8 Best Sights in Singapore

George Coleman designed the Parliament House in 1827 as a mansion for wealthy merchant John Maxwell. Maxwell never occupied it, and instead leased it to the government, which eventually bought it in 1841 for S$15,600. It is considered Singapore's oldest government building, housing the Supreme Court until 1939 followed by the Legislative Assembly in 1953 and then the Parliament in 1965. The building now contains The Arts House, a multidisciplinary venue offering film retrospectives, photo exhibitions, musicals, plays, and talks by experts. Note the bronze elephant statue on a plinth in front of the building; it was a gift from King Chulalongkorn of Siam during his state visit in 1871.

Owned by the Shanghai-born art dealer and author Marjorie Chu, Art Forum is a beautiful contemporary art gallery with a focus on Southeast Asia. Paintings and sculptures from more than 150 local and international artists are on display within this restored, whitewashed terrace house, and Chu herself is a wonderful resource for learning about the region's evolving arts scene. The art collection is displayed on a rotating basis.

This cool, contemporary space is one of Singapore's most well-known galleries, with works of art from some of the greatest painters in the world, including Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. The gallery, which also has outlets from Paris to New York, hosts a number of specialist exhibitions throughout the year in the Singapore branch. Many of the paintings and sculptures are also available to buy, though expect a hefty price tag.

Explore the mediums of print and paper at this creative workshop and art gallery by Robertson Quay. Exhibitions and work from visiting international artists change regularly, so check their website for further information. There are also works from leading artists available for purchase.

Nestled in the charming Chip Bee Gardens, Singapore’s leading contemporary art gallery champions primarily Southeast Asian artists, and the exhibits tend to have a younger, more urban edge than is typically found on the island. The curated collection has over 2,000 works if you are interested in purchasing art during your stay.