Asia Pacific Guides

Singapore Shopping Guide

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Although it is no longer the bargain trove it used to be and the prices are not as attractive as they once were, Singapore is still one of the world's leading shopping destinations and its glittering shopping malls, colorful bazaars and ethnic shops pull thousands and thousands of shoppers who buy everything from world class fashion to electronic gadgets, and from flamboyant Indian saris to premium Chinese tea This mini-guide will take you through the ins and outs of the Singapore shopping experience, so you can make the most of it

Index
1. What is worth buying in Singapore 2. A few good shopping tips 3. Singapore's shopping districts Orchard Road Marina Bay and Raffles City Chinatown Little India Bugis and Arab Street (including Geylang) VivoCity Shopping around the Singapore River Shop where the locals do 4. Shopping with kids 2 4 5 5 8 10 10 12 13 13 13 14

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What is worth buying in Singapore?

Electronics and computer ware: There is a very good range and the prices are usually lower than in Europe or the States (and sometimes even significantly lower), although they are normally higher than in Bangkok. Singapore's shops stock the latest, state-of-the-art electronic products, including gadgets, smartphones, digital cameras and what have you, and you may very well find here stuff that has not yet reached the rest of the world. The right places to shop for this kind of goods include Funan DigitalLife Mall (which is also known as Funan Centre), on North Bridge Road / Hill Street (just a few minutes' stroll from City Hall MRT Station, as well as from Clarke Quay) and Sim Lim Square, which is between Little india and Bugis. Mustafa Centre, on Little India's on Serangoon Road, is also well worth trying. Watches: There is an unbelievable variety and the prices are relatively good. Passions Watch Exchange, in Funan Digitalife Mall (#02-20 / 21 / 22) makes a very good place to shop for genuine watches at reasonable prices, and they deal with both brand-new and pre-owned watches. Other recommended shops where you can look for unique, high-end new and pre-owned watches include Watch Link in Far East Plaza (14 Scotts Road, #03 - 79) and Visiotime, at 9 Raffles Place (#01-15 Republic Plaza). Monster Time, also in Far East Plaza (#02-22, 14 Scotts Road) is also a good place to shop for pre-owned luxury watches Watch Arena, on 290 Balestier Road, is one of the city's leading distributors and retailers of fine luxury timepieces Cortina Watch Espace, Asias largest watch boutique, boasts a unique shop in shop concept featuring more than a dozen individual brand boutiques within it, including Piguet, Cartier, Omega, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and their likes... They have outlets in Marina Bay sands (The Shoppes #B239/39A), as well as in Millenia Walk. Those of you who are looking for cheap imitations might find what they want in places like Bugis Village (on the corner of Victoria St. and Rochor Rd. Opposite Bugis Junction Shopping Mall), as there are shops there that sell reasonable - quality fakes. Gold and Jewelries: You can buy high-quality pieces of jewelry in Singapore at relatively good prices. The city-state's goldsmiths are reputed for their fine workmanship and creative designs, and quite a few of them will be more than happy to produce as per your order. There are some things, however, you should pay attention to: If you buy expensive Jewelries, try to stick to shops that display the QJS emblem (QJS stands for Quality Jewelers of Singapore). Fixed retail prices are based on weight, purity and craftsmanship. Make sure you receive an invoice that indicates the fineness, weight and price of the jewelry item you purchased. If you need more information, or you are not sure about something, contact the Singapore Jewelers Association on 6533 4053 When shopping for gold jewelry, make sure the shop is participating in the GST Refund Scheme.
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Little India is packed with gold jewelry shops, especially along Serangoon Road and near Little India's MRT Station. Another popular place to shop for gold jewelry in Singapore is Mustafa Centre, also in Little India (Just remember that most of the jewelry shops in Little India specialize in Indian-style stuff...). The city's most popular & respectable jewelry shops include: TianPo, Lee Hwa Jewellery, Goldheart, Meyson Jewellery, Soo Kee and SK Jewellery. Each one of them has several outlets within the city's leading malls and shopping arcades, and the designs they sell are international, as well as Chinese.

International fashion and footwear brands: There are literally thousands of shops across the city that specialize in international brands: From the more casual brands, to the world's most notable fashion designers. "Sale seasons" are a particularly good time to buy quality fashion and footwear at relatively sane prices (and if you like brand names, you can save quite a few bucks, buying in the right place at the right time).

5. JustMens Tailor is at #01-36/39 Tanglin Shopping Centre, on 19 Tanglin Road - (+65) 6737 4800 / 6235 2303 6. CYC is at #02-12 Raffles Hotel Arcade, phone (+65) 6336 3556, as well as at #B1-06 Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Road (+65) 6737 5332 7. Leighton's Shop Pte Ltd can be found at #02-03 Far East Shopping Centre, 545 Orchard Road, (+65) 6235 2410 8. Oxford Tailor can be found at 1 RAFFLES PLACE, #04-12 (OUB Building), Tel: (+65) 6533 7131 . And here are three other shops that are worth knowing about (and might also be slightly less expensive): Max @ Mohan's, in Far East Plaza on Scotts Road "That Shirt Shop", also in Far East Plaza (#0376B) Ehkay Corner Tailor, on 150 Orchard Road Fabrics: Enormous range of Chinese, Asian and Western fabrics at relatively good prices. The most popular fabric shops can be found on Arab Street and its small offshoots, while Indonesian 'Batik' cloth can be found mostly in Litlle India, as well as in Chinatown and Kampong Glam (Arab Street).

