The Istana is rarely open to visitors, so it’s understandable that many people flocked over on Labour Day to tour the historic building.
But a queue snaking across Dhoby Ghaut to Plaza Singapura in the hot sun? They weren’t kidding when they said that queuing is the national sport.
Queue Spanning 1KM
TikToks from Labour Day (1 May) revealed queues reaching Plaza Singapura, which is about 1 kilometre according to Google Maps.
The queue was described as “orderly but insane”, with the visitors donning hats and umbrellas to beat the scorching weather. Some users shared that they got in after 30 minutes of queueing.
The Istana, which means palace in Malay, is only open on selected public holidays about five times a year: Chinese New Year, Labour Day, Hari Raya Puasa, National Day, and Deepavali.
It will also undergo significant restoration works in early 2024, so many people might have wanted to tour the OG Istana before it gets revamped.
The Istana’s main building was constructed in about 1869 and functions as a Government building and a venue for state events. It has six function rooms used for ceremonies and to receive foreign dignitaries and guests.
There are usually performances by various school bands and dance groups for the Istana’s open houses, along with other family-friendly activities like balloon sculpting. There are many food and drink booths and a merchandise booth for the President’s Challenge.
There were activities like Chinese calligraphy, candle-making, and henna painting for the Labour Day open house. These activities change for each open house.
Additionally, you can go on the National Heritage Board’s guided tours of the Istana’s main building. The tour allows you to view selected function rooms in the Istana and to take a closer look at state gifts presented to Singapore’s leaders.
The National Parks Board also holds nature-guided tours, bringing you through flora and fauna in the Istana. The landscape includes a newly-enhanced Swan Pond, a Japanese Garden, and more.
However, there will still be some things you won’t see on the tour, like the buildings apart from the Main Building. For instance, did you know that there is an official residence for the Prime Minister called “Sri Temasek”? There is also a villa that used to house state visitors like Deng Xiaoping of China and Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia. There’s even a Military Guard Room the ceremonial guards use when they’re off sentry duties.
The next open house will probably be for National Day in August, though no official announcement has been made yet.