Best Kid-Friendly Museums In Singapore

What are the fun things to do for families with kids in Singapore this weekend? Are there any free fun family activities to do in Singapore? Well, The Little Red Dot is a place that offers a wealth of activities for adults and kids alike. But did you know that there are over 50 museums for children and their parents in Singapore that cover everything from ice cream to naval vessels and digital art to dinosaurs? Yes, the choice of children’s museums in Singapore where kids can embark on their exciting and educational journey is impressive. By the way, many museums for children in Singapore are free. To save you the time of searching through the myriad of options when it comes to Singapore’s amazing offerings, BusyKidd has chosen some of the best children’s museums in Singapore.

So what to do in Singapore for free? What are the best Singapore children’s museums? Are there any interesting exhibitions in Singapore for this weekend? Which museum is free in SG? Are there free children’s museums in Singapore? We are going to take a virtual tour of the best museums for children in Singapore and find the answers to all of your questions!

Related Reading: Check out our guides to Chaos Lab: A Playful Approach to Child’s Growth, The Palawan at Sentosa Family Guide, Sentosa Sensoryscape.

Children’s Museum Singapore

Image Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Unsurprisingly, the Children’s Museum Singapore (formerly Singapore Philatelic Museum) was created for children. What age group is the Children’s Museum Singapore for? Children’s Museum Singapore is dedicated to young explorers who are 12 years old and below, so your little ones are bound to find it an interesting place to visit. Designed to be highly interactive and inspire imaginative play, Children’s Museum Singapore has permanent exhibitions (such as ‘Happy Birthday,’ which looks at how people from different Singapore communities celebrate their big day) as well as temporary ones (such as ‘Imagine a Garden,’ which explores Nature through beautiful paper sculptures). By the way, the Children’s Museum Singapore is an ideal place to take many beautiful photos of your little discoverers while they are exploring incredible exhibits.

How long does it take to visit the Children’s Museum Singapore? There are four entry slots to select: 9 AM entry, 11 AM entry, 2 PM entry, and 4 PM entry. Each entry is valid for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Can I walk in to the Children’s Museum Singapore? Walk-ins are not recommended – it’s better to book your time slot in advance, since the Children’s Museum Singapore has a capacity limit in place for admission.

Did we mention that adults are not allowed to enter the Children’s Museum Singapore without a child? Yes, it is a unique place, a true kids’ realm, where adults must be accompanied by children – and not vice versa.

Entry to the Children’s Museum Singapore is free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents.

Location: 23-B, Coleman St, Singapore, 179807
Children’s Museum Singapore Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 9 AM entry; 11 AM entry; 2 PM entry; 4 PM entry
  - *Each time slot for Children’s Museum Singapore is for 1 hour 45 mins
Children’s Museum Singapore tickets:
- Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents: Free
- Tourists & Foreign Residents:
  - Child: $10
  - Adult: $15
More Details

ArtScience Museum

Image Credit: Marinabaysands.com

This innovative children’s and adult ArtScience Museum in Singapore blurs the lines between art and science and makes for a truly experiential visit. It’s well worth paying extra to explore FutureWorld, the permanent exhibition that includes a play slide with exploding digital fruits, as well as areas where kids can scan their art and see it appear on the digital canvases around them. Located right next to Marina Bay Sands, this unique Singapore art and science museum also features a café that offers a variety of drinks, including coffee and teas, as well as top-quality sandwiches, pastries, and desserts.

Beginning May 4, the ArtScience Museum welcomes visitors of all ages to become part of one of the most long-awaited exhibitions of this year – the Frida Kahlo exhibition that will run in Singapore until September. The immersive biographical exhibition is your chance to plunge into the incredible world of a true icon and learn more about her life and work in the incredible atmosphere of the ArtScience Museum with fantastic photos, films, installations, 360-degree projections, and more.

It’s truly a one-of-a-kind place where science and art meet and turn the museum into a magical world right in bustling Singapore. A visit to the ArtScience Museum should definitely be on your list of things to do this weekend in Singapore.

General admission for this unique museum for children and adults in Singapore is $25 for adult residents and $20 for kids, with family deals available. Entry to FutureWorld starts at $30. Entry to Frida Kahlo: The Life of An Icon starts at $19.

Location: Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
ArtScience Museum Opening Hours: 10 AM to 7 PM (Daily)
ArtScience Museum Tickets:
- Child: From $20
- Adult: From $25
  - *Various promotions and deals are available
  - *Please visit the official website for entry prices to specific exhibitions
More Details

National Museum of Singapore

Image Credit: National Museum of Singapore via Facebook

The National Museum of Singapore is one of the kids’ favorite museums, offering a diverse range of interactive activities and temporary and permanent exhibitions. One of its most popular permanent exhibitions is ‘Story of the Forest,’ where children can explore the jungle environment through an interactive digital art installation by the world-famous teamLab right in the National Museum of Singapore. Past temporary exhibitions have included those looking at how transport in Singapore has changed across the ages.