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Tailor-made suits: Singapore's tailors are famous for their fine workmanship and quality garments, and although the prices you will pay here are not as good as in Bangkok (not to mention Vietnam), they are much lower than in Europe or the USA, and the quality is top notch. Suits, shirts, skirts and evening gowns can be created to suit the most elegant or demure of tastes, and you can even opt for a pair of high quality tailor-made shoes. Two Tips: It is worthwhile to invest a bit of time in a short market research, as tailor-made suits are not something you buy every other day When ordering tailor-made suits or clothes, a certain deposit might be required. And here is a list of some of Singapore's "crme de la crme" tailors: 1. Raffles Tailor: #02-18 Delfi Orchard, 402 Orchard Road, (+65) 6733 1336 2. Personality Menshop can be found at the Peninsula Shopping Centre, on Coleman Street (next to Peninsula Excelsior Hotel and just around the corner from Funan digitaLife Mall), phone: (+65) 6337 2459 3. Pagoda Master Tailor is on 48 Smith Street in Chinatown (+65) 6323 6973 / 9009 0840 / 9127 8072 4. Eurobest - 31 Pagoda Street, Chinatown (+65) 6323 4082

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Arts, Crafts and Antiques: There is a fantastic selection of crafts and antiques available in Singapore. The city sits on one of Asia's major crossroads and is home to some of the continent's most notable ethnic groups, so it naturally developed into a huge bazaar where beautiful arts and crafts from Asia's four corners can be found, and at a relatively good price... Personal seals engraved in stone, Miniatures, Chinese Silk rugs, Oriental carpets, Rattan furniture, colorful Indian fabrics and what not

Herbal medicines, Spices and exotic dried foods can be found in small traditional shops, mainly around the ethnic enclaves, as well as in the city's markets (in the case of herbal-medicines, you can also find them in more than a few modern shops). Take your time to familiarize yourself with all those exotic products... Premium Chinese Tea: In Chinatown: Yue Hwa, Singapore's famous Chinese department store, is one of the best places to shop for quality Chinese tea and its paraphernalia, at

reasonable prices, although the small streets around MRT Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar accommodate a few other shops that sell higher quality stuff, but are pricier... The best ones are Yixing Xuan Teahouse at 30/32 Tanjong Pagar Road, Tea Chapter, on 9 & 11 Neil Road (a short walk from "Buddha Tooth Relic Temple") and Ten Ren Tea, on 259 South Bridge Road (across the street fro the Hindu Sri Mariamman Temple). In Orchard Road: Time for Tea in Lucky Plaza also make a good option.

Click here to view all our FREE travel eBooks of Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and Bangkok A few tips that are well worth knowing about
1. Avoid the "parallel product trick": A favorite tactic among dishonest shop owners (fortunately, there are not many of them) is to give you a good price for the product syou want, and then to pretend it is "coincidently" out of stock... The vendor will then tell you that there is another product in stock, almost identical to the one you wanted... Obviously, the "identical product" is inferior, compared to the one you wanted, and the price you'll pay for it will not be such a bargain... In one sentence: You should know what you are looking for and think about an alternative or two. If none of these can be found at a certain shop, just move on and keep looking for it... 2. Look around: Don't rush to buy anything (especially if it is expensive) before you compare the price in a few different shops. "Sales" and special discounts are published in local English newspapers and the folks in Singapore Tourism Board might also know something about a sale that is currently on... The "Singapore Flexi Pack" allows you to save over 40% on Singapore's BEST attractions ! 3. Have you got what you paid for? Make sure that the product comes in its original pack, that it has all the components it should have, that there is a certificate of warranty (which is valid in your home country), that there is a clear return policy in that shop and, of course, that the product is adapted to be used in your country. 4. Always ask for a receipt: In addition to the ultimate certificate of warranty, it is also important to get a receipt and to make sure that all details are properly written on it (should not be a problem as most receipts are computer generated nowadays). In case of a problem, you can contact the Consumer Council or the Singapore Tourism Board, show them the receipt and ask them to help you out.

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5. Applying a surcharge on a credit card transaction is not allowed. If a certain shopkeeper tries to do it, you can report him to either the Singapore Tourism Board (1-800-736-2000) or to the relevant credit card company 6. Many shops offer packing and shipping of large items that are too big to be carried. It is advisable to ask them to commit on a date for delivery, and to write it down on the invoice/receipt. 7. As a tourist, you can claim a refund of the GST you paid on goods you take home with you. It may sound negligible at first, but when it comes to expensive stuff, it certainly worth the little effort (it really isn't much of a hassle).

How does it work? Basically, there are two central refund agencies operating in Singapore, those are: Global Refund and Premier Tax Free. When you buy goods, worth not less than SG$ 100, from any participating retailer (that is any shop that displays a Global Refund or Tax Free shopping or Premier Tax Free logo) the shopkeeper should give you a voucher for the GST portion of the invoice (after you showed him your passport and proved you are a tourist...).

When leaving Singapore (through the airport), you should validate the vouchers by customs and take them to the counters of Global Refund or Premier Tax Free, next to customs, where you will be given the refund in a form of cash, cheque, Airport shopping vouchers or whatever... If you want to know more about the Tourist Refund Scheme, visit this webpage.

