SHOPPING IN SINGAPORE
Michael Aquino wrote in Tripsavvy: “Next to food, shopping is Singapore's second-favorite pastime. The shopping scene in Singapore is nothing short of legendary—shopping malls criss-cross the island, linked by air-conditioned underground tunnels and MRT stations. Best of all, Singapore will reimburse tourists for the taxes they pay for your shopping. You'll be charged a Goods and Service Tax (GST) of 7%, but taxes on purchases above SG$100 can be reimbursed with little trouble. [Source: Michael Aquino Tripsavvy, July 23, 2019]
Singapore is famous for its duty-free shopping. You don’t even have to leave the airport to find shopping malls and stores by every famous designer and brand name you can think of. There are good buys on gem stones (especially sapphires and rubies), and electronic items such as camera, video camcorders, notebook computers and iPhones. The prices however are often higher than sale prices in the United States. Singapore has many large shopping malls offering the same kind of items and designer-made clothes and products available at malls for well-heeled shoppers in Europe and the United States. Bargaining is generally not practiced.
Good, but expensive, jade and antiques from Burma, China, and Thailand may be purchased in some of the shops in the Tanglin Road area. In the North Bridge Road, Arab Street, and Serangoon Road districts, crafts such as Chinese figurines, rattan and cane furniture, batik, and silk are available.
Among the interesting and unique items from Singapore and Southeast Asia you can buy are coconut jam (kaya), Singapore Sling bottle, bottled Singapore Sling, orchid perfumes, orchid jewelry, silk and cotton fabrics and clothes, tailor-made clothes, jewelry and ornaments made from gold, silver, bronze and neilloware (silver inlaid with black enamel), kitchenware, paintings, lacquered boxes, traditional music instruments, local beer, shawls, pottery, paintings, sandals, wood carvings, leather items, antiques, handmade dolls, tribal textiles and jewelry.
Shopping Scams
On scams in Singapore travelscams reported: “1) Electronics shopping scams have been going on for decades with locals scammed too. Things came to a head in 2014 when a Vietnamese tourist had to kneel and beg for a refund. He was mercilessly mocked by the shop staff and it became a national scandal. Version 1 (warranty scam): high value electronics are advertised at cheap prices. Staff shows you a contract but covers up a clause about paying thousands for warranty. Most do not realize, as they trust the Singapore brand, may not be good at English, or do not bother with the terms and conditions. After you pay however, staff will hold on to your item. They now explain the clause and will not hand the item over until you pay for warranty. Version 2 (product swap): after you pay, vendor swaps your authentic camera battery/memory stick with an imitation. It is given to you in a sealed box hoping you do not check. Places to beware: Bugis: Sim Lim Square, Chinatown: People’s Park Complex, shops in the area Orchard: Lucky Plaza. What to do: If a price is too good to be true, it probably is. Visit reputable shops or big chains (e.g. Challenger, Courts, Harvey Norman)., If caught in such a scam, consult the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) or the police. [Source: Travel Scams, travelscams.org August 2019]
5) Fake products in Singapore: At some street shops (e.g. in Chinatown, Bugis Street), you may see discounted fragrances sold for just a few dollars. These are simply watered down products in replica boxes. There have also been reports of fake pills, fake electronics (e.g. at Sim Lim Square) and also fake luxury products (generally sold via online platforms). Places to beware: Chinatown, Bugis Street, Sim Lim Square, pasar malams (pop up street markets) What to do: If a price is too good to be true, it probably is.
On Watered down perfumes, one person posted. On a short stopover in Singapore on my way to Australia, I was very tempted to purchase perfume that was hugely discounted. As it was Singapore, I never thought fake or watered down products would be on sale. I bought Tommy Hilfiger perfume for $8 dollars only to open the packaging at home and realize it had a weak scent which barely lasted.
“Taxi scams in Singapore: Situation: taxis in Singapore are highly reliable and scams are rare, though there have still been cases. Version 1: charging an excessive surcharge. Version 2: returning Malaysian Ringgit (lower value) as change. Version 3: at night, drivers in town may reject you if you are going out of town, as they usually have to make an “empty” trip back to town for passengers. Hence, they will claim that they are changing shifts and are unable to drive out of town. Places to beware: Central area What to do: If you face problems getting a taxi, use a taxi booking apps like GoJek, Grab or ComfortDelGro Taxi instead.
