Orchard Road, Singapore (must see)

Orchard Road, often informally referred to as Orchard, is a prominent 2.5-kilometer (1.6-mile) long street situated in the Central Area of Singapore. This well-known destination is a high-end shopping district, featuring numerous internationally acclaimed department stores, restaurants, and coffee shops in its vicinity.

The Orchard Planning Area is a designated urban planning region outlined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. It forms a part of the Central Area within the broader Central Region of Singapore. Orchard is flanked by Newton to the east and north, Tanglin to the west, River Valley to the south, and Museum to the southeast.

The name Orchard Road originates from the nutmeg, pepper, and fruit orchards or plantations that were once found at the end of this road. Such plantations were prevalent in the area during the 19th century.

At the eastern terminus of Orchard Road stands the Istana, the official residence of the President of Singapore, surrounded by Nibong palms. The house of Singapore's first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, is situated on Oxley Road, just south of Orchard Road. On the western side lies the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Approximately midway down the road, you'll find Cairnhill and Emerald Hill, which are residential neighborhoods. Adjacent to Emerald Hill is Centrepoint, housing the oldest business in the area, Cold Storage. Specialists' Shopping Centre replaced Pavilion Cinema but was subsequently demolished to make room for Orchard Gateway. Scotts Road, located just off Orchard Road, was once home to Singapore's inaugural food court, which was replaced by Scotts Square in June 2007.

Notable shopping malls along Orchard Road include ION Orchard, Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City, Orchard Central, Orchard Gateway, 313 @ Somerset, Orchard Plaza, Plaza Singapura, The Centrepoint, The Heeren, Mandarin Gallery, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, Wheelock Place, Liat Towers, Shaw House, and Scotts Square.

Why You Should Visit:
Shopping malls after shopping malls after shopping malls... all air-conditioned and sometimes interconnected.
This is a very happening street, with all the street artists performing and the bargains on the roadside.

Tip:
The best time to visit is at night time when the street is lit up!
For budget travelers, go to food courts at the bottom levels of plazas.
You can buy spirits & wines at a bargain price at “Bottles & Bottles” at Center Point.