7 Best Sights in Singapore

Constructed in the 1860s as a courthouse, the huge, white, Neoclassical Empress Place building is now home to the nation's first museum to look comprehensively at the all Asian regions, each of which has its own timeline and permanent displays. Spread over three levels, the 11 galleries have state-of-the-art interactive features, and there's also an educational center for kids.

Following the colonization of Singapore in 1819, Indians began to make their way over to Singapore, and today they form the country's third-largest ethnic group. Inside the stunning Indian Heritage Centre, the history of the Indian and South Asian communities is detailed through five permanent exhibitions. Other showcases include opulent gold jewelry from the Saigon Chettiars’ Temple Trust, personal heirlooms, and intricately carved doorways and frames, one holding as many as 5,000 carvings. Free guided tours in English, Tamil, and Chinese are offered. Before leaving, take time to admire the building, modeled after a baoli (Indian stepwell)—it's especially eye-catching at sunset.

Formerly the Tao Nan School, built in 1910, this grand colonial building now houses the first museum in Southeast Asia devoted to the story of the Peranakans, the descendants of 17th-century Chinese and Indian immigrants who married local Malays. Its 10 galleries display artwork, jewelry, furniture, and clothing from members of the community.

Housed in the stunning red-and-white brick building of the Central Fire Station built in 1908, this free museum is an exciting peek at Singapore's firefighting capabilities across the years. Besides a collection of dated firefighting artifacts and miniatures of Singapore's different fire stations from the 1980s, the museum's main attractions are two vintage fire engines—one horse-powered and one steam-powered—that were manually operated with pulley systems. A reenactment of the 1961 Bukit Ho Swee fire, with mock-up firefighters working hard to put out the flames, is a grim reminder of Singapore's biggest fire disaster.

Originally the Ford Motor Company's first car assembly plant in South East Asia, this building is now better known as the site where British forces surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Army in 1942. It is now a museum operated by the Singapore National Archives. The museum’s permanent exhibition details what life was like during Japanese colonial rule and the legacies of the war for ordinary Singaporeans. Volunteers lead guided tours on weekends that leave from the lobby; check online for timings and confirmation.

Known as the Raffles Museum when it opened in 1887, this building with a silver dome has 20 dioramas depicting the republic's past. It's also home to the Revere Bell, donated to the original St. Andrew's Church in 1834 by the daughter of American patriot Paul Revere; the 380-piece Haw Par Jade Collection, one of the largest of its kind; the exquisite Farquhar Collection of regional flora and fauna paintings executed in the 19th century; occult paraphernalia from Chinese secret societies; and lots of historical documents.

Discover what it means to be a Chinese Singaporean at the center's permanent interactive Singapo人 Exhibition. This new identity is complex and ever-changing, where Chinese culture has been shaped over many years by Singapore’s other diverse ethnicities. From historic influences to modern-day food, language, and culture, it tells a fascinating story of this uniquely Singaporean identity.