To celebrate Lunar New Year, the Istana grounds will be open to the public on Sunday, 26 January 2020 from 8.30am – 6.00pm.

i’mable Gift Market held at the Istana Open House for the first time

This Istana Open House will feature the i’mable Gift Market for the first time. i’mable Gift Market is SG Enable’s initiative to promote and market artworks and artisanal products by talented persons with disabilities. President Halimah first officiated this inaugural event in November 2019 at the Enabling Village. This latest edition of i’mable Gift Market at the Lunar New Year Istana Open House will feature a myriad of items, including leather products, homeware, jewellery, notebooks and paintings.

Other Exciting Programme Line up

In celebration of the Year of the Rat, the Wildlife Reserves of Singapore will be setting up an awareness booth about rats and their rodent relatives. Learn more about rats’ excellent sense of smell and their ability to adapt to different environments when you visit this booth. Visitors to the booth will also discover several special species of rodents, take part in a mini-game and create cute rat noses using recycled red packets. You can even interact with two species of rodents – the Dumbo Rats and Guinea Pigs.

For the first time at the Istana Open House, visitors can look forward to exciting performances by buskers at the Lawn.

Throughout the day, visitors will also be treated to a variety of traditional Chinese performances such as lion dance, Chinese dance and Chinese drums.

Visitors can also satiate your appetite at “Sawadeecup”, a food truck selling Thai Fusion food in a cup, or at “The Goodburger”, a food truck serving Impossible Burgers and fries.

As part of the celebrations for Lunar New Year, visitors are encouraged to dress in red.

Exhibition and Tours

Those interested in the Istana’s flora, fauna and biodiversity can sign up for the Nature Guided Walk. There is also a guided tour of the Istana main building where guests can visit selected function rooms and view collections of State Gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister.

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
17 JANUARY 2020

ANNEX A

Main Highlights of Istana Open House

Overall Programme

FDF

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.