Bargain shopping in Singapore – malls, markets & souvenirs

Posted on 24. Aug, 2010 by admin in Singapore

Singapore may be a tiny city-state, but few places in the world rival its large variety of shopping options. Contrary to popular belief, affordable bargains are just as easy to find as luxury items, despite Singapore’s expensive reputation. Hopefully, this Singapore shopping guide will help visitors find exactly what they’re looking for in this multicultural and vibrant city.

Practical information

Most retailers in Singapore will take credit cards, but traveller’s cheques are not always welcome. The best thing to do with traveller’s cheques in Singapore is to cash them at one of the city’s numerous currency exchanges. ATMs are just as plentiful, but it’s not uncommon for shoppers to receive change in Brunei currency, whose dollar is often interchanged with Singapore in both countries because the two currencies are at par.

The Small Claims Tribunal and the free hotline of the Singapore Tourism Board are the best places for shoppers to file complaints against vendors.

Singapore shopping in Orchard Road
When most shoppers think of retail options in Singapore, Orchard Road is the first location which enters their heads. Lines of shopping centres have long replaced the nutmeg orchards formerly lined up along Orchard Road, where malls such as Paragon and ION Orchard are among the flashiest and costliest in Singapore. However, shoppers who can’t afford Prada, Gucci, or Louis Vuitton also have no shortage of options like the Far East Plaza, whose unusual and affordable accessories and clothes are especially popular with teenagers.

Singapore’s youth also enjoy shopping at the Heeren’s trendy boutiques and HMV music shop, whose three levels make it Singapore’s largest. The highlights of Wheelock Place include a huge ground level Borders and a basement Marks and Spencer shop, while Singapore’s richest ladies of leisure enjoy spending time in Takashimaya Shopping Centre where Kinokuniya, southeast Asia’s biggest bookstore, is located. One of the oldest department stores in Singapore, CK Tangs, is also located in Orchard Road.

Singapore shopping in Riverside
The impressive Fountain of Wealth, one of the biggest fountains in the world, stands inside Suntec City, the second biggest shopping mall in Singapore. However, Suntec City is just the largest of the shopping options in Riverside, where Singapore’s central business district is located. Appropriately, many Riverside malls and shops specialise in big ticket items such as the Funan DigitaLife Mall’s electronics, Millenia Walk’s designer watches, Jason’s Supermarket’s gourmet groceries, and the camera gear at Peninsula Plaza.

Singapore shopping in Bugis
Bugis, the city’s former Malay district, has become one of Singapore’s best places to find bargain items, especially in Bugis Junction. The Sin Chew Chinese Cultural Products Supermart boasts one of Singapore’s largest collections of Confucian and Buddha goods, while Singapore Armed Forces surplus gear can be bought at the Army Market. Shoppers can spend hours searching for hidden bargains at the Sungei Road Thieves Market or simply pick up cheap T-shirts or funky underwear at the Bugis Street bazaar. The quality of the silk and batik items sold on Arab street are well worth the extra haggling with vendors.

Singapore shopping in Chinatown
The amount of shops selling Chinese products in Chinatown is not surprising, but the six floor Yue Hwa building which used to be one of Singapore’s grandest hotels offers the largest variety of Chinese products under one roof. The Tea Chapter, however, is the most recommended place to buy Chinese tea. Other Chinatown malls worth exploring are Chinatown Point, OG People’s Park, and People’s Park Complex.

Singapore shopping in Little India
Restored shophouses selling a large variety of Indian products line Little India Arcade, but traditional Indian goods aren’t the only things worth buying in the heart of Singapore’s Indian community. Few places in Singapore exchange as many foreign currencies or sell such a large amount of bargains as the Mustafa Centre department store. Not far away from Little India is, Singapore’s largest electronics haven, Sim Lim Square, whose first floor is aimed towards tourists, but whose biggest bargains are in its back aisles and upper floors.

Singapore shopping in Novena
The residential district of Novena is where shoppers can find Singapore’s largest selection of Korean products at the 500 shops of Square 2, which closely resembles a typical shopping mall in Seoul. Novena’s other shopping highlight is Velocity, which features a gigantic California Fitness gym and specialises in high quality sporting goods.

Singapore shopping in the East Coast
The most unique shopping options on the East Coast are situated in Geylang Serai, known as the real home of the city’s Malays. Geylang Serai’s streets are lined with colourful shophouses selling Malay goods and the recently renovated Geylang Serai Market is also worth visiting.

Singapore shopping in Sentosa
Sentosa is an island sometimes dismissed as a tourist trap and often compared to Disneyland, but it’s also the location of VivoCity, the largest of Singapore’s several malls which houses the biggest organic grocery shop in Singapore along with a Gap and many more shops.

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