In a further sign of things returning back to normal, the Istana main building is ready to welcome visitors again for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the President's Office announced on Thursday (April 22). This is part of an open house event to celebrate Labour Day and Hari Raya Puasa.
Open houses resumed last August, but visitors were only allowed to enjoy the outdoors gardens of the Istana at those events. Now, you can purchase tickets to enter the main building to view selected function rooms, a collection of State Gifts, and rooms set up for state events.
It costs $2 for Singaporeans and permanent residents to enter the main building. For all other visitors, it's $2 for children aged between four and 12, and $4 for adults. If you're bringing along your toddler (under the age of four), then they can enter for free.
If you just want to enjoy the Istana's ground, then that's completely free of charge. Just remember to apply for tickets, which are being released in batches of up to five for a two-hour timeslot starting from 9am, 11am, 1pm or 3pm. If tickets are oversubscribed, an electronic balloting system will be used to pick some lucky ones.
Do note that there will be no performances, tours or food trucks at the open house, but you can still browse the merchandise booths selling limited-edition Istana souvenirs and President's Challenge souvenirs. And of course, you can have a pleasant walk around the gardens, which contain an old Japanese artillery gun, lily ponds, the burial grounds of the Bencoolen Muslims and even a nine-hole golf course.
Watch out for applications to open on this website from 10am on April 25 to 10am on April 26.
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