Science Centre Singapore

Hundreds of exhibits, one rule: predict first, press second.

Go before the move, and go with a plan. Science Centre Singapore is still the best "what does this button do" day out on the island for children old enough to ask why, but it is big, and the classic mistake is to treat it as a long corridor of buttons. Choose a subject or two, let the children decide what deserves a second go, and accept that you will not see everything.

Why now

The centre has been in Jurong East since December 1977, in a building by Raymond Woo Architects. Its successor, by Zaha Hadid Architects with Architects 61, is rising on a 7.4-hectare waterfront site in Jurong Lake Gardens and is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2027, for the institution's 50th anniversary. Until then this is the visitor venue, and the one a generation of school trips remembers.

ONE Ocean

The big exhibition this year has been ONE Ocean: Every Action Ripples, which made its world debut here on 30 May 2026. Built on two decades of research by the French nonprofit Tara Ocean Foundation and designed by the immersive studio Ride FX, it runs across ten zones: a 360-degree projection of reefs, whale migrations and the deep sea; a sound room mixing recordings from above and below the waves; a replica Arctic research station; a coral reef display that shows colour loss under stress; and a zone on Singapore's own marine life, with real specimens from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. There is also a bespoke ocean scent piped into the galleries (the one exhibit nobody has to be told not to touch). The launch material recommended it for ages five and up, with a free-roaming VR add-on for nine and up, and a self-paced visit of 60 to 100 minutes. Check it is still running before you build the day around it.

The rest of the campus

The Omni-Theatre, opened in 1987, was Singapore's first OMNIMAX theatre: 276 seats under a tilted 23-metre dome. Younger children are better matched to KidsSTOP, which has its own age range and sessions. The Omni-Theatre, KidsSTOP and special exhibitions can be ticketed separately, so check what your ticket covers before you reach the door.

How to do it well

At each exhibit, make a prediction before you try it, then talk about what happened; the second attempt is often more interesting than the first. Leave room for a scheduled demonstration if one fits the day. It is closed on Mondays except on public holidays and gazetted school holidays, so a wet morning from Tuesday to Friday is the one to aim for. Jurong East MRT is the nearest station.

Good to know Science Centre Singapore is in Jurong East, near Jurong East MRT. The current centre remains the visitor venue until the new Jurong Lake Gardens building opens (expected late 2027). Check the official website for hours, what is on, and which exhibitions, KidsSTOP sessions and Omni-Theatre shows need separate tickets. Open on public holidays: the Science Centre is closed on Mondays except public holidays and gazetted school holidays, so a holiday Monday is a normal 10am–5pm day with last admission at 4.15pm.

Want more days out the children will actually choose? Here are our favourites.

Science Centre Singapore | 15 Science Centre Road, Singapore 609081 | Nearest MRT: Jurong East