Taxes and Tax Refunds
Singapore has a seven percent GST-VAT (government sales tax. value added tax). Eligibility for the Tourist Refund Scheme: As a tourist in Singapore, if you make any purchase of more than S$100 (including GST) at participating shops, you may claim a refund on the 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST) paid on your purchases. You are entitled up to 3 same-day receipts/invoices from shops bearing the same GST registration number and shop name to meet this minimum purchase amount of S$100. To know whether a shop is participating in the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS), look for a “Tax Free” shopping logo or sign displayed at the shop. You can also check with the retailer whether your purchases are eligible for GST refund.
Are you eligible for a GST refund? You must be a tourist and must meet the following criteria:
You are not a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident;
You are aged 16 and above at the time of purchase;
You are not a crew member of the aircraft on which you are leaving Singapore by;
You are leaving Singapore from Changi Airport or Seletar Airport. You will not be eligible for a GST refund if you are leaving by the Causeway of Sea;
You must have made your purchases within two months from when you apply for a refund
Purchases that are not eligible for a GST refund include:
Goods which you have already used or consumed in Singapore.
Goods that you are exporting for commercial purposes.
Goods that will be exported by freight.
Accommodation in a hotel or hostel, and services such as car rental and tour charges.
Where to get your refund: Apply for your GST refund using the Electronic Tourist Refund self-help kiosks (eTRS kiosks) found at Changi Airport Departure Check-in Hall (before departure immigration) and Departure Transit Lounge (after departure immigration); and at Seletar Airport Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) duty office.
How the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) works: The Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) was introduced to allow you to apply for your GST refunds electronically and to replace the use of paper refund forms. This offers you an easier way to get your refund because you no longer have to fill up different refund forms issued by different shops.
When making purchases from retailers who are on eTRS, you must show your passport in person to the retailers to prove your eligibility under the TRS. Photocopies or images of passports are not acceptable. The retailer will issue an eTRS transaction to you at the point of purchase with your passport details. When you apply for your GST refund at the airport’s eTRS self-help kiosk with your passport, your transactions will be retrieved automatically.
How to claim your tax refund in three simple steps: 1) At The Airport: If you plan to check-in your purchases, you must apply for your GST refund before you check in your luggage. If you check in your purchases, you will not be entitled to a refund. This is because Singapore Customs may want to inspect your purchases before processing the refund. You can apply for your refund at the eTRS self-help kiosk in the Departure Check-in Hall (before departure immigration) at the airport. If you plan to hand-carry your purchases, proceed to the Departure Transit area (after departure immigration) at the airport with your purchases and apply for your refund at the eTRS self-help kiosk found there.
2) At The eTRS Self-Help Kiosk: At the kiosk, scan your passport. This will retrieve details of all your purchases. After you have retrieved your purchase details, follow the instructions on the eTRS kiosk to apply for your GST refund. At this stage, you will be asked to choose if your refund is to be made to your credit card, Alipay account or in cash (for tourists departing from Changi Airport). If you are departing from Seletar Airport, you will be asked to choose your refund to be made by credit card, Alipay or bank cheque. When you are done, read carefully the outcome of your refund request shown on the kiosk. Please check whether you would need to go to the Customs Inspection counter, where customs officers may ask to see your purchases for further verification. It is important for you to arrive at the airport early to allow sufficient time to process your GST refund and for the inspection of goods.
3) Collect Your Refund: If you are departing from Changi Airport, you can choose to receive your refund in cash, or have it credited to your credit card or Alipay account. If you are departing from Seletar Airport, you can choose to receive your refund by having it credited to your credit card or Alipay account, or bank cheque. If you choose to have your refund in cash, head to the Central Refund Counter in the Departure Transit Lounge (after departure immigration) with your passport to collect your cash.
Shopping Areas in Singapore
1) Orchard Road is at the center of the main glittery multiplex shopping mall area.
If you have to time to only go one place in Singapore to do all your shopping, Orchard is you best bet. Shopping malls line the mile-long strip the street from end to end, offering mostly high-end retail items from designer labels to cutting-edge electronics. Here you can find about a dozen shopping malls, including Nge Ann City, formerly one of the largest shopping complex in Asia, Mandarin Gallery, ION Orchard and 313@somerset.
2) Chinatown is a two square kilometer area with calligraphers, art galleries, effigy makers, Chinese herbalists, and temple idol carvers. Street vendors sell bootleg videos and rock n' roll cassettes. The markets here sells all kinds of things.
