City: Downtown Core/Downtown Singapore
Top Things to do in Downtown Core/Downtown Singapore
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5 Specialty Museums in Downtown Core/Downtown Singapore That You Shouldn't Miss
The Singapore cityscape looks like it was ripped from the pages of a science fiction comic book. If you’re hungry for a true Singapore experience, sample the myriad street foods or take a cultural cooking class. The Botanic Gardens and the Gardens By the Bay offer a slice of horticultural heaven, and the observation deck of the Sands SkyPark makes you feel like you’re high above the clouds. The banks and walkways along the Singapore River bustle with local activity.
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1. Singapore City Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 513 reviews
Singapore City Gallery is a great starting point to get to know the city for free. Located beside the Maxwell food centre in the historic district of Chinatown, this 3 storey visitor centre goes beneath the skin of the city to understand how the city came to be, that even though it’s a dense built-up city of tar, glass and concrete, it is still so green, has memorable buildings, historic districts and walkable streets. You can imagine and design your own version of Marina Bay or explore plans long into the future like Greater Southern Waterfront city. The main draw is an enormous model replica of the City Centre with uncannily accurate miniatures of building and streetscapes. Look out for an illustrative map drawn by Lee Xin Li. It will sure to bring back memories of Singapore, past and present. Before you leave, catch the dramatic 3-min Island Wide Model show screened every 20 mins at level 1.
Reviewed By fuzzyfred - Reno, United States
This free place was an education on how the city grew and what good city planning can mean. It has exhibits spread over three floors. Enjoyed the section of what other cities are doing for the future. Wish my home town would have good city planners like this place. It took me around two hours.
2. Mint Museum of Toys
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 268 reviews
MINT Museum of Toys houses a world-class collection of vintage toys and collectibles in an international award-winning contemporary building. Since its inauguration, the museum has expanded its collection, amassing over 50,000 items, 8,500 of which are on display in the museum. The toys and items hail from over 40 countries and range in date from the 1840s to 1970s. These are displayed across four thematic levels of the museum and also at the rooftop which acts as a bar as well as a enamel sign gallery. The collection is made up of various key collections, including the only Batman robot toy complete with cape and sword, a century-old Steiff Teddy Bear and the first mass-manufactured robot before WWII. Over the years, the toy collection have been curated into various exhibitions and programmes run by the museum, serving as windows into the past as well as inspirations for the present.
Reviewed By Leesree_and_Subbi - Perth, Australia
We first discovered MINT (A Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys) Toy Museum a decade ago. Ever since then Subbi has wanted to return as she was completely taken with the impressive collection of toys across the ages. MINT is great for the young and the young at heart - though for those with children, note that these are no longer toys to play with, instead they're a representation of each of our childhoods! The collection definitely brings back childhood memories - we were three this time, aged 39, 50 and 62 and each had our moments of delight recalling toys we had played with or coveted in our youth. The mind certainly boggles at the value of the collection, with rare, unique and old collector’s items valued in the thousands of dollars from all over the world. We've heard that the toys on display are only part of the owner's full collection - it would be amazing to see what else is lovingly tucked away, memories of times past. The breadth of genres covered is impressive, from robots to plush teddy bears, from music memorabilia (think the Beatles) to TV and movie memories (from Bond to Batman to Star Wars, not to forget Flash Gordon and Felix the Cat), from Australia to America taking in Asia and Europe along the way. Toys that are no longer considered politically correct (Golliwogs), to favourites across the ages (Alice in Wonderland, Mickey Mouse, the Seven Dwarfs). Bulk produced and hand sewn toys all get a look in at this collection. Toys were supplemented with memorabilia including movie posters and props, news clippings and trinkets from Queen Elizabeth's coronation, racing and race car toys and memorabilia. It was touching to see some of the owner's son's toys included in the collection. A great way to spend an hour or so, recalling your youth, and learning about that of your parents and even your grandparents!!! As a tip, tickets are available at a slight discount via Klook, with mobile vouchers accepted at the Toy Museum. Also, if you're peckish, you can check out Mr Punch for food and drinks!
3. ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,652 reviews
ArtScience Museum is an iconic cultural landmark in Singapore and the cultural component of Marina Bay Sands. With 21 gallery spaces, ArtScience Museum has held large-scale exhibitions by some of the world’s major artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, M.C. Escher, Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol and Vincent Van Gogh since opening in February 2011. In addition, we have presented significant exhibitions that explore aspects of science including including particle physics, big data, robotics, palaeontology, marine biology and space exploration.
Reviewed By hwnew - Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
We visited the Art Science museum for three exhibitions; Floatopia, Future meets Science, Alice in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland, the experience was very well explained on entry and we had different maps to look around and explore. There was a lot about the background on Lewis Carroll and how Alice had came to life over the years in different countries. There were good opportunities for photos and lots on for young and old alike. Future meets Science - the exhibition gets the public involved with digital integration. However it is fairly crazy in parts with people standing and not moving or moving slowly on walls. Everyone eventually gets a turn at the main areas. The lights are very pretty and can leave you in awe. Floatopia - this has been put on the top floor and it's a blimp full of joy with giant inflations taking up space and you'd want to run up and cuddle it but you will be asked to step back from the artwork to a marked point for photos.
4. Red Dot Design Museum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 236 reviews
A boutique museum along the Waterfront Promenade at the Marina Bay. Red Dot Design Museum is the physical embodiment of the international Red Dot Design Award. Learn and enjoy good design from one of the most prestigious design awards in the world, through works from across disciplines including innovative products, research concepts, communication works and art.
Reviewed By rebeccawalsh86 - Warwick, United Kingdom
I had a great time looking at the exhibitions here (Human Nature), which amounted to a lot for such a small museum. The ticket price also included a book with images of all of the exhibits and explanatory material.
