Orchard Road Travel Guide

Orchard Road is without doubt one of the busiest stretch of road in Singapore. Lined by huge shopping malls, it is filled with shoppers and tourists daily. Having a reputation as the premier shopping district in Singapore today, you would be able to find almost every international brand available as well as some local ones. This is in stark contrast to the 19th century when walking along Orchard Road, you would be greeted by nutmeg plantations instead of cosmopolitan shopping malls.

Some of the more interesting shopping malls include the relatively new Ion Orchard, Orchard Central, Ngee Ann City and Plaza Singapura. At these malls you can find a variety of brands ranging from the luxurious like Armani Exchange to the less expensive like M)phosis.

However, Orchard Road is not simply about shopping. When one gets tired of the multitude of shopping malls, there are other sights to be appreciated along Orchard Road as well. The Istana Negara Singapura, which is the home of the President of Singapore, is an easy-to-miss building if not for the large number of police officers at the entrance. Cuppage Terrace and the Emerald Hill area is also home to a number of well-maintained Peranakan-style shophouses of yesteryear. Another colonial building of interest is the Goodwood Park Hotel located along Scotts Road. Not only is it a well-maintained colonial-era building, it is also home to a luxurious hotel as well as a number of good eateries like Gordon Grill.

Other than Orchard Road itself, the greater Orchard area is also home to a number of interesting sites. At the northern end of Scotts Road, one can find the often criticised Newton Circus Hawker Centre which is a good place to sample the local cuisine. To the west of Orchard Road lie the Singapore Botanic Gardens which is one of the biggest parks in Singapore. Within the Gardens, one can also find the National Orchid Garden which is home to a wide variety of beautiful orchids and exotic plants.

You will be able to witness the Christmas Lights put up along Orchard Road if you are in Singapore during the Christmas period. This is an annual event that brightens up Orchard Road and adds to the festive atmosphere.