3) Little India has shops that sell Tibetan snuff bottles, Kashmiri silk and Jasmine garlands. You can also visit a fortuneteller here and have good Indian food. Chinatown and Little India are good places to shop for silk, temple rubbings, rubies, sapphires, and items made from silver, bronze and nielloware. 4) Arab Streets has numerous batik shops and textile sellers. [Source: yoursingapore.com, Singapore Tourism Board]
Orchard Road Singapore
Orchard Road is a mile-long shopping district with hotels, restaurants, department stores, up-scale designer shops and glittery shopping malls filled wit flashing lights and mirrors selling everything from the latest fashions and ethnic accessories to furniture and virtual reality glasses. Around Emerald Hill Road there is a conservation area of historic homes. At the base of the hill is Peranakan Place which contains six well-restored shophouses with craft shops, restaurants and a museum.
Once an area filled with nutmeg, pepper and fruit orchards, Orchard Road has certainly come a long way. In the early 19th century, the orchards and plantations began to make way for houses, wet markets and outdoor hawker centres. In the 1830s, Orchard Road was just an unnamed country road lined with fruit orchards, nutmeg plantations, and pepper farms. It wasn’t long before that the plantations made way for residential development, and the street filled up with homes, outdoor hawker centres and wet markets.
In 1958, Orchard Road’s first department store was opened by a local merchant, C.K. Tang. By the 1970s, high-rise buildings such as Tang Plaza, Plaza Singapura and the Mandarin Hotel had taken root and paved the way for more entertainment and retail complexes. Brick by brick and block by block, towers of steel and glass started to line what used to be mud tracks, making Orchard Road the famous shopping belt it has become today.
Shopping malls and centers found on Orchard Road today include: ION Orchard, 313@somerset, Ngee Ann City, Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, Orchard Central, Tanglin Shopping Centre, Orchard Gateway, The Centrepoint, Mandarin Gallery, Wheelock Place, Shaw Centre, Scotts Square, Forum The Shopping Mall and Delfi Orchard
One of the oldest shopping centres on Orchard Road is Tanglin Shopping Centre. Near the Regent Hotel, it houses specialty stores selling an assortment of products such as beadwork, clothes, accessories, furniture and antiques. If you’re looking for art and craft galleries, be sure to pop in to Asia Ancient Gallery. In September 2011, Swedish retail company H&M opened their first store in Southeast Asia here. The 30,000 square foot store spans three floors, offering fashion for women, men, teenagers and children, including accessories and footwear. Seasonal collections are created by about 100 in-house designers, together with buyers and pattern makers. With fashion items refreshed in the store daily, it’s likely that you’ll find something new to buy every day.
According to Tripsavvy: “Tangs (320 Orchard Road; Tel: 6737 5500) is Singapore's oldest department store, having repositioned itself over the years as an Asian lifestyle outlet, with exclusive fashion labels and brands from all over the world. Wisma Atria (435 Orchard Road; Tel: 6235 2103) houses high street fashion outlets like FCUK, Gap, Nike, Topshop, as well as the Japanese department store Isetan. The Heeren (260 Orchard Road; Tel: 6733 4725) houses HMV, the region's largest music superstore, cutting-edge retail clothing at the fourth and fifth level, and a wide assortment of Asian cuisine on the fifth level. [Source: Michael Aquino Tripsavvy, July 23, 2019]
Nearest MRT Station: Four MRT stations stop at or near Orchard Road: The North-South Line's Orchard (NS22), Somerset (NS23), Dhoby Ghaut (NE6/NS24) and City Hall (EW13/NS25) stations line Orchard Road itself. The latter two stations serve as links with the East-West Line.
Central Singapore, City Hall and Marina Bay Shopping Area
The heart of the downtown and historical area is around the Raffles Hotel not far from where the Singapore River empties in Marina Bay. Michael Aquino wrote in Tripsavvy: “Singapore's Central Business District is a showcase for Singapore's urban development, where old-time buildings like the Raffles Hotel stand side by side with gleaming new retail developments like the Raffles City Mall. [Source: Michael Aquino Tripsavvy, July 23, 2019]
“The area's malls cover the basics and more. Some distinguish themselves by their impressive design (the Raffles City complex was designed by I.M. Pei), while others are devoted to particular themes (Funan Mall is devoted to the latest technology). The district's malls of note include: Suntec City Mall (3 Temasek Boulevard; Tel: 6825 2667 / 6825 2668 / 6825 2669 / 6825 2670) is the largest mall in Singapore, with over 83,000 square meters of retail space. French hypermart Carrefour is here, as are hundreds of other major worldwide brands. The mall is known for the Fountain of Wealth, known to Guinness Records aficionados as the largest fountain in the world.
