Our guide to Singapore's best photography locations
Post last updated: 3/10/2019: Looking for the best spots to photograph Singapore from?
From the best-known to a few offbeat locations, these are our favourite Singapore photography locations.
Honestly, we were pleasantly surprised by Singapore.
It's a pretty awesome place to explore with your camera, whether you’re after key attractions, cool back streets, markets and hawker halls, or even some sneaky people shots.
We thought it would be good to share some of the Singapore photography locations we found in our wanderings, so if you're spending 24 hours (here's a great stop over guide for Singapore), a week, or even a month, and are looking to get your photography on, this is our wrap of the best Singapore photography locations to get those insta-worthy shots.
OUR GUIDE TO SINGAPORE'S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS
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#1 MARINA BAY SANDS
Well, this is kind of a 'duh' location. Marina Bay Sands is one of Singapore’s main attractions, and one of Singapore's best photography locations, towering 50 stories above Marina Bay with panoramic views of the city and bay.
To witness the beauty of Singapore at night, visit the rooftop observatory after dark when Singapore puts on her best dress and lights up in all her glory.
If you’re lucky enough to stay at Hotel Marina Bay Sands, you’ll gain access to the world-famous rooftop infinity pool. You’ll be able to snap wicked selfies with Singapore’s skyline as the backdrop - upping your brag levels enormously.
Be warned, the epicness comes with a price tag that a general backpacking budget can’t afford (rooms start from $500 per night) - but hey, we all need dreams!
HOW TO GET TO MARINA BAY SANDS
Catch either the Circle Line and Downtown Line of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train system to Bayfront Station.
Pro tips | The interior of Marina Bay Sands is an architectural delight, with exceptional angles and shadows allowing for great photography. Take a super wide-angle lens (14mm) and always look up. Alternatively, you can never go wrong photographing from the hotel's infinity pool.
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#2 THE SINGAPORE FLYER
Singapore is home to the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel (soznotsoz to the London Eye). As a Singapore photography location, it's amazing; it was voted the best view in Singapore.
You can feast your eyes (and camera lens) on 360° views of the surrounding downtown area, including Marina Bay and the coast.
The windows of the Flyer can be a little dirty (we won’t hold it against them), but with some careful manoeuvring your shots will still come out great.
HOW TO GET TO THE SINGAPORE FLYER
Catch the Circle Line MRT to the Promenade Station, and follow the signs to Singapore Flyer! Alternatively, you can walk from Marina Bay Sands across the Helix footbridge.
Pro tip | If you're into timelapse photography, the Singapore Flyer provides a great backdrop. Set yourself up on the Marina Bay causeway and spend at least 30mins 'lapsin.
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#3 MERLION FOUNTAIN, MARINA BAY
The Merlion Fountain is definitely not the most impressive attraction in itself, but the view back across Marina Bay from here gives it instant Singapore photography location cred.
Get up early (or you know, continue on from the night before for the night owls amongst us), set up your camera and tripod, then pace your settings to the tune of mother nature beaming her rays across Marina Bay.
HOW TO GET TO THE MERLION FOUNTAIN
Catch the MRT to Raffles Place station and exit, following the footbridge to Clifford Pier, then turn left and follow the promenade.
Pro tip | If you're that way inclined, head to the Merlion for sunrise and photography back towards Marina Bay Sands. You'll be rewarded with the most incredible views - just remember to bring your wide angle to fit it all in.
keep reading: hawker heaven - our singapore food guide
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#4 GARDENS BY THE BAY
Any big Avatar fans out there? Gardens by the Bay, a relatively new attraction on the Singapore scene, is a condensed, real life version of James Cameron’s blockbuster sci-fi movie.
The architecture provides those perfect angles that photographers love and the area really comes alive at night when the lighting and shadows come out to play.
Long exposure photography is your bff here, so bring your tripod along (or get inventive with random surfaces if you don’t have one!) and battle through the crowds to get a prime viewing position.
HOW TO GET TO GARDENS BY THE BAY
Catch either the Circle Line and Downtown Line of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train system to Bayfront Station. Cross the Dragonfly Bridge or Meadow Bridge into Gardens by the Bay.
Pro tips | We recommend spending a whole evening exploring Gardens by the Bay, looking for new angles that will make your photos unique. During the day, use your wide angle and photograph upwards towards Supertree Grove.
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#5 SINGAPORE'S ARAB QUARTER
Known to locals as the hipster area of Singapore, the Arab Quarter is home to bars, restaurants, quirky stores and ridiculously vibrant street art.
Like most places in Singapore, the Arab Quarter is best shot at night, so if you’re after colour, life and a little bit of action in your photographs, this is the place to be. You can even enjoy an ale or cocktail while you’re at it. Winning!
The best-dressed award in the Arab Quarter area definitely goes to the Sultan Mosque (or Masjid Sultan), the largest in Singapore and a truly impressive architectural feat with golden domes and huge prayer hall.
