The MINT Museum of Toys is a private museum on Seah Street, in the Bugis and Civic District area, devoted to vintage toys and collectibles from around the world. The collection is large and eclectic, ranging from toys to vintage posters, confectionery tin boxes and old advertising signs, and it is displayed in a contemporary, award-winning building. The idea is that toys are a record of the times that produced them: robots from the era of space travel, characters from comics and film, tin toys and mechanical oddities, all gathered in one place. Adults often come for nostalgia and children enjoy the colour, and the museum is compact enough that a visit does not become a marathon. The booking page we checked gives opening hours of 9:30am to 6:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday, with the museum closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly. The ticket is an entry ticket, and what it includes is described on the booking page.
What makes it more than a shelf of toys is the sheer range. Collectors will recognise characters and brands from many countries and decades, and casual visitors find that spotting the toys they owned as children is half the fun. It is a quirky counterpart to the more serious museums of the Civic District, and a good plan for families who want something indoors that is not a theme park.
A few tips help. Allow about an hour, though dedicated collectors will want longer. Weekday mornings are quietest. Because the museum is closed on Mondays, do not leave it for a Monday gap in your plans. Photography rules and any bag requirements are set by the museum, so follow the signs at the entrance. The collection is arranged vertically, so expect to use stairs or lifts to move between floors.
The location is the real advantage. Seah Street is a minute from Raffles Hotel and the Raffles Hotel Arcade, and a short walk from the Singapore Art Museum area, Bugis and the Peranakan Museum, so you can combine several short visits in one stroll. Lunch is easy at the nearby shophouse cafes or at Bugis hawker centres.
What to expect
The experience
A multi-floor museum of vintage toys, posters, tin boxes and collectibles in a contemporary building on Seah Street.
Best time
Tuesday to Sunday on weekday mornings. It is closed on Mondays.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Do not plan it for a Monday. Combine with Raffles Hotel and the Peranakan Museum. Check what the ticket includes.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Collectors, nostalgic adults and families who want a compact indoor stop.
- Families
- A good fit for children who like toys, characters and colour.
- Couples
- A quirky, light hour before a Raffles Hotel drink.
- Pair with
- Raffles Singapore, the Peranakan Museum and the Asian Civilisations Museum.
- Time needed
- An hour.
Good questions
Where is the MINT Museum of Toys?+
At 26 Seah Street, a minute from Raffles Hotel and the Bugis and Civic District area.
What are the opening hours?+
On the schedule we checked: Tuesday to Sunday 9:30am to 6:30pm, closed Mondays. Confirm when you book.
What is in the collection?+
Vintage toys and collectibles from many countries, plus posters, confectionery tin boxes and advertising signs.
How long does a visit take?+
Most visitors spend about an hour, longer if they are collectors.
Is it good for children?+
Yes, especially children who like toys, characters and colour, and it is indoors for wet weather.
