TOP 7 Most Expensive Museums in Singapore
Some visitors like to splash cash. I put together this guide to help visitors to Singapore find out what the most expensive museums are, and whether they are worth the high ticket price.
| Museum | Price (adult) |
|---|---|
| ArtScience Museum | S$48 |
| Museum of Ice Cream | S$37 |
| MINT Museum of Toys | S$30 |
| LKC Museum | S$27 |
| Asian Civilisations Museum | S$25 |
| National Gallery | S$20 |
| Hell’s Museum | S$20 |
Most museums and attractions in Singapore offer a discount for residents of Singapore (even if you’re on a work visa). I’ve compiled this list based on what foreign visitors will pay for each museum.
Ticket prices in this guide are based on the 2024 price.
1. ArtScience Museum
The ArtScience Museum operates as part of the Marina Bay Sands complex which is probably why it ranks high in terms of expense. Tickets typically cost over S$30, though last time I checked (mid-2024) the current exhibit was selling tickets at S$48 for an adult tourist.
It’s also one of the most iconic buildings in Singapore.
The ArtScience Museum sits as an open hand welcoming people to Singapore - it’s an iconic part of the Marina Bay skyline. If you visit the Merlion or the Flyer, you are pretty much guaranteed to see the striking building of the ArtScience museum.
The museum itself is a feature of the latest in digital and interactive technology, creating hands-on experiences celebrating the intersection of art, science, technology and culture. Exhibits rotate, there is no permanent exhibit.
Very kid friendly - if you’re coming with kids, you can let them loose on the ArtScience Museum and they’ll have a blast.
If you’re not on a tight budget I feel this one is worth it. A lot of work goes into creating the fun and engaging exhibits, and they are unique.
Location: Next to Marina Bay Sands, the nearest MRT station is Bayfront (on the yellow Circle or blue Downtown lines). It can also be accessed by walking across the Helix Bridge from the Ritz Carlton.
Hours: Open 10am to 7pm every day of the week.
Cost: Ticket price varies depending on current exhibits. The most expensive ticket I saw was S$48 for an adult tourist; apparently it can be as cheap as S$20 though I’ve never seen that price being sold. Children under 12 pay a reduced price of roughly 20% discount (e.g. a child joining the S$48 adult will pay S$39).
2. Museum of Ice Cream
The Museum of Ice Cream promises an immersive experience blending art, installation, and the universal love of ice cream. Most of the stories I’ve heard about it focus on being a great Instagram spot and a place to pig-out on ice cream.
Entry to the Museum of Ice Cream starts at S$41 for an adult day off-peak ticket, and can go up to over S$60 for night or special exhibit tickets. Note that despite the advertised cheapest ticket of S$37, they add a S$4 booking fee per ticket (this feels dodgy to me as they should price the ticket at S$41 with no booking fee… or charge a booking fee for the whole group rather than each individual).
There are a series of themed rooms designed to celebrate the joy and creativity of ice cream, and there is also an interactive display where you can learn about the history and making of ice cream.
Due to the cost and the location, I feel the Museum of Ice Cream is not worth it. However it does get rave reviews (check out my guide to the highest rated museums in Singapore here).
Location: Adjacent to Dempsey Hill in the inner-west of Singapore. This area is not served by public transport, so the best way to get there for a tourist is via taxi. It’ll be tough to catch a taxi out without using a booking app, check out my complete guide to catching a taxi in Singapore here for how to book a taxi.
Hours: Day sessions are between 10am and 5pm, night sessions are from 6pm to 9:30pm. Closed Tuesdays. Night sessions are available from Thursday through Sunday.
Peak tickets are for Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, the day before public holidays, and school holidays.
Costs: I put together the table below based on the current exhibits and pricing:
| Ticket Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| General Day Off-peak | S$41 |
| General Day Peak | S$47 |
| Premium Day Off-Peak | S$51 |
| Premium Day Peak | S$57 |
| Night | S$70 |
I’ve included the per ticket booking fee in the above calculations as this cannot be avoided, that’s why these numbers are different to those advertised on the website. As I focus on helping visitors to Singapore, I haven’t included the locals discount that is available.
Premium entry includes premium flavours of ice cream and a complimentary beverage.
There is no discount for children, other than children 2 years and under who enter for free.
3. MINT Museum of Toys
MINT stands for Moment of Imagination & Nostalgia with Toys. It houses a world-class collection of vintage toys and collectable items from the 1840’s to the 1970’s.
There are more than 50,000 pieces here originating in over 40 countries. Some of the toys are rare and unique.
Some things you can expect to find here include:
- Action figures
- First-edition comic books and novels
- Cards and board games
- Costumes and clothing
- Bicycles and pedal cars
I feel the MINT museum is worth it, especially if you are interested in toys. I’ve never had the chance to try the Night at the Museum experience, but given it’s only S$20 (and includes a drink!), I’m keen to give it a go.
Location: In the Bugis area, you can walk over from Bugis MRT or Esplanade MRT stations.
