Asian Civilisations Museum: hours, tickets and a visit plan

The Asian Civilisations Museum stands at 1 Empress Place, beside the Singapore River. It’s about a 14-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from Hotel Conforto.

The museum has occupied its present building by the river since 2003. Its location also makes it straightforward to combine a museum visit with a walk around the civic and riverfront area.

The galleries trace the artistic heritage of Asian cultures, with particular attention to the ancestral cultures of Singaporeans. The collection and exhibition programme span Southeast Asia, China, South Asia, West Asia and the Peranakan world.

Rather than treating these regions as separate stories, the museum examines their historical connections. Themes include trade, the exchange of ideas, and the spread of religions and faith between Asian cultures and across the wider world.

The museum was founded in 1993 and opened in 1997. Its collection grew out of the Raffles Museum, founded in the mid-19th century. The Singapore River is part of the museum’s story too: a gallery has explored the river’s role in Singapore’s history and trade.

Admission prices and opening hours can change, so check the official site before you go. Use the museum’s current visitor information to confirm ticket options, any concessions, and the hours that apply on your chosen day.

Opening hours

• Monday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 10:00–19:00
• Friday: 10:00–21:00

Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.

Older prices and schedules published by the museum are not a reliable guide to current arrangements. Confirm the details directly before setting out, especially if your visit depends on a particular admission rate or time slot.

Choose your visit length around the galleries and themes you want to explore; there is no single duration that suits every route through the museum. If time is limited, start with the regions and subjects that interest you most, then follow the connections among trade, ideas and faith.

You can also pair the museum with a riverside walk. The Singapore River Gallery has addressed the river’s place in local history and trade, tying the museum’s regional themes to its setting. Gallery displays and programmes can change, so verify what is available during your visit on the museum’s official site.

The museum’s position at Empress Place makes a riverfront walk a natural companion to a gallery visit. The Singapore River provides the setting for the museum’s focus on historical trade and exchange, so you can connect the indoor displays with the waterfront outside. Nearby, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall offers another cultural stop in the civic area.

Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is another nearby landmark in the civic area. You can plan around it without straying far from the museum.

If you want to extend the walk toward Clarke Quay and Chinatown, plan that route as a separate stretch of the day. A one-day walk from Clarke Quay to Chinatown links riverfront scenery with neighbourhood streets and gives you a broader view of central Singapore.