Visiting the National Gallery Singapore: Practical guide with hours, prices & tips

The National Gallery Singapore is a visual arts museum housed in the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, in Singapore‘s Civic District. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.

This guide was last updated in July 2026. One change worth noting: the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery is temporarily closed until late 2027. Works from the National Collection remain on display elsewhere in the building.

Quick facts

CategoryDetails
Opening hoursDaily, 10am–7pm (last admission 6.30pm)
Ticket pricesFree for Singapore citizens and PRs; S$20 to S$30 for other visitors, depending on ticket type
Address1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
Nearest transportCity Hall MRT station, Exit B (7-minute walk); car park entrance on Coleman Street
Typical visit lengthAround 3 hours

The National Gallery Singapore opens daily from 10am to 7pm, including public holidays. Admission and ticket sales close 30 minutes before closing, at 6.30pm.

These hours apply year-round, with no separate summer or winter schedule. Some entrances stay open later for dining and shared spaces. The Coleman Street entrance, for example, remains open until as late as 4am on Saturdays and the eve of public holidays. This does not extend access to the ticketed galleries.

Five great things to do while you’re in Singapore

Ticket typeSingaporeans / PRsOther visitors
General AdmissionFreeS$20
Special ExhibitionN/AS$25
Combo (All Access)S$15S$30

Concession rates take S$5 off General Admission and Combo tickets for children aged 7 to 12, seniors aged 60 and above, full-time National Servicemen, and eligible overseas students and teachers. Children aged 6 and under, Gallery members, and persons with disabilities plus one caregiver enter free.

Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in July 2026.

The National Gallery Singapore is included in the Go City Singapore All-Inclusive Pass. Other included attractions are Gardens by the Bay, the ArtScience Museum, Singapore Zoo, and Marina Bay Sands SkyPark.

The nearest MRT station is City Hall, reached via Exit B and a 7-minute walk along the Art Connector. Clarke Quay MRT station is a 10-minute walk away, following the Singapore River.

Several bus routes stop nearby, including services 63, 51, 80, 32, and 851 near the Coleman Street entrance. Taxis and private hire vehicles can drop passengers at either the Coleman Street or Padang Atrium entrances.

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Parking is available on Basements 2 and 3, with the car park entrance on Coleman Street. Daytime rates run at S$1.40 per half hour between 2.30am and 6pm, and S$3.30 per entry from 6pm to 2.30am.

The gantry closes overnight on a rotating schedule, between 1am and 4am depending on the day. Connaught Drive and Fullerton Road are closed to traffic, so this route cannot be used to reach the car park.

Most visitors spend around 3 hours at the National Gallery Singapore. This covers the permanent galleries and one or two special exhibitions at a comfortable pace.

Visitors wanting to see every gallery in depth, including temporary exhibitions and a guided tour, should allow closer to a full day. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter, which usually means a faster visit.

All galleries are wheelchair-accessible, and standard-size motorised wheelchairs are permitted throughout. Free wheelchair loans are available at Visitor Services Counters near the Coleman Street entrance, Padang Atrium entrance, and Basement 1.

Accessible restrooms and lifts are available on every floor except Level 6. Visitors who feel overwhelmed can use the Calm Room at Basement 1 of the City Hall Wing.

The National Gallery Singapore.
The National Gallery Singapore. Photo by Matt Briney on Unsplash

The DBS Singapore Gallery houses the permanent collection of Singapore art. It currently presents Singapore Stories: Pathways & Detours in Art, alongside a display on Tchang Ju Chi.

The Wu Guanzhong Gallery currently shows He Xiangning: Ink & Intent, a changing exhibition of Chinese ink art.

The UOB Southeast Asia Gallery is closed for renovation until late 2027. Works usually shown there have been placed in other galleries in the meantime.

The building itself joins the former Supreme Court and City Hall, two national monuments connected by a rooftop garden and event space known as the Padang Atrium.

Families can visit the Keppel Centre for Art Education on Level 1, which runs interactive workshops and hands-on activities without needing an admission ticket.

Practical visitor tips

TipDetail
TimingArrive at 10am on a weekday morning for the quietest visit.
CrowdsWeekends and public holidays draw the largest crowds, especially after midday.
LayoutThe Gallery spans two connected buildings, so allow extra time to move between wings.
Entry processBook tickets online in advance and collect them at a self-service kiosk on arrival.
On-site logisticsStore bulky bags, umbrellas, and food in the lockers at Basement 1 before entering the galleries.
QuestionAnswer
Is the National Gallery Singapore suitable for children?Yes. Children aged 6 and under enter free, and the Keppel Centre for Art Education offers family activities.
Do you need to book tickets in advance?Booking online is recommended to avoid queues, though tickets are also sold on-site.
Is the National Gallery Singapore open on Sundays?Yes. It opens daily, including Sundays and public holidays, from 10am to 7pm.
Are bags allowed inside?Small bags are allowed, but bulky items and large bags must be stored in lockers at Basement 1.
Is photography allowed?Still photography without flash is allowed for personal use; tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted.

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is a performing arts centre beside Marina Bay, about a 15-minute walk away.

Merlion Park offers a waterfront view of Singapore’s Merlion statue, roughly a 10-minute walk from the Gallery.

Fort Canning Park is a hilltop park with colonial-era landmarks, around a 10-minute walk away.

Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum are a further 20-minute walk along the waterfront, or a short taxi ride.

Chinatown offers historic shophouses and hawker food, around a 10-minute taxi ride from the Gallery.

What to visit tomorrow

The Asian Civilisations Museum covers pan-Asian art and history, a 10-minute walk from the National Gallery Singapore.

The Peranakan Museum focuses on Peranakan culture and heritage, a short taxi ride across the river.

The National Museum of Singapore presents the country’s social history through galleries and artefacts, about a 10-minute walk away.

The Red Dot Design Museum displays contemporary product and design work, a short drive from the Civic District.

The STPI Creative Workshop & Gallery combines a working print studio with rotating contemporary art exhibitions, a short drive away in the Robertson Quay area.

More Singapore travel

Other Singapore travel guides on Planet Whitley include: