Joanna James
Tipped to be one of Asia's top retail hotspots, Singapore is a shopaholic's dream destination. Here are seven must-shop highlights all travellers should visit on a tour of Singapore.
Often regarded as one of the top bargain havens in the Lion City, the Chinatown Street Market is arguably among the best places in Singapore to grab discounted items. Stretching across several streets, all the way from Pagoda Street and across Terengganu Street and till Sago Street the ideal hour to enjoy a shopping spree in the Chinatown Street Market is during the early evening hours as the area also comes alive with food kiosks and other stalls retailing local