A Photographer’s Singapore Itinerary
Planning to go to a mannequin new metropolis is often just a little bit daunting, notably as quickly as you may wish to it is best to positively get to see the perfect areas and naturally, primarily basically probably the most photogenic.
Inside the event you’re travelling by means of Singapore on a stopover or have a wide range of days to seek out, this itinerary supplies you a excessive diploma view of the entire gadgets it is doable you may squeeze into merely eventually. Inside the event you’re staying longer it is doable you may unfold it out a bit additional and spend additional time absorbing the setting in every of the areas.
Beginning with breakfast in Tiong Bahru and heading right by means of to the twinkling lights of Marina Bay, I’ve put this itinerary collectively primarily based on my private expertise wandering Singapore like a crazed photographer who merely can’t cease taking pictures. I ended my day in Singapore feeling and looking out like a sweaty mess nonetheless I’d fortunately do it over as soon as extra due to no inch of this metropolis should go along with out seeing, even in case you’ve solely acquired 24hrs.
I’d counsel along with in some air-con time to the itinerary in case you’re liable to getting a case of the warmth cranks…air-con and chilly drinks will make all the excellence to your temper and pictures outcomes so be sure you retain hydrated whereas travelling spherical this humid metropolis.
To get began, correct proper right here’s a bit abstract of my steered Singapore Itinerary –
Itinerary: One full day in Singapore
8am – 9:30am Tiong Bahru
10am – 11:30am Chinatown
12pm – 1pm Little India
1:15pm – 3:30pm Singapore Botanic Yard + Nationwide Orchid Yard
4:30pm – 6pm Cloud Forest
6pm – 8pm Supertree Grove
8:15pm onwards – Helix Bridge + Marina Bay
And a bit map for reference…
A Singapore Itinerary
Morning –
8am-9:30am Tiong Bahru
(Advocate time 1.5 hours)
Quiet, cultural and crammed with wall work, Tiong Bahru is the suitable place for a morning espresso and breakfast ahead of a big day of pictures. Cosy little cafes and classy eateries line the alleys which may be embellished in painted scenes depicting the sooner and heritage of Singapore.
There’s a neighborhood market too which is good for photographing the bustling motion with color bursting from each stall.
Photographs Suggestions: The early morning gentle filtering by means of the streets will make for a wonderful setting to {{{photograph}}}. Look for of us strolling earlier the wall work, search to look out the sequence of goat mural hidden all by way of the suburb and seize quaint freeway pictures of this heritage district.
Greatest Gear: A 50mm lens is true for capturing the scenes all by way of Tiong Bahru. I personally use the Olympus 25mm (50mm equal) f/1.2 lens with my OM-D E-M1 MkII digital digicam…massive gentle and straightforward to hold spherical! In another case my OM-D E-M10 Mk III paired with the tiny nonetheless helpful 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens is good for completely glad snapping your means spherical.
Getting Correct proper right here: MRT Inexperienced Line to Tiong Bahru Station EW17 or take thought-about certainly one of many many bus traces that drop off at Tiong Bahru Plaza, Bus Cease Quantity 10169, the next routes service this cease 5, 16, 33, 63, 121, 122, 123, 123M, 195, 851.
Subsequent Cease > Chinatown
Journey Time – 22min stroll | 15mins Bus #851 | 9min Taxi
Mid-morning
10am – 11:30am Chinatown
(Really useful time 1.5hours)
From Tiong Bahru, proceed the customized by heading over to Chinatown. Alive with vibrant retailer fronts, market streets and dangling crimson souvenirs in each route, this home of Singapore is to not miss.
Superb for injecting a bit power into your morning, Chinatown is value a fast wander for photographing the maze-like streets and energetic scenes. There’s furthermore the very photogenic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple + Museum which is a gigantic superior on the sting of Chinatown, undoubtedly attempt to peek inside after which wander all by means of the freeway to {{{photograph}}} the establishing in its entirety.
Photographs Suggestions: Use the souvenirs as foreground topics when capturing freeway scenes and don’t be afraid to try some slower shutter pictures to seize the motion. My Olympus OM-D (take a look at my gear correct proper right here) is believed for it’s superb stability so I truly like taking hand-held extended exposures to create a way of place inside a picture. In case your digital digicam isn’t so sturdy, look for one issue to lean on, a bench or simply try to remain actually, actually nonetheless…it must be potential for pictures spherical 1 second with out an excessive amount of blur.
Greatest Gear: Similar to Tiong Bahru, a 50mm lens (or 25m equal) is true for capturing the scenes all by way of Chinatown. When photographing the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple nonetheless, a wide-angle lens like my 7-14mm f/2.8 supplies the power to face up shut and create some perspective with the towering temple.