Admission to Singapore’s National Museum is free for Permanent Residents and Singaporeans.

Location: 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
National Museum Of Singapore Opening Hours: 10 AM to 7 PM (Daily)
National Museum Of Singapore Tickets:
- Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents:
  - Child, Student, Senior: Free
  - Adult: $5
- Tourists & Foreign Residents:
  - Child: Free
  - Senior, Student: $11
  - Adult: $15
More Details

National Gallery Singapore

Image Credit: Joyce Lim via Google reviews

This truly hands-on National Gallery Singapore is one of the best museums for children in Singapore and a great place to take them for a fascinating tour, especially if the weather outside is hot or wet. National Gallery Singapore boasts fantastic exhibitions. One of its centerpieces is the Keppel Centre for Art Education, where kids can explore eight interactive learning zones and try activities such as 3D doodling, digital artwork, and creating sculptures from wooden blocks. The temporary Children’s Biennale is due to finish at the end of March 2024, but before that date, kids can see its exhibitions by local artists, including the ‘Magic Forest’ and ‘Tide.’ So where to go this weekend with your little ones? National Gallery Singapore is truly among the must-visit children’s museums, so you’ll enjoy your family time spent here.

Entry to the National Gallery is free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents.

Location: 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
National Gallery Singapore Opening Hours: 10 AM to 7 PM
National Gallery Singapore Tickets:
- Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents: Free
- Tourists & Foreign Residents:
  - Children, Seniors: $15
  - Adult: $20
  - Children aged 6 and below: Free
More Details

Science Centre Singapore

Image Credit: Science.edu.sg

There’s plenty to keep kids amused for a whole day at Singapore’s Science Centre. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, such as ‘Phobia – the Science of Fear,’ this great museum for children in Singapore always has a wide range of interesting temporary features. Many exhibitions have interactive components; kids can also participate in workshops and watch live demonstrations and shows in this welcoming children’s science museum in Singapore. If that’s not enough, outdoors, there are Kinetic Gardens, where little ones can learn about different forms of energy, as well as a well-designed wet play area called the Waterworks.

The bargain-priced admission for this Singapore’s science museum starts at $12 for adult residents and $4 for kids under 12.

Location: 15 Science Centre Road, Singapore 609081
Science Centre Singapore Opening Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM
Science Centre Singapore Tickets:
- Child: From $4
- Adult: From $12
  - *Please visit the official website to check the price for specific activities
More Details

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Image Credit: Lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg

If your kids are fans of dinosaurs, then this children’s museum in Singapore is a no-brainer. Where else in Singapore can you see three massive sauropod skeletons and over 2,000 other natural history specimens? Kids can learn about the geology and ecology of Singapore, and there’s even the skeleton of a sperm whale that washed ashore on Jurong Island in 2015. Your little ones will like this children’s museum in Singapore.

Admission is $16 for adult residents and $9 for children under 12 years old.

Location: 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum Tickets:
- Singapore Residents Rate:
  - Child, Student, Senior: $10
  - Adult: $18
- Standard Rate:
  - Child, Student, Senior: $16
  - Adult: $27
More Details

Museum of Ice Cream

Image Credit: Museum Of Ice Cream via Facebook

OK, this might not be a traditional children’s museum in Singapore that will enrich your little ones’ minds, but they’ll definitely enjoy the learning involved in trying numerous unusual flavours of ice cream! And we suppose it is one of the children’s most beloved museums in Singapore. The museum’s $35-45 tickets allow a 90-minute adventure within the quirky interior, which includes a pink bouncy castle, a ball pit filled with ‘sprinkles,’ and a dragon-themed playground. The entrance fee also includes unlimited amounts of the 5 featured flavours of ice cream, so watch out for the sugar rush! The Museum Of Ice Cream in Singapore definitely has the sweetest reviews!

Location: 100 Loewen Road, Dempsey, Singapore 248837
Museum of Ice Cream Opening Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 10 AM to 6 PM
- Thursday to Sunday: 10 AM to 9 PM
Museum of Ice Cream Tickets:
- Weekday Tickets: From $35
- Weekend Tickets: From $45
- Kids aged 2 and below: Free
More Details

Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre

Image Credit: Singaporeccc.org.sg

The Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) is a museum that celebrates everything about Chinese culture in Singapore through 6 engaging zones. Watch out for its special events, such as its annual egg hunts in the weeks leading up to Easter. The SCCC also hosts regular storytelling sessions on weekday afternoons, so it’s a great children’s museum to visit in Singapore. There is no charge for general admission, although some special events require a paid ticket.

