Singapore is somewhere I'd been highly anticipating visiting for some time. Not just to visit as a tourist (though the wealth of sights, and street food scene are undoubtedly major draws), but also to capture through my lens. The Asian city state is a photographer's dream - rich with colour, culture, and heritage. There are so many beautiful places to photograph, from the main photogenic corners of Gardens by the Bay, to a number of vibrant neighbourhoods, rife with unique moments and interesting photo spots in secret corners.
We visited Singapore twice this year whilst travelling through Asia, and both times I never tired of exploring, camera in tow. I've amassed some of my favourite places to photograph the city in this guide to the best photography spots in Singapore. This is far from an exhaustive list, but hopefully provides a starting point for your own Singapore adventures.
01. Gardens by the Bay - Super Tree Grove
When it comes to photography spots in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay is a treasure trove of photogenic corners. So much so, that it gets multiple mentions on this list! The first and most obvious location for taking photos is the striking Super Tree Grove. This cluster of unique living tree structures is arguably the icon of Singapore, towering over the gardens and marina beyond. The vertical trees are lined with a variety plants, and attract large crowds during the twice daily evening light show.
There's plenty of photo opportunities around the Super Tree Grove. I actually wouldn't recommend shooting them at ground level, as there tend to be large crowds, and you're too close to capture the structures in full. An alternative angle which draws less crowds is taken from a vantage point one floor up from the base level. You can get to this spot by taking lift B up a floor. From here turn left and left again, until you get to a fork with a view of the trees. Turn right and keep walking till you find a huddle of rocks (pictured). This spot is well framed with foliage, providing an ideal Gardens by the Bay photo opp with the Super Tree Grove perfectly aligned in the background.
Another opportunity to photograph the Super Tree Grove is from the OCBC Skyway (pictured), an aerial walkway that winds through the upper levels of the structures. It's ticketed at $7 per person, and open from 9am-9pm. If you visit around opening it tends to be pretty quiet, allowing you to snap away without having to navigate crowds.
Don't forget to visit the Super Tree Grove at night to see the light show, which is free to view and a wonderful sightseeing activity in Singapore. It can be a bit tricky to capture as it draws big crowds, but is nonetheless well worth visiting. For more things to do in Singapore, check out my full Singapore travel guide.
02. Gardens by the Bay - Lily Pond
This secret Gardens by the Bay spot is a little tricky to find, but well worth seeking out. You'll find this picturesque lily pond near the children's garden within the main park complex. A perfectly placed rock sits against a backdrop of Super Tree Grove and Marina Bay Sands behind, composing a classically Singapore view. At around 9am there was the odd other photographer and occasional tourist, but it was largely quiet. We visited in May, and the lilies were in full bloom, adding pops of pink - however it's beautiful year round.
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03. Gardens by the Bay - Flower Dome / Cloud Forest
Gardens by the Bay is home to a number of indoor greenhouse areas, each with different themes. These include the Flower Dome, Floral Fantasy, and Cloud Forest. On my last visit I explored the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, both of which offered plenty of photography opportunities. On my visit the Cloud Forest had a Jurassic World exhibition on (hence the dinosaurs!), whilst the Flower Dome was decked out for an annual orchid festival, themed around Peranakan culture. The latter very popular, so pretty busy - but with a bit of patience, there were still plenty of moments worth capturing. In the Cloud Forest, the waterfall (pictured) near the beginning of the tour is a popular spot. However there's plenty more photography locations throughout, such as the raised walkways further into the building.
Top tip: The greenhouses are very humid, so you may find your lenses fog up. They often need 10 minutes or so to acclimatise, and make sure to keep some lens wipes to hand!
The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are open from 9am-9pm, whilst Floral Fantasy opens at 10am. All three are ticketed, with individual and bundle ticket options, priced separately for Singapore residents and foreign visitors.
04. Koon Seng Road, Joo Chiat
Of all the photography spots in Singapore, few are more Instagrammable than the pastel houses of Koon Seng Road. In fact, it's a location I'd had saved on Instagram for years, so it was quite a surreal moment finally seeing these striking houses for myself. These buildings are of Perenakan design, which is a unique culture found in Singapore and Malaysia born of a blend of traditional Malay elements with the cultures of the immigrant communities.
I'd recommend visiting fairly early if you're looking to capture the houses without crowds of people. Of course, these are people's homes, so keep a respectful distance and noise down. The road itself can be fairly busy with cars, so you may find some patience is involved.
The neighbourhood of Joo Chiat, where these houses are found, is a popular destination for exploring Peranakan heritage, as well as plenty of great dining, shopping, and some of the more affordable accommodation options in the city. I'd recommend popping to Common Man for a great breakfast or brunch afterwards.
