Orchard is bordered by Newton in the east and north, Tanglin in the west, River Valley in the south and Museum to the southeast.

'Fakir's place') inside town limits and "Māttu Than" (மேட்டு தான், Mēṭṭu tāṉ, 'High Ground') from Koek's Market to Upper Tanglin.

One major sight during this period was a Dr. Jun tending his garden, which helped endorse the road's name.

By 1846, the Chinese had a large graveyard around what is now the Hilton Singapore Orchard and Ngee Ann City, while the Sumatrans from Bencoolen had their burial ground where the current Hotel Grand Central stands.

Later a Jewish cemetery was established; it was located where Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is now and was demolished in 1984.

In the early 20th century, it was noted that Orchard Road "present[ed] the appearance of a well-shaded avenue to English mansion[s]," comparable in its "quiet but effective beauty to Devonshire lanes."

However, the implementation was pushed back to 31 December 2018, as businesses will need more time to identify appropriate locations and set up designated areas for smoking, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Currently, around 40 designated smoking areas have been set up, including five public ones at Orchard Towers, Far East Plaza, The Heeren, Cuppage Terrace, and behind Somerset MRT station.

[16] As of 1 January 2019, Orchard Road was officially declared as a strictly smoke-free zone except within the designated smoking areas.

About halfway down Orchard Road are Cairnhill and Emerald Hill, which are mainly private residential areas.

Next to Emerald Hill is Centrepoint, which houses the supermarket Cold Storage, the oldest surviving business establishment in the area.

Amber Mansions, one of the earliest apartment blocks in Singapore, which was built around the turn of the 20th century, was torn down in the 1980s to make way for the Dhoby Ghaut MRT station.

[21] These stations are important hubs for commuters, locals, students and tourists who travel to the shopping and business district of Orchard.

Orchard Road has numerous taxi stands, which are mostly found at shopping centres and hotels.