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Where to shop
Orchard Road - Singapore's Fifth Avenue
The largest cluster of modern shopping malls can be found around MRT-Orchard, and that is, probably, the best point to start your "shopping-safari" from: ION Orchard, Orchard Road's trendiest shopping mall, occupies one of the city's most central spot The corner of Orchard and Scotts, next to MRT Orchard Station, and offers its visitors a choice of more than 300 stylish shops, restaurants, cafs and plenty of free cultural events (Click here to see what's on). Another attraction here is the ION Sky: An observation terrace on the 55th floor, from where you can enjoy beautiful cityscape views. Click HERE to find some of the best rates for hostels and low-cost accommodations in Singapore and Asia ! Wisma Atria is the first mall you are likely to enter, when coming from MRT Orchard (there is a direct link to the station, as well as to ION orchard). Well noted for its massive glass facade, this stylish mall is home to almost 100 specialty shops that cater mostly for the young and trendy female fashion shoppers, as well as to sophisticated, modern working women. Other than trendy fashion shops, the mall also houses one of Singapore's largest Japanese department stores, Isetan, where you can browse through an array of international designer labels, like Agnes B, Calvin Klein, Paul Smith, Emporio Armani and many others. The flagship stores of both Nike and Gap in Singapore can also be found here. Ngee Ann City, one of the largest of Orchard Road's malls, is next in line. Connected to Wisma Atria by a direct pedestrian link, this colossal mall houses more than 130 specialty stores that specialize in a wide array of goods... From internationally-known brands like Hugo Boss, Bossini, Christian Dior, Zara and even Harley-Davidson Motorclothes, to fine jewelry and watch shops, gifts, toys and what not... The mall also boasts an excellent food court, with more than thirty outlets and, above all, the mall's anchor shop is the Japanese mega department store, Takashimaya, that offers more than thirty thousand square meters of floor space, packed with everything you can think of, including a fantastic food court that serves some fabulous Japanese food. The mall is open daily until 9:30 pm (restaurants are opened until 11 pm). The "Singapore Flexi Pack" allows you to save over 40% on Singapore's BEST attractions ! Opposite Ngee Ann City, on the other side of Orchard Road, you can visit The Paragon, a posh shopping mall with some 200 specialty stores that cater mostly for the well-heeled and brand-conscious cosmopolitan shoppers. Notable shops include Gucci's flagship store, Marks & Spencer, BVLGARI, Burberry, Canali, Dunhill, Ermenegildo Zegna, Jimmy Choo, Metro, Diesel, Escada, United colors of Benetton and Paragon Junior, where you can find lots of stuff for the little ones...from fashion to toys. There are also some excellent restaurants and eating houses at the mall. The Heeren Shops, next to The Paragon, on 260 Orchard Road, also houses quite a few lifestyle shops that specialize in pop culture and cutting edge fashion, mostly for the young and young-in-heart.

Lucky Plaza, on the other side of The Paragon (304 Orchard Rd., on the corner of Mount Elizabeth), is very popular among Singapore's foreign domestic workers and especially among the city's Filipino community. The mall houses numerous shops that sell everything, from arts and crafts to fashion accessories, jeweleries, gadgets and what not... It is considered as a good place to fetch bargains, especially electronics and computerware, and there are also some shops here that specialize in secondhand designer outfits and bags. As expected, it also boasts a good food court with some authentic eateries. A word of cautious: Some of the electronic shops in Lucky Plaza have a bad reputation for playing all sorts of dirty tricks, like the "parallel product trick" (see more details under "tips" above) or "the extra charges trick", which goes like this : After you've paid for the product, and before they actually give it to you, the salesman might suddenly inform you there is an additional amount you have to pay... supposedly for the "software" that comes with this product, or for God knows what... (Those of you who want to buy cellphones should be particularly cautious).
Do not hesitate to speak to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) if you think you have been taken for a ride (phone: 6463 1811)

Opposite Far East Plaza, on the other side of Scotts Road, you will find the stylish DFS Galleria, one of Singapore's best duty free shops, where you can get the whole shebang of international luxury brands like Burberry, Cartier, Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and many others... Shaw House and Centre, on the corner of Orchard and Scotts (opposite Tangs), is a complex of two connected buildings, each with its own mall. Shaw House, on the corner itself, is best known for the Lido Cineplex, one of Singapore's best cinema complexes, as well as for Singapore's largest outlet of Isetan, the famous Japanese department store. Isetan Scotts boasts five floors of quality goods, including a fully stocked supermarket at the basement where you can find all sorts of unique Japanese foods. Shaw Centre, on No.1 Scotts Rd., is home to some upmarket fashion boutiques, Jewelery and gem shops, and some furniture shops, worth visiting. Although Singapore has one of the best publictransport systems in the world, taking the Singapore City Hop-on Hop-off Tour is highly recommended, as it takes you directly to the various attractions and saves you the time and hassle of waiting for a bus or walking Opposite Shaw House, on the other side of Orchard Rd. and right next to Orchard MRT Station and ION Orchard, there are two shopping complexes that are well worth mentioning: Well noted for the unique conical glass structure above its entrance, Wheelock Place spans across seven floors of retail space and makes home to one of the city's largest bookshops - Borders, which occupies its entire ground floor, as well as to a particularly large outlet of Marks & Spencer. It also houses some high-quality shops that specialize in sportswear and eyewear (Connected by an underpass to Orchard MRT Station and ION Orchard / Wisma Atria). Adjacent Liat Towers houses some upmarket boutiques that specialize in international luxury brands. Moving further along Orchard Rd. (away from the MRT station), Far East Shopping Centre on 545 Orchard Road is a pretty good place to look for some reasonably priced clothing (including tailor shops), as well as Chinese arts and porcelain.