Read More: The Best Things to do in Singapore
05. Bayfront Marina
Singapore's modern Bayfront marina area is a sight to behold, with a dramatic backdrop of luxury hotels and towering skyscrapers. It's an area you'll no doubt find yourself exploring at some point during your Singapore trip, due to it's proximity to many key Singapore sights. Gardens by the Bay, the ArtScience Museum, Singapore Flyer and more are all found within the vicinity. By day, it's a busy thoroughfare, however we headed to the marina early one day to take some snaps in the hazy morning light. This exact spot was in front of the Marina Bay Sands shopping mall, but there's plenty of spots along the waterfront for taking snaps.
06. The Jewel Changi Airport
Singapore's Changi Airport is generally considered one of the world's best, and certainly, one of the most picturesque. Though there's plenty of interesting things to see and do, the flagship sight is the HSBC Rain Vortex. This dramatic floor to ceiling waterfall can be found in the heart of the Jewel, a shopping and dining complex connecting the terminals. Appearing from the futuristic domed roof of the building in one continuous cascade, it's a spectacular sight and a can't-miss when flying in or out of Singapore.
There's a number of spots from which to photograph it, but my tip would be to head to the higher levels to get more of a vantage point. You'll find plenty of foliage throughout the complex, which can create interesting framing and add some colour. A small inter-terminal train runs through the Jewel at regular intervals, which makes a fun addition to the shot. It's a hard one to get empty, as there's always plenty of people milling around - but perhaps that makes it feel more authentic!
The Jewel complex is before security, so you don't need to be heading off on a flight to visit. The waterfall runs from 10:00am-10:30pm, with light shows daily at 7.30pm, 8.00pm, 9.00pm, 10.00pm & 10.30pm.
Once you've seen the Rain Vortex, it's well worth exploring the Jewel, with plenty more activities (and spots to capture!). There's a walking net, canopy bridge, and even a couple of mazes.
07. Old Hill Street Police Station
I can't resist all things colour, and when it comes to photography spots in Singapore, there's plenty to capture. For fellow colour lovers, you can't miss Old Hill Street Police Station, a former police station turned government building known for it's eye-catching rainbow-hued windows. It's a vast building, with 6 floors of painted shutters wrapping around three sides on the corner of two roads.
To capture the scale of the property, we shot these from the other side of the road. It did require some patience as there was pretty regular traffic. To get the building straight in post production, allow some room for cropping and use the vertical geometry tool in Photoshop or Lightroom.
08. Former House of Tan Teng Niah
This colourful two-storey bungalow is a thoroughly unique Singapore building, somewhat anachronistically found in Singapore's Little India neighbourhood. Previously owned by a local Chinese businessman, it's one of the lat surviving examples of Chinese architecture in the area.
Originally constructed in 1900, it was restored to it's current rainbow style in the 1980s. The building has become a key architectural figure in Singapore's heritage, as part of the Little India heritage trail. The inside is a commercial space, though I'm not quite sure what purpose it functions at this time.
With arched windows painted in various rainbow hues, the exteriors are a visual feast. The building is detached, meaning you're able to explore (and capture) the whole way around it. Though the area is busy, it's easy enough to snap at any time of day. If you want wide shots, however, you may find it easiest to visit in the early hours.
09. Chinatown
Singapore has so many charming neighbourhoods. Joo Chiat, Kampong Glam, Little India. But my favourite was Chinatown, filled with colourful shophouses, markets, and street art. There's so much to see and do here, from exploring temples and cultural sights, to delving in to the heart of Singapore's street food scene. I don't have any specific photo spots to recommend, but wandering around Chinatown you'll find plenty to capture. Visit early to avoid the crowds (and heat!), or visit during the day to photograph street scenes busy with tourists and locals alike.
10. Helix Bridge
Though many of the locations on this list showcase Singapore's rich heritage and tradition, there's also a fair few opportunities to capture it's more modern side. One prime example of this is the Helix Bridge, a pedestrian bridge located in the Bayfront Marina area near the ArtScience Museum.
The distinctive double helix design, inspired by the structure of DNA, makes this one of Singapore's most unique contemporary landmarks. The bridge incorporates four viewing platforms, which offer a vantage point out over the marina, and Marina Bay Sands beyond.
Though the bridge offers plenty of interest for photographers at any time of day, it's particularly striking at night, when lit up in shades of red.
Top tip: If you're shooting with a camera that struggles in low light, I recommend shooting at blue hour (when the sun has set, but before it goes completely dark). This is my favourite time to shoot night photography, without ending up with grainy photos!
I hope this guide to the best photography spots in Singapore provides a solid starting point to exploring and capturing the city for yourself. It's far from an exhaustive list, and I urge you to use this as a guide from which to discover your own unique perspective on this very photogenic destination. If I've missed any spots, or have any questions, do let me know in the comments below! And if you'd like to see more travel photography work, please do follow along on Instagram.
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