Neighbourhood guide

Civic District

Museums, churches and colonial buildings

The Civic District packs the National Gallery, three NHB museums, two of the oldest churches in Singapore and Fort Canning Park into a short walk. Its monuments date from the colonial period.

National Gallery Singapore is open daily 10:00 to 19:00 in the twin Former City Hall and Supreme Court buildings. The Asian Civilisations Museum and the Peranakan Museum are both open daily 10:00 to 19:00, until 21:00 on Fridays. The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest existing museum in the country, on Stamford Road.

Saint Andrew's Cathedral is the oldest surviving Anglican place of worship, and the Armenian Church on Hill Street is described by the National Heritage Board as Singapore's oldest Christian church. Chijmes, the former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, is a few minutes away.

Fort Canning Park covers 22 hectares and is open 24 hours. The Fort Canning Command Centre, entered at 2 Cox Terrace, is an underground network of bunkers built in the late 1930s.

Getting there

City Hall (North-South and East-West lines) is the central stop for the Gallery, the Padang and Saint Andrew's. Bras Basah (Circle line) serves the National Museum side and Fort Canning (Downtown line) the park.

19 places

City Hall (North-South and East-West lines) · Bras Basah (Circle line) stations

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See Civic District on the interactive map

Nearby neighbourhoods

Bugis Temples on Waterloo Street and two big food centres 8 places · under 1 km away

Chinatown Temples, mosques and hawker centres 17 places · 1.2 km away

Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, Singapore

Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay The Singapore River 4 places · 1.3 km away

Marina Bay Gardens, bay and the Merlion 11 places · 1.4 km away

The best of Civic District

Best art museum National Gallery Singapore Over 8,000 works of Southeast Asian art, open daily 10:00 to 19:00.

Best late opening Asian Civilisations Museum Open until 21:00 on Fridays.

Best green space Fort Canning Park 22 hectares, open 24 hours.

Best history stop Fort Canning Command Centre (Battle Box) An underground command centre built in the late 1930s.

Things to do in Civic District

Gothic nave of Saint Andrew's Cathedral seen from the aisle

Temple, mosque or church Saint Andrew's Cathedral Singapore's oldest surviving Anglican place of worship and the seat of the Anglican bishop of Singapore. Its Welcome Centre is open to visitors and the cathedral runs guided tours.

White columned portico of the Armenian Church on Hill Street

Temple, mosque or church Armenian Church The Armenian Apostolic Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, described by the National Heritage Board as Singapore's oldest Christian church. It served the small Armenian community of the colonial period.

Spire and gates of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd

Temple, mosque or church Cathedral of the Good Shepherd One of Singapore's oldest Catholic places of worship and the seat of the local Roman Catholic archbishop.

Colourful carved gopuram figures at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple

Temple, mosque or church Sri Thendayuthapani Temple Known as the Chettiars' Temple, one of Singapore's oldest Hindu temples and dedicated to Murugan. It records the Nattukottai Chettiars' role in colonial Singapore's economy.

White Gothic chapel spire of Chijmes against a blue sky

Landmark Chijmes The former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, which housed the oldest Catholic girls' school in Singapore, founded by French sisters in 1854. The chapel and Caldwell House are national monuments.

Landmark The Arts House The Former Parliament House, likely the oldest surviving building in Singapore. It now operates as an arts venue.

The Padang cricket ground with a tower of the financial district behind

Park The Padang One of the oldest open spaces in Singapore for public recreation, gazetted a national monument in 2022. It sits opposite the Former City Hall and Former Supreme Court Building.

Landmark Esplanade Park Memorials A commemorative park on land created by the 1922 reclamation, with a promenade named Queen Elizabeth Walk in 1953. The National Heritage Board lists several memorials here.

White facade and clock tower of Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

Landmark Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall Two of Singapore's oldest purpose-built performance venues, a pair of connected buildings with a clock tower in the Civic District.

Landmark Former Supreme Court and City Hall Two neighbouring national monuments facing the Padang. The Former Supreme Court has a copper-green dome and was the last grand Neoclassical building of the colonial era.

Arched gateway and path in Fort Canning Park

Park Fort Canning Park A 22-hectare hilltop park bounded by Hill Street, Canning Rise, Clemenceau Avenue and River Valley Road, with old trees and the island's most diverse spice garden. Open 24 hours.

Park War Memorial Park A 1.4-hectare park remembering the civilian victims of World War II. Annual memorial services are held here on 15 February. Open 24 hours.

Neoclassical columned facade and dome of the National Gallery Singapore

Museum National Gallery Singapore A visual arts museum in the twin buildings of the Former City Hall and Supreme Court, with over 8,000 works of Southeast Asian art across 64,000 square metres. It is open daily 10:00 to 19:00, and the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery is closed until late 2027.

Yellow neoclassical facade of the Asian Civilisations Museum

Museum Asian Civilisations Museum A museum of Asian cultures in the Former Empress Place Building at the mouth of the Singapore River. It is open daily 10:00 to 19:00 and until 21:00 on Fridays.

