Shopping in Singapore starts from Orchard Road, which is the city's main shopping area. If you're looking to do some shopping, keep in mind that there are little-known spots in Singapore that are a real treat for tourists. This is where you can get a particularly good deal. If you are new to Singapore and visiting Orchard Road for the first time, our guide will be indispensable for you.
Shopping in Singapore on Orchard Road
The Far East Plaza shopping complex is intended primarily for young people. Here you can buy accessories and clothes from all kinds of fashion brands at reasonable prices. However, you will not find exclusive and expensive premium items in any of the stores presented here. The prices of the clothes sold here correspond to their quality. Despite this, you can do some good shopping at Far East Plaza.
You'll find your favorite brands at malls like , and Takashimaya. These huge complexes display items from the latest collections of Cartier, Kate Spade, Dior, Prada, Miu Miu and Burberry. The staff here is superbly trained, and the high level of service will satisfy even the most demanding customer. However, you should not count on low prices, because these stores are located in the very center of Singapore. If you want to buy branded items at a discount, then ION Orchard and Takashimaya are not for you. However, these shopping centers boast such a variety of goods that it is worth a stroll through them, if only out of curiosity.
Ngee Ann City is located next to Takashimaya. Here you will find stores such as Cotton On, La Senza, Dorothy Perkins, Esprit and many others.
Continue on to Somerset Underground Station. It is surrounded by several newly built shopping complexes such as 313 @ Somerset and Orchard Central. It's safe to say that 313 @ Somerset will please every visitor. This is where the Forever 21 chain store is located, which occupies 4 floors, where it is simply impossible to leave without shopping. 313 @ Somerset also houses Zara and Uniqlo, which are increasingly popular among both local residents, and among tourists.
Orchard Central Shopping Center is located next to 313 @ Somerset. There are not many shops, but visitors are given the opportunity to make good purchases. There are also beauty salons and hairdressers here. After passing them, be sure to climb to the roof of the building with a magnificent garden located on it. Taking a seat at a table in one of the restaurants or bars, you can relax in a relaxed atmosphere and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city.
Somerset Tube Station is also close to Centrepoint, The Heeren and Cathay shopping centres.
Most of the Centrepoint shopping center is occupied by Robinsons - the leading retail store in Singapore. If you are not going to shop at Robinsons, then, in general, you can safely avoid this place.
A few years ago, The Heeren was one of the most popular shopping centers. However, after reconstruction it became like a ghost town. It is quiet here both on weekdays and on weekends. This seems especially unusual since even the most secluded corners of Orchard Road are as crowded as sardines in a can.
The name Cathay Cineleisure needs no further explanation - it is a shopping complex with a very popular cinema. Cathay Cineleisure is more like Entertainment Center: Most of its levels are reserved for all kinds of games and other pleasures, so you should not count on successful shopping. It's not hard to understand why it's mostly young people who gather here.
It should be noted that the Singapore Visitor Center is within walking distance of the aforementioned shopping centers, which is very convenient if you suddenly need to go there.
If you intend to continue your walk, continue past the Istana government residence. You will go to the Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, which is located next to the Plaza Singapura shopping center. There you will find some great cafes, a cinema and quite a few shops. In the basement of the building there is a Carrefour supermarket where you can buy groceries.
Next on your way will be The Cathay. This shopping mall First of all, it boasts an excellent cinema with spacious and comfortable seats. Obviously, the majority of visitors to The Cathay come here to watch films. Here also big choice restaurants and shops. Despite the fact that this place cannot be called particularly good for shopping, you can find some pretty interesting things here.
If you're looking for some fun after a long, busy day, head to Orchard Plaza or Orchard Towers. These huge complexes contain numerous pubs, clubs and discos. Don't be surprised if you meet defiant dressed girls, offering somewhere to retire.
Both Orchard Plaza and Orchard Towers are well known for their Thai, Vietnamese and Filipino bars with girls waiting at the counter. At night it can be quite noisy and lively. If you want to relax in a calm environment, then these places should be avoided.
In terms of the number of monuments included in the UNESCO list, the Czech Republic ranks among the organization's members. This means that these objects are extraordinary and unique for the whole world and are a common heritage. They absolutely must be preserved for posterity.
The Czech Republic is a country with a vibrant historical past and richest nature. 12 objects of special cultural significance and 6 biosphere reserves on its territory, as of 2015, were included in the UNESCO list. And also 18 objects are among the candidates.