“Raffles City Shopping Centre (252 North Bridge Road; Tel: 6338 7766) houses a variety of international fashion and specialty shops, including Guess, the Metropolitan Museum of New York, and Tommy Hilfiger. Funan DigitaLife Mall (109 North Bridge Road), is arguably Singapore's second-best place for affordable electronics (the first-best is Sim Lim Square, which is more suitable for experienced computer shoppers). The government keeps a closer watch on stores in Funan, so you can be fairly sure you're not getting ripped off (which is not always the case in the more rough-and-ready Sim Lim).
“Millenia Walk (9 Raffles Boulevard; Tel: 6883 1122) offers fashion stores and specialty shops by the dozen. Marina Square (6 Raffles Boulevard Tel: 6339 8787) has over 300 shops to lose oneself in. CityLink (1 Raffles Link) is an underground mall that links the City Hall MRT Station to Suntec City Mall and Marina Square. CityLink is no slouch in the retail department - it offers a wide range of shops and restaurants, from HMV to FCUK to Adidas.”
Nearest MRT Station: Stops: Three MRT stops offer access to the vicinity: Clarke Quay (NE5), Raffles Place (EW14/NS26), and City Hall (EW13/NS25)
Chinatown
Chinatown (south of the Singapore River behind the business district) covers a two square kilometer area. Here visitors will find calligraphers, paper effigy makers, jade shops, traditional Chinese medicine, antiques, tinsmithing, clog making, paper effigy making, live animal markets, temple idol carvers and, of course, lots of Chinese restaurants. Street vendors and hawkers give this part of town a charged atmosphere. It also a good place to buy bootleg and pirated CDs and DVDs.
Chinatown is Singapore’s largest historic district. When Raffles announced Singapore as a trading post in 1819, many Chinese flocked to Singapore, and by the end of the 1860s, the Chinese community had grown to encompass 65 percent of the population in Singapore. Chinatown is now made up of pre-war shop houses, home to merchants who have been hawking the same wares for years – bales of fine silk, traditional handicrafts, and gold and jade jewellery. Make a visit to the large Chinese emporium Yue Hwa, conveniently located at the junction of Eu Tong Sen Street and Upper Cross Street. It stocks a wide array of authentic Chinese products such as tea, medicinal herbs, foods, household items, antiques and traditional Chinese costumes such as the cheongsam. Eu Tong Sen Street is also the home of large shopping malls, like the former movie house turned mall Majestic (80 Eu Tong Sen Street), and Pearl's Centre (100 Eu Tong Sen Street), with its mazelike passageways and odd assortment of stuff.
The best time to visit Chinatown is during Chinese New Year, when the Chinatown Food Market is abuzz with activity, from lion dances to Chinese opera performances. This much-anticipated festival enlivens the market even more, and is when you can find a dazzling array of stalls touting paper lanterns, Chinese calligraphy, opera masks, contemporary fashion and festive food. On most days, these stalls begin spilling onto Pagoda, Smith, Trengganu and Sago Streets by late morning.
Many shopping centres can also be found in Chinatown. Some of the more significant ones are in the Cross Street area: Chinatown Point (133 New Bridge Road), People's Park Complex (1 Park Road), and the landmark OG People's Park (100 Upper Cross Street, OG Building, Singapore; Telephone: 6535 8888). The Chinatown Complex, which was built in 1972 and replaced the death houses that used to line Sago Lane. These malls not only sell a wide selection of Chinese products but also offer affordable electronic goods, textiles and discounted cosmetics and clothes.
If you’re keen on the latest trends in fashion, don’t miss Ann Siang Road and Club Street, where you can explore chic local boutiques such as Asylum and egg3. For a shopping experience that blends traditional Chinese heritage with contemporary offerings, the Chinatown stretch is a must-visit on your trip to Singapore. Club Street, Ann Siang Street, features bars and restaurants in rennovated shophouses.
Nearest MRT Station: Stops: You can reach Chinatown via the East-West Line's Outram Park station (EW16) and the North-East Line's Chinatown station (NE4).
