Changi Chapel & Museum
A WWII museum on the site of the former Changi prison camp, dedicated to the Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees held here during the Japanese occupation of Singapore. A quiet, moving counterpoint to the airport next door.
Tue–Sun
9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
5:00 PM
Last admission
Closed Mon
Except public holidays
A chapel built by prisoners
During World War II, after the fall of Singapore in February 1942, the Japanese army interned over 100,000 Allied prisoners of war and around 2,500 civilians — many of them at Changi. The internees turned to ingenuity and improvisation to survive, building chapels from whatever materials they could find. The chapel on this site is modelled after St George's Church, one of those prisoner-built churches.
The museum was revamped and reopened in 2021 with new content and artefacts in an intimate, engaging format — a deliberately quiet place to understand the human cost of the war that gave Changi its wartime notoriety, long before the airport existed.
Exhibition highlights
Changi Chapel
Modelled after St George's Church, one of the numerous churches built by the prisoners of war in Changi during their internment.
Life as Prisoners of War
For the internees of Changi, the prospect of imprisonment was grim — but they were determined to endure what lay ahead.
Resilience in Adversity
To make the best of a bad situation, internees turned to ingenuity and improvisation to meet their needs.
Legacies
Though Changi today is a far cry from its former life during World War Two, its legacy will forever remain a part of the national and personal histories of the countries and lives it impacted.
Source: heritage.sg/changichapelmuseum.
How to get there
By bus
Bus 2 or 29 to the Changi Chapel Museum stop (97209) or Opposite Changi Chapel Museum stop (97201) — 5-minute walk. Bus 5 to Changi Women's Prison stop (97059) or opposite (97051) — 10-minute walk.
By MRT + bus
Downtown Line to Upper Changi (DT34), then bus 2 at the Upper Changi Station / Opposite SUTD stop (96041). Alight 7 stops later at Opposite Changi Chapel Museum (97201) and cross the road.
By car / taxi
Limited paid parking for cars and motorcycles on site — no public parking in the vicinity. Visitors are advised to take public transport or a private-hire car.