With hundreds of Instagram-worthy spots in Singapore, photographers, influencers, and everyone in between is truly spoiled for choice. But if you want to move beyond the hip cafes and touristy sites, hop into your car and drive to these destinations around the city for cool landscape and #OOTD shots. Also, the backdrops you get at some of these spots are awesome, so you could even swing by to do a photoshoot with your car!
One of Singapore’s oldest temples is Thian Hock Keng, a restored religious site located in the vibrant Telok Ayer district. The temple was built in 1839 to honour Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess, and early Chinese immigrants came here to give thanks to Mazu for keeping them safe during their journey from China to Singapore via the South China Sea. In fact, if you walk along the 40-metre long mural painted on the rear wall of the temple, you’ll see the story of the nation’s early Hokkien immigrants. It’s an interesting sight, and you can park your car along the street to take some quick shots. Pro tip: Come very early in the morning for a stress-free time as the roads start getting busy from 8am.
Located in the south of Singapore, the areas that surround Canterbury Road are filled with lush greenery and old black-and-white colonial houses: two types of backdrops that are well-loved by couples doing wedding shoots. There are also several heritage trees in the area, and one to look out for is the majestic Bodhi (pictured above), which can grow up to 30 metres in height. Canterbury is a short road and there are hardly any vehicles that drive through here, so you can really take your time to frame your Instagram shot.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a member of Raffles Marina Club to visit the vicinity and its most prominent attraction, the Raffles Marina Lighthouse. Overlooking the Tuas Second Link, the lighthouse was built in 1994. Crowds flock here on a daily basis to fish, take a stroll along the pier, and chase the sunset with camera (and tripod) in hand, so be patient and stick around to get a handful of photos – hopefully sans photobombers in the background. The lighthouse is open every day from 7am to 12 midnight.
Marina Bay Cruise Centre may be the point of entry and departure for many, but don’t worry, you won’t need your passport this time round. The terminal’s clean design and sharp, angular forms can be seen throughout, and make excellent futuristic-looking backdrops. For some of the best photo opportunities, drive up to the top floor of the carpark, on Level 3.
The beautiful Peranakan-themed shophouses along Koon Seng Road are the perfect representation of the Joo Chiat precinct, which was largely inhabited by Peranakan Chinese up until the 1970s. Both sides of the road are lined with these stunning pastel-coloured buildings that have been officially marked for conservation by the Singapore government, and are not to be missed if you’re obsessed with curating shots for your ‘Gram. Just watch out for cars while you’re at it: traffic along this road can get pretty heavy, especially on weekends.
Sleek and sexy with stylish coupé features, the eye-catching Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will catch the attention of just about every passer-by. But it’s more than just a beautiful ride – this turbo-charged SUV boasts 7 airbags for safety and an upgraded 8-inch Smartphone Link Display Audio (SDA) System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Made for comfort and convenience, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross also comes with reclining rear seats for extra comfort and storage space, plus a Multi-Around Monitor so you can park with ease.