Little India
Little India (around Serangoon Road) has shops that sell Tibetan snuff bottles, colorful saris, Bollywood DVDSs and music CDs, curries to papier-mache boxes, Kashmiri silk and jasmine garlands. You can also visit a fortuneteller here and have good Indian food. On Sunday night it fills with laborers from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Some go to Veerama Kliamman Temple to offer a tribute to Kali. Its main shopping areas the Tekka Centre and the 24-hour Mustafa Centre.
Little India is a cacophony of car horns, bicycle bells and the vibrant chatter of its residents. This explosion of sights, smells and sounds that you’ll find in Tekka Market is only a short walk from Little India MRT Station. Tekka, as it’s popularly known, boasts a plethora of stalls selling Indian, Malay and Chinese food that regularly draws crowds from all over Singapore. There’s also a wet market stocked with the freshest vegetables, meat, fish, spices and flowers. Stock up on souvenirs such as brass oil lamps and pots, or buy curry spices and a fresh garland of jasmine, whose scent is signature aroma of Little India.
Amid the pungent fragrances of spices and blooms is Serangoon Road and its inner lanes like Campbell Lane, Dunlop Street and Hindon Road. Here, look out for stalls selling Ayurvedic massage oils, gold, incense and fabrics in a variety of textures.
No trip to Little India is complete without an all-night shopping spree at the 24-hour emporium, Mustafa Centre, located at the corner of Serangoon and Syed Alwi Roads. Don’t be fooled by its inconspicuous exterior because this giant department store is a veritable treasure trove of household knick-knacks, decorative items, foods both packaged and fresh, Indian spices, a great range of apparel and textiles, electronic items and other ubiquitous buys, all at some of the lowest fixed prices in Singapore. Get your gold jewellery, spices, electronics and more, all at the bustling Little India.
Nearest MRT Station: Stops: The North-East MRT line's Little India (NE7) and Farrer Park (NE8) stations exit near Serangoon Road. The East-West line's Bugis station (EW12) is within walking distance of Little India.
Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam (around Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque), Bugis MRT Station) is a quaint and historical district whose name originates from the Gelam Tree, which once grew abundantly in the area. In 1822, the land in Kampong Glam was officially allocated to the Malays and others in the Muslim community, including a small but successful community of Arab traders. In 1989, the Urban Development Authority gazetted Kampong Glam as a conservation area, and most of the original architecture has now been restored.
Shopping here is focused on Bugis Junction, the bustling Bugis Street Market, and of course Kampong Glam. Rows of conserved shophouses, painted in vibrant colours, line Bussorah, Baghdad and Kandahar Streets, and many of them are occupied by trendy design and IT firms, restaurants, caterers, art galleries, and craft and curios shops. In the shop houses around the Sultan Mosque you will find things like rattan cradles, prayer mats, jewelry, and camel-skin bags. The area is also a good place to sample Malay food.
After a visit to the historical Sultan Mosque, step out to Bussorah Street which has been turned into a pedestrian thoroughfare. During colonial times, this was the heart of the Arab kampong and catered to the Muslim community’s religious needs. Nowadays, you’ll find an eclectic mix of old haberdasheries and new shops selling local wares, such as versions of the famed Singapore Airlines kebaya dress, decorative trinkets and accessories, and books relating to Arabic and Muslim culture and religion.
At one end of Bussorah Street you'll find the venerable Sultan Mosque. At the other, is Jamal Kazura Aromatics (21 Bussorah Street, +65 6293 3320), one of the oldest perfumeries in Singapore. Founded in 1933 by an Indonesian entrepreneur, Jamal Kazura, it respects Islamic prohibition on alcohol and sells oil-based (attar) fragrances. From Bussorah Street, continue your idyllic walk down Muscat Street, which turns into Arab Street
Nearest MRT Station: Bugis MRT Station,
Arab Street
Arab Street (near Kampong Glam) starts where Muscat Street turns into Arab Street, which was well known as a textile haven in the 1950s and 1960s. You’ll find bales of silk, batik, lace, organza and other materials here, where customisation and tailoring services are also available. Bring home a ready-made traditional or modern Malay costume or browse through the endless variety of traditional games such as the Congkak (a game involving marbles and a wooden board), carpets, antiques and rattan handicrafts such as wicker baskets to spruce up your home. Stroll to the end of Arab Street and you’ll reach North Bridge Road. In the abundant shops, you’ll find sandalwood, prayer beads, book stands used specifically for the Quran known as ‘rehal’, wooden toothbrushes and other unique wares that cater to the Muslim community.
