Where to Go After Oktoberfest Singapore 2022
Travel from Woodlands to Orchard, in the nick of time.
The Great Reopening continues as we all put the Coronavirus Pandemic in our rear view. Oktoberfest is already kicking off, even before the famed Singapore Grand Prix revs up. From Timeout to Women’s Weekly, everyone posted content about all the bars and restaurants you can go for a proper pint. With the loosening of pandemic measures, we understand the desire to let loose for a little bit. But, like the best friend that’ll hold your hair when you disembowel the contents of your stomach, we’re here for you as you navigate a hangover of blackout-drunk proportions. While resting in your room is the easiest choice, some fresh air will do wonders too! So here’s where to go after your binge at Oktoberfest Singapore 2022.
3 Facts You Didn’t Know About Oktoberfest
1. It starts in September
The festival is supposed to run 16 days before the first Sunday in October. If the 16-day period ends before 3rd October, Oktoberfest will then run for 17 or 18 days. For 2022, the official Oktoberfest website announced the start of the festival on September 17th, when the tents will open up, before ending on October 3rd. As for Oktoberfest in Singapore, Paulaner Brauhaus runs it for nearly two months, from September 3rd to 31 October. Capital Singapore and Chijmes are running Oktoberfest together from September 30th to October 23rd.
2. There was actually no beer!
We’re as shocked as you are! Its origins can be traced all the way back to October 12th, 1810. It was a celebration, commemorating the marriage of the then crown prince of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Then, it all only lasted five days, with a horse race bookending the festivities.
Then, the year after, a state agricultural fair joined the horse race. In the next few years, booths that served food and drinks sprouted up. By the turn of the 20th century, the booths developed into huge beer tents, decked out with communal tables, balconies and bandstands.
3. 7.5 million litres of beer is consumed
It is the largest beer festival in the world. You can fill up three Olympic-sized swimming pools with liquid gold. That’s because there are 7 million people that visit the festival in Munich every year. So that averages out to just over 1 litre of beer per person. You wonder why we wanted to write this article.
Where to Sober Up after Oktoberfest in Singapore
Forget all the myths (but hey, if you think it works for you, by all means). Because the only thing that can get rid of the alcohol in your bloodstream is time. So far, technology has yet to find the cure for hangovers because there’s no way to speed up how the liver breaks down alcohol in your blood. Well, there are still ways to soften the blow and make you feel better, whether you’re in a hotel room or a home away from home. Here are some of the spots you can venture to (if you can get out of bed):
1. Sembawang Hot Spring Park
Nothing else can restore your senses than a hot foot bath in one of Singapore’s two hot springs. The hot spring was discovered in 1909 and went through several owners and redevelopment proposals. Then, the National Parks Board took over the 1.1-hectare area and redeveloped it to become Sembawang Hot Spring Park.
For an extra bit of fun, there is even the Egg Cooking Station for you to boil your post-hangover breakfast. If you’re up for it, you can also learn a thing or two about its history, as well as how a hot spring forms with all the signs sprinkled throughout the park.
How to Get There: Board SMRT buses number 858 and 969 from the bus stop at Yishun MRT, and alight at Opp Blk 115B Yishun Ring Road, Bus stop ID: 57121.
As you nurse your hangover, why not hone in on all the cafes that can serve a good cuppa and a proper croissant. Of course, we have to mention Tiong Bahru Bakery (They just turned 10!). While they have quite a few outlets across Singapore, their Tiong Bahru branch is the O.G. branch. They’re famous for their fresh homemade croissants, but their flat whites are to die for too.
If you’re fancying some cakes instead, head to Plain Vanilla and try their signature cupcakes and bakes. They have monthly specials that add zest to their offerings too. If you’re looking for a dazzle of choices, walk over to the Tiong Bahru Market for a superior selection of local favourites.
Along with its constellation of boutiques and eateries, it’s no wonder expats looking for apartment rentals in Singapore start by looking at this neighbourhood. Real estate there always commands a premium. The chic cafes there are popular working spaces for business meetings for business travelers and digital nomads.
How to Get There: From Tiong Bahru MRT, get to the bus stop at Exit B. There you can board buses 16, 33, 123, 195, and 851. Take the bus to Blk 1 along Tiong Bahru Road. Cross the road and you can find the art deco apartment buildings.
