Historical Places in Singapore

Exploring historical places in Singapore is like stepping back in time. Ancient monuments, heritage buildings and cultural landmarks reveal the city’s fascinating journey through the centuries. MakeMyTrip offers 278 historical attractions in Singapore for 2025, perfect for travellers who enjoy history, culture and architecture.

Exploring the Famous Historical Places in Singapore

Singapore doesn’t just wear its modern side, history sits quietly in corners if you look for it. A temple wedged between glass towers, a weathered shophouse with peeling shutters, or a colonial arch standing steady while traffic rushes past. The famous historical places in Singapore aren’t distant or out of reach, they’re right there in the middle of daily life.

You might wander into Chinatown and catch incense thick in the air, or step into Little India where colours and chants fill the streets. Around the Padang, colonial facades glow pale in late afternoon light, and old statues watch the crowds without blinking. These are just a glimpse of the historical places in Singapore, pieces of a larger story that’s both layered and restless.

What stays with you isn’t always the big landmarks. Sometimes it’s the echo of bells in a courtyard, the scrape of chairs in a kopitiam nearby, or the way shadows fall across tiled floors. Visiting the famous historical places in Singapore is less about racing through a list of historical places in Singapore and more about letting small things stick. Even ordinary activities, sipping kopi on a corner, leaning against a sun-warmed wall, or standing still while the city hurries by, feel like part of the journey.

Historical Place in Singapore

Temples & Religious Sites

Sri Mariamman Temple

You catch the scent of incense before you see it. Then the gopuram towers into view, packed with colourful deities stacked high above the entrance. Out of the list of historical places in Singapore, Sri Mariamman is one that pulls you straight into its rhythm.

Historical Background: Built in the 19th century, it’s one of the oldest Hindu temples in the city and has always been a gathering place.

Key Highlights: Among the famous historical places in Singapore, this one feels alive, bells ringing, flowers strung into garlands, voices rising in prayer. The activities here are simple: slipping off your shoes, letting the stone cool your feet, or standing still while the chants echo around you.

• Timing: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Free entry.
• Location: Chinatown, Singapore.

Thian Hock Keng Temple

You step past the dragon carvings, and suddenly the noise of the street fades. The wooden beams and tiled roofs still carry that history. It’s a historical place in Singapore where you notice the small things, incense smoke curling into the rafters, red lanterns swaying gently, the sound of coins dropped into offering boxes.

Historical Background: The temple was built by Hokkien immigrants in the 19th century, a place to give thanks after long sea voyages.

Key Highlights: Out of all the famous historical places in Singapore, this one feels grounded in the city’s maritime roots. The activities here include watching worshippers bow quietly, sketching the carvings, or sitting in the courtyard as the breeze carries faint street sounds inside.

• Timing: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Free entry.
• Location: Telok Ayer Street, Singapore.

Sultan Mosque

The golden dome glints from blocks away, and you find yourself walking toward it almost without thinking. Even today, its dome and minarets dominate the neighbourhood. Out of the historical places in Singapore, this one lingers in your memory long after you leave.

Historical Background: Built in the 19th century, the mosque became the heart of the Muslim community in Kampong Glam.

Key Highlights: Among the famous historical places in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque is one of the most striking. It belongs to the list of historical places in Singapore that still feels central to daily life. The activities here aren’t complicated: stepping barefoot onto cool marble, listening to the call to prayer rise over the rooftops, or watching the late sun paint the dome deep gold.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Free entry.
• Location: Kampong Glam, Singapore.

Colonial Buildings & Monuments

Raffles Hotel

You don’t have to stay here to feel its presence. The white facade stretches wide, verandas lined with palm trees swaying in the sticky heat. Out of the list of historical places in Singapore, this is the one where history feels luxurious, but still deeply rooted.

Historical Background: Built in the late 19th century, it once welcomed traders, writers, and travellers drifting through Southeast Asia.

Key Highlights: Among the famous historical places in Singapore, Raffles Hotel feels polished yet storied, a reminder of colonial days wrapped in elegance. The activities are simple: wander through the courtyard, listen to the creak of old wooden shutters, or sip tea under a fan that stirs the air lazily.

• Timing: Open daily, public areas accessible.
• Ticket and Price: Free to walk around, dining costs extra (Starts from INR 1,500 upwards).
• Location: Beach Road, Singapore.

Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

You cross the river and the clock tower comes into view, tall and pale against the sky. It’s a historical place in Singapore where you can still hear music float out on certain evenings, mixing with the hum of the river.

Historical Background: The building dates back to the 19th century and has lived many lives, such as a town hall, a hospital during wartime, and now a cultural space.

Key Highlights: Out of all the famous historical places in Singapore, this one feels balanced between past and present. You can just sit outside under the clock tower’s shadow, step inside for a performance, or just wander past as its bells strike the hour.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Around INR 500 for performances; free to view exterior.
• Location: Empress Place, Singapore.

Old Parliament House (The Arts House)

Its neoclassical lines make you stop mid-walk. Among the famous historical places in Singapore, this one feels understated, not as grand as a palace, but steady and significant.

Historical Background: This is Singapore’s oldest surviving government building, dating back to 1827. Once the centre of politics, it now lives as a space for art and events.