Getting Correct proper right here: From Tiong Bahru it’s a 20-30minute stroll relying in your tempo or alternatively it is doable you may catch bus #851 from close to the Tiong Bahru Market. Inside the event you’ve already gone off the itinerary and skipped Tiong Bahru, you’ll uncover Chinatown is actually accessible from the town centre on account of it’s right close to Clark’s Quay or just some blocks west from the Merlion Statue.
Subsequent Cease > Little India
Journey Time – 40-45min stroll | 10min MRT (put collectively) | 10min Taxi
Lunch
12pm – 1pm Little India
(Really useful time 1hour)
Normally after I’m travelling a seize fast bites on the go to verify I can slot in as many spots as potential…nonetheless in case you’re looking for someplace good for lunch, Little India has you lined.
From consuming places like CreatureS on Desker Freeway serving Singaporean fusion meals by means of to the hawker stalls of the Tekka Centre there’s one issue for everybody. Positioned right close to the MRT station on the nook of Bukit Timah Freeway and Serangoon Freeway, correct proper right here you’ll uncover seafood markets, vibrant sari stalls and meals, heaps and plenty of meals. Try the Briyani, masala or look for Hainanese Hen Rice, a nationwide dish of Singapore.
Photographs Suggestions: Little India is crammed with choices to {{{photograph}}} not solely customized, nonetheless vibrant buildings. Head straight for the Home of Tan Teng Niah which is like two storeys of rainbow goodness.
It’s furthermore a wonderful place for taking pictures portraits nonetheless merely be cautious of taking pictures if of us aren’t so eager. To keep away from any awkward encounters, look to border of us as they’re strolling by, blur their motion in opposition to the colorful establishing facades and markets.
Greatest Gear: I photographed spherical Little India with my 12-40mm (24-70/80mm equal) lens which is good and versatile, best possible for travelling. With a zoom lens like this it helps you to seize freeway scenes and zoom into particulars, that means in case you’re capturing of us you don’t ought to get of their faces.
Getting Correct proper right here: From Chinatown take the purple North-Jap MRT line to the Little India MRT Station. Alternatively it is usually potential to take the blue Downtown line, it’s just some minutes longer. Furthermore I work in colors so love when metro traces are color coded! Singapore is massive simple to get spherical!
Subsequent Cease > Singapore Botanic Gardens + Nationwide Orchard Yard
Journey Time – 1hr stroll (keep away from strolling, it’s too far!) | 9mins MRT (put collectively) | 10min Taxi
Afternoon
1:15pm – 3:30pm Singapore Botanic Gardens + Nationwide Orchid Yard
(Really useful time 2+ hours)
For lush landscapes and rainforests dripping with greenery and distinctive vegetation, the Singapore Botanic Gardens are the suitable place to spend the afternoon.
Large Monkey Pot Timber, Cannonball Timber and Banyans amongst 1000’s of others that fill the gardens, the world’s solely tropical yard to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Website online.
Simple to regulate to paths lead all through the botanic gardens and you might begin on the MRT station and make your means down inside the path of the Nationwide Orchid Yard.
As my favorite place contained in the gardens I’m going to say {{{that a}}} go to contained inside the Nationwide Orchid Yard is significant, it is important to see the marvel that lies inside! Orchids of all sizes and varieties, colors, patterns and distinctive appearances scattered the mist stuffed residence that oozes with setting. If it’s a scorching and sticky day (which it most truly shall be in Singapore!) it is doable you may even take a bit break contained inside the air-conditioned cool room, a dome of chilly air that’s equal to stepping correct proper right into a wintry rainforest.
Photographs Suggestions: Defend an eye fixed fastened fixed out for the gorgeous patterns and framing choices in the marketplace to {{{photograph}}} all by way of the gardens. There’s furthermore historic properties nonetheless the spotlight is actually the Orchid’s, good for utilizing pretty bokeh as a method to spotlight their intricate particulars.
Greatest Gear: Switching as soon as extra to a predominant lens will work wonders contained within the Nationwide Orchid Yard. Utilizing a 50mm (or like me the 25mm Olympus f/1.2 PRO lens) will allow you to get good and near the orchids and create a good looking blur behind the flowers.
Contained within the botanic gardens, a giant lens or common zoom shall be good for capturing the immense landscapes that fill the grounds.
Inside the event you solely wish to make use of 1 lens contained within the gardens I’d persist with a 12-40mm or comparable so that you may need the perfect of each worlds.
Getting Correct proper right here: Take the blue Downtown Line and arrive on the Botanic Gardens MRT station. It’s just some 20minute stroll all the way in which through which all the way in which all the way down to the Nationwide Orchid Yard nonetheless alongside one of many easiest methods are an excessive amount of factors to {{{photograph}}} so enable some additional time in case you’re liable to taking {{photograph}} pit stops.
