Orchard Road is Singapore's most famous shopping street, stretching approximately 2.5 kilometers through the city center. You'll come here to shop at malls like ION Orchard and Ngee Ann City, and for the Peranakan terraced houses of Emerald Hill right next door. The street presumably owes its name to the nutmeg, pepper, and fruit plantations that the dirt path led to from the 1830s onwards. After the decline of the plantations, villas and residential buildings emerged, but the major development into a shopping mile only began in the 1960s.Away from the main street, you'll find quieter corners: the terraced houses of Emerald Hill Road, the restored shophouses of Peranakan Place, and at the southeast end, the Istana presidential palace with Istana Park. You can reach the street via several MRT stations, including Orchard, Somerset, and Dhoby Ghaut.
Sights in Orchard Road
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Attraction
1Emerald Hill
The terraced houses on Emerald Hill Road were mostly built between approximately 1902 and the 1920s on a former nutmeg plantation. Many bear plaques detailing their history; the area has been under heritage protection since 1989.
The six two-storey shophouses at the corner of Orchard Road and Emerald Hill Road were built around 1902 and restored by the URA for S$2.2 million as a pilot project. Today, the section is closed to cars and houses bars and restaurants under arcades.
The park opposite the Istana Gate was designed by Ren Matsui and officially opened in 1996. Its landmark is the Festival Arch, whose form is modelled after the gateposts and grilles of the Istana and marks the gateway to the Civic District.
The restaurant opened in 1971 in the then Mandarin Hotel and is now located on the fifth floor of the Hilton Singapore Orchard at the same address, 333 Orchard Road. It is famous for its Mandarin Chicken Rice, and the menu also features lobster laksa, among other dishes.
The restaurant on the third floor of ION Orchard specializes in Teochew cuisine. It is known for its chilled crab, of which, according to the Michelin Guide, only a limited number are prepared each day, and for steamed coral trout.
The Food Court on the fourth basement level of ION Orchard reopened on September 28, 2026, after a three-month renovation, featuring 24 stalls and approximately 600 seats. New tenants include traditional establishments like Ming Chung White Lor Mee and Hillman Restaurant.
From Nutmeg Plantation to Residential DistrictOn Emerald Hill, 19th-century postmaster William Cuppage operated a nutmeg plantation. After the land was parcelled out around 1900, terraced houses began to appear from about 1902, where many Peranakan families lived from the 1930s onwards. The facades combine European columns with colourful tiles and Chinese motifs; in 1989, the area was designated a conservation area. As the houses are inhabited, it's best to take photos respectfully.The IstanaThe Presidential Palace was built in 1869 as Government House, based on plans by Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair, on the site of a former nutmeg plantation. British governors resided here until 1959. Since 1965, it has been known as the Istana and serves as the official residence of the President. The gardens are accessible only on certain Open House days throughout the year, usually around public holidays such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, or National Day; visitors without Singaporean residency pay an entrance fee.
Getting Around Orchard Road
You should allow time for its full length: The street measures around 2.5 kilometres.MRT Orchard: Interchange station for North-South Line and Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL platforms since November 2022).MRT Orchard Boulevard: Thomson-East Coast Line, western end.MRT Somerset: nearest station to Emerald Hill and Peranakan Place, a few minutes' walk.MRT Dhoby Ghaut: at the southeast end, near Istana and Istana Park.Istana Open House: Dates are typically announced just a few weeks prior; admission for foreign adults S$20, children aged 4 to 12 S$10.