Michael Aquino wrote in Tripsavvy: “Arab Street is full of textile shops stocking exquisite batiks and luxurious silks in every hue, including a few previously unknown to your nervous system. You can buy them by the meter, or ready-made as clothes and table linens. If you can only visit one, go to Toko Aljunied (95 Arab Street, +65 6294 6897), a clothing store that sells traditional Malay kebaya and batik fabrics. The textile shops see the most business before Ramadan when Malay families have their baju kurungs made. [Source: Michael Aquino Tripsavvy, July 23, 2019]
“Haji Lane, parallel to Arab Street, caters to a younger crowd looking for the latest in street fashion and "pre-loved" second-hand clothes. Some of the best stores along Haji Lane tap into a retro pop vibe, like Dulcet Fig (41 Haji Lane, +65 6396 5648, dulcetfig.com). The owner drew inspiration from her mother and grandmother's collective wardrobes, curating a quirky collection of vintage clothes and throwback bags, leavened by new collections from indie designers.”
Nearest MRT Station: Stops: The East-West Line's Bugis Station (EW12) links directly to Parco Bugis Junction, and is a few minutes away from Arab Street
Holland Village
Holland Village (10-minute taxi ride from Orchard Road) is a favourite haunt for the expatriate community in Singapore, owing to it laidback atmosphere. For vacationers who don’t have much time to explore every nook and cranny, Holland Village is a microcosm of Singapore, and provides an array of shopping and entertainment options that you can only find in Singapore.
Along Lorong Mambong, you’ll find an eclectic mix of live music joints, ritzy restaurants and casual wine bars. Among these establishments, you’ll also find traditional coffee houses where you can sip a cup of teh tarik (“pulled tea”). Shops here behind Holland Village sell Asian arts, crafts, antiques, handicrafts, pottery and household items made from rattan and cane. There is also a wet market (selling fresh meat and fish) and antique stores. Holland Road Shopping Centre is a treasure trove of ethnic-inspired arts and crafts. It houses Lim’s Arts and Living, a mammoth store that displays choice antiques and other wares such as Moroccan dinnerware, bird cages, African figures and shisha pipes. Besides home decor items, you may even find one or two stores selling vintage clothing.
Opposite Holland Road Shopping Centre, you’ll come to Chip Bee Gardens, an area teeming with activity with its trendy Italian restaurants, quirky fashion stores, gourmet emporiums and art galleries. Come down to the trendy Holland Village, and experience a whole lot of style, fused with a mix of ethnic goodness.
Nearest MRT Station: Stop: Exit at the East-West line's Buona Vista station (EW21) and take SBS Bus 200 to Holland Village.
Bugis
Michael Aquino wrote in Tripsavvy: “Bugis is Singapore’s shopping mecca, an amalgam of small shops on tiny lanes, big malls, and covered markets, as well as restaurants and nightspots. Named after the local sea pirates that used to terrorize sailors in the 19th century, Bugis was a seedy district populated with cruising transvestites, gambling dens, and nighttime vendors until it was redeveloped in the 80s. [Source: Michael Aquino Tripsavvy, July 23, 2019]
“The district's most ambitious development is Bugis Street (3 New Bugis Street,), a shopping complex developed from the streetside shops along Victoria Street and Queen Street. Take your pick from three levels of shopping with over 600 shops selling perfumes, clothing, electronics, accessories, and more - just start exploring and surprise yourself with Bugis Street's bang-for-your-buck finds. In 2014 the development launched bugisstreet.com.sg, selling items from featured stores in the complex. The site also lists all 600 stores at this location.
“Immediately opposite Bugis Street, the Bugis Junction mall (200 Victoria Street, bugisjunction-mall.com.sg) serves up low-to-mid-priced Japanese stores and brands to a fashion-forward youth market. The mall is actually a section of shophouse-fronted street that has been covered over and air-conditioned. Cross Bencoolen Street to reach Sim Lim Square (1 Rochor Canal Rd), a six-story mall with 390,000 square feet of unrestricted computer shopping bliss. Buyer beware - the lower shops are known for gouging tourist shoppers, so be sure to check out the local prices first before striking a bargain.”
Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons
Text Sources: Singapore tourism websites, Singapore government websites, UNESCO, Wikipedia, Lonely Planet guides, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Japan News, Yomiuri Shimbun, Compton's Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.
Updated in August 2020