Subsequent Cease > Cloud Forest
Alternatively, it is doable you may cease by at Orchard Freeway for some shopping for on one of many easiest methods, or pop into the ArtScience Museum for some Instagram worthy gentle reveals!
Getting Correct proper right here: 1.5hrs Stroll (too far, moreover you may wish to see Orchard Rd) | 40-50mins Bus | 20min Taxi | 55mins MRT + stroll
Late Afternoon
4:30pm – 6pm Cloud Forest
Step inside this mysterious dome of mist stuffed magic. The place a waterfall drops six storeys right from the second you enter and walkways dangle above rainforest canopies, weaving their means increased and better into the forest.
It’s a bit Jurassic Park and misplaced world with caves, mountain flora and even Lego venus fly traps! Wandering all by way of the Cloud Forest is like shedding your self in a single completely different world.
Subsequent door there’s furthermore the Conservatory Flower Dome in case you’re actually into flowers!
Photographs Suggestions: Swap your white steadiness to cloudy to actually ship out the tones contained within the dome. Furthermore be careful for mist and spray in your lens due to the waterfall churns out some spectacular mist and it tends to hover all by way of the dome, have a lens supplies accessible.
Greatest Gear: An enormous-angle lens is true for capturing the unimaginable constructing of this dome. It’s furthermore good for showcasing the peak of the waterfall nonetheless having a second lens to {{{photograph}}} the smaller particulars is beneficial!
Getting Correct proper right here: This may be the longest journey time of the day as you’ll be leaping right all by means of the town to get to the Cloud Forest and Marina Bay Sands home. You’ve acquired three elementary choices; every leap in a taxi which takes solely 20mins, stroll as soon as extra to the Botanic Gardens MRT station and take the blue Downtown line to Bayfront, or take bus #77 from Napier Rd (close to the Cluny Rd gardens entrance) to Pan Pacific and stroll 20mins all by means of to the Cloud Forest.
Subsequent Cease > Gardens by the Bay + Supertree Grove
Journey Time – 1-15min stroll, positioned right subsequent to the Cloud Forest
Sundown + Nightfall
6pm – 8pm Gardens by the Bay + Supertree Grove
(Really useful time 2hrs)
If there’s one place to expertise the trendy magic of this photogenic metropolis it’s the Supertree Grove and Gardens by the Bay.
Standing tall and ethereal like a set from Avatar, the Supertree Grove is spectacular. Rising to 50m, these marvels are enormous vertical gardens with over 160,000 vegetation, climbers and bromeliads making for one spectacular sight to {{{photograph}}}.
Sundown in Gardens by the Bay is a good looking sight so be sure you wander spherical and seize each the Supertrees from all by means of the lake (good for reflections!) and likewise look out for Marina Bay Sands resort on account of the sundown should gentle up behind it. Kingfisher and Dragonfly Lakes are good to shoot wide-angle landscapes from at nightfall!
One completely different potential spot to view the sundown is Marina Barrage which is a 20-30min stroll from Cloud Forest…from there you get an unbelievable view as soon as extra in path of the town!
As rapidly as a result of the lights come on at nightfall the Supertree Grove takes on a complete completely completely different life. Wander all by way of the cover on the OCBC Skyway or {{{photograph}}} from beneath the constructions.
Oh and at Christmas time there’s markets and primarily basically probably the most unimaginable soundtrack of songs that performs in time with a lightshow.
Photographs Tip: Use anybody so as in order so as to add perspective to simply how excessive these bushes actually are. There’s a bit open residence on the southern finish of the bushes the place it is doable you may stand and look as loads as a result of the constructions and as rapidly as a result of the picture voltaic dips, it’s simpler to seize a shot with out too many individuals in it, notably in case you take a protracted publicity and have your matter stand actually nonetheless.
Furthermore profit from the rainforest cowl and use it to your foreground to border the Supertrees.
Greatest Gear: Identical to contained inside the Cloud Forest, a wide-angle lens works magic correct proper right here. These constructions are so impressively monumental that you just simply actually should work to showcase their dimension. I used the 7-14mm f/2.8 M.Zuiko PRO lens with my Olympus OM-D E-M1 MkII that has a 5-axis stabilisation system so permits me to take longer exposures hand-held…due to who likes carrying a tripod spherical all day!? Inside the event you do want some stabilisation, there’s some benches all through the park or it is doable you may lean it on the pavement and angle upward.
Getting Correct proper right here: It’s positioned contained within the Gardens by the Bay Superior the place it is doable you may enter each the Cloud Forest, Supertree Grove and Flower Dome.
