2 Best Sights in Singapore

Sprawling, squat, sinister-looking Changi Prison was built in the 1930s by the British and was used by the Japanese in World War II to intern some 70,000 POWs, who endured terrible hardships here. The museum, a replica of one of 14 chapels where 85,000 Allied POWs and civilians gained the faith and courage to overcome the degradation and deprivation inflicted upon them by the Japanese, reopened in 2021 displaying drawings, sketches, and photographs by POWs depicting their wartime experiences. Organized tours take you through the old British barracks areas to the former RAF camp, still part of an active military installation. Here, in Block 151—a prisoners' hospital during the war—you'll see the simple but striking murals painted by a British POW, bombardier Stanley Warren. The last admission is at 4:30 pm, and with little public parking, it's recommended that you take public transportation.

This well-preserved fort covers 10 acres of gun emplacements and tunnels created by the British to fend off the Japanese. Unfortunately, the Japanese arrived by land (through Malaysia) instead of by sea, so the huge guns were pointed in the wrong direction. Fort Siloso is now home to a treasure trove of World War II memorabilia, including coastal guns and the remains of fortified structures. The displays have been successfully revamped with lots of interactive high-tech audiovisual and animatronic effects. Photographs document the war in the Pacific, and dioramas depict the life of POWs during the Japanese occupation. Free guided tours are available every second and third Saturday of the month from 3 pm to 4:30 pm, but you must register online in advance as limited slots are available.