National Gallery Singapore
National Gallery Singapore
4.5
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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S$14.00
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: City Hall
How to get there
- Raffles Place • 9 min walk
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6,991 within 5 kms
Attractions
852 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Anthony SSingapore, Singapore198 contributionsInto Arts? Must visit Gallery in SingaporeIf 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 2024Travelled soloWritten 23 February 2024
- Jeff KPittsburgh, Pennsylvania2,476 contributionsLarge and InterestingI 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 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 March 2024
- JessicasJakarta, Indonesia138 contributionsRaden Saleh exhibitionA 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 2024Travelled with familyWritten 2 June 2024
- JierreLondon, United Kingdom696 contributionsNo city walk is complete without visiting a local galleryThe 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 2024Travelled soloWritten 16 June 2024
- Samantha81 contributionsWow. And it’s freeThis 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 2024Travelled with familyWritten 17 July 2024
- Kari S35 contributionsJust what a national museum should beA 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 2024Travelled soloWritten 25 July 2024
- Paolo MeloniBergamo, Italy14 contributionsGreat Experience To visitGreat experience , particular architecture and several art galleries with several Southeast Asian works. It is recommended for those not used to air conditioning to cover up. Low cost compared to what is insideVisited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 31 July 2024
- maryyeoHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam3,490 contributionsNew exhibits by Indonesian artist, Raden Saleh and relevant interactive arts for kidsWe managed to explore a new floor of artwork with the help of our volunteer guide during our last visit, and one of the more historically significant artwork was "Forest Fire" drawn by the first Romanticized Javanese artist, Raden Saleh, in the early periods of Indonesia's colonialism by the Dutch... Pleasantly surprised that the wing under Keppel Centre for Art Education managed to incorporate these historically significant artworks as part of the Children's Exhibition in the basement. The interactive portions using the "touch-paintbrush" was refreshing, but it was even more awesome that they managed to introduce both art and Asian history, letting the kids learn in an interesting and engaging manner. Separately, it was also pretty cool that they'd set up new art stations where visitors get to try out new kinds of art medium e.g. 3D art pens, light projections, soft blocks, etc. Do note that it gets crowded on weekends... do reserve a slot to enter at their Front-of-House so they can let you know when an empty slot becomes available.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 29 August 2024
- Robert M TomlinSingapore, Singapore39 contributionsHistoric building, local and regional artists well representedWhen the old City Hall and Supreme Courts were converted to a very large art gallery, sceptics wondered how it could be filled. The space is apparently larger than the Musee d’Orsay in Paris. The answer is there to see, the art works have lots of space, temporary exhibitions are carefully curated, and there are some open spaces for events and performance. The building is worth a visit in its own right, or rather buildings, being artfully combined into one complex by French architect Jean-Francois Milou. If you know nothing about SE Asian art, this is a good place to start. You will learn about the fight against colonialism through the art work in each country. There are some fine bronzes recently acquired to complement the many fine paintings, all beautifully displayed. Look in the gift shop for unusual mementoes of the artists.Visited September 2024Travelled soloWritten 21 September 2024
- Dan LBunbury, Australia9,013 contributionsThe Contemporary Art was impressive.The National Gallery is imposing, housed in the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, both of which have been skillfully combined with due recognition to their status as national monuments. Wished that we could have spent more time viewing all the exhibits but limited ourselves to viewing the contemporary art. Certainly not my forte but some of the exhibits were impressive in scale and composition. Wabi Sabi by artist Teo Eng Seng, an acrylic on canvas is described as "transposing the language of paperdyesculp onto tapestry" was eyecatching and a work that stretched over a 20-year period. The artwork beneath by Ah Wah and Ah Kiat, Crossing Borders, was no less impressive and consisted of 200 figures mounted on motorcycles and representing the daily commune across the Johore-Singapore Causeway. Two sculptures were gold coloured, the artist's intention to break up the monotony of the scene and emphasise the individuality of every worker. The roof garden featured a kinetic sculpture, Glisten, by artist Lisa Reihana, a mural of shimmering coloured reflective triangles representing weaving patterns. we also admired the more traditional exhibits in other galleries. Worth visiting and worth heading to the roof garden for views of surrounding buildings and the city beyond.Visited October 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 November 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,341 reviews
Excellent
785
Very good
388
Average
113
Poor
38
Terrible
17
dyhx
Singapore6,553 contributions
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.
