Because of the quarantine season, I couldn’t travel or do some foodventures. Thankfully, I still have a few more article ideas to last me for the entire month. Starting last Monday until the end of the month, I will do throwback articles on Singapore. Today, I’m listing down my 5 favorite museums and tours in the Lion City. Starting with the Top 5:

5. The Battlebox Tour

The Battlebox Tour tells the fascinating story of the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in WWII, which is considered “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history.” Rated as No. 1 Museum in Singapore by TripAdvisor, the tour happens inside a renovated British command center found underneath Fort Canning Hill. If you like history, especially WWII events, you’ll definitely enjoy this tour!

Entry to the Battlebox is exclusively through guided tours. On Tuesdays to Sundays and Mondays that are Public Holidays, the guided tour schedules are as follows: 9:45AM, 11AM, 1:30PM, 2:45PM, and 4PM. On regular Mondays, the schedules are: 1:30PM, 2:45PM, and 4PM. Unfortunately, photography and videography are not allowed.

Address: 2 Cox Terrace, Fort Canning Park, Singapore | Operating Hours: Daily: 9:30AM-5:30PM | Admission Fees and Tour Schedules (Tip: Book via Klook for discounted rates) | Facebook | Website

4. Chinatown Heritage Centre

Singapore, being a multi-racial nation, strived for harmony among all its major races—Chinese, Malays, and Indians—through the years. For me, one of the best ways to appreciate this harmony is to understand each race. This can happen with a visit to heritage centers. I’ve been to Indian and Malay Heritage Centres. But my favorite is the Chinatown Heritage Centre.

The Chinatown Heritage Centre along the tourist-packed Pagoda Street

The Chinatown Heritage Centre is housed in three beautifully-restored shophouses, retelling the stories of its original tenants and the life in 1950s Chinatown. Inside a shophouse, there were several eight-by-eight living quarters, each housing a big family. The guided tour showed me how difficult the life of the Chinese back then.

An example of a living quarter (Can you imagine a family squeezing in there?)

The Centre also tells the story of the plight of the Chinese, as they journeyed from China to Singapore in search of a better life. This made me appreciate the early Chinese more. In both the Philippines and Singapore, they had humble beginnings. Persevering through the years, they now belong to the affluent part of the society.

A photo wall in the Chinatown Heritage Centre

Related Article: Link coming soon!

Address: 48 Pagoda St., Outram, Singapore | Operating Hours: Daily, 9:30AM-6:30PM (it’s only closed in the eve and day of Chinese New Year) | Admission Fees | Facebook | Website

3. Asian Civilisations Museum

Managed by the National Heritage Board, the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) showcases the rich artistic heritage of Asia. It also shows the historical connection of Asian cultures to one another, as well as to those outside Asia. It was formerly located at Armenian Street and housed in Tao Nan School Building (which is now occupied by the Peranakan Museum) when it opened in 1997. But in 2003, it moved to its current location, housed in the historic Empress Place Building, a neo-classical building near the Singapore River.

As I mentioned a while ago, ACM shows the historical connections of Asian cultures to one another and to the rest of the world. But how do they show it? Mainly through the objects exhibited in the galleries. Take the porcelain shown in the photo below for example. While the color is Chinese, the pattern is Middle Eastern. It is said that such design was favored in the courts of Iran and Turkey.

Chinese ceramic with Middle Eastern pattern

Another example is the candelabra shown at the left side of the photo below. While candelabras were made for dining tables in Europe and America, the design of this particular candelabra is distinctly Chinese.

Finally, look at the incense burner at the right side of the photo above. This one was assembled in Europe. But it’s components were made in Asia. The porcelain was from China and the lacquer bowls from Japan.

You’ll find lots of these “historical connections” in ACM.

My visit to ACM was definitely fascinating. I never would’ve thought that I would learn history (or more accurately, historical connections of Asian cultures) through relics or works of art. If you appreciate art or history or both, I’m sure you will enjoy a visit to ACM.

Related Article: Link coming soon!

2. Singapore Mobility Gallery

I am very impressed with Singapore’s transport system. It’s orderly and efficient. It also didn’t happen overnight and it would be interesting to learn how it developed through the decades.

Good thing there’s the Singapore Mobility Gallery! Operated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the Gallery gives a behind-the-scenes look on how the LTA plans, designs, builds, and operates the country’s transport system. It has 7 zones which can be explored in a non-linear manner, with some focusing on the future of Singapore’s transport system.

You can “train” as Bus Captain. This is just one of the many fascinating activities in the gallery.

Address: Land Transport Authority, L1 Block 1, 1 Hampshire Road, Singapore | Operating Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30AM-5PM; Saturday (for pre-arranged community visits only), 9:30AM-1PM | Admission Fees: Free! | Website

1. Harmony in Diversity Gallery

Aside from its transport system, there’s another thing that I appreciate about Singapore—its religious harmony. This topic is interesting to me because first, I work full-time for a religious organization. Second and more importantly, Singapore is a multi-ethnic nation. This means that there is a diversity of religion as well.

So how do Singapore’s major religions get along? That is best explained with a visit to the Harmony in Diversity Gallery (HDG). Operated by and housed in the Ministry of Home Affairs, the HDG promotes the appreciation of Singapore’s religious harmony, which took years to achieve.

Mutual understanding and respect are key ingredients to religious harmony. To foster these, one should seek commonalities among different religions.

The exhibit on the Maria Hertogh Riots is one of the interesting parts of the gallery.

Address: #04-05/06 Ministry of National Development (MND) Building Annexe B, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore (above Amoy Street Food Centre; do a food crawl after your visit!) | Operating Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM | Admission Fees: Free! | Facebook | Website

Which of the museums (or tour) above have you visited or would like to visit? What’s your top 5 Singapore museums and tours? Comment them below!

Zoy's Top 5: Singapore Museums and Tours

5. The Battlebox Tour

4. Chinatown Heritage Centre

3. Asian Civilisations Museum

2. Singapore Mobility Gallery

1. Harmony in Diversity Gallery