Map of UNESCO sites in the Czech Republic
Prague center
The historical center of Telč
Center of Cesky Krumlov
Church of John of Nepomuk on Green Mountain
Historical center of Kutna Hora
Lednice-Valtice cultural landscape
Archbishop's Castle in Kromeriz
Holasovice
Column Holy Trinity in Olomouc
Villa Tugendhat
Basilica of St. Procopius
Křivoklát reservation
Krkonoše
White Carpathians
Historical center of Prague
The largest number of attractions of the Czech capital are concentrated in the historical center. This is a significant part of the Prague 1 district, combining (Staré Město), (Malá Strana), (Nové Město). Architectural styles are intertwined here, and monuments from different eras have been preserved. Each building is original and unique. Overall they create the impression of amazing harmony.
The historical center of Telč
The center of Telč is unique in that since its reconstruction in 1386 it has never been reconstructed. In the Middle Ages, the main disaster of the city was fires, so in the 14th century the houses were built of stone in the same Renaissance style. The elegant facades were connected by arched galleries; The central part of the city was limited by a bypass canal and a reservoir. For its unique architecture and abundance of bodies of water, the historical center of Telč is called the “Moravian Venice”. Read more about the city.
Center of Cesky Krumlov
The pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk (Poutní kostel Svatého Jana Nepomuckého na Zelené hoře) was built on the Green Mountain near the town of Žďár nad Sázavou, in 1720. The temple complex is decorated in a peculiar “Baroque Gothic” style, built in the shape of a bizarre five-pointed star, surrounded by a decagonal ambit. Read more about the church.
The historical center of Kutna Hora and its unique temples
The entire old center of Kutná Hora can be called an architectural pearl, combining the bright features of Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance. More details about the city. The famous (Chrám svaté Barbory) is considered an outstanding example of Gothic Revival. In the oldest quarter of the city, a monumental temple in the rare Baroque Gothic style has been preserved (Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie a svatého Jana Křtitele).
Lednice-Valtice cultural landscape
Archbishop's Castle and Gardens in Kromeriz
The Archbishop's Castle (Arcibiskupský zámek) in the city (Kroměříž) serves as the dominant feature of the historical center. To this day it belongs to the bishops of Olomouc. The castle has the most valuable interiors in Europe and the richest art gallery. Around the palace there has been a large Castle Garden with romantic buildings since the Middle Ages. WITH mid-17th century centuries, there is a Flower Garden with an aviary, a rotunda, a colonnade and labyrinths. Read more about the castle.
Holašovice – the pearl of South Bohemian rural baroque
The historical village of Holašovice has preserved the appearance of a traditional Central European settlement from the 18th century. It is a conceptual illustrative complex of folk architecture. Read more.
Column of the Holy Trinity in Olomouc
The Column of the Holy Trinity (Sloup Nejsvětější Trojice), which rises on the Upper Square (Olomouc), is considered an outstanding sculptural work of the Baroque era. The monumental Olomouc plague pillar is the tallest in Central Europe. It is decorated with a complex, detailed plastic composition. Read more.
Villa Tugendhat in Brno
Villa Tugendhat is a monument of modernism, an indicative example of functional architecture. This is the only building in the Czech Republic built in the 20th century that has been awarded the UNESCO register. The landscape surrounding the villa was used by the architect as part of the interior of the building. Read about Villa Tugendhat in the city (Brno).
Basilica of St. Prokop and the ancient Jewish Quarter in Trebic
The decoration of the city of Třebíč is the majestic Basilica of St. Prokopa (Bazilika svatého Prokopa). The temple of the 13th century is made in the Roman-Gothic style. Its architecture combines both styles, presented in a mature form. Read more about basil.
Trebic was a famous center of Jewish culture in Moravia. The Jewish Quarter (Třebíčská židovská čtvrť) with two synagogues and a cemetery has been preserved here. It has been written about the Jewish Quarter.
Biosphere reserves of the Czech Republic
Trebon reservation
The Třeboňsko region is a marshy plain with a huge concentration of reservoirs and ponds. These water and wetland areas are designated as protected wetlands of global significance. The famous Czech carp is grown here. In the Trebońsko Nature Park, agricultural and water lands intersperse with villages and forest thickets. This unique mosaic of diverse biospheres harmoniously coexists in a fairly small area. In the heart of the natural park is the city.