Subsequent Cease > Helix Bridge + Marina Bay
Journey Time – 15min stroll | 10min Taxi (be sure you get off close to Youth Olympic Park)
Evening time
8:15pm – 10pm Helix Bridge + Marina Bay
(Really useful time 1-2hrs)
As a result of the town will prepare for mattress it likes to exit with a bang with the Marina Bay gentle present dazzling at 8pm and 9pm (10pm on weekends too). You are going to get a wonderful place to seize the present at thought-about certainly one of many many viewpoints alongside Helix Bridge or head over to the Youth Olympic Park to seize the bridge glowing too.
Alternatively it is doable you may wander all through the waterfront inside the path of the Merlion Statue for a wonderful view inside the path of Marina Bay Sands, the Supertree Grove and Bayfront buildings an identical to the ArtScience museum which is original like a giant lotus flower.
This stroll is an environment friendly method to finish what’s a protracted journey and about in Singapore!
Photographs Suggestions: Alongside Helix Bridge there’s a great deal of good vantage elements to view each the sunshine present or physique the encircling building with the twisting lights that wrap all through the bridge. Extended exposures of this scene are unimaginable to seize so in case you most likely did occur to hold a tripod with you all day extended, that is the place to put it to use! If not, there’s an excessive amount of railings to lean on 😊
Greatest Gear: Inside the event you’re in search of to embody the entire skyline from the Merlion statue or Helix Bridge it’s value whipping out the wide-angle lens as quickly as further. In another case, a conventional zoom will do advantageous correct proper right here due to the panorama is type of far-off so there’s tons to seize contained within the scene.
Getting Correct proper right here: From Gardens by the Bay, wander underneath the bridge inside the path of the ArtScience Museum then you definately definately undoubtedly’ll see the Helix Bridge wanting very very similar to the Helix Bridge (you’ll see what I point out!). Waterfront Promenade will take you all one of many easiest methods spherical to the Esplanade Bridge which hyperlinks over to the Merlion Statue. From correct proper right here it’s good and straightforward to seize a taxi to your resort and collapse after a protracted day.
The place to Maintain in Singapore
The Greatest Stopover Resort – Crowne Plaza Changi
If you wish to get off the airplane and roll straight into mattress then the Crowne Plaza Changi is your best choice. Not solely is it positioned mere 3-minute stroll from the arrivals corridor nonetheless it completely’s designed like a tropical oasis, good for restoring your power ahead of you head out and uncover Singapore.
The beds, toilet and airport views are each travellers dream and staying correct proper right here means you don’t ought to stress about lacking your flight, merely zip your wheelie bag down the corridor and make sure right in.
The Greatest Metropolis Centre Resort – Intercontinental Singapore
For wandering Singapore the Intercontinental is completely positioned. With the Merlion Statue a fast stroll away, metro entry merely all through the nook and an out of doors pool able to soak in after a protracted journey photographing it’s a wonderful base. The underside of the resort might be constructed inside a heritage shophouse from the Twenties!
The Greatest Price fluctuate Resort – Resort 81 Chinatown
There’s a wide range of Resort 81’s scattered spherical Singapore nonetheless this one is positioned right contained in the motion of Chinatown, a wonderful district to revenue from the customized and metropolis scenes of the town. Clear rooms, a wonderful fame and unbelievable location means this funds resort is a well-liked selection for travellers in search of to maximise time open air and minimise resort prices.
Singapore Journey Suggestions
Native climate: It’s heat and humid in Singapore so be capable of get a bit sweaty as you stroll all through the metropolis. Defend hydrated and profit from the fairly just a few arcades and air-conditioned centres!
Overseas trade: Singapore Greenback ($1SD = $0.73USD, $1.01AUD, £0.56GDP, €0.62EUR)
Strong conversion as of August 2020. Examine xe.com for updated conversion bills.
Singapore is considered fairly an dear metropolis to go to nonetheless most of this shall be in lodging prices. Getting spherical could also be very simple and low cost.
Getting Spherical: Upon arrival you should buy a Singapore Vacationer Go at Changi Recommends. Costs fluctuate relying on measurement, 1 day go $10, 2 day go $16, 3 day go $20.
It will get you limitless journey on public buses and trains in the course of the go which suggests it is doable you may zip spherical all by means of Singapore good and straightforward! Plus buses and trains are air-conditioned…bonus! See additional correct proper right here – Singapore Vacationer Go.
On the event it is important to take a taxi, it is doable you may work off the tempo that 10minutes is about $30.
Research additional – “The Greatest Photographs Places in Singapore”
Hiya! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as educated journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this website is from my private expertise on the freeway. I hope it’s helpful to your non-public travels and want to take heed to contained in the solutions about your journeys and experiences throughout the globe.