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.
Mavi5
Invercargill, New Zealand91 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Oops - did not read Trip Advisor before going, so unaware that we needed a sticker pass to enter most galleries. Astonishingly, there is no signage anywhere that we could find that tells you this helpful information, or indeed that you purchase it at the service information desk on the 2nd level. We even went back to look for it at our point of entry to the building (unsuccessfully). We only found out when being (politely) asked to leave the one gallery we found because we didn't have a sticker. A little embarrassing. Signage and information not visible to those who are not familiar with the building and its protocols. We would have happily paid if we had known the system.
So from our perspective, the art gallery is a large and beautiful building with art works artworks that are inaccessible. By the time we had worked out what we needed to do we had lost all enthusiasm and we gave up.
So from our perspective, the art gallery is a large and beautiful building with art works artworks that are inaccessible. By the time we had worked out what we needed to do we had lost all enthusiasm and we gave up.
Written 21 July 2023
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.
lucycan
San Diego, CA3,719 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
So they took the old supreme court and old parliament buildings and turned them into the National Gallery. Pretty damn cool. Lots of spaces that are FREE and open to the public plus some special exhibits that cost a ticket. Do not leave without a visit to the rooftop!
Written 3 September 2023
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
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.
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.
Egiptul p
8 contributions
Dec 2024 • Solo
I guess this is the type of place well loved by those who do not care for museums and want to say they visited one. It is an architectural masterpiece and I enjoyed that . Besides that, I found the experience frustrating , there was no flow or sense of direction , hard to tell what your route should be. I am pretty sure I missed something as half the building was an empty space ready to be rented out to Conventions/temporary Exhibitions, etc
The art gallery was interesting and I enjoyed some of their classic pieces as well as contemporary art. I guess I was expecting too much ...
The art gallery was interesting and I enjoyed some of their classic pieces as well as contemporary art. I guess I was expecting too much ...
Written 19 January 2025
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.
Kristine L
6 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
The National Gallery Singapore is a must-visit for art and culture enthusiasts. The beautifully restored buildings house an incredible collection of Southeast Asian and Singaporean art, offering a perfect blend of history and creativity. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, and the architecture itself is stunning. It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in art while enjoying breathtaking views of the city. Highly recommended!
Written 20 January 2025
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.
TheLeongOhana
United States7,758 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
This was an excellent museum housed in the former city hall and Supreme Court buildings.
What we appreciated was the focus on the local artists which provided a lot more insight into their works, backgrounds and development over time. Themes were well organized and lots of good details and explanations.
Some of the more controversial art due to content or nudity were behind door entrances. Nothing seemed very outlandish to me.
Don’t overlook the design of the building itself especially the courtyard in between the two buildings. The enclosed space along with the diffused light made for a very nice spot to just take a break in between galleries.
The rooftop was quite hot but also a nice place to take in views of the surrounding. There were some chairs surrounding an inflatable piece of art.
Also on site were a couple of very nice restaurants including Odette and the National Kitchen by Violet Oon.
What we appreciated was the focus on the local artists which provided a lot more insight into their works, backgrounds and development over time. Themes were well organized and lots of good details and explanations.
Some of the more controversial art due to content or nudity were behind door entrances. Nothing seemed very outlandish to me.
Don’t overlook the design of the building itself especially the courtyard in between the two buildings. The enclosed space along with the diffused light made for a very nice spot to just take a break in between galleries.
The rooftop was quite hot but also a nice place to take in views of the surrounding. There were some chairs surrounding an inflatable piece of art.
Also on site were a couple of very nice restaurants including Odette and the National Kitchen by Violet Oon.
Written 5 October 2023
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.
Christine B
2 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
The National Gallery Singapore is a must-visit for art enthusiasts! The collection of Southeast Asian art is impressive, and the building itself is a beautiful blend of historic and modern architecture. I especially loved the interactive exhibits and the stunning views from the rooftop. A truly enriching experience!
Written 18 December 2024
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.
Martin H
Hong Kong, China1,028 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
They've done a great job retaining the former City Hall and Supreme Court buildings and converting them into the National Gallery but unfortunately they have a very disappointing collection of art here. There's acres of unissued space. The Singapore Government should look at buying some world class art to make this a much more appealing destination and make better use of this wonderful space.
