Istana Open House

Located on Orchard Road, The Istana in Singapore is the office and residence of the President of Singapore – President Tony Tan Keng Yam – and during Open House days, the grounds are open to the public. Considering these Open House days take place only five times per year, any time you can make it is a great opportunity to do so. With that said, let’s discuss some details about what you should know about the Istana Open House.

Open House Days
There are five days throughout 2016 when Istana Open Houses take place. One was the Chinese New Year on February 9, the next was Labour Day on May 1, the third was Hari Raya Puasa on July 6, and the fourth was National Day on July 30. This means if you’re interested in visiting Istana in 2016, you only have one more day which you can do so: Deepavali on Saturday, October 29.

Fees
When it comes to the fees associated with the Istana Open House, they vary based on several factors such as if you’re a Singapore permanent resident, you’re a child, an adult, if you want to take a guided or unguided tour, etc. If you prefer guided tours, they are available. Guided tours of the Istana Main Building take place from 9 am to 3 pm every 30-minutes. A Nature Guided Walk tour takes place between 10 am and 4 pm and departs every 30-minutes. The best part is that all the fees that are collected are generously donated to charity as are all the proceeds that are collected from souvenirs that are sold.

Activities
In addition to taking a tour, there is also plenty else that you can do. For example, you could play games or get some snacks, watch and listen to a performance, and more. You can even view gifts that were given to the President as well as the Prime Minister. Keep in mind that no alcohol is allowed. It’s a family-friendly event that’s ideal for all ages.

Banned Items
Before you attend the Istana Open House, you should first be aware of what you can and cannot bring onto the grounds. While guide dogs are allowed, all other pets are not. Anything that is sharp or flammable is also not allowed nor are wheeled sports items or anything that could be deemed as a danger. Yes, you will have to go through security before entering the grounds.

Considering how popular the Istana Open Houses are, you’ll want to make sure to get there as early as possible. The hours are 8:30 am to 6 pm, so the earlier you can get there the better. It will give you a good opportunity to experience as much as possible before the end of the day. It’s an event you don’t want to miss, and considering there are only five instances to visit with the last one in 2016 quickly approaching, it’s time to make some plans if you’d like to attend before you have to wait several more months until you have your next chance to go again.