Asian Civilisations Museum

Singapore prides itself on its multicultural heritage, which is the result of immigrants and traders descending upon the country in its early years. Celebrating this diversity at the Asian Civilisations Museum, which—as the name implies—showcases various cultures originating from all around Asia, including China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia. The museum is centrally located in Empress Place along the Singapore River and just across from the touristy Boat Quay area. It used to be situated at Armenian Street, but was relocated to its current position in 2003—right next to the Arts House and Victoria Theatre—which makes it a convenient stop if you’re planning to spend an afternoon exploring the area. The museum is quite large, with 11 galleries housing over 1300 artefacts from various ancient Asian civilisations. Free guided tours are available daily in various languages, making it ideal for visitors to navigate 5,000 years of diverse history in just one stop.