3. Fort Canning Park
If you’re fearing the sun, hop over to enjoy the verdant flora at Fort Canning Park. Plenty of business travelers would steal a moment’s peace from their business trip there.
Despite its very colonial namesake (named after the first Viceroy of India), the hill has a long and winding history. The Malays used to call it Bukit Larangan—the Forbidden Hill—because they believed that kings of the Singapura of yore were laid to rest.
It is also the site where Singapore became a British settlement. Temenggong Abdul Rahman and Sultan Hussein Shah signed the Singapore Treaty with Stamford Raffles on 6 February 1819. Then, a few Malaccan Malays accompanied Major William Farquhar up Bukit Larangan. Major Farquhar drew up the first gun and set up the post to hoist the Union Jack on the top of the hill.
Today, there are 9 historical gardens where you can learn about the natural heritage of Singapore alongside its history. If you’re a war history buff, you can tour the Underground Far East Command Centre, where the British decided to surrender Singapore to the Japanese. If you just want a bite, there’s a Tiong Bahru Bakery outlet at its foothill, and the European restaurant Le Jardin.
How to Get There: There are three MRT stations nearby: Fort Canning, Clarke Quay, and Dhoby Ghaut.
- Fort Canning Station: Simply turn left from Exit B to find the Jubilee Park at Fort Canning Park.
- Clarke Quay Station: From Exit E, turn left and get to Coleman Bridge. Turn left again at the end of Coleman Bridge and cross the pedestrian overhead bridge (100m away) along River Valley Road.
- Dhoby Ghaut Station: Head out from Exit B and cross Penang Road. Then turn left and keep a lookout for the tunnel leading to Fort Canning Park.
Here’s another place that has witnessed the evolution of this city-state. This colourful locale quietly witnessed Singapore’s rise to prominence. Today, emblems of Singapore’s postcolonial modernity still dot the area, untouched by development, where detached bungalows once stood. Shophouses with colourful painted fresco façade now sit in neat rows, housing a smattering of eateries that serve anything from local craft beer to Spanish-French pastries
For another dose of heritage (we love heritage), you can visit the ‘Baba House’ at 157 Neil Road. It’s the former ancestral home of a Straits Chinese family before it was restored by the Urban Redevelopment Authority for the National University of Singapore. What’s remarkable about it is that its ornate domestic interiors and external façade is still intact. So as you visit Baba House, you can dive into the history and culture of the Straits Chinese in Singapore.
If you’re looking for Singapore serviced apartments or Singapore condo rentals, we’ve got a couple for you. We have plenty of rooms for rent nearby the area.
How to Get There: From Outram Park MRT Station, you can take a variety of buses to Blair Road. At the bus stop near Exit A, you can take bus numbers 121, 122, and 174. From Exit F, you can simply walk along Eu Tong Sen Street and onto Kampong Bahru Road, until you see the shophouses of the area.
5. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park. With its status, the wetland reserve joins the likes of Australia’s Kakadu National Park, China’s Mai Po – Inner Deep Bay and Japan’s Yatsu Tidal Flats. It has over 202 hectares of forests, mangroves, mudflats, ponds, and forests. It is truly a sanctuary where you can find diverse flora and fauna. If you’re going there this October, you can even watch flocks of shorebirds and waders as they migrate to the wetland reserve.
How to Get There:
Mondays to Saturdays: Get to Kranji MRT station and board SMRT Bus number 925, then alight at Kranji Reservoir Carpark B.
Sundays and Public Holidays: Get to Kranji MRT station and board SMRT Bus number 925M, then alight at the Wetland Centre. Do note that 925M only operates from Woodlands Interchange on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Serviced Apartment Rental in Singapore, Made Simple with MetroResidences
Oktoberfest or not, finding apartment rentals in Singapore is a breeze with Metroresidences, whether you’re staying for a longer period or not. Whatever’s your budget for your next business trip, we have a wide range of options across coveted locales such as Raffles Place, Orchard Road, and Arab Street.
All our serviced apartments are conveniently located, with hassle-free access to public transport. It all comes fully furnished too, with amenities like wi-fi, air-conditioners, and even fully-equipped kitchens. With MetroResidences, you can find your home away from home, especially if you’re staying for a longer period of time.