Křivoklát reservation
Šumava
Šumava is called the “Green Dome of Europe”. For many years this reserve was a completely closed space and has retained its pristine purity. The most valuable object in the region is the Boubinsky virgin forest. Read about the park.
Krkonoše
Krkonoše – the highest region of the country, the “Giant Mountains” – the most visited natural Park Czech Republic. The Krkonose region is famous for its beautiful walking trails and abundance of waterfalls. Read more about National Park read .
White Carpathians
White Carpathians (Bílé Karpaty) – biosphere national reserve, an area of mountain forests and vast meadows, a valuable biotope of European importance. The White Carpathians serve as a natural border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The region is the “champion” of Central Europe in terms of the number of orchid species growing here. Read more about the White Carpathians.
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If you have been to the Czech Republic a million times and we are sure that you are perfectly familiar with all the beauties of the “Bohemian pearl”, we still We will try to convince you otherwise!
And not just to convince, but to offer you a unique, exclusive, author's tour in a mini group(up to 7 people) and precisely during the most touching and romantic period - when the whole Czech Republic is in bloom- on May holidays 01 May - 08 May.
All 12 UNESCO monuments Czech Republic in one tour: Prague - Brno - Cesky Krumlov - Holasovice - Kutna Hora - Litomysl - Telc - Trebic - Zelena Gora - Olomouc - Kromeriz - Lednice-Valtice!
01 May. Upon arrival in Prague, transfer to the railway station (luggage will be checked into a storage room). Tour of Prague Castle.
The first part of a walking tour of Prague " Prague Castle": Strahov Monastery - Loretta - Hradcany - St. Vitus Cathedral - Golden Street - Small Side - Charles Bridge.
At 16:49 departure of the high-speed train Prague - Brno. Arrival in Brno at 19:22. Transfer to the hotel, hotel accommodation Arte 4*
02 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion around Brno.Excursion to Litomysl and Zelena Gora.
Pedestrian tour of Brno- city great history and culture, located at the confluence of the Svratka and Svitava rivers, and representing the center of all South Moravia! A remarkable fact is the continuous settlement of the Brnov depression from prehistoric times to the present day. Rapid economic development at the end of the 19th century turned it into an elite “suburb” of Vienna; since that time, many buildings unique in their architecture have been built in Brno, among them the Tugendhat Villa (UNESCO monument) - the famous work in the modernist style of the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
In the afternoon - bus excursion to the cities of Litomysl and Zelena Gora.
In 1999, UNESCO recognized the architectural ensemble of the castle palace in the city of Litomysl, built in the Italian Renaissance style, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle walls are richly decorated using the traditional Czech technique of sgraffito. The castle in Litomysl is recognized as one of the purest samples Renaissance architecture in Eastern Europe!
The Church of St. John of Nepomuk (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Zielona Gora is one of the most original buildings in Europe! It was built by the brilliant architect Jan Blazej Santini Eichel in the shape of a five-pointed star.
03 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Bus tour to Kromeriz Castle and the city of Olomouc.
Lock Kromeriz, recreated in the 17th century on the foundations of an even older structure, is an exceptional example of Baroque architecture in the form of a perfectly preserved residence of the highest nobility, typical of central Europe. Adjacent to the castle is a garden and park ensemble consisting of a landscaped English park and a magnificent flower garden in the early Baroque style.
Olomouc Located in the heart of the Ghana region, this city with a population of one hundred thousand belongs to the most important Moravian metropolises. The memorial column (plague pillar), built in the early years of the 18th century, is an exceptional example similar type monuments, as it was created in a separate style known as “Olomouc Baroque” with an extremely rich sculptural design, the author of which is the outstanding Moravian sculptor Ondřej Zahner. The consecration of this 35 (!) meter monument took place in 1754, Empress Maria Theresa and her husband Franz Joseph I of Lorraine personally took part in the celebration. The Column of the Holy Trinity was included in the list of UNESCO monuments in 2000.
04 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Bus excursion to the cities of Telc and Trebic.
Since the historical core of the city Telc, bounded by ponds and gates, has retained its unique appearance for many centuries; in 1992 it was included in the list of UNESCO monuments. It is thanks to its uniqueness that thousands of tourists from all over the world come here every year.