Tangs Plaza, on 310 Orchard Road, is located next to the corner of Orchard and Scotts, opposite MRTOrchard (it is connected directly to the station with a walkway). The plaza houses the flagship store of Tangs: Singapore's oldest department store and an icon of the city's retail market. 15,000 square meters and five floors of retail space, loaded with an unbelievable choice of premium quality products... Cosmetics, housewares, fashion, fashion accessories, shoes, electrical appliances and what have you... Discover Singapore with those who know it best! Click here to view our choice of city-tours and activities. Moving up Scotts Road, a few steps from Tangs, you will see Far East Plaza on your right hand side (on 14 Scotts Road). This bustling mall houses an array of shops that sell everything, from fashion and accessories to jeweleries and knick knacks... It's quite a good place to look for cheap, no-brand clothes and other bargains, as well as for authentic stuff... The small shops at the basement are selling hip clothing for the young and young-in-heart.

The Hilton Shopping Gallery, one of Singapore's swankiest shopping arcades, boasts a selection of well-heeled boutiques, such as Balenciaga, Donna Karan, Dries Van Noten, Issey Miyake, Jil Sander, Marni, Missoni, Moschino and Paul Smith... (for many of which, this is their only outlet in Singapore). The Gallery is connected to the shopping arcade of the ultra-prestigious Four Seasons Hotel, where you can find some more top-end international brands. Next to the Hilton, on 583 Orchard Road, Forum the shopping mall features a unique mix of shops that cater to both fashion-savvy shoppers and families with small kids. The massive outlet of Toys "R" Us is one of the mall's major draws, alongside familyoriented shops like Twinkle Thinkers and Bookaburra, Kids' fashion shops and swanky designers boutiques. Opposite the Hilton (and the Forum) on the other side of Orchard Road, stylish Palais Renaissance houses an impressive collection of swanky fashion boutiques, with names like Prada, DKNY, Tyan, The Lingerie Shop, Vanilla Home, Passion Hair Salon, Steinway Gallery and others... It's quite popular among the city's who's who. Just a step away from Palais Renaissance, on the same side of the road, Delfi Orchard is a pleasant mid-sized mall with a fairly good choice of beauty and bodycare shops, as well as some decent selection of home dcor and furnishings. Moving further on Orchard Road (on the same side of Hilton and Forum), pass the Orchard Parade Hotel and just behind the curve, the road's name changes to Tanglin Road. Tanglin Shopping Centre, next to the Orchard Parade Hotel, is one of the best places around this area to hunt for antiques, handcrafts, furnishings, home dcor and authentic brick-abracks... Great variety of Asian arts and crafts, from Persia, India and Pakistan in the Southwest, to China, Mongolia and Japan in the Northeast. Further on Tanglin Road, pass the lovely Tudor Court, a row of old Tudor-style shophouses that currently accommodate some antiques and home dcor shops, and you will reach the art-dcor building of Tanglin Mall, which is the last shopping complex along the Orchard Shopping Belt. The mall is very popular among expatriates who live around, as well as Singaporeans. It boasts a nice mix of shops, selling a wide variety of stuff... from soft furnishings and fashion accessories to foodstuffs and arts.

Holland Village, Singapore's expatriate enclave, is a trendy shopping and nightlife precinct, with many popular hangouts for both locals and expats... Other than a good range of pleasant alfresco-cafs, restaurants and bars, it boasts some specialty shops, where you can find unique arts and crafts, brick-abrack and so on, as well as a small market and a food centre. Although it's not exactly the best place to look for "cheap bargains", it's certainly is a refreshing experience and you might also be surprised at some of the stuff you'll find in those "specialty shops"... Most of the action takes place around Lorong Mambong and its offshoots, where a bunch of beautifully restored shophouses were converted to shopping and entertainment venues. To get there: Holland Village MRT Station (on Circle Line) Another bunch of glittering, air-conditioned shopping malls can be found in the close vicinity of MRTSomerset, which is just a few minutes' walk from MRT-Orchard. The following are considered as the best: Housed within the prestigious Meritus Mandarin Hotel, on 333 Orchard Road, the Mandarin Gallery houses more than a few upmarket boutiques and shops, catering mostly for well-off shoppers... From international luxury brands, to jewelries and arts.
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On the other side of Orchard Road, right opposite MRT-Somerset and Hotel Phoenix, the very popular Centrepoint houses almost 200 shops of different types and classes... from the prestigious Robinsons (one of Singapore's classiest department stores) and Marks & Spencer, to Cold Storage supermarket, international fashion boutiques like Esprit and Gap, and many other shops. Open daily, 10 am - 10pm

Perankan Place, next to the Centrepoint (on 180 Orchard Rd.), is a great place to chill out... This row of beautifully restored Perankan shophouses is home to some excellent restaurants, cafs and bars where you can dine or have your cold beer "alfresco", as you watch life on Orchard Road pass by... Recently opened 313@Somerset boasts a variety of mostly mid-market fashion and lifestyle shops, as well as a good range of food outlets. The mall's 177 outlets are spread across 8 levels of shopping & dining and include quite a few international names, like HMV (music), Zara, Uniqlo, Forever 21, New Look and Esprit, just to name a few There are also quite a few reputable jewellery and watch retailers here, like Lee Hwa Jewellery, Soo Kee, Tian Po, Fossil, Moments and City Chain (Located right next to Somerset MRT and across the street from Peranakan Place). On the other side of the Centrepoint (but on the same side of Orchard Rd.), you will find the impressive department store of OG, with five floors of fully stocked retail space. Next in line is Orchard Plaza, on 150 Orchard Road, where you can order your custom made suits or shoes from the various tailors and shoemakers. The ever popular Plaza Singapura, on 68 Orchard road (towards MRT- Dhoby Ghaut), is one of the street's oldest malls. With dozens of lifestyle shops and food outlets, this mall is particularly popular among families and young adults. Anchor tenants include Carrefour hypermarket, Marks & Spencer, Golden Village Cinema, John Little Department store, Best Denki electronics and Yamaha Discover Singapore with those who know it best! Click here to view our choice of city-tours and activities.

