4 Hours in Singapore

Exploring art and architecture, shophouses and godowns in the Lion City.

- Jeremy Tredinnick

1 Asian Civilizations Museum

Start on Boat Quay outside the Fullerton Hotel, a grand colonnaded edifice near the mouth of the Singapore River that was once the city-state’s General Post Office but is now an iconic luxury hotel. Cross the pedestrian bridge to the leftbank of the river and another huge British colonial building stands ahead of you, home to the Asian Civilizations Museum. This 150,000-square-foot repository of history focuses on the many ancestral cultures of Singapore’s multiethnic population. More than 1,300 artifacts are displayed from all corners of the continent – it’s a fascinating insight into Singapore’s rich heritage. The Asian Civilizations Museum is one of four museums in Singapore. Open daily 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Fridays to 9:00 PM; tel [phone]; acm.org.sg.

2 Art-2 Gallery and Fort Canning Park

Follow the riverfront promenade upstream for five minutes, under Elgin Bridge and onto Hill Street. Here you’ll find Art-2 Gallery, which specializes in contemporary sculpture, paintings and ceramics, with bold exhibitions from regional artists.