Key Highlights: It belongs to the list of historical places in Singapore that carry the past. The activities here include watching an exhibition, standing quietly in the old chambers, or simply resting on the steps while life rushes past outside.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Around INR 200.
• Location: Parliament Place, Singapore.

Museums & Cultural Spaces

National Museum of Singapore

You walk through the doors, and cool air greets you. High ceilings, white columns, light spilling through glass domes. Inside, artefacts whisper about traders, wars, and the shaping of a nation.

Historical Background: The historical background stretches back to 1887, making it the oldest museum in the country. Out of the list of historical places in Singapore, the museum is where you begin to understand the bigger picture.

Key Highlights: Among the famous historical places in Singapore, this one feels like the anchor, a place where stories gather. The activities here are slow ones: walking through galleries at your own pace, listening to audio stories, or sitting in the rotunda watching light shift across the walls.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Around INR 800.
• Location: Stamford Road, Singapore.

Asian Civilisations Museum

Beside the river, this museum pulls you in with its elegant colonial facade. Inside, you find treasures from across Asia, textiles, ceramics, sculptures, each piece tied to Singapore’s role as a trading hub. Out of all the famous historical places in Singapore, this one feels like a bridge, connecting the city to the wider region.

Historical Background: The historical background ties it to the 19th century, once the site of government offices.

Key Highlights: It’s a historical place in Singapore that lets you travel across cultures without leaving the building. The activities you can do here include wandering galleries filled with delicate carvings, pausing to sketch in a notebook, or standing at the windows watching boats drift down the river.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Around INR 700.
• Location: Empress Place, Singapore.

Peranakan Museum

You step into a smaller, more intimate space here. Colourful tiles, traditional costumes, and furniture that looks lived-in. Among the famous historical places in Singapore, the Peranakan Museum feels personal, a window into blended cultures and family traditions.

Historical Background: The historical background goes back to the early 20th century, when this building served as a school before being transformed into a museum.

Key Highlights: Out of the list of historical places in Singapore, this one is quieter, easier to take in at your own pace. The activities here are watching beadwork glint under soft light, listening to old family stories recorded by descendants, or simply noticing how the details make a whole way of life come alive.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Around INR 600.
• Location: Armenian Street, Singapore.

Parks & War Memorials

Fort Canning Park

You climb the shaded paths and the city noise drops away. Old gates, crumbling walls, and even a bunker lie hidden under the greenery. Out of the famous historical places in Singapore, Fort Canning feels layered, playgrounds and walking trails sit alongside battle memories.

Historical Background: The historical background takes you back to the days of Malay kings, and later to the British who used it as their headquarters.

Key Highlights: It belongs on the list of historical places in Singapore where you can wander without a map. The activities here are simple: stretching out on the grass, tracing carvings on the old gates, or stepping into the cool dark of the underground bunker.

• Timing: Open 24 hours.
• Ticket and Price: Free.
• Location: Fort Canning Hill, Singapore.

Civilian War Memorial

Four tall pillars rise against the sky, stark and solemn. Among the famous historical places in Singapore, the Civilian War Memorial is one of the quietest. A historical place in Singapore where people pause on their daily walks to reflect.

Historical Background: They were built to remember those who lost their lives during the Japanese Occupation of World War II. The historical background makes this one of the most moving spots in the city.

Key Highlights: The activities are nothing complicated: standing under the pillars, listening to the hum of the city around you, or laying a flower in silence.

• Timing: Open all day.
• Ticket and Price: Free.
• Location: Beach Road, Singapore.

Kranji War Cemetery

The air feels heavier here. Rows of white headstones stretch out, neat and endless, each one carrying a name or sometimes just the word “Unknown.” Out of all the historical places in Singapore, this is the one that lingers long after you leave.

Historical Background: The historical background ties it to World War II, where soldiers and civilians were laid to rest after the Japanese invasion.

Key Highlights: Among the famous historical places in Singapore, Kranji is the most sobering. It belongs to the list of historical places in Singapore that remind you history is not just about walls and towers, but about lives lived and lost. The activities are quiet: walking slowly between graves, reading the names, or just sitting on a bench with the rustle of trees overhead.

• Timing: 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Free.
• Location: Woodlands Road, Singapore.

Traveller Tips for Singapore

• Take your time. The famous historical places in Singapore aren’t just stops on a tour; they’re moments you’ll want to sit with. Don’t rush from one landmark to the next; pause, lean against a wall, listen to the sounds around you.
• Mornings work best. The air is cooler, streets quieter, and many historical places in Singapore feel more open before the crowds arrive.
• Dress light, but respectful. Temples, mosques, and churches ask for covered shoulders and knees, so carry a scarf or light jacket to slip on.
• Carry a little cash. Entrance to some sites is free, but small donations for upkeep or lamps are appreciated.
• Evenings can be magical. Many of the famous historical places in Singapore glow differently at sunset, domes catching the last light, or courtyards filling with soft shadows.
• Leave space for the small things. The best activities aren’t always planned: sipping kopi in a backstreet café, tracing carvings on an old doorway, or just watching kids play in a square near a temple.