Museum · Civic District, Central Region

National Gallery Singapore

Singaporean and Southeast Asian art inside the former Supreme Court and City Hall

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Ambient sound · similar settingLarge crowd murmuring in a high-ceilinged hall

Photo: Dylan Chong (@dumdles) / Unsplash

Discover National Gallery Singapore

National Gallery Singapore brings together two grand colonial-era buildings on the edge of the Padang: the domed former Supreme Court and the colonnaded former City Hall. Linked by a modern canopy and atriums, they now house a collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art from the 19th century to the present day.

Even visitors who are not art lovers come for the architecture, with restored courtrooms, the old council chamber and the copper-green dome of the Supreme Court. It is an excellent place to spend a few unhurried, air-conditioned hours and to understand how the region has seen itself through art. Its position facing the Padang also makes it a good starting point for a walk through the Civic District to the Singapore River.

Don’t miss

01Long-term galleries of Singaporean art and of Southeast Asian art from the 19th century to today
02The restored former Supreme Court, with its green dome, rotunda and courtrooms
03The former City Hall building, scene of the 1945 Japanese surrender ceremony
04Light-filled atriums under the modern canopy linking the two buildings
05Free Building Highlights tours of the architecture and history

History & culture

The story of National Gallery Singapore

City Hall was built between 1926 and 1929 as the Municipal Building, and the Supreme Court was declared open on 3 August 1939. Both buildings witnessed key moments in Singapore's story: on 12 September 1945 Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten accepted the Japanese surrender at City Hall, and on 5 June 1959 Lee Kuan Yew and his Cabinet took their oaths of office in the City Hall chamber.

After the courts and government offices moved out, the two buildings were converted into a single museum by Studio Milou Singapore with CPG Consultants. The National Gallery opened on 24 November 2015 with a combined floor area of about 64,000 square metres. Its long-term galleries trace the art of Singapore and of Southeast Asia, while temporary exhibitions bring in works from around the world.

Local life & traditions

The gallery has become a focus for Singapore's cultural life, with school visits, family programmes and festivals. Its location on the Padang, the historic open field at the heart of the Civic District, ties it closely to the country's civic history, and many Singaporeans remember the buildings from their days as courts and government offices.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Pick a long-term gallery to start with, then let the buildings guide you: wander from the light-filled atriums into the old courtrooms and the former City Hall chamber, and look for the rotunda beneath the Supreme Court dome. Joining a guided tour is a good way to understand both the art and the history of the spaces.

The gallery is also a natural base for exploring the Civic District on foot. From here you can walk across the Padang to the Victoria Theatre and the Asian Civilisations Museum by the Singapore River, or head up to Fort Canning Park.

When to go

Being indoors, the gallery is enjoyable in any month and makes a good choice during the hottest part of the day or a rainy afternoon. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter than weekends. If you plan to explore the surrounding Civic District on foot as well, early morning or late afternoon is more comfortable outdoors.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours: Daily 10am to 7pm; last admission 6.30pm (as published, Oct 2026) Source: nationalgallery.sg ↗
Admission (as published, Oct 2026): General admission free for Singapore citizens and PRs; S$20 for other nationalities, with concessions for children aged 7 to 12 and seniors 60 and above; free for children 6 and under Source: nationalgallery.sg ↗
Address: 1 St Andrew's Road, Singapore 178957 Source: nationalgallery.sg ↗
Getting there by MRT: City Hall station Exit B, about 7 minutes' walk; also about 10 minutes from Clarke Quay (Exit E) or Raffles Place (Exit B) Source: nationalgallery.sg ↗
Free building tour: Building Highlights tour free for all visitors: English Thu to Sun 10.30am, Mandarin Sat and Sun 11.30am Source: nationalgallery.sg ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Allow around three hours to see the main galleries without rushing.
Lockers are available for rent in the basement, useful if you are carrying shopping or luggage.
Bring a light layer: the galleries are air-conditioned.
Check the website for special exhibitions, which are ticketed separately.
Combine your visit with a walk around the Padang and down to the Singapore River.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around National Gallery Singapore: food, markets & places to stay

The gallery faces the Padang and stands close to St Andrew's Cathedral, the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, the Asian Civilisations Museum and the Esplanade. City Hall MRT and the Raffles City shopping complex are a short walk away, and Fort Canning Park lies a little further inland. There are cafes inside the gallery and plenty of food courts in the surrounding malls; check for displayed halal certification if needed.