St. Andrew's Cathedral

The basics

St. Andrew’s Cathedral is currently undergoing extensive restoration work, meaning it’s not possible to explore the interior, and worship is held elsewhere. When the cathedral is open, there’s no charge to enter. Points of interest include the set of eight bells that chime to call the faithful to Sunday worship; the colorful stained glass windows, one of which is dedicated to Singapore’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles; and the porte-cochère entrance where carriage passengers could shelter from the sun and rain.

Things to know before you go

• St. Andrew’s Cathedral is a place of worship, so women should cover their thighs, cleavage, and midriff, and all genders should avoid sleeveless tops.

• The cathedral offers regular guided tours, a great way to discover its history.

• St. Andrew’s Cathedral is wheelchair accessible.

How to get there

St. Andrew’s Cathedral sits in the heart of Singapore’s Civic District on the Padang, a green field home to the Singapore Cricket Club. It’s about a 2-minute walk from the National Gallery Singapore. City Hall MRT, on the East West Line and North South Line, is a stone’s throw away.

When to get there

St. Andrew’s Cathedral is open 9am–5pm Tuesday through Friday, 11:30am–6:30pm on Saturday, and 7:30am–5:30pm on Sunday; it closes on Monday. A working cathedral, it offers services in a variety of languages, including several English-language services on Sundays.

Heritage architecture in Singapore’s Civic District

Downtown Singapore feels hyper-modern, yet St. Andrew’s Cathedral isn’t the only colonial-era treasure in the Civic District. The National Gallery Singapore is housed in two grand 19th-century buildings, once Singapore’s City Hall and Supreme Court. The neoclassical structure that hosts the Asian Civilisations Museum was built in 1865 as colonial government offices. And the landmark Raffles Hotel pairs Renaissance Revival architecture with tropical touches such as verandahs and high ceilings.