Orchard Road – Welcome to the biggest bustling shopping district here in Singapore, Orchard Road. Mention it to any Singaporean and they’ll tell you the countless times they’ve been here, be it to shop or just leisurely stroll around. Mention the place to any tourist, and they’ll tell you that they’ve been here at least once.
Orchard Road is literally the go-to place in Singapore, providing a hangout spot for most millennials here, and a shopping paradise for tourists all over the world. However, Orchard Road isn’t just a place to shop till you drop.
There are countless hidden gems everywhere, and someone who isn’t familiar with these areas would probably overlook these hidden gems, which should otherwise definitely be included in your itinerary for a full day in Orchard Road.
10am
First stop: The National Museum of Singapore. The museum, which is housed in a magnificent colonial building, has recently been renovated to better cater to museum goers who come to pay a visit. Learn about Singapore’s history, archaeology, and overall development through a mix of both interactive and static exhibits.
11.30am
Before heading off for lunch, why not shed a few calories first? After learning about Singapore’s history at the National Museum, head over to the trampoline park found on the 9th floor of Cathay Cineleisure. BOUNCE Singapore is just one of Singapore’s many trampoline parks, and if you think that it’s just another trampoline park with boring trampolines all over, think again. BOUNCE features three zones on a 24,000 sq ft arena which consists of trampolines (including an Olympic grade, high performance area), X-Park (a ninja warrior-like obstacle course & the first in Asia), and Leap of Faith (where you’ll be able to jump off from a raised platform and try to catch hold of a hanging grab bag).
1.30pm
It’s already 1.30pm, and you’ve just spent almost 2 hours jumping everywhere on every trampoline possible. You’ve probably already shed a few pounds, and you’re famished. Well, don’t fret! Cathay Cineleisure’s full of places to chow down to your heart’s content. Feel like having some Japanese cuisine? Nihon Mura Express is right below at Basement 1, and you’ve got Keisuke Kani King at level 1. You could also opt for some fast food like Burger King and KFC, or maybe indulge in some Italian at Pastamania, level 2. It’s literally a food paradise there.
2.30pm
After a really good lunch, you would’ve probably gained back those pounds you lost at BOUNCE. Well, this is your chance to shed off those pounds again! In Orchard Road, there are so many places to shop at that you’ll probably be shedding off calories without even realizing it. Starting off at SCAPE Underground, you’ll find the cheapest deals possible on any possible item you could think off – hats, bags, shirts, pants. You name it; they’ll probably have it. In that 1% chance that what you’re looking for isn’t there, fret not.
Take your time to explore the rest of Cathay Cineleisure Shopping Mall. Apart from the many places to eat, the shopping mall has lots of good deals everywhere too.
Another shopping mall to explore would be 313 Somerset, followed by Orchard Gateway. Similar to Cathay Cineleisure, this shopping mall houses many places to eat and even more places to shop and snatch good deals. There’s even a library in Orchard Gateway if you feel like reading a book or two.
Your last shopping mall stop would be ION Orchard, where they house more high-end boutiques and products on the higher levels and more affordable deals and even more food below on the basement levels.
5pm
By 5pm, you should be heading over to ION Orchard to give ION Sky a visit, for a breathtaking view of Orchard Road from a bird’s eye view 56 levels above orchard road. This place closes early at 6pm, so be sure to arrive early by 5pm to fully enjoy the view and just soak in the atmosphere.
6pm
At 6pm, after ION Sky closes, head over to Far East Plaza for dinner. There, you’ll be able to feast on more local, traditional dishes. In the shopping mall, you’ll find eateries selling many different types of food. Ayam Penyet Lucky Surabaya, Greenview Cafe, Mansor D’ Cafe and Mumtaz Mahal Restaurant are just some of the many eateries you’ll find there, just to name a few. These eateries serve really good, and authentic local food so be sure to try a little bit of everything while you’re there!
7.30pm
Wind down the day and chill with a good old pint of beer (or 5), at Cuppage Road. On weekdays, you won’t have to worry about getting seats early. It’s Friday nights and weekends that you’d probably want to worry about. In the case that you’re heading down on a Friday night or over the weekend, be sure to get a seat by 8pm, or you’ll risk having to brave long queues. Singaporeans love to come here to kickstart their weekends so you’ll want to keep this in mind. While at Cuppage Road, you’ll see a row of restaurant bars which you could choose from. A range of alcohol is served here, including beers, sakes, sojus, cocktails, whiskeys, etc. of any kind. On certain days, you’ll even get to listen to live acoustic performances. What’s a better way to end your night at busy Orchard Road with some good drinks and music?
Always on the lookout for chill nightlife hangouts and overseas destinations to unwind and relax. Also an avid animal lover, I own a pet cat but it often seems like he owns me instead.
