“Huh, you parking in town? So expensive sia.” is a popular response when one expresses that he/she is driving and parking in Orchard Road. Now, it’s not that we’re all cash-tight – let’s be real, if you can own a car in Singapore, chances are you can probably afford the parking fees that come with it.
But we’re never gonna say no to affordable parking, especially in town. With parking rates going as high as $7/hour – ahem, Hilton Hotel, ahem – we’ve rounded up a list of car parks with the lowest costs, so you have extra cash to spend on yourself or bae.
You can also view the parking spots in this Google My Maps, which includes the location pins of the places we mention below.
For weekdays before 5pm, those heading to the Dhoby Ghaut area for less than an hour can park at The Cathay. Otherwise, you can opt to park inside Plaza Singapura itself if you’re planning on staying longer for a meal or some retail therapy.
The Heeren will be your best bet for couples catching a movie at Cineleisure, or for families heading to 313@somerset for grocery runs at Don Don Donki. Consider the public car park at Orchard Boulevard the most cost-effective option when going for shopping sprees at ION Orchard or Shaw Centre.
Most malls in Orchard go by a per entry basis after 5/6pm, so this is actually a good timing if you want to bring the fam out and gai gai.
My personal favourite – parking at ION Orchard, that will only set you back at $3. It’s also centrally located so you can walk over to Takashimaya, Somerset or Cineleisure. And if walking to Dhoby Ghaut is a lil’ too far, Plaza Singapura’s car park charges the same price.
Unsurprisingly, parking rates during the weekends are slightly costlier than on weekdays. You can try planning out your time according to the parking schedules, as some places like The Cathay or Far East Shopping Centre offer per entry rates after 6pm.
For those spending less than an hour in town, street parking along Penang Road and Angullia Park Surface Carpark are the most economical choices.
It’s undeniably more convenient if you park in Orchard, so you don’t have to lug your shopping bags around or squeeze with others on the bus or train. Avoid paying expensive parking fees and consider parking at these places instead.
It’s also worth checking the respective malls for their ongoing promotions, as some offer parking rebates which you can redeem upon hitting a minimum spend. I mean, if you’re already planning to spend some moolah there, you might as well make the most out of it, right?
More Orchard Road articles:
Cover image adapted from: Ivan Lim
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