ll also learn about some of the most high-profile cases that were tackled in the former Supreme Court from the 1930s and beyond. The tour will also take you to the courtrooms and the viewing gallery where the public used to sit during hearings.
| Tip: The exclusive tours of the former Supreme Court building are included in your entrance ticket to the gallery. Tours are only given in English and last for approximately 75 minutes, so plan your trip to the gallery ahead of time if you want to squeeze in the tour in your itinerary! |
Where to Eat in National Gallery Singapore
GEMMA
Address: 1 St Andrews Road 05-03
Contact Details: +65 8787 0977
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Craving Italian food with a wide selection of stylish cocktails and wines? If you are, then I highly recommend visiting GEMMA, an Italian restaurant located at Level 5 of the City Hall Wing.
The restaurant is owned and operated by chef Daniele Sperindio, a Michelin-star chef from Italy. Aside from operating GEMMA, he also owns the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant, Art di Daniele Sperindio.
I love going to GEMMA for their Sunday Brunch, but if you’re visiting the gallery on a weekday, I super recommend trying out their bestselling steaks, prime meats, and fish with a glass of wine and a serving of their famed pistachio marzipan souffle!
| Tip: GEMMA serves Sunday brunch from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm only. It’s designed for groups of 3 to 4, and the menu features sharing platters of charcoal-grilled steak, pasta, and multiple appetisers. The menu isn’t designed for kids, but they do have a separate brunch menu fit for a kid’s palate in case you’re bringing your children with you to GEMMA! |
National Kitchen by VioletOon
Address: 1 St Andrews Road 05-03
Contact Details: +65 8787 0977
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm
For first-time visitors to Singapore, I recommend trying Nyonya cuisine at the National Kitchen by Violet Oon, located at the City Hall Wing. It’s an upscale take on local fare, perfect for celebrating a special occasion outside of a busy hawker centre.
Plus, the ambience is elegant, and luxurious, and pays tribute to the colonial architecture and design of the former City Hall Building. My favourite spot here is by the tall windows because I get spectacular views of the Civic District from there.
The best-selling menu items are the beef rendang (Nyonya beef curry), butter prawns, ngoh hiang (fried prawns, crab meat, and chicken in beancurd skin), chicken satay, chap chye (Nyonya noodles), laksa (coconut noodles), and their tapioca cakes!
| Tip: Don’t eat meat? The National Kitchen by VioletOon serves a meatless and vegan-friendly menu that features plant-based versions of their bestsellers and a few more additions such as coconut-based cakes, and vegetarian fried rice. The menu isn’t as extensive as the regular menu, though. |
