Explore 11 Singapore secret museums

Delve into the city's lesser-visited third spaces to uncover kooky warrens of oddball knowledge and all kinds of other unsung wonderments.

1. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research

Museum must-see: Brown Flycatcher bird specimen collected by Alfred Russel Wallace, Darwin's counterpart. National University of Singapore, #03-01, 6 Science Dr 2, Blk S6 (6516 5082). MRT: City Hall. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; free.
Read our review: Raffles Museum of Biodiversity and Research

2. Children Little Museum

Museum must-see: Retro metalrobot by the door. 42 Bussorah St (6298 2713, email: childrenlittlemuseum@gmail.com). MRT: Bugis. Daily 11am- 9pm; $2.
Read our review: Children Little Museum

3. Singapore Chinese Opera Museum

Museum must-see: Check out the headpieces worn by Chinese opera performers. 52 Kandahar St (6292 3393). MRT: Bugis. Tue-Sun 11am-7pm; free.
Read our review: Singapore Chinese Opera Museum

4. Raffles Hotel Museum (THIS VENUE IS NOW CLOSED)

Museum must-see: Look out for the earliest known written recipe for the Singapore Sling, penned on a guest’s wine-order sheet in 1936. 1 Beach Rd (6337 1886). MRT: City Hall. Daily 10am-7pm; free. Memoirs of a Raffles Original by Leslie Danker (Angsana Books) is available at the Raffles Hotel Shop, priced $29.90
Read our review: Raffles Hotel Museum

5. Art Retreat

Museum must-see: The stunning Wu Guanzhong collection, of course. Lobby C, #01-45/47 Ubi Techpark, 10 Ubi Crescent (6749 0880). Bus: 63. Tue-Sat 11am-6pm; free.
Read our review: Art Retreat

6. Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom

Museum must-see: Without doubt, behold, the stunning Butterfly Garden. Imbiah Rd, Sentosa (6275 0013). MRT: HarbourFront, then Sentosa Express. Daily 9.30am-7pm; $16; $10 for children.
Read our review: Butterly Park & Insect Kingdom

7. Fuk Tak Chi Museum

Museum must-see: An ornately detailed Chinese junk-ship replica. Far East Square, 76 Telok Ayer St (6532 7868). MRT: Raffles Place. Daily 10am-10pm; free.
Read our review: Fuk Tak Chi Museum

8. The Cathay Gallery

Museum must-see: Catch the black-and-white trailer for the Cathay-produced smash-hit Malay horror flick from 1957, Pontianak. #02-16 The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd (6732 7332). MRT: Dhoby Ghaut. Mon- Sat 11am-7pm; free.
Read our review: The Cathay Gallery

9. The Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum

Museum must-see: Toss the odds-defying ‘lucky’ Asian pond turtle a coin and your wish might come true – but we think he’d favour a fresh hunk of cucumber. 1 Chinese Garden Rd (6268 5363). MRT: Chinese Garden. Daily 9am-6pm; $5; children and senior citizens $3.
Read our review: The Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum

10. Singapore Coins and Notes Museum

Museum must-see: A facsimile of the rare, highly prized $1 note by the New Oriental Bank Corporation Limited in the Victorian section. Level 3, 2 Trengganu St (6222 2486). MRT: Chinatown. Daily 10am-8pm. $10; $6 for children, students and senior citizens.
Read our review: Singapore Coins and Notes Museum

11. The Private Museum

Museum must-see: Check the website for the latest news on exhibitions. #02-06, 51 Waterloo St (6738 2872). MRT: Bras Basah or City Hall. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat & Sun, public holidays 11am-5pm; free.
Read our review: The Private Museum