Istana Open House on second day of Chinese New Year; President Halimah to launch an exclusive Istana 150 Souvenir Series of Medallions and Flashpay cards
In celebration of Chinese New Year, the Istana grounds will be open to the public on Wednesday, 6 February 2019, from 8.30am to 6.00pm.
In commemoration of the Istana 150th anniversary, President Halimah Yacob will be launching an Istana 150 Souvenir Series of Medallions and Flashpay cards during this Istana Open House. The Istana 150 Souvenir Series of Medallions and Flashpay cards is a collaboration between the Istana and The Singapore Mint, and will comprise a range of exclusive silver medallions and card products featuring the architecture of the buildings within the Istana compounds and significant features of the Istana. Visitors will also receive an exclusive certificate when they purchase the newly launched Istana 150 Souvenir Series limited only to first day purchases at the Open House.
Visitors to the Istana Open House will also be treated to festive performances including Lion Dance by Yi Wei Athletic Association, Chinese Dance by PA Talent, and Symphony Band performance by Soka. Visitors can also try their hand at calligraphy at a few Chinese Calligraphy Booths. The programme line-up can be found in ANNEX A.
Exhibition and Tours
The public can sign up for the Nature Guided Walk at the Istana, a collaboration between the President’s Office and the National Parks Board (NParks). Visitors will be able to see the Istana’s rich flora, fauna and biodiversity. There is also a guided tour of the Istana main building led by volunteers from the Preservation of Sites and Monuments division of the National Heritage Board. On this tour, visitors can view selected function rooms and collections of State Gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister.
A self-guided tour is available on the “Istana Garden Walk” mobile application, which includes features such as a self-guided Plants Trail to discover 10 types of beautiful plant species in the Istana Gardens and maps.
The public can also learn more Singapore’s history and heritage at the Istana Heritage Gallery, situated at Istana Park (opposite the main gate of the Istana along Orchard Road). The Istana Heritage Gallery will be open from 10am to 6pm.
Admission Details
Entry to the Istana grounds is free for Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents. All others visitors are required to pay an entrance fee of $2 per person. Entry to the Istana grounds is via the main gate at Orchard Road. The nearest MRT station is Dhoby Ghaut.
Additional fees as specified in Annexes B and C are applicable for the guided tours.
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
29 January 2019
ANNEX A
Main Highlights of Istana Open House
Overall Programme
|
Time |
Activity |
Venue |
||
|
9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. |
Chinese Calligraphy Booth by Cairnhill Chinese Calligraphy Special Interest Group |
Main Tent |
||
|
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. |
Sale of Istana Souvenir Series at The Singapore Mint Booth |
Main Tent |
||
|
8.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. |
Lunar New Year Children’s Activities Booth by NCSS |
Main Tent |
||
|
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. |
Istana Merchandise, Drinks & Snacks Booths by NCSS |
Centre Gate |
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|
Centre Gate |
||||
|
Display of Reptiles by Wildlife Reserves of Singapore |
||||
|
8.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. |
||||
|
9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. |
Chinese Calligraphy Booth by Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore |
Centre Gate |
||
|
10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. |
Udders Ice Cream Booth |
Centre Gate |
||
|
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. |
Istana Main Building Self-guided Tour |
Ticketing Booth near Ceremonial Plaza |
||
|
9.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. |
Istana Main Building Guided Tour by National Heritage Board |
Ticketing Booth near Ceremonial Plaza |
||
|
10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. |
Nature Guided Walk organised by NParks |
Ticketing Booth near Ceremonial Plaza |
||
|
8.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. |
Drinks & Snacks Booths by NCSS |
Ticketing Booth near Ceremonial Plaza |
||
|
8.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. |
Istana Merchandise Booth |
Istana Building |
||
|
Performances |
||||
|
2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. |
Symphony Orchestra Performance by SOKA |
Main Tent |
||
|
4.00 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. |
Lion Dance Performance by Yi Wei Athletic Association |
Ceremonial Plaza |
||
|
4.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. |
Choir Performance by SOKA |
Function Lawn |
||
|
4.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. |
Brass Band Performance by Poi Ching School |
Main Tent |
||
|
5.00 p.m. to 5.10 p.m. |
Chinese Dance by Sheng Hong Arts Institute (PA Talents) |
Ceremonial Plaza |
||
|
3.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. 5.10 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. |
Wushu Performance by Metta School |
Ceremonial Plaza |
||
|
|
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ANNEX B
FEES FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE ISTANA MAIN BUILDING
The following fees are applicable for the tours of the state room, banquet hall and reception room in the Istana main building:
|
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents |
Unguided |
Guided* |
|
Children (4 to 12 years) |
$2.00 |
$2.00 |
|
Adult |
$4.00 |
|
|
Package for family of four |
Not applicable |
$12.00 |
|
Others |
|
|
|
Children( 4 to 12 years) |
$2.00 |
$2.00 |
|
Adult |
$4.00 |
$10.00 |
|
Package for family of four |
Not applicable |
$30.00 |
*ISTANA MAIN BUILDING GUIDED TOURS
Guided tours are conducted by volunteers from the Preservation of Sites and Monuments division of the National Heritage Board. The tours are limited to 15 persons per group, and depart every 20 minutes from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
All fees collected will be donated to charity.
ANNEX C
FEES FOR NATURE GUIDED WALK AT THE ISTANA
The following fees are applicable for the Nature Guided Walk at the Istana:
|
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents |
Guided* |
|
Children (4 to 12 years) |
$2.00 |
|
Adult |
$4.00 |
|
Package for family of four |
$12.00 |
|
Others |
|
|
Children( 4 to 12 years) |
$2.00 |
|
Adult |
$10.00 |
|
Package for family of four |
$30.00 |
*Guided tours are conducted by volunteers and are limited to between 12 to 15 persons per group, and depart every hour from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
All fees collected will be donated to charity.