We now live in an era where social media is king, where your online presence is more important than anything else. When spending hours taking #OOTDs of your significant other, for him or her to boost their own public appeal via Instagram is more important than quality time. It’s sad, for the most part, pathetic, but it is what it is—the future.

Singapore, despite being a tiny island, has its own fair share of places where you can nail that perfect shot. With its combination of high-rise buildings, beautiful greenery and sleek architecture, our sunny little island is the perfect canvas for you to play around with to achieve captivating Insta-worthy photos be it edgy, street-style photography or beautiful natural landscapes.

If you are, however, running out of ideas on where to take your next #OOTD or bring your overseas friends, fret not because here is a list of 8 photography spots in Singapore to explore with your squad.

Photo Credit: chowyi

ALKAFF BRIDGE 

If you’ve ever had a staycation at Studio M before, you would have probably come across this vibrant, multi-coloured bridge which spans the Singapore River at Robertson Quay.

The bridge is creatively shaped like a tongkang, which was a light boat that was used to ship goods along rivers in the early days of Singapore. Definitely an appropriate design for a bridge that is just along the Singapore river!

1 Havelock Road
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

CHINESE GARDENS 

These beautiful gardens are definitely an underrated spot for aesthetic photos and killer #OOTDs. Chinese Gardens is full of majestic Chinese architecture as well as lush greenery that is perfect for that picturesque shot.

With its gorgeous pagodas and oriental vibes, your followers might not even be able to guess that you are in Singapore!

1 Chinese Garden Road
Singapore 619795
Daily: 6am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinese Garden

Photo Credit: Cond? Nast Traveler

GILLMAN BARRACKS 

This cluster of art galleries makes for a great place for some artsy, edgy shots for the gram. As the area used to be part of the British military barracks in the past, Gillman Barracks boasts of gorgeous, colonial architecture that looks just as good in photos as it does in real life.

Keep a watch out for their new exhibitions and events which usually means that there will be new photo taking opportunities for you.

9 Lock Road
Singapore 108937
Tue to Thu: 12pm – 7pm
Fri: 11am – 9.15pm
Sat: 12pm – 7pm
Sun: 11am – 6pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Labrador Park Station

HENDERSON WAVES BRIDGE

The iconic bridge is not just a great place for a nice walk, but it also makes for a gorgeous setting for some pretty neat photos.

This sprawling pedestrian bridge has a fantastical, wave-like shape that is a great as a backdrop in photos. We recommend that you come here at night as well since the bridge is quite a sight when it is all lit up.

Henderson Road
Singapore 159557
Nearest Station: Telok Blangah

HORT PARK 

We feel that this is the underrated and miniature version of Botanic Gardens. Hort Park may be a small park, but it boasts of a wide array of plants and flowers that make a great backdrop for photos.

This place is a small escape from our concrete jungle of a city and is the perfect place if you’re looking to get more nature shots for your feed.

33 Hyderabad Road
Singapore 119578
Daily: 6am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Labrador Park

Photo Credit: chingsantos

RAFFLES MARINA LIGHTHOUSE 

Lighthouses are not a common sight in Singapore, so posting a picture of one on your feed will probably garner plenty of likes and comments from people who want to know where you took that photo.

Raffles Marina Lighthouse is one of these rare finds. Located at the tip of Raffles Marina Club’s breakwaters is a beautiful lighthouse that is a great spot for nautically themed photos. Even though it is a little far out, it is worth the trip down!

10 Tuas West Dr
Singapore 638404
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tuas Link

Photo Credit: viscaya_jurnalis 

RAILWAY BRIDGE @ KING ALBERT PARK 

Probably one of the most raved about places on the list is this railway bridge located at King Albert Park. This now defunct railway track is a hot spot for people to take creative shots.

Despite the place being severely overrated, we must admit that there is still a certain charm to these tracks that makes us still want to have our photos taken there even if they have been done so a thousand times by other people.

1 Bukiit Timah Railway Station
Singapore 599938
Nearest Station: King Albert Park

Photo Credit: bern31photowalk 

TOA PAYOH TOWN PARK 

Toa Payoh Town Park is another underrated place that boasts of lush greenery and scenic backdrops that are great for that perfect photo.

Its large pavilion, rustic gazebos and Japanese bridge are some of the many different spots for you to get a shot for the gram and we love how a variety of different shots can be taken at just one place.

Lor 6 Toa Payoh
Nearest Station: Toa Payoh

If you are a nature lover or simply someone in search of a tranquil respite away from the bustle of the city, Chinese Garden in the West can be an option to consider. The 13.5-hectare garden was built in 1975 by renowned Taiwanese architect, Professor Yuen-Chen Yu, and it has since become one a hotspot for tourists—yet, it’s ironic that so many Singaporeans haven’t even been there before.

From the garden’s stunning bonsai collection, pavilions and pagodas, Chinese Garden is perfect for an outing if you’re ever in search of a new adventure. And while it does not boast the same glamour and majesty of Gardens by the Bay, it is still one of the most iconic parks in Singapore.

Before you go on to say that this underrated garden has nothing to offer, here is a list of the things that you can do there. So go on, pretend you’re a tourist for a day and explore Singapore’s Chinese Garden.

LUNCH AT YU HUA MARKET & HAWKER CENTRE

Start your afternoon right by filling up your tummies before heading to the garden. Yu Hua Market & Hawker Centre is just a stone’s throw away from Chinese Garden and there are many stalls that sell really cheap and tasty hawker fare.

Some of the must-try stalls include the famous Poon Kee Wanton Noodle, although chances are you will not go wrong with the other hawker stalls.

347 Jurong East Avenue 1, #01-226
Singapore 600347
Mon to Sun: 6am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinese Garden

STROLL THROUGH THE BONSAI GARDEN

Open from 9am to 5pm daily, the Bonsai Garden is built in Suzhou-style and stepping into this place makes you feel as if you are transported into a traditional Chinese home from a typical Chinese period drama. Even if plants are not your thing, one can’t deny that walking through this lush space is incredibly therapeutic.

ENJOY A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE GARDEN IN THE PAGODA

Probably one of the most iconic structures in the garden, the Cloud Piercing Pagoda is a 7-storey tower with a pretty spiral staircase that leads you to the top where you can enjoy the panoramic view over Jurong Lake and the West of Singapore.

Standing at 48m tall, the majestic traditional Chinese architecture is definitely one of the perfect photo spots for you to up your Instagram game.

FEED TURTLES AT THE TURTLE MUSEUM

Kids will love the Live Turtle And Tortoise Museum–which is home to more than 200 turtles and tortoises–that holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Turtle and Tortoise in the world.

For an admission fee of only S$5 for adults and S$3 for children, you can get to see over 60 species of turtles and tortoises and also get a chance to feed the calm and cute animals.

PERFECT PLACE FOR THE KILLER #OOTD

Even if you are just there to enjoy the outdoors, there is no way you can leave this beautiful place without giving your Instagram feed an update. This place has some gorgeous photo backdrops for you to take the perfect #aesthetic shot and your social media followers might not even be able to guess that you are in Singapore!

Chinese Garden
1 Chinese Garden Road
Singapore 619795
Admission: Free
Mon to Sun: 6am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinese Garden