In the past the city Trebic was the center of Jewish culture in Moravia, the uniquely preserved Jewish part of the city remains a silent witness to the local neighborhood of Jews and Christians. Acquaintance with the sights of the city will definitely lead you to the Jewish quarter and the Basilica of St. Procopius, which in 2003 were included in the list of UNESCO monuments.
05 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Lednice-Valtice. Prague, Old Town.
In the morning - visit Valtice-Lednice area. This is not only an amazing romantic palace, but above all it is a masterpiece of park design of unprecedented proportions! Today's complex covers an area of almost 300 sq. km. - this is the result of work typical of English landscape parks. Thanks to this, architecture from the Baroque and Neo-Gothic eras can be found here. The Lednice-Valtice complex is one of the masterpieces of the world cultural and natural heritage of UNESCO, and was included in the list in 1996.
In the afternoon, transfer by high-speed train to Prague. Transfer and accommodation in hotel Abri 3*+(5 minutes walk to the historical center).
In the afternoon - the second part of the pedestrian walk excursions in Prague« Old city": Wenceslas Square - Powder Tower - People's House - Royal Road— Old Town Square — Astronomical clock- Tyn Temple.
06 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion to Kutna Hora.
For my unusual beauty this picturesque city was nicknamed “the treasury, the precious box of the Czech land”! The entire center of Kutna Hora is an architectural treasure of European importance, listed as a World Heritage Site in 1995. cultural heritage UNESCO. The most visited objects of the “cultural” capital of the Czech Republic are: St. Barbara’s Cathedral (1388), the Church of All Saints with the Ossuary, decorated with human skulls and bones ,
Mint and Royal Chapel.
07 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion to Cesky Krumlov and Holasovice.
Czech krumlov- one of the most beautiful cities Czech Republic, on whose territory there are more than 300 unique architectural monuments of various historical eras! The dominant feature of the city is the second largest castle in the Czech Republic with a luxurious garden and a baroque theater. In 1992, the entire historical center of the city was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.
On the way to Cesky Krumlov we will stop in a small landscape village Holasovice, which features many colorful rural buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries in the style known as South Bohemian folk baroque. In 1998, the village was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Traditionally, the measure of the uniqueness of a cultural or natural site is its relationship to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Belonging to it is, to a certain extent, an indicator of the level of significance of the visited object for national and global culture. We should not forget that the significance and cultural uniqueness of a cultural or natural site cannot guarantee the intensity of a tourist’s impressions when viewing or visiting it, because not every site on the World Heritage List becomes a tourist attraction. All this is also true for the sights of the Czech Republic: some of the twelve Czech UNESCO monuments are well known throughout the world and are objects of mass tourism, while the names of the rest will not say anything even to those who have repeatedly visited the Czech Republic and assume that they have become acquainted with all the sights Czech Republic. Many of the UNESCO monuments are visited during popular tours, some are only accessible independently or as part of a tour.
Cultural and natural sites of the Czech Republic included in the UNESCO World Heritage List
HISTORICAL CENTER OF PRAGUE- the most famous and visited point in the Czech Republic and, perhaps, one of the most famous among all World Heritage sites. Architectural monuments belong to a wide range of historical period XI-XVIII centuries, you can read in more detail about the various sights of Prague and the excursions during which they are visited.
HISTORICAL CENTER OF CESKY KRUMLO B is an outstanding example of a perfectly preserved urban landscape of a Central European medieval city, located in an extremely picturesque natural landscape on the winding banks of the Vltava. The city arose around an originally Gothic castle from the 13th century. Cesky Krumlov is one of the most frequently visited cities in the Czech Republic by tourists; you can come here either independently or by ordering, or together with.
HISTORICAL CENTER OF TELČ- a medieval town with a Renaissance market square and gothic castle, is a perfectly preserved example of medieval town planning. The buildings that make up the ensemble of the market square were originally wooden, but were rebuilt from stone after a fire at the end of the 14th century. Unfortunately, the city is not popular among Russian-speaking tourists; you can visit it on your own or during.
PILGRIM CHURCH OF ST. JAN OF NEPOMUK on Zelena Gora, Zdiar nad Sazavou - the church was built in honor of St. John of Nepomuk in early XVIII century, the building is literally imbued with the symbolism of the numbers 3 and 5. The church is considered the most unusual creation of the architect G. Santini, combining the features of neo-Gothic and Baroque sacred architecture. The church is very popular among pilgrims, but cannot boast of special attention from secular tourists. This is due to the low entertainment value of the monument and the difficulty of perceiving its uniqueness. The church is sometimes visited as part of group excursions to the city of Trebic. We recommend visiting on your own or as part of an Individual excursion.
