Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC)
510 Upper Jurong Road, Singapore, 638365
Part Singapore history museum, part amusement destination, the Singapore Discovery Centre pairs informative galleries with entertainment including laser tag, escape rooms, and paintball. It was originally a museum of the history of the Singapore Armed Forces, funded by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence.
The basics
While the Discovery Centre has expanded beyond its military subject matter, it remains a patriotic museum with an emphasis on Singapore’s fight for survival, and is geared more toward Singaporeans and permanent residents than visitors. Among its themes, the Lens of Time tells the story of Singapore through exhibits, films, and games; Sandbox focuses on the nation’s future, with a section devoted to the armed forces. Kids will enjoy the range of activities on offer, such as laser tag, escape rooms, paintball, and archery tag (using foam–tipped arrows), plus a 4D theater and a large cinema.
The Singapore Discovery Centre offers a range of tours, including guided tours of the permanent exhibits, sustainability-centered site tours, and bus trips to the nearby SAFTI Military Institute, the Singapore military’s training center.
Things to know before you go
The Singapore Discovery Centre will be of interest to families with kids and anyone who’s curious about Singapore’s military.
Singaporeans and permanent residents gain free entry to the galleries; only overseas visitors need to pay.
There’s a lake-view café and a shop on-site.
The Singapore Discovery Centre’s galleries are wheelchair-friendly, with accessible parking and accessible bathrooms too.
How to get there
The Singapore Discovery Centre is in Jurong, in southwestern Singapore. It’s about a 10-minute walk (or one stop on the 182 or 182M bus) north of Joo Koon MRT (East West Line).
When to get there
The Singapore Discovery Centre is open afternoon to evening on weekdays and late morning to evening on weekends, public holidays, and Singapore school vacations. Visit midweek for a quieter experience.
Singapore’s best history museums
Singapore has a great range of museums for its size. To learn more about the city-state’s history, start at the beautiful 19th-century National Museum of Singapore, with its lively, interactive exhibits. The Asian Civilisations Museum, in another landmark 19th-century building, has the region’s best collection of treasures from across Asia. Also worth a look are the Singapore City Gallery, which showcases the city’s rapid evolution, and the Changi Memorial and Chapel, dedicated to World War II prisoners of war.
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