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is Singapore's newest and hippest shopping mall. Housed within the grandiose tourism and entertainment complex of Marina Bay Sands, this shopping mecca boasts almost one million square feet of retail and restaurant space, with hundreds of world-class boutiques and shops, including Agns b, Alfred Dunhill, Anne Fontaine, Burberry, BVLGARI, Bottega Veneta, Cartier, Davidoff, FENDI, Ferrari Store and Jimmy Choo, just to name a few As expected, there are more than a few restaurants and cafs, as well as attractions, like riding a replica of a Chinese Sampan boat on the canals that run through the mall Click here for more information about Marina Bay Sands (including how to get there) Marina Square houses more than 300 quality shops that sell everything from international designer labels to funky fashion, accessories, home dcor, furnishings, toys, gifts, jewelries, arts and crafts and what not.. The mall is a paradise for both sophisticated shoppers, youngsters and families with kids and, as expected, it also boasts an impressive choice of food and beverage outlets, as well as some entertainment and gaming options. Marina Square is located on Raffles Boulevard, which means it is only a few minutes' walk from MRT-City Hall ((through CityLink), and even less than that from MRT Esplanade Station. The "Singapore City Pass" makes a good choice for those who want to explore the city by themselves, with a full day of unlimited Hop On Hop Off Bus sightseeing, as well as well as a trip on an amphibious vehicle. Suntec City Mall, one of Singapore's biggest shopping complexes, is located next to Marina Square, on the other side of Raffles Boulevard, and boasts some 360 outlets that are spread over 3 floors in an L-shaped configuration. To help shoppers moving around, it was divided into four thematic zones: The Galleria - On the ground floor of the International Convention and Exhibition Centre, is where you can find an array of swanky shops and boutiques, selling top international labels to the center's well-heeled visitors. Continue

Marina Bay and Raffles City

Accommodating some of the city's biggest and most glittering shopping malls, the modern shopping, business and entertainment district of Marina Bay is quickly becoming the new "city" of Singapore, and one of Southeast Asia's most sought after shopping destinations.

The Tropics - Is the mall's more casual area, with 160 shops that sell an array of lifestyle goods to people of different tastes and budgets... from fashion and home furnishings to sports, electronics and what have you... As its name denotes, The Entertainment Centre houses the mall's entertainment facilities, such as the "cineplex", the fitness center, entertainment related stores and an outlet of Carrefour hypermarket. The Fountain Terrace boasts a number of restaurants, food outlets and cafe's, overlooking the famous Fountain of Wealth, which earned itself a place in the 1998 Guinness book of records as the world's largest fountain. The magnificent fountain consists of a massive bronze ring with a circumference of 66 meters, from which the water falls down (from a height of almost 15 meters) to the base area of the fountain. At night, there are some laser performances at the fountain, worth watching (8, 8:30 and 9 pm) Millenia Walk, just a few minutes' walk from there, is not as big as Marina Square or Suntec City Mall but it is still worth a visit, especially if it is fashion you are after, as it boasts a decent choice of different shops, including the famous Cortina Watch Escape Boutique, where Asia's largest watch gallery can be found.
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Next to Marina Centre, on the other side of Beach Road, there are two other 'shopping hot-spots' you should consider... Located within Singapore's classiest hotel, Raffles Hotel Arcade is certainly one of Singapore's most elegant and exclusive shopping destinations, housing some of the city's finest shops... From Swarovski Crystal and fine jewelry shops to top fashion boutiques, like CYC (one of Singapore's best known custom tailors), Laichan (up class evening gowns and cocktail dresses) and Jim Thompson Thai Silk, and from fabulous art and antique shops to the "must see" Raffles Hotel Shop where you can buy gifts and souvenirs that relate to the rich history of this internationally known hotel... like a "Singapore Sling Glass", vintage advertisement posters of the hotel, special tea blends that are used in The Raffles and so on... Although Singapore has one of the best publictransport systems in the world, taking the Singapore City Hop-on Hop-off Tour is highly recommended, as it takes you directly to the various attractions and saves you the time and hassle of waiting for a bus or walking

Esplanade Mall is part of the architecturally magnificent performing arts centre, Esplanade Theatres on the Bay (The Durian). It's neither the biggest nor the most impressive of Singapore's malls but it is worth mentioning nonetheless, as it boasts some unique shops, selling stuff that is related to the center's cultural activities... (Such as: "Movie Memorabilia Specialist", manufacturer of handcrafted guitars, violins shop and others...). There are also some excellent cafs and restaurants here that offer lovely, waterfront alfresco dining. CityLink Mall, Singapore's first underground mall, actually connects MRT-City Hall station with Marina Square, Suntec City Mall, Millenia Walk and The Esplanade, so you are likely to pass through it anyway... There's a fairly good choice of both fashion and fashion accessories here, alongside some restaurants and cafs.

Raffles City, right next to MRT-City Hall Station (and to Raffles Hotel, on the other side) is a fairly large shopping mall, beautifully designed with large sunlit atriums and water features... It boasts an excellent choice of cafs, restaurants and food-court outlets, including Chippy (Singapore's famous British takeaway), Canel (Italian style coffee shop), Shahi Maharani (Indian) and Aerin's (A lovely fountain-side caf, serving modern European fare), not to mention the Equinox complex on the 70th - 72nd floors of the Swissotel-Stamford Hotel, just above the mall... Shopping wise, there is a good mix between fashion and lifestyle, with strong presence of semi-casual brands like Billabong (Australian beachwear), Nike, Adidas, Calvin Klein Jeans, Guess? and Timberland, alongside some exclusive fashion boutiques, jewelry shops and large outlets of Robinsons (one of the more classy department stores in Singapore) and Marks & Spencer. There is also a reasonably large shop of MPH bookstores, but their choice of Singapore-related titles is not the biggest you can find...

Shopping in Chinatown
The shopping centres along New Bridge Road make a good alternative to the glitzy malls of Orchard Road and Marina Bay, especially if you are on the look for something slightly more local Chinatown Point, on the corner of New Bridge Road and Cross Street, just a stone's throw from Pagoda Street (directly accessed from Chinatown MRT station), houses a unique mix of both traditional and modern shops, and is probably the first modern complex you should visit when shopping around Chinatown. At Podium B of Chinatown Point you will find Singapore Handicraft Centre: A range of specialized shops selling Chinese arts and handicrafts, Chinese furniture, and even Chinese Seal Cravings. A few steps from Chinatown Point, on 18 Cross Street, China Square Central is a nice and modern mall that beautifully combines Chinese contemporary architecture with colonial-era shophouses. Most of the shops here are somewhat upmarket, with a good mix between fashion and accessories, lifestyle products, beauty and bodycare and so on... Not really the kind of place where you are likely to find cheap bargains, although they do have a Sunday Flea Market, where you can get some interesting stuff at a good price... Far East Square, next to China Square Central, is a good place to chill out and have a bite and a drink (or even a "real lunch")...

Opposite People's Park Centre, on the other corner of Upper Cross street, you will find a few shopping buildings, worth mentioning: The historic Yue Hwa Building houses a large and well known Chinese department store, called Yue Hwa Chinese Products, where you can shop for all sorts of Chinese goods: Herbal medicines, dried foods, fashion and accessories, home furnishings, house hold items, Jade sculptures, porcelain, traditional Chinese furniture and more... The shop is open daily, 11 am - 9 pm (till 10pm on Saturday). Next to Yue Hwa Building, facing Upper Cross Street, you will find the impressive department store of OG, with five floors of fully stocked retail space. OG stocks a good selection of both regional and international brand names, so the price range is vast enough to suit different people with different budgets. Further on New Bridge Road (or, more accurately, on the parallel Eu Tong Sen St.), on the other side of Yue Hwa Building, People's Park Complex is a big Chinese-style mall, dwarfed by an old (and rather ugly) mustard-colored monolith with huge red Chinese letters on its side wall. The mall boasts a good range of shops selling everything from Chinese arts and crafts to fashion and accessories, electronics and what have you... It's quite a good place to fetch bargains and there is also a pretty good food-court here. The "Singapore Flexi Pack" allows you to save over 40% on Singapore's BEST attractions and sightseeing.

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Little India Shopping

Serangoon Road is Little India's main thoroughfare and most of the shops can be found along it, as well as on its smaller offshoots. Little India boasts an enormous variety of shopping options... From colorful sari boutiques, spice shops, emporiums and dazzling goldsmith shops, to modern shopping malls and inexpensive electronics and computer shops. You really should try to take your time when visiting the area, as there is so much to see and do here, even long after the sun goes down.

Back to the corner of Cross Street and New Bridge Road: People's Park Centre, opposite Chinatown Point (on the other side of New Bridge) is a fairly big shopping centre, topped by a soulless, giant white building. The mall has a reasonable range of shops that sell various inexpensive goods, including Chinese arts and crafts, fashion and accessories, electronics, luggage and suitcases... You name it. There are also some cafs, eateries and food stalls in the building.

Sim Lim Square, just across the street from Little India, is Singapore's mecca of electronics, computers and photo gears. Located on the corner of Bencoolen Street and Rochor Canal Road (few minutes' walk from MRT Bugis, as well as from MRT Little India), this enormous glass-clad building is home to a beehive of tiny shops that sell every possible gadget at very competitive prices, so you really need to gear yourself with plenty of patience before coming here (The thumb-rule is that the further you get from the entrance, the better prices you are likely to get...). Unfortunately, Sim Lim Square is infamous for its relatively high number of dishonest shop owners, and although the situation is far better than it was, you should still be cautious when dealing with the traders here The information desk near the entrance might be able to give you viable information about errant retailers. [STARetailers is a voluntary programme, recently launched by Sim Lim Square Traders' Association. Under the programme, the participants (who are allowed to display the STARetailers logo at their store) guarantee full refund for any product that was purchased from their shop at above its Recommended Retail Price (RRP). Participants also promise to provide proper after-sale service and so on...] Sim Lim Tower, just across the street, on the other side of the canal (10 Jalan Besar) is also packed with shops that sell electronics, and although it is not as known as Sim Lim Square, it is well worth visiting... On the other side of Rochor Canal, between Sim Lim Square and MRT-Little India, there are a few shopping centres that are worth mentioning: The Verge (better known by its previous name - Tekka Mall), near the corner of Sungei Road and Serangoon Road, is Little India's first and only modern shopping mall. It actually has two buildings: The main building (which, ironically enough, is much smaller than the second building...) is where you can find a variety of thrift shops, including Jewelers and boutiques, while the second building (now named Chill @ The Verge) is where you can find a huge outlet of the discount Sheng Siong Hypermarket.

Just around the corner, on the corner of Serangoon Road and Campbell Lane (opposite the corner of Serangoon and Buffalo Rd., for those of you who come from MRT-Little India), Little India Arcade is housed in a cluster of restored shophouses that were turned into a bustling, colorful and authentic Indianstyle shopping complex. The shops here sell everything Indian... From bangles, cheap jewels and other trinkets to saris, spices, incenses and Indian sweets... Alongside the exotic shops, there are some excellent (and inexpensive) eating houses, selling various Indian delicacies. Opposite Little India Arcade, on the other side of Serangoon (along Buffalo Road), the light green building complex of Tekka Centre houses a wet market, a food centre and some shops. The hawker centre has a good selection of vegetarian food stalls that serve different Indian cuisines, as well as vegetarian Malay and Chinese delicacies, while the shops are selling a wide range of stuff, from Indian fashion and inexpensive casual clothes to Taoist and Buddhist paraphernalia and from tailor shops to henna salons. The Centre is just next to MRT-Little India (for those of you who do not come from Sim Lim Square). Click HERE to find some of the best rates for hostels and low-cost accommodations in Singapore and Asia !

Serangoon Road and its offshoots are packed with traditional Indian shops selling all sorts of treasures... Great variety of textiles and fabrics, silk saris, soft furnishings and bedspreads, brassware, silverware and brick-a-brack, cheap Jewellery and trinkets, colorful bangles, incenses and spices, Henna and Indian cosmetics... and gold, gold, gold... Buffalo Rd., Dunlop St. and Cuff Rd. are particularly recommended but the other small streets around are also very good. Mustafa Centre, near the corner of Serangoon and Syed Alwi Road, is Singapore's legendary 24 hours super shop. This huge department store sells an enormous range of goods at some of the lowest fixed prices in Singapore and actually comprises two main sections: Mustafa Centre itself is located on 145 Syed Alwi Road, while the neighboring Serangoon Plaza is just behind the corner, on 320 Serangoon Rd. (they are linked to each other).

The immense variety includes household items, fashion, footwear, books and magazines, CDs and DVDs, electronics and photo gears, watches and jewellery... You name it. Mustafa is also where you can normally get the best forex rates in Singapore. Mustafa Centre is within a short walking distance from MRT-Farrer Park.
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A few minutes' walk from MRT-Bugis (on Victoria Street - away from the city), Kampong Glam, more commonly known by the name of its main thoroughfare, Arab Street, was where Singapore's Arab traders settled in the early days of the colony Arab Street and the small offshoots around it are packed with old-style shops where you can get a whole lot of exotic and oriental stuff: Great variety of textiles and fabrics at reasonable prices seems to be the area's main drawing point... Then there are Basketry and other products of rattan, cane and straw, as well as carpets, spices, and a wide range of authentic ornaments and bric-a-brac... Hajji Lane and Bali Lane, next to Arab Street, are dominated by a few cool and hip shops, selling all sorts of funky stuff like second hand records and designer clothes. There are also some very nice and easygoing cafs around Arab Street, Bali Lane and Bussorah Street, which make them a good place to chill out... The "Singapore City Pass" makes a good choice for those who want to explore the city by themselves, with a full day of unlimited Hop On Hop Off Bus sightseeing, as well as well as a trip on an amphibious vehicle.

Bugis and Arab Street

Bugis Junction is the first shopping mall in Singapore that was actually built within an old street, covered by a colossal glass canopy. Colonial shophouses are lined along what used to be Singapore's 'sin street' in a (not-so-successful) attempt to bring back some of the special atmosphere that this area enjoyed during its heydays... The mall is easily accessed through MRT-Bugis Station and, other than the usual shebang of international brand names and lifestyle shops, there is a youth themed area, a "cineplex" and a very good choice of restaurants, cafs and food-courtstalls A stone's throw from Bugis Junction and just around the area where drunken sailors and all sorts of lowlifes used to market their smuggled goods, New Bugis Street (which is presently known as 'Bugis Street') is another attempt to bring back some of the ambience that characterized the original Bugis Street Hundreds of street stalls along the covered walkway sell almost everything... from trendy street wear and watches to knick-knacks, and from cheap cosmetics and fashion accessories to fruits and vegetables... You name it...It's a pretty good place to fetch bargains and enjoy some authentic snacks, and if you are after some reasonable quality stuff that is a step above the usual chintzy garbage (but you still want to pay a good price), then Bugis Street and neighboring Bugis Village might be the right places for you to browse...These two places are also acting as a "night market" and although it is not the authentic night market you can see in cities across "third world Asia", it is still worth a visit.

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Geylang, the hub of Singapore's Muslim community,

is not one of the city's most prominent shopping areas, but if you do visit the area (and there's a lot to see there), you should just as well see the market 40 years old Geylang Serai Market, one of the area's most prominent landmarks, has recently reopened in its historical location, on the corner of Changi Road and Geylang Serai, after the old building gave way to a new edifice, architecturally designed like a Malaysian village, or 'kampong'. Being the main market of Singapore's Malay-Muslim community, it boasts many shops that sell spices, as well as ethnic jewellery and clothes, alongside a plethora of stalls that serve traditional Muslim specialties from the cuisines of Malaysia and Indonesia

