Shopping · Singapore
Shopping in Singapore
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Terry Fitzpatrick ( Tfitzp ( talk )), Public domain
Quick answer
Singapore shopping runs from Orchard Road's malls to independent shophouse boutiques and the 24-hour Mustafa Centre. Prices on international brands are similar to other major cities, so local products and food gifts are better buys. Best souvenirs: Kaya and kopi, Bak kwa and Peranakan beadwork and ceramics.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 4
- Top souvenir
- Kaya and kopi
Where to shop
Orchard Road
ION Orchard, Takashimaya at Ngee Ann City, Paragon and dozens more malls along a 2 km boulevard, with big food halls in their basements.
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Luxury flagships along an indoor canal, with a glass-domed Apple store floating on the bay.
Haji Lane and Arab Street
Independent fashion boutiques, vintage shops and fabric and batik stores in Kampong Glam.
Tiong Bahru
Small independent bookshops, design stores and bakeries in an Art Deco estate.
Markets
Chinatown Street Market
Stalls on Pagoda, Trengganu and Sago streets sell souvenirs, lanterns and snacks.
Bugis Street
A covered market of inexpensive clothes, accessories and snacks beside Bugis MRT.
Mustafa Centre
A sprawling 24-hour department store in Little India selling everything from spices and gold to electronics.
Tekka Centre
Wet market, hawker centre and an upper floor of tailors and sari shops in Little India.
What to buy
Kaya and kopi
Jars of kaya jam and packs of local coffee from kopitiam brands make easy food gifts.
Bak kwa
Sweet, grilled dried pork slices sold in Chinatown, especially before Chinese New Year; check meat import rules at home.
Peranakan beadwork and ceramics
Colourful kebaya, beaded slippers and nyonya-style porcelain from shops in Katong and Kampong Glam.
Singapore tea brands
Singapore-founded tea companies sell gift tins in Orchard Road and Marina Bay malls and at Changi.
Orchid-themed gifts
Gold-plated real orchids and orchid prints echo the national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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Neighbourhood · Little India
Little India
Little India's grid of shophouses off Serangoon Road is full of garland makers, gold shops and spice merchants.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Neighbourhood · Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque
The golden dome of the 1928 Sultan Mosque anchors the old Malay quarter, where Arab Street sells batik and fabric and Bussorah Street is lined with palm trees and restaurants.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Ice kacang and chendol and Kopi. Dessert stalls in most hawker centres and in Chinatown. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Marina Bay | $$$$ | Skyline hotels, the Marina Bay Sands complex and waterfront promenades |
| Chinatown | $$ | Restored shophouses, temples, Maxwell Food Centre and Keong Saik bars |
| Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay | $$$ | Riverside restaurants and bars along the Singapore River |
| Orchard Road | $$$ | A 2 km boulevard of malls, department stores and big hotels |
| Little India | $ | Temples, spice shops, garland stalls and South Indian canteens |
| Kampong Glam and Bugis | $$ | Sultan Mosque, Arab Street textiles and the murals of Haji Lane |
| Sentosa | $$$$ | Resort island of beaches, Universal Studios and family hotels |
| Tiong Bahru | $$ | 1930s Art Deco walk-up flats, bakeries and an old-school market |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in SGD. Tipping is not customary. Restaurants and hotels add a 10% service charge to bills, and hawker stalls and taxis do not expect tips.
- Tap a contactless bank card on the MRT instead of buying a tourist pass unless you will ride many times a day.
- Visitors can claim back GST on eligible purchases through the electronic Tourist Refund Scheme at Changi; check the conditions with participating shops.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in March–May and October–November; the busiest months are December.
- January: Chinese New Year street light-up and bazaar in Chinatown (January or February)
- March: Hari Raya Puasa bazaars in Geylang Serai and Kampong Glam (date moves with the Islamic calendar)
- August: Singapore Night Festival — light installations in the Bras Basah district (usually August)
- August: Hungry Ghost Festival — getai concerts and offerings (seventh lunar month, August or September)
- September: Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns in Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay (September or early October)
- October: Deepavali light-up and bazaars in Little India (October or November)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for shopping, families, luxury and first-timers
Orchard Road
A 2 km boulevard of malls, department stores and big hotels
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Singapore?
Kaya and kopi, Bak kwa, Peranakan beadwork and ceramics and Singapore tea brands.
+Where is the best shopping in Singapore?
Orchard Road: ION Orchard, Takashimaya at Ngee Ann City, Paragon and dozens more malls along a 2 km boulevard, with big food halls in their basements.
+What are the best markets in Singapore?
Chinatown Street Market, Bugis Street, Mustafa Centre and Tekka Centre.