Welcome to our step-by-step guide on how to get to National Museum of Singapore by MRT. This article is designed to help you get to the National Museum fast and easily using public transportation. Although it is challenging in some cities around Southeast Asia, the same cannot be said for Singapore.
Once you land at Changi Airport you can take the MRT directly down to the city center. Then, you can access popular points of interest such as the National Museum of Singapore by utilizing various MRT lines. We recommend booking a room right near a station and then using the MRT to get around.
Not only does using the MRT save you unnecessary headaches with traffic jams, but it is also efficient and affordable. Fortunately, the National Museum of Singapore is very close to multiple MRT stations. This makes it a convenient place to visit while you are sightseeing in Singapore. If you use public transport to get to the museum, you also don’t have to worry about parking a vehicle with is also a big stress-reliever! It’s also a wise decision to get a multiple-attraction pass which can include museum entrance fees to save money!
Why should you visit National Museum of Singapore?
The National Museum of Singapore is Singapore’s oldest museum. Its history dates way back to 1887 with its 19th-century elegant neo-Palladian design. It was named the National Museum of Singapore in 1965. Between 1993 and March 2006, it was known as the Singapore History Museum.
But don’t expect outdated exhibits here.
According to the official website for the National Museum of Singapore, “it uses cutting-edge technology to present the nation’s legacy and development.” You can expect to find innovative exhibits and events regardless of when you choose to visit the museum.
The National Museum of Singapore is also very convenient to add to your itinerary because of its close proximity to Orchard Road and Fort Canning Park.
It is minutes away from the YMCA Fort Canning, Hotel Fort Canning and YMCA @ One Orchard.
Getting to National Museum of Singapore using the MRT
Step 1: Leave your hotel and walk to the nearest MRT station.
The first step in making an efficient and affordable trip to Singapore is booking a hotel room near an MRT Station. This will allow you to get to the National Museum of Singapore and other places without getting a taxi or a private ride.
There are tons of hotels within walking distance of stations throughout the city. When people ask us where we think they should stay we often suggest hotels around Marina Bay. We have included a few examples below that fit this criterion. You can get to their respective MRT stations within one minute:
Marina Bay Sands (5-star) (Bayfront Station)
Fairmont Singapore (5-star)(Esplanade Station)
Once your hotel is sorted and you are ready to go to the National Museum of Singapore simply walk to the closest station.
Step 2: Plan your trip and get a ticket.
The interesting thing about visiting the National Museum of Singapore is that you can actually get there by using various MRT stations. In this specific article we will describe how to get to the Museum from Bencoolen Station and Bras Basah Station. These are the two closest ones.
However, we have included a summary below of the four possible stations that you can walk from to reach the National Museum of Singapore.
Bencoolen Station (DT21) – Downtown Line
Bras Basah Station (CC02) – Circle Line
Dhoby Ghaut Station (CC01/NE06/NS24) – Circle/North-East/North-South Line
City Hall Station (EW13/ NS25) – East-West/ North-South Line
Types of Tickets
Before heading to the National Museum of Singapore plan your itinerary and consider how much you will use the MRT. The type of ticket that you purchase will depend on your travel plans.
We have written a popular guide article on how to buy MRT tickets in Singapore. What you will learn by reading this article is that there are two main types of tickets available:
- Stored value cards
- Singapore Tourist Passes
If you going to do a bunch of sightseeing over a 1-3 day period, then try to get a Singapore Tourist Pass. Refer to our comprehensive guide on how to buy Singapore Tourist Passes to find out what the pros and cons are. Buses and MRT rides are covered by Tourist Passes.
When we first tried to figure out how to get to National Museum of Singapore by MRT we used an EZlink card. This is a type of stored-value card. These are popular with Singaporeans and long-term visitors to the city. Once you purchase the card and top it up you can just simply ‘tap it’ to enter and exit the system. The cost of the ride is automatically deducted from the cash balance on the card.
EXPERT INSIDER TIP: If you are visiting attractions or museums in Singapore, then buy a multiple attraction pass to save up to 52% on entrance fees. Over 200,000 of these passes have been purchased online by Singaporeans and visitors to the city. Pre-book your tickets and buy in bulk to get large discounts.
Step 3: Plan on going to Bencoolen Station or Bras Basah Station to reach National Museum of Singapore.
There are multiple lines and multiple stations that service trains within walking distance to the National Museum of Singapore. However, the two most convenient stations are Bencoolen and Bras Basah Station.
Bencoolen Station is located on the Downtown Line which is shown in Blue Colour on Singapore’s train map. Bras Basah Station is on the Circle Line which is Orange on the MRT Map.
Consequently, you can either take the Downtown Line or the Circle Line to get to the National Museum of Singapore.
Step 4: Ride the MRT to Bencoolen Station or Bras Basah Station.
Once you have decided which line you will take and whether you need to transfer anywhere, it’s time to take the MRT to either to Bencoolen or Bras Basah Station.
While you are riding the MRT in Singapore be on alert for verbal announcements being made on the trains. These are designed to inform you of upcoming stations on the line so that you do not miss your stop. Similarly, you can refer to the signs above the exit doors to see where you are.
Step 5: Alight at Bencoolen Station or Bras Basah Station and walk to National Museum of Singapore.
Bencoolen Station is only 350 meters away from the National Museum of Singapore. Simply get off of the train with your belongings and follow the signs. Take Exit B from Bencoolen station and walk in the southwest direction to the National Museum.
The walk should only take about 2 minutes.
Alternatively, alight at Bras Basah Station. Take Exit E and walk via Bras Basah Road to the National Museum.
This walk should take you about 4 minutes since the station is about 400 meters away from the Museum.
Is it a wise idea to stay near the National Museum of Singapore while you are in the city?
The National Museum of Singapore is extremely well connected to the MRT system. This means that if you stay in this area that you can easily access all the other attractions around the city. The museum is also within walking distance of Singapore’s premier shopping district – Orchard Road. Consequently, you could stay along Orchard Road and simply walk down to the museum if you wanted to.
YMCA @ One Orchard (3-star, 7.9/10 review score) is the closest and most convenient hotel for accessing the museum. If you choose to stay along Orchard Road you can expect to pay more than staying here. In Singapore, you pay for convenience. Therefore, you can choose to stay in a cheaper area than Orchard, but you probably won’t be within walking distance to 10 or 15 different shopping malls.
If you are trying to save some cash on accommodation then you might want to stay in Chinatown where there are a lot of hostels and boutique hotels to choose from.
More questions about getting to National Museum of Singapore?
Ideally, this step-by-step guide on how to get to National Museum of Singapore by MRT will make your trip fast, easy and affordable. Our goal is to make sure that this is a stress-free connection for you while you were in the city. If you do have additional questions feel free to reach out to us via email. We would be happy to provide you with more information if required.
It is also important to highlight the fact that you can walk to the National Museum of Singapore from Dhoby Ghaut Station and City Hall Station. There is no denying the fact that they are further away from the museum when compared to Bencoolen and Bras Basah. But, if you do not mind walking you can get to the museum in 10 minutes or less from both of these. This information might help you to avoid making a very short MRT ride when you could have just walked to the Museum in the same amount of time.
There are a lot of itinerary possibilities that can include the National Museum of Singapore. Highly consider shopping along Orchard Road and also exploring Fort Canning Park. The Park is located directly beside the museum.