A bonus fun trivia fact: each base of the golden domes is decorated with glass bottle ends, donated by poor Muslims during its construction so that everyone in the community could contribute. Pretty awesome.
HOW TO GET TO SINGAPORE’S ARAB QUARTER
The nearest MRT station is Bugis (East West Line), which is 5min walk from Arab Street. Alternatively, you can walk from Kampong Glam area (5-10 min), or from Little India (10-15min).
Pro tips | The Arab Quarter is one of Singapore's best photography locations. It's the perfect place to push your long exposure game to the limit. It's also seriously colourful, so take a walk down a back alley or two and you might just stumble across some incredible street scenes.
singapore photography: 24 photos to inspire your visit to singapore
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#6 HAJI LANE (WITHIN THE ARAB QUARTER)
Narrow, vibrant, and full of hipster boutiques and cafes; Haji lane, tucked away within the Arab quarter, is a popular photography spot in Singapore.
Here, you’ll find plenty of colourful murals, ever-changing street art, and plenty of cool shops and restaurants with outdoor tables and chairs to people-watch from if you get tired of snapping photos!
HOW TO GET TO HAJI LANE
Haji Lane Singapore is located close to the downtown area of the city. The nearest MRT station is Bugis (East West Line), which takes you just 500m from the entrance of the laneway.
Pro tip | Like all places in Singapore, Haji Lane is extremely popular with tourists - so get there are early as possible to avoid the hordes!
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#7 SINGAPORE'S CHINATOWN
Singapore’s Chinatown is home to some pretty amazing colonial and Chinese architecture, but what makes it really stand out are the splashes of colour throughout.
Bustling Pagoda street is filled with ethnic design pre-war shop houses with pastel wooden shutters, boasting a huge array of Chinese trinkets and and antiques - a total feast for the eyes.
HOW TO GET TO SINGAPORE’S CHINATOWN
Catch the North-East MRT line to Chinatown station. It's super easy to find.
Pro tip | Get here early. Seriously, you'll be able to explore the colourful streets alone (almost), and when you're about to finish up, it'll be busy enough to get some colourful 'market' style shots.
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#8 MAXWELL ST HAWKER HALL (OR ANY HAWKER HALL)
In Singapore they do food differently. 80-85% of the Singaporean population regularly eats at a Hawker Hall; halls of food stalls selling a variety of inexpensive yet delicious food to stuff your face with.
You could say they’re kind of a big deal, and Singaporeans take their food very seriously.
Unsurprisingly, they're also an awesome place to photograph. The scenes are ever changing, the colours bright and vibrant, and there's a constant opportunity for portraits.
HOW TO GET TO MAXWELL ST HAWKER HALL
The closest MRT station is Chinatown. Exit at Pagoda Street, and towards South Bridge Road. Maxwell St Hawker Hall is a short walk away, opposite the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.
Pro tip | The light can be tricky here, so remember to bring a tripod for some interesting long exposures. We found shop owners to be very keen for photographs, so aim for a portrait or two.
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#9 BUDDHA TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE
Okay, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple might not evoke the same feels as a 15th century Wat in Luang Prabang, but it's still one of the best Singapore photography locations.
Built in 2007, the imposing red exterior draws photographers from all over looking to put their wide angle lenses to use, while the ornate interior is perfect for detail photography.
Admission to the temple is free - just remember to respect your surrounds.
HOW TO GET TO BUDDHA TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE
Take the MRT to Chinatown station and take Exit A at Pagoda Street and turn right at South Bridge Road.
Pro tips | There's beautiful moments to be photographed in this place of worship - stay near where incense are offered, and let the moments guide photography. Remember to respect your subject and ask before you photograph (where possible).
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#10 ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM, MARINA BAY
Opened in 2011 to much fanfare, the ArtScience museum, located on the shores of Marina Bay, is one of the most iconic pieces of architecture in Singapore.
It's exterior is reminiscent of a lotus flower and it's angles are a dream for photographers looking for something incredible to add to their instagram feed.
The museum is also surrounded by reflective pools filled with lotus flowers, allowing for some great reflection snaps.
HOW TO GET TO ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
Catch either the Circle Line and Downtown Line of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train system to Bayfront Station. Exit towards Marina Bay.
Pro tips | Using a polariser, if you have one, will add an extra crispness to your reflection photos. Also, sunrise or sunset will provide the best light, when the angles of the ArtScience museum take on new colours.
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ACCOMMODATION IN SINGAPORE | BOOKING ACCOMMODATION IN SINGAPORE
BOOK | Here’s £30 off your first AirBnb booking
HOTELS | Check out Booking.com for the best hotel deals
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TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR SINGAPORE
Whatever you do, don’t travel anywhere in the world without travel insurance.
Even though Singapore is extremely safe, things can go wrong, be it sickness, lost baggage, theft, or an accident.
Travel insurance is your only way of mitigating the issues, so grab a policy before you travel!
BUY | Click here to get the best travel insurance deals with World Nomads
READ | Our ultimate guide to travel insurance
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Do you have any favourite Singapore photography locations? Share them with your fellow readers!
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