CHIJMES stands on the former grounds of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, founded in 1854. Caldwell House, its oldest building, was designed by Irish architect George D. Coleman. CHIJMES Hall, the former chapel, was completed by 1903, with 648 carved column capitals. Both were gazetted together as a National Monument in 1990.
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At a glance
Neighbourhood
City Hall and Bras Basah
Best for
Gothic chapel details and colonial architecture in the city centre
Budget
Free to walk around
Time to allow
30 to 60 minutes, longer with a meal (suggestion)
Nearest MRT
City Hall or Bras Basah (suggestion)
Good to know
CHIJMES Hall is an event venue, so it isn’t always open to walk in (suggestion)
Why go?
It’s one of the few Gothic church buildings in central Singapore you can wander freely around (suggestion).
The courtyard and arches look their best lit up at night.
What to do
01 · Look closely at CHIJMES Hall
CHIJMES says the former chapel, completed by 1903 by French priest Father Charles Benedict Nain, has 30,000 pieces of Belgian stained glass and 648 column capitals, each carved with flowers and birds.
02 · Find Caldwell House and the Gate of Hope
Caldwell House, the oldest building, was commissioned by magistrates’ clerk H.C. Caldwell and designed by George D. Coleman.
The Gate of Hope, renamed in 1996, marks the door where abandoned babies were left for the Infant Jesus Sisters to care for.
Plan your visit
Address
CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996
Opening hours
Not published as a single schedule; the courtyard is open to the public, and restaurant and bar hours vary
Getting there
Walk from City Hall or Bras Basah MRT (suggestion)
Tickets or booking
None needed to walk around
Accessibility
The courtyard has steps between levels (suggestion; check on site)
Before you go
- Come around dusk to see the buildings both in daylight and lit up (suggestion).
- Weddings and events often use CHIJMES Hall, so be discreet near the doors (suggestion).
- Design Assembly’s Christmas market fills CHIJMES Hall on 2–3 December 2026, a chance to see inside.
- Check the haze and weather before you go: in October 2026 some outdoor programmes in Singapore were closed or cut short because of haze.
CHIJMES
Sources and disclosure
Information checked: 21 October 2026 · CHIJMES – Heritage · CHIJMES – official site
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, used under the licences shown in each caption (images resized): Frank Schulenburg (CC BY-SA 4.0); Terence Ong (CC BY 2.5); Sgconlaw (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Disclosure: Not a firsthand visit. Details come from the official pages linked below, checked on 21 October 2026. Photos are freely licensed from Wikimedia Commons and show the actual place unless the caption says otherwise. We weren’t paid or hosted, and there are no affiliate links.