Location: 1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore 018906
Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Opening Hours: 10 AM to 8 PM (Daily)
Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Tickets: Free
More Details

Singapore Maritime Gallery

Image Credit: Teck Ng via Google reviews

Located right on the waterfront at Marina South Pier, Singapore Maritime Gallery is a great place for kids to learn about Singapore’s history upon the waves and how the city is still an important hub for sea-based trade. As well as a number of permanent exhibitions that celebrate Singapore’s maritime history, kids have access to zones such as ‘PlayPort,’ where they can create their own ships from magnetic shapes, and ‘Cargo Dash,’ where older kids can play virtual games in which they must race against time to load container ships. Admission is free for all age groups. Kids will find many exciting and engaging things to do in this children’s museum in Singapore for free.

Location: Level 2, Marina South Pier, 31 Marina Coastal Drive, Singapore 018988
Singapore Maritime Gallery Opening Hours: 9 AM to 6 PM (Daily)
Singapore Maritime Gallery Tickets: Free
More Details

Air Force Museum

Image Credit: RSAF via Facebook

Kids who are into aircraft and all things that fly are bound to enjoy this children’s museum in Singapore, which brings to life the story of the Republic of Singapore’s Air Force (RSAF). Visitors get to explore the history of the RSAF through a series of indoor interactive displays before they head outside to see real aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and anti-aircraft systems – this children’s museum in Singapore is a must-visit for all young explorers, history lovers, and future pilots. Singapore’s Air Force Museum admission is free for all.

Location: 400 Airport Road, Singapore 534234
Air Force Museum Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 9 AM to 4 PM
Air Force Museum Tickets: Free
More Details

Singapore Navy Museum

Image Credit: Navymuseum.defencecollectivesg.com

For children who are more interested in the waterborne section of the armed forces, the Singapore Navy Museum offers an interesting insight into how Singapore’s Navy keeps the nation safe. Its permanent exhibitions focus on submarines, the Navy’s diving unit, and naval missiles. We are sure kids will enjoy their fascinating and educational visit to this children’s museum and take many bright Singapore Navy Museum photos to show their friends.

Entry tickets cost is $8 for adults and $5 for kids, with admission free for Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents.

Location: 112 Tanah Merah Coast Road, Singapore 498794
Singapore Navy Museum Opening Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 12 PM to 5 PM (Closed every Tuesday)
- PH, Saturday, and Sunday: 10 AM to 3 PM
Singapore Navy Museum Tickets:
- Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents: Free
- Tourists & Foreign Residents:
  - Child, Student, Senior: $5
  - Adult: $8
  - Child below 6: Free
More Details

Singapore Discovery Centre

Image Credit: Defencecollectivesg.com

Situated in Jurong, Singapore Discovery Centre covers a vast expanse and offers a feast of fun kids activities in Singapore. As well as a 4D cinema that simulates a rollercoaster ride and shows films such as Dino Safari and Sky Hunt, this children’s museum in Singapore has permanent exhibitions such as ‘Through the Lens of Time,’ which takes visitors on an immersive journey back into Singapore’s past. General admission is free for Singaporean citizens and Permanent Residents, with paid activities, such as laser tag, also available. Singapore Discovery Center boasts the fame of the most fascinating children’s museum in Singapore and the best photo reviews taken by the youngest and most curious visitors.

Location: 510 Upper Jurong Rd, Singapore 638365
Singapore Discovery Centre Opening Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 12 PM to 6 PM
- Weekends, Public & School Term Holidays: 11 AM to 7 PM
Singapore Discovery Centre Tickets:
- Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents: Free
- Tourists & Foreign Residents:
  - Child: $8
  - Adult: $10
More Details

MINT Museum of Toys

Children’s MINT Museum of Toys in Singapore is a place where imagination meets nostalgia and an ideal opportunity for adults to return to their childhood, at least for a couple of hours. The museum opened its doors in 2007. It is the largest vintage toy museum in Asia. Its fantastic collection consists of 50,000 vintage toys and collectibles from over 40 countries – and it continues to grow. This Singapore kids’ museum became home to a century-old Steiff Teddy Bear and an ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ Doll of Alice Liddell (yes, of that girl who inspired our well-known and well-loved Alice). There’s even the only Mekon Mask from Dan Dare in existence. MINT Museum of Toys invites kids (and adults, of course) to learn through toys. Well, toys can tell a lot about Singapore’s history, art, culture, and more.

MINT Museum of Toys keeps many fascinating stories and secrets and is truly among the most popular children’s museums in Singapore. Welcome to childhood!

Location: 26 Seah Street, Singapore 188382
MINT Museum of Toys Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
MINT Museum of Toys Tickets:
- Child: $20
- Senior: $20
- Adult: $30
- Child below 6: Free
More Details

With so many children’s museums to choose from in Singapore, most of which are welcoming places to go in Singapore for free (!), there should be plenty of material to keep your little ones engaged and active for many holidays to come.

We hope our list of the best children’s museums in Singapore is helpful and you’ve got enough inspiration!

Cover Image Credit: Lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg