Singapore's brightest streets

London’s Piccadilly Circus, Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing and the Las Vegas Strip all jump to mind when shining the light on cities with dazzling drags. Ignoring the overexposed Orchard Road, Time Out Singapore turns the spotlight on Singapore’s brightest streets.

Balestier Road

Scattered between questionable hourly-rate hotels and local coffee shops, more than 40 of Balestier Road’s pre-war shophouses are filled with lighting stores. While there is no real consensus on why this area has become Singapore’s default light central, it may have something to do with the Shaw Brothers, who set up their Malay Film Studios at No 8 Jalan Ampas in 1947.

MRT: Novena

Geylang Road

Those in search of ‘legal sex services’ need look no further. Thousands of working girls are tucked away in houses that are well signposted by large, bright red numbers. The rows of late-night eateries and round-the-clock fruit stalls also contribute to Geylang’s light pollution.

MRT: Aljunied, Kallang or Paya Lebar.

Duxton Hill

Again, Singapore’s sleaze factor comes into play. A stretch of ‘anything goes’-type bars festooned with neon signs keeps this part of the city well lit once the sun goes down. To date, we count 26 bars (and one fluorescent-lit 7-Eleven) within this T-shaped locale. The Artists Entertainment bar wins top prize for lighting up an entire street corner.

MRT: Outram Park.