Orchard Road
A 2.2 km shopping avenue where more than 20 malls, including ION, Ngee Ann City and Paragon, are linked together. The Christmas lights and the Great Singapore Sale are the best times to visit.
Orchard Road is Singapore's most famous shopping street, about 2.2 km long. In the 19th century it was a road through nutmeg and pepper plantations. Today more than 20 large malls line it, including ION Orchard (a landmark, connected underground to the MRT, with a free ION Sky observation deck on the top floor), Ngee Ann City (home to Takashimaya department store and Kinokuniya bookstore), Paragon (luxury brands), Wisma Atria, 313@Somerset (young fashion labels), Orchard Central and Plaza Singapura (Somerset station). Nearly all are linked by underground passages and footbridges, so you can spend a whole day shopping in air conditioning. From mid-November to early January, Christmas lights turn the whole street into a sea of light. The Great Singapore Sale (GSS) in June and July offers the biggest discounts. Tax refunds can be claimed at mall counters or at the airport, with a minimum spend of S$100. Food: the food court under ION, Food Republic, and Killiney Kopitiam's kaya toast. Nearby at the western end of Orchard Road are the Garden Hotel and Istana, the presidential palace, which opens to the public a few times a year. Getting there: take the MRT to Orchard or Somerset station. From Marina Bay, the MRT takes about 10 minutes. Note: luxury goods in Singapore are usually no cheaper than duty-free shops in China, though the selection is broader. The malls are crowded on weekends. Littering and smoking on Orchard Road are prohibited, and fines are strictly enforced.
Opening hours
Mall approx. 10:00–22:00
Nearby sights
- Fort Canning Park
- Singapore Botanic Gardens
- National Museum of Singapore
- Tiong Bahru
- Clarke Quay
- Little India
- National Gallery Singapore
- Chinatown