Hours: Open from 9:30am to 6:30pm, closed on Mondays. It also has a Night at the Museum opening daily from 7:30pm to 10:30pm every day (even on Mondays).
Costs: Entry price is S$30 for adults and S$20 for children aged between 7 years and 12 years old. Children aged 6 and under are free. Night at the Museum entry is only S$20 and includes a drink.
4. LKC Museum
The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum houses fascinating exhibits on the world of science, technology and innovation. Fittingly, it’s housed in a university out in the west of Singapore.
Prominent Singaporean Lee Kong Chian, who the museum is named after, contributed significantly to Singapore’s educational and technological advancement.
The museum is full of interactive displays and exhibits that kids can play with making for a memorable and educational experience. Exhibits include robotics, biotechnology, and the future of urban living.
The distance makes it tough for me to recommend the LKC Museum to people visiting Singapore, unless you already planned on visiting NUS. I feel the cost is reasonable for the experience you get.
Location: The LKC Museum is located within the National University of Singapore campus in the western part of Singapore. I found this area is difficult to access for visitors coming from downtown central Singapore, involving a mix of trains and buses; I suggest taking a taxi if you intent to visit.
Hours: Opens from 10am until 6pm daily except Mondays.
Costs: Adult tickets cost S$27 and children under 12 years old cost S$16. Children under 3 are free. If you plan on studying at NUS, wait until you’re enrolled so that you can get access for free.
5. Asian Civilisations Museum
This is probably the most expensive government-linked museum on the list (the previous entries are mostly private entities). I imagine that’s because of the variety and quality of the artifacts that the Asian Civilisations Museum is host too, and the build it resides in as well.
The Asian Civilisations Museum showcases a vast array of artifacts from across the broad continent of Asia. These include ancient relics, intricate textiles, fine porcelain, and unique artifacts that work together to tell stories of diverse Asian civilisations.
Don’t forget to check out the gift shop - I’ve found it to have some of the more unique options for gifts and souvenirs available.
I also feel the museum itself is usually worth the money. Exhibits do rotate, but I feel the museum curates works that really do make the entrance fee worthwhile. Compared to some of the other options on this list, the ACM is great value.
Location: The Asian Civilisations Museum is located along the Singapore river, half way between City Hall and Raffles Place MRT stations. It’s fairly close to the Merlion, so you can pair up a visit to the museum with a visit to the Merlion just on the other side of the river.
Hours: The Asian Civilisations Museum is open from 10am to 7pm daily, with late opening until 9pm on Fridays.
Cost: Ticket price depends on the current exhibits. When I checked it was S$25 for a non-resident adult. Only children under 6 are free.
6. National Gallery
Another one that I feel is worth the entry fee.
The National Gallery of Singapore is this architectural marvel, and home to over 8,000 artworks. It is one of the most comprehensive public collections of south-east Asian art anywhere in the world.
Despite the promise of free exhibits, I’ve found you really do need to buy a ticket when you visit the national gallery. I made this mistake the first time I visited - I started wandering around without a ticket (there are no barriers) and security came up to me and told me I had to buy one to view the art.
It’s worth the cost though, especially if you enjoy looking at unique art pieces.
I also like coming here for the bar - it offers great views of Marina Bay Sands and the downtown CBD area.
Location: The National Gallery is located in the Civic District with the closest train station being City Hall MRT (served by the red North-South Line and the green East-West Line).
Hours: Open from 10am to 7pm every day of the week.
Cost: A standard ticket costs S$20 offering general admission (and free guided tours). An all access pass costs S$30 which includes general admission and special exhibitions. If you only want to see a special exhibition, it’s priced at S$25.
Children aged 7 to 12 get an S$5 discount on the standard price. Children 6 and under are free.
7. Hell’s Museum
I feel this is also worth the entry fee for how unique it is.
Hell’s Museum offers a unique glimpse into cultural beliefs and interpretations of the afterlife, with a focus on Asian traditions.
I feel it’s one of the most unique attractions in Singapore. It features vivid detailed dioramas and statues depicting scenes from the afterlife, including moral tales and the consequences of one’s actions on earth.
My Singaporean friends all warned me how creepy it was the first time I said I was going, but I found it insightful yet amusing at the same time. Visitors are encouraged to contemplate the nature of existence, morality, and the human condition through the lens of afterlife beliefs.
Location: In the inner-west, not too far from the downtown area. Conveniently it has its own MRT station named Haw Par Villa (on the yellow Circle Line).
Hours: Hell’s Museum is open from 10am to 6pm every day including public holidays, except Mondays. Expect to spend around 2 hours in the park, including Hell’s Museum.
Cost: Tickets to Hell’s Museum are S$20 for an adult and S$10 for a child (aged 12 and below). They do not recommend bringing anyone younger than 9 years old to Hell’s Museum due to the nature of the exhibits. Children aged 6 and under are free though.
Further Reading
I recently ranked every museum in Singapore by its Google ratings. Check out my complete list here to the most highly rated museums in Singapore: reachingsingapore.com/top-rated-museums
If you need help getting around Singapore, I wrote complete guides on:
