Asian Civilisations Museum: Tickets & All You Need to Know

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Well, the Asian Civilisations Museum is mostly known for highlighting the importance of Singapore’s maritime and multicultural heritage. And this is done through permanent exhibitions that place it in the wider context of historical and artistic developments in Asia as a whole.

Permanent Galleries

One of the many national monuments in the civic district, the Asian Civilisations Museum is divided into three floors. Each floor has galleries dedicated to themes with permanent exhibitions.

Each display is dedicated to the artistic and cultural heritage of Asia. And as its name suggests, you can learn all about ancient civilisations in this museum.

The first level focuses on Maritime Trade. Here, you can discover the history of Asian port cities and the Silk Road. It begins with the ninth century through the Tang Shipwreck collection, discovered off Belitung Island in Indonesia.

The Tang Shipwreck, also known as the Belitung Wreck or Batu Hitam (“black rock”) Shipwreck, is a fascinating exhibition. The wreck stands as proof that sea routes and trade happened in the region as early as the 9th century. Following that, you can also admire displays of Asian export art.

Meanwhile, the second level is titled Faith & Belief. Its galleries highlight the religions that originated in various parts of Asia and how these spread throughout the continent. Here, you’ll find relics and artefacts belonging to different religions like Buddhist statues and Christian art.

Finally, the third level is all about Material & Design — that is, the decorative arts. Immerse in the history and details of Chinese ceramics and white wares, Southeast Asian jewellery, and traditional designs.

New gallery: Textile Masters to the World

From 24 March 2023, visitors to the ACM museum have a brand new exhibition to check out gorgeous

Introducing Textile Masters to the World: The global desire for Indian cloth, featuring gorgeous garments and beautiful textiles on display.

This new exhibition throws a spotlight on textile production in India. The display also focused on how this influence spread across the globe, from the Middle East to Europe.

But what’s special about some of these textiles? Well, they each were renowned and valued for their high-quality. Each piece was crafted with advanced design techniques of its time, from dye printing to hand embroidery.

And they became in many cases, status symbols of wealth, decorating homes, even becoming must-haves for certain rituals.

Here are some of the stunning pieces that you can see on display:

Restaurants

Beyond galleries, there are also two Asian Civilisations Museum restaurant options for those who want to indulge in a delicious meal. Pro tip: you can get a 10% discount on select menu items from either restaurant for same-day visitors.

Those craving modern Chinese dishes should definitely try out casual Chinese restaurant Empress at the Asian Civilisations Museum. There’s also Prive Asian Civilisations Museum for those who prefer all-day breakfast and even fusion cuisine.

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How much are Asian Civilisations Museum tickets?

Each Asian Civilisations Museum ticket costs only SGD15 for foreign visitors. And good news for locals. ACM is free for Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and all children aged six and below. Special exhibitions are free for senior citizens, students, NSFs, and children aged six and below who are locals. For a full list of free museums in Singapore, click here.

The museum also offers daily scheduled guided tours that are free of charge, highlighting the best of the museum by volunteer docents. Each tour lasts roughly about 45 minutes and is held in different languages.

Highlights Tour for March 2023

How long does it take to finish the whole Asian Civilisations Museum?

This will depend on how much time you wish to spend in each gallery. Usually, it takes two hours to see everything. However, we recommend taking three to four hours to take in every exhibition.

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By train

When going to the Asian Civilisations Museum, the nearest MRT station would be the Raffles Place Station. Once the train arrives at that station, take Exit H. From there, it is only a short walk to the museum.

By bus

There are plenty of buses you can take. Just remember to disembark once you arrive at the Fullerton Square Bus Stop (03011). Afterwards, you’ll only need to walk for about two minutes to get to the Asian Civilisations Museum.

By car

For those planning to drive, the museum is easy to reach, with its locale in the heart of the city.

But in terms of where to park at the Asian Civilisations Museum, well, unfortunately, the museum has no parking lots. Not to worry, though. The Asian Civilisation Museum’s parking situation is not the worst in the world.

There’s the New Parliament House to park at. Or even the Six Battery Road building, and One Fullerton (across from the Fullerton Hotel).

You can find the museum entrance via the road behind Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. Or on the flip side, you can access it via Parliament Place and Old Parliament Lane.