Domed front of the National Museum of Singapore at dusk

Museum National Museum of Singapore Singapore's oldest existing museum, devoted to the general history of Singapore, in a domed building on Stamford Road.

Grey three-storey colonial building of the Peranakan Museum

Museum Peranakan Museum A museum in the century-old former Tao Nan School building, the first modern Chinese school in Singapore. It is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, until 21:00 on Fridays.

Landmark Fort Canning Command Centre (Battle Box) An underground network of bunkers and tunnels built in the late 1930s as the combined command centre for British and Allied forces in Malaya. The entrance is at 2 Cox Terrace in Fort Canning Park.

Red and white striped Central Fire Station with its tower

Landmark Central Fire Station The oldest surviving fire station in Singapore, near the Armenian Church and the Former Hill Street Police Station.

Window-shuttered facade of the Former Hill Street Police Station

Landmark Former Hill Street Police Station Nicknamed the Police Skyscraper, once the largest police station in Malaya, at the junction of Hill Street and River Valley Road.

What's on in Civic District

Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.

Monkey Goes West Performance
12 Nov to 27 Dec · The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre @ Wild Rice, Funan
A theatre production at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre @ Wild Rice, Funan, presented by Wild Rice Ltd.
S$50 to S$120 · Map · Source: SISTIC
Heritage on the Hill Guided Tour Activities
Sat 14 Nov · Fort Canning Park
A guided tour or walk at Fort Canning Park, run by the National Parks Board.
Free · 10:00 to 12:00 · Map · Source: National Parks Board
SSO Concerts for Children: Family Film Favorites Performance
14 to 15 Nov · Victoria Concert Hall
A family show at Victoria Concert Hall, presented by Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO).
S$30 to S$40 · Map · Source: SISTIC
SSZ3 Discover Civic District Activities
Sat 14 Nov · Civic District
A community workshop or activity at Civic District, organised through the People's Association by Seletar-Serangoon Zone 3 RN.
S$3 · 08:30 to 13:30 · Map · Source: People's Association
Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism, and the Silk Road Exhibition
On now, until 7 Mar 2027 · Asian Civilisations Museum
An exhibition on the Dunhuang caves, Buddhism and the Silk Road at the Asian Civilisations Museum, with an all-access ticket.
All-access ticket required · Map · Source: Asian Civilisations Museum
Fulton RN/ SMG -Tracing the Rule of Law Activities
Sat 21 Nov · National Gallery Singapore
A community workshop or activity at National Gallery Singapore, organised through the People's Association by Fulton-Bishan Park RN.
S$2 · 09:00 to 14:00 · Map · Source: People's Association
Grandparents' Day Activities
Sat 21 Nov · National Museum of Singapore
A Grandparents' Day programme at the National Museum of Singapore.
Map · Source: National Museum of Singapore
Hougang C2E - Home Team Festival 2026 Festival
Sat 21 Nov · Suntec City
A community celebration at Suntec City, organised through the People's Association by Hougang CC.
Free · 14:00 to 17:00 · Map · Source: People's Association
Trees of the Fort Guided Tour Activities
Sat 21 Nov · Fort Canning Park
A guided tour or walk at Fort Canning Park, run by the National Parks Board.
Free · 10:00 to 11:30 · Map · Source: National Parks Board
Guided Tour of "Hidden World: Creepy Crawlies of Singapore" and "Fort Canning Centre: A Activities
Sat 28 Nov · Fort Canning Centre
A guided tour or walk at Fort Canning Centre, run by the National Parks Board.
Free · 10:00 to 11:30 · Map · Source: National Parks Board · Guided Tour of "Hidden World: Creepy Crawlies of Singapore" and "Fort Canning Centre: A Century of Transformation"

Show all 11 events

Team Astana Comedy Show Performance
Fri 4 Dec · Capitol Theatre
A comedy show at Capitol Theatre.
S$99 to S$130 · from 19:30 · Map · Source: SISTIC

Show 4 events nearby, outside Civic District

Daily guided tours at the Asian Civilisations Museum Activities
Daily, various timings. Next: Mon 9 Nov · Asian Civilisations Museum, Civic District
Free guided tours of the Asian Civilisations Museum, offered daily at various timings; museum admission applies.
Various timings daily · Map · Source: Asian Civilisations Museum
ACM & Me Exhibition
On now, until 29 May 2027 · Asian Civilisations Museum, Civic District
An exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum, running from 23 May 2025.
Free admission for Singaporeans and PRs · Map · Source: Asian Civilisations Museum
Elegant Sounds: Music, Craft, and the Literati Exhibition
On now, until 31 May 2027 · Asian Civilisations Museum, Civic District
An exhibition on music, craft and the literati at the Asian Civilisations Museum, running from 23 May 2025.
Admission to Permanent Galleries · Map · Source: Asian Civilisations Museum
Rolling Good Old Times Vintage Market & Family Event Market
21 to 22 Nov · Fountain Square, Clarke Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay
12:00 · Map · Source: The Retro Factory

All 11 local events in Civic District

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Stay in Civic District

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