As the name suggests, the Central region is the beating heart of Singapore. It’s the financial and commercial centre of the city, and a hub for culture, entertainment, sport and education. Widely regarded as the place to live, work and play, this cosmopolitan region is lively, trendy and hugely popular with expats and locals alike.
Central is a well-connected and easily walkable region. It has a thriving nightlife, plenty of job opportunities and some of Singapore’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. On the downside, housing is more expensive, there’s a lack of greenery, and it’s far noisier and busier than the other regions. Known as the birthplace of modern Singapore, the Central region has an abundance of amenities. Orchard Road is dedicated to shopping, from fashion favourites to tiny boutiques; the Civic District is home to arts and cultural centres housed in historic buildings; and there’s plenty to eat, see and do in buzzing hotspots Clarke Quay, Marina Bay, Little India and Chinatown. There’s a high concentration of offices in Central Business District (CBD), and bursts of nature at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and various public parks.
The Central region has several popular residential areas including Holland Village, Orchard, Newton, Tanglin, Bukit Timah and Bukit Mirah. There’s a choice of high-rise condos and apartments with shared amenities like pools and gyms, and plenty of shops, restaurants and country clubs on their doorstep. There are also several international schools in the region, which cater to the Canadian, Dutch, German, Indian and French expat communities. These include Anglo-Chinese School (International), Avondale Grammar School Singapore, Chatsworth International School, EtonHouse International School, Global Indian International School, Hwa Chong International School, Insworld Institute, ISS International School, Nexus International School Singapore (NISS), SJI International School, Stamford American International School, Swiss School in Singapore and Tanglin Trust School.
The Central region is well connected to the rest of the city – as well as being a hub for all MRT lines, most of Singapore’s major expressways wind their way here.