In celebration of Hari Raya Puasa, the Istana grounds will be open to the public on Wednesday, 5 June 2019, from 8.30am – 6.00pm.

Singapore Bicentennial Commemoration

The theme for this Open House will be the Singapore Bicentennial.  President Halimah Yacob will be launching the Singapore Bicentennial commemorative note issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which depicts Singapore’s journey to nationhood and pays tribute to our forebears who laid the foundations for modern Singapore.  The President’s Office has also collaborated with the Singapore Bicentennial Office to bring an exhibition featuring Singapore’s 700-year history to the Istana Open House.

Exciting Programme Line-up

In line with the theme of the Singapore Bicentennial, this Hari Raya Istana Open House will feature an array of communities who have been a part of, and contributed to, the nation over the years. These community partners, including Sree Narayana Mission and The Peranakan Association, will showcase their long history and also their role in our nation-building.

Various schools which have undertaken special projects to commemorate the Singapore Bicentennial will also be setting up booths at this Open House. For example, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School will showcase different stories of how education improved the lives of Singaporean women and empowered them over the years.

Apart from community partners, visitors to the Open House can look forward to an exhibition that explores Singapore’s 700-year history. Through the exhibition, they can partake in a series of interactive activities to better understand the places, people and events that have shaped us into the nation we are today.

Visitors will also be treated to a variety of cultural performances by Singapore Ceylon Tamil Association, Chongfu Primary School, Tao Nan Primary School, and Singapore Malayalee Association.

Exhibition and Tours

Visitors will be able to see the Istana’s rich flora, fauna and biodiversity via the Nature Guided Walk.  Guests can also participate in a guided tour of the Istana main building to view selected function rooms, and collections of State Gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister.

The public can 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 MAY 2019

ANNEX A

MAIN HIGHLIGHTS OF ISTANA OPEN HOUSE

Overall Programme

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:

*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:

*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.