Civic District
The Civic District – also known as the Civic and Cultural District or Civic and Cultural District by the Bay – is where modern SG as you know it began.
Envisioned as a Master Plan by the founder of of modern-day Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, in 1822, it was an urban planning area marked out for the use of developing SG into a trading post. The area now extends along Connaught Drive and Stamford Road, toward the Asian Civilisations Museum on the fringe of the Central Business District (CBD) and along St. Andrews Road towards the Bras Basah district.
Peppering the Downtown Core of Singapore’s central area, are many of SG’s most iconic buildings and places of historical and cultural significance, such as the Raffles Hotel and the Esplanade Park, where you can find landmarks dedicated to SG’s war heroes. So, yes, there’s lots to see, do and pin on your Google Map. Don’t worry — the City Hall MRT station is located in the heart of this place so getting to them is convenient.
Aside from the usual shopping and dining (check out Raffles City Shopping Centre and CHIJMES for options), culture and arts are the main areas of interest. Several museums are found within the district, as is The Padang, which is Malay for “field”. It’s a traditional venue for SG’s National Day Parades since 1966.
The Birthplace of Modern Singapore
Home to some of Singapore’s most notable historic buildings and spaces, the Civic District is a thriving arts, cultural and lifestyle precinct.
Go on a historical and cultural trail around the district, which will bring you to some of Singapore’s most historically important landmarks such as the former Supreme Court and City Hall, Old Parliament House, and the Padang.
It’s easy to explore, thanks to pedestrianised areas including the Anderson Bridge and Empress Place, as well as an abundance of shade-giving trees and wide, open lawns. There are also convenient connections to Fort Canning Park, the Bras Basah-Bugis district and the Marina Bay waterfront.
