Singapore Travel Guide

Singapore Shopping

In Singapore, shopping is said to be the national sport, strongly supported by numerous shopping areas, malls and markets; at the mid-year Great Singapore Sale, the whole island offers fantastic shopping discounts. Despite its reputation as an international shopping destination however, everything sold in Singapore is made somewhere else, so don''t expect to find local goods or handmade treasures.

If ethnic goods are what you''re after, however, Chinatown sells Chinese items like seals and painted fans, and Geylang Serai and Little India offer a range of Malay and Indian goods. Colourful Peranakan clothing and artwork is available in Katong.

Low import taxes mean there are bargains to be had, but if you''ve come to Singapore in search of bargain electronics or computers, it pays to do some research ahead of time so you don''t end up paying more than you could have. Singapore''s consumer protection laws are good though, so most shops are honest and fakes are not openly sold.

Orchard Road is the main shopping area and features mall after mall of fashion, furniture and cosmetic shops. There are countless stores offering every imaginable form of electronic device shoppers might require, and the street markets and smaller shops sell Chinese seals and painted fans - good souvenirs. There is also late night shopping on Orchard Road every Saturday till 11pm.

Exhibitions, fairs and garage sales take place often and offer many discounted goods. Wet Markets smell bad but sell well-priced fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, spices and flowers. The general opening hours for shops are from about 9am to 10pm, but many shops (especially those in Suntec City and Funan IT Mall) do not open before 11am. A 7% GST is charged in Singapore, refundable to international visitors.