The above said, this is still worth a short visit if for nothing more than to see the old building and how they've converted it.
The above said, this is still worth a short visit if for nothing more than to see the old building and how they've converted it.
Written 20 March 2024
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.
maryyeo
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam3,490 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Visited the National Gallery because it has an awesome art space with numerous multi-sensory experiences for the kids, as well as the Children's Biennale that runs from 27th May 2023 to 31st March 2024. Our kids managed to collect stamps on their little yellow Biennale booklets from all 11 exhibits of the Biennale and therefore received a small prize from the information counter.
But even BEFORE we embarked on the Biennale "treasure hunt" (we called it a treasure hunt because we had to search for the 11 exhibits across the two buildings of The National Gallery), one of the elderly docents at the entrance booth kept urging us to go to the second floor, because an art tour for kids was about to begin at 3pm. We were thoroughly convinced by his enthusiasm and insistence that we went and were so thankful that we did.
Family Art Tour (assuming this is the correct name) was thoroughly enjoyable and insightful - our facilitator, Diane, was a photographer herself and has been engaged in paid photography work that are on display at Great World City MRT station. She brought us to see three artworks across a few galleries (including UOB Southeast Asia gallery and even a quick glimpse of the prison at the back of house) which usually requires online/onsite booking for each individual gallery. Although it was a quick dip of different artworks across different themes, we still appreciated our facilitator giving the history, significance and various possible perspectives of appreciating the works, giving us amateurs a deeper appreciation of the arts here. The two art activities she planned also helped to engage and inspire the little ones to create their own artworks. Very meaningful.
But even BEFORE we embarked on the Biennale "treasure hunt" (we called it a treasure hunt because we had to search for the 11 exhibits across the two buildings of The National Gallery), one of the elderly docents at the entrance booth kept urging us to go to the second floor, because an art tour for kids was about to begin at 3pm. We were thoroughly convinced by his enthusiasm and insistence that we went and were so thankful that we did.
Family Art Tour (assuming this is the correct name) was thoroughly enjoyable and insightful - our facilitator, Diane, was a photographer herself and has been engaged in paid photography work that are on display at Great World City MRT station. She brought us to see three artworks across a few galleries (including UOB Southeast Asia gallery and even a quick glimpse of the prison at the back of house) which usually requires online/onsite booking for each individual gallery. Although it was a quick dip of different artworks across different themes, we still appreciated our facilitator giving the history, significance and various possible perspectives of appreciating the works, giving us amateurs a deeper appreciation of the arts here. The two art activities she planned also helped to engage and inspire the little ones to create their own artworks. Very meaningful.
Written 9 January 2024
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.
Which MRT Station is a shorter and or easier route to the entrance of National Gallery Singapore?
Would you suggest Dhoby Ghaut Station or City Hall Station?
Written 29 June 2019
City Hall is much closer. The entry to NGS is only 150m from the subway exit and you can then walk in A/C comfort to the main entrance point. The Information Desk at NGS is excellent for directions and keeping you out of the heat and humidity.
Written 30 June 2019
Is national gallery singapore and national museum of singapore the same place? If its not, what the difference? Which one is better?
Written 19 November 2017
national gallery is an art gallery, you will be able to explore artist works, canvas, etc
Written 2 October 2018
QuynhDPham
Vung Tau, Vietnam
How long did you have to queue? I bought ticket for 10AM entrance so don't know what time should I have to be there.
Written 29 August 2017
Fransisco M
Jakarta, Indonesia
Hi there, I am planning to visit the museum next year.. Please kindly share to me the price information?
Written 2 July 2017
around $20 ticket for non local/PR
Written 2 October 2018
Fransisco M
Jakarta, Indonesia
Hi there, I am planning to visit the museum next year.. Please kindly share to me the price information?
Written 2 July 2017
They also offer student discounts for any student card! Even international student cards.
Written 8 November 2017
Do they have a lugguage locker or left lugguage service at the gallery?
Written 7 April 2017
Please approach our information counter located at Basement 1 for assistance with bulky items and luggage that may not fit in the lockers. Thank you.
Written 10 April 2017
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