History · Singapore
6 historic sites to see in Singapore
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Robert Sim, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Singapore Botanic Gardens, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 10–13 hours across 5 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 10–13 hours
- Areas
- Tanglin, Chinatown and Kampong Glam
Historic sites in Singapore
Garden · Tanglin
1.Singapore Botanic Gardens
Entry is free except for the National Orchid Garden, which shows hundreds of orchid species and hybrids. The Jacob Ballas Children's Garden at the northern end has water play and treehouses.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- History
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Religious site · Chinatown
2.Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Its rooftop orchid garden has a prayer wheel, and the lower floors hold a museum of Buddhist art. It faces Maxwell Food Centre across the road.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Kampong Glam
3.Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque
Nearby Haji Lane is a narrow strip of murals, independent boutiques and small bars, and the Malay Heritage Centre occupies the former sultan's palace.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
Museum · Civic District
4.Asian Civilisations Museum
Its centrepiece is the Tang Shipwreck, the cargo of a ninth-century Arab dhow found off Indonesia with tens of thousands of Chinese ceramics.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Civic District
5.National Museum of Singapore
The galleries are immersive and well suited to a first day in the city.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
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Park · Pasir Panjang
6.Haw Par Villa
Its best-known section, the Ten Courts of Hell, graphically depicts punishments in the afterlife and is now part of a paid Hell's Museum; the rest of the park is free.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Tanglin | Singapore Botanic Gardens | 2–3 hours |
| Chinatown | Buddha Tooth Relic Temple | 1 hour |
| Kampong Glam | Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque | 2–3 hours |
| Civic District | Asian Civilisations Museum and National Museum of Singapore | 2 hours + 2 hours |
| Pasir Panjang | Haw Par Villa | 1–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 4 free, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Singapore Botanic Gardens; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Tanglin and Chinatown): Singapore Botanic Gardens → Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Kampong Glam and Civic District): Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque → Asian Civilisations Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Civic District and Pasir Panjang): National Museum of Singapore → Haw Par Villa, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- March: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 14 rainy days, moderate crowds. Hot with afternoon storms returning; a good month for museums and gardens with fewer holiday crowds.
- May: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 14 rainy days, moderate crowds. One of the hottest months; plan outdoor sights early in the morning and indoor ones in the afternoon.
- April: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 15 rainy days, moderate crowds. Inter-monsoon month: humid, still mornings and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Chinatown — Restored shophouses, temples, Maxwell Food Centre and Keong Saik bars
- Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay — Riverside restaurants and bars along the Singapore River
- Orchard Road — A 2 km boulevard of malls, department stores and big hotels
More of Singapore
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Singapore?
Singapore Botanic Gardens. Founded in 1859 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, the Botanic Gardens cover 82 hectares of lawns, lakes and a patch of original rainforest.
+Which of these are free in Singapore?
Singapore Botanic Gardens, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque and Haw Par Villa.