Travel is our best opportunity to learn more about the people who share our planet. You can discover and so many amazing things about different countries and cultures. There is no end to the discoveries you can make in Singapore. If you’re planning a trip to Singapore you will find a wealth of museums, from portrait galleries to historical museums. Which ones fall under the category of “can’t miss”?

We take a look at 7 of the best Singapore museums to include on your itinerary 

The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest and largest museum in the country. It is situated in a 19th-century Neo-Palladium building in the heart of the Downtown Core. The museum is filled with historical and interactive exhibits that tell the story of Singapore, from yesterday up to modern times.

You will find 2 main galleries:

The Singapore National Museum is definitely a destination that should top your list of things to do in the city

The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is located on Bras Basah Road in the Downtown Core. Once the home of Singapore’s first Catholic School, the grounds are beautiful and well worth exploring. Inside, you will find collections of contemporary art from Singapore and Southeast Asia. If you are interested in learning more about contemporary Asian artists this is the place to come. The collections include a variety of disciplines, including paintings, photography, sculpture, and video.

The National Gallery Singapore is located in a building that used to house the Supreme Court and City Hall. Here you’ll find the largest collection of Southeast Asian art in Singapore. The exhibits contain art from the 19th century to the present day. Children are not left out as the museum includes several exhibits designed especially for young explorers. If you need a break, visit the rooftop bar Smoke & Mirrors to take in the Singapore skyline while you sip a cocktail. National Gallery opening hours vary based on the season. For National Gallery Singapore tickets visit the museum's website. 

The ArtScience Museum is probably best known for its inspired architecture featuring a white lotus as it begins to unfurl. Located in the popular tourist district at Marina Bay Sands, this museum hosts international exhibits featuring some of the most well-known artists in the world, from Van Gogh and Warhol to Dalí.  You will also find exhibits that explore technology and culture, ranging from Dreamworks Animation to the Smithsonian Institute. Be sure to take in the permanent exhibit, FutureWorld. Be sure to reserve your ArtScience Museum Singapore tickets today.

The Asian Civilisation Museum (ACM) is devoted to Singapore’s multicultural roots. Here you’ll find eleven galleries showcasing artifacts from China, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and Islamic cultures. In 2003, the ACM moved to the beautiful neoclassical-style Empress Place at the mouth of the Singapore River.

This is Singapore’s largest natural history museum, housing a collection of flowering plants from across Southeast Asia. Some of the specimens date back to the 1800s. Perhaps the most famous residents of the museum are the three diplodocid sauropod dinosaur skeletons in the main atrium, Prince, Apollonia, and Twinky. You will also find the skeleton of a sperm whale nicknamed Jubilee, which washed up on shore in 2015.

The Red Dot Design Museum is located in the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade, which is one of the most heavily visited tourist areas in the city. The modern space features a soaring glass and steel structure, as well as the museum’s signature neon red lights. If you are looking for an exciting backdrop for a photo op, this is the place the visit. As the name implies, the focus of the museum’s collections is on contemporary design.

A visit to this island nation must include visits to the top Singapore museums. Here you will come to better appreciate the culture of the nation, the city, and Southeast Asia as a whole. Be sure to explore other “beautiful solutions” when making travel plans for your next trip. You will also find resources about fashion, beauty, business, finance, and health and well-being.