HISTORICAL CENTER OF KUTNA HORA with the Church of St. Barbara and cathedral Our Lady of Sedlec is the pearl of Central Bohemia, with fine examples of late Gothic and Baroque architecture. The city played important role in the formation of the Czech Kingdom, since there were silver mines in it, and the famous Prague penny was minted. Not only the Church of St. Barbara and the Cathedral of Our Lady in Sedlec deserve attention, but also the perfectly preserved medieval city buildings. The city is well known to Russian-speaking tourists and is visited both in combination with the castle and in demand.
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF LEDNICE-VALTICE- a wonderful example of a palace and park ensemble, combining Baroque, classical and neo-Gothic architecture with a romantic English park landscape. Lednice-Valtice is considered one of the most extensive man-made landscapes in Europe, created and supervised by representatives of the family of the Dukes of Liechtenstein for more than three hundred years. Valtice Castle houses a well-known tasting exhibition of the best hundred wines of the Czech Republic. Despite the fact that the Lednice-Valtice area is quite well known, it is, unfortunately, visited only as part of Individual excursions, since it is located at a considerable distance from the Czech capital.
GARDENS AND CASTLE OF KROMERIŽA- an exceptional palace and park ensemble in the European Baroque style, which has been perfectly preserved to this day. The gardens and castle in Kromeriz played a significant role in the development of Baroque garden and castle art in Central Europe. Not visited as part of Group excursions, as it is little known to Russian-speaking tourists. In addition, the city is located away from popular tourist routes. It is possible to organize an Individual excursion.
HISTORIC VILLAGE OF HOLASOVICE- a unique monument of the so-called South Bohemian folk baroque, which is a perfectly preserved traditional Central European village from the 18th and 19th centuries, built according to a medieval layout. This object is not very well known to Russian-speaking tourists, although it is located along the route of a very popular group excursion to Cesky Krumlov and the Hluboka nad Vltavou castle. This is most likely due to the insufficient entertainment value of the landscape of the historical Czech village, even if well preserved, for the average tourist from the countries of the former Soviet Union.
CASTLE IN LITOMISH- an outstanding and perfectly preserved example of the so-called. arcade castle - architectural model an aristocratic residence that originated in Italy and was widely developed in Central Europe starting in the 16th century. The castle in Litomishli demonstrates what the aristocratic residences of Central Europe looked like during the Renaissance, as well as their subsequent development under the influence of new trends in architectural taste. The castle is not visited by group excursions; it is possible to visit it independently or on an individual excursion. We highly recommend combining a visit to the city with a visit to the annual international opera festival Smetanova Litomysl.
COLUMN OF ST. TRINITY IN OLOMOUC- an outstanding monument to the local variety of Central European Baroque, the so-called. "Olomouc Baroque" represents a unique material manifestation of religiosity in Central Europe during the Baroque era. The 35-meter column crowned the restoration work of the city of Olomouc after the Thirty Years' War and was inaugurated in 1754 in the presence of Empress Maria Theresa. The column is decorated with beautiful sculptures by the outstanding Moravian artist Ondřej Zagner. Group excursions in Russian do not visit the city of Olomouc. We recommend a visit on your own, combined with relaxation at a unique natural resort.
VILLA TUGENDGAT IN BRNO - the clearest example architecture of modernism of the early 20th century. The villa was designed by the German architect Misem van der Rohe, its spatial and aesthetic concept is designed to meet the needs of a new lifestyle; the construction used advanced materials and industrial production technologies for its time. The villa is located in the private sector of Brno, easily accessible by car. Unfortunately, the villa is not visited as part of group excursions in the Czech Republic; an independent visit or a visit as part of Individual excursions is possible.
JEWISH AREA AND BASILICA OF ST. PROKOPA IN TRESEBIC- a unique monument of its kind, the coexistence of Jewish and Christian cultures side by side throughout the Middle Ages to the present day. The Jewish district in Třebíč, which includes the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Basilica of St. Prokop, which was built as part of a Benedictine monastery in the early 13th century, is a remarkable example of Western European influence. architectural heritage in the Czech region Vysočina. The city of Třebíč is sometimes visited as part of group excursions, together with the pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk on Green Mountain. We recommend visiting on your own or as part of an Individual excursion.