VivoCity - Singapore's largest shopping mall

VivoCity, Singapore's largest shopping mall, is really the kind of place where you can spend a whole day easily... Other than hundreds of shops that sell everything, from international fashion brands to toys and books, it also boasts a whole shebang of great dining and entertainment facilities... Singapore's largest multiplex, with 15 cinemas and one of Asia's widest screens is the right place for movie lovers, and then there is a 300 m long seafront promenade with 'alfresco' cafs and restaurants, excellent food courts, and a rooftop park with water features, shallow pool for the kids and an outdoor amphitheater... Recommended wine & dine venues include Imperial Herbal Restaurant (cooking with medicinal herbs), Brotzeit (German resto-bar), Garuda Padang Cuisine (one of Indonesia's most popular restaurants) and St James Power Station (One of Singapore's best night spots - Not exactly in VivoCity) Getting to VivoCity is very easy: The mall is right next to MRT-HarbourFront Station (direct passage for pedestrians), which means that you can easily continue from here to Sentosa Island, if you still got enough time and energy...
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The Central is a modern five-story riverfront shopping mall, located right on top of MRT-Clarke quay (next to Coleman Bridge). Boasting almost 300 shops and F&B outlets, the mall is strongly Japanesethemed, which means that many of the tenants are businesses from the country of the rising sun (although there is a good mix of both Japanese and Western-style fashion boutiques). Fashion and fashion-accessories are the big thing here, alongside a relatively good choice of gift shops, home dcor, jewellery shops and... of course... some very nice restaurants and cafs. Clarke Quay, on the other side of Singapore River, across Read Bridge, is one of Singapore's most popular Wine & Dine precincts. There is not so much in the way of shopping here, other than the popular Sunday Flea Market which is held here regularly, once a month... Although Singapore has one of the best publictransport systems in the world, taking the Singapore City Hop-on Hop-off Tour is highly recommended, as it takes you directly to the various attractions and saves you the time and hassle of waiting for a bus or walking Next to Clarke Quay and to the Novotel, Liang Court is a mall for both families and adults, with some wellknown Japanese outlets and other shops. Kinokuniya is a large Japanese bookshop, selling a wide range of both Japanese and international titles, as well as magazines, comics, CDs, greeting cards and so on... Meidi-Ya is a high quality Japanese supermarket, where you can fetch some unique Japanese products and foodstuffs that can't be found anywhere else. There is also a counter of Singapore Tourism Board in the mall.

Shopping around the Singapore River

OUB Centre, on No. 1 Raffles Place (adjacent to MRT Raffles Place Station) has five floors of retail space, with a good mix of prestige boutiques, businessmen oriented shops and other shops that specialize in a variety of goods, from jewelry and gifts to toys, lifestyle products and office supplies. Open daily (except Sundays), 10 am - 8 pm. Funan DigitalLife Mall (also known as Funan Centre), on North Bridge Road / Hill Street, just a short stroll from the Singapore River, is a true heaven for lovers of IT technology and electronic gadgets... It might not be as cheap as places like Sim-Lim and Mustafa, but it certainly is the place to look for the newest and most innovative stuff.

Shop where the locals do

If you are tired of all those glitzy and glittering malls of Orchard Road and Marina Bay, and you feel like shopping where the locals do, than HDBs public housing towns are probably your best bet, although there are some other options... Toa Payoh, one of Singapore's first and largest public housing towns, is a good place to browse for reasonable quality stuff at wallet-easy prices and to enjoy some nice food at the numerous food stalls and at the kopitiams (local coffee shops)...

The Town Centre comprises a fairly big open-air pedestrian mall, right next to the MRT station, which means that getting there is as easy as pie, and you can combine it with a visit to the nearby Siong Lim Temple, or to other places of interest around this part of Singapore...
MRT-Toa Payoh is located along the red marked NorthSouth(NS) MRT line

If you plan to visit Singapore Zoo or the Night Safari, you might pass through Ang mo Kio, another large public housing town along the red marked NorthSouth(NS) MRT line. Just like in Toa Payoh, Ang mo Kio's "Town Centre" comprises a few open-air pedestrian malls near the MRT station, so you wouldn't have to challenge your navigation skills to find the shops and the eating places...

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Shopping with kids Not necessarily a nightmare

As any parent with young children knows, shopping with kids is not one of life's most pleasant experiences (to put it mildly) and that is why quite a few of Singapore's large and glitzy malls offer playgrounds and fun activities for children. Here are some that are well worth knowing about The "Singapore Flexi Pack" allows you to save over 40% on Singapore's BEST attractions ! Suntec City Mall, one of Singapore's most sought after shopping complexes, boasts plenty of attractions for kids, teenagers and their families From the Fountain of Wealth, which earned itself a place in the 1998 Guinness book of records as the world's largest fountain, to "Virtual Land" (the virtual games arcade), and from the outdoor children's playground and the "Sky Garden" on the 3rd level of Tropics Zone, to the Japanese-landscaped Koi Pond, where you can feed the fish Marina Square, between Suntec City and the Singapore Flyer, has a medium-sized indoor playground on the 3rd level (in the atrium near Mothercare and Gain City) which is very quiet during the week... Forum The Shopping Mall, on 583 Orchard Road (just a few minutes' walk from MRT Orchard Station / ION Orchard) is a very family-oriented mall and organizes performances for children every now and again... The toddler-playground at 313@Somerset (Orchard Road, next to MRT Somerset Station) is located at the Sky Terrace, which means you can enjoy the nice views while they play (It is right next to the large Food Republic food court, where you can fetch fairly nice food at a good price)... Paragon Shopping Centre, on 290 Orchard Road (almost opposite 313@Somerset), has a small indoor playground on level 5, with a mini climbing wall, slides and tunnels. VivoCity, Singapore's largest shopping mall, has both wet and dry playgrounds that can be found in the open-air courtyard on the second floor, as well as a spacious rooftop skypark, which features a wading pool (great choice for those of you who wants to do some shopping on their way back from Sentosa and Universal Studios).

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