Two national monuments on the Padang, the former Supreme Court and City Hall, now hold what the gallery calls the world’s largest collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art.
The Supreme Court building on the Padang dates from 1939 and City Hall from 1926–1929; on 12 September 1945 Lord Mountbatten accepted the Japanese surrender at City Hall. Together they now form National Gallery Singapore. The Singapore Stories galleries need a General Admission ticket, which includes free guided tours, subject to schedule. The UOB Southeast Asia Gallery is closed until late 2027.
Allow two to three hours, and come on a weekday afternoon, when the galleries make a cool refuge from the heat. The free Building Highlights tour needs registration, and the Coleman Deck looks out over the Padang. Odette, one of Singapore’s three three-star restaurants, is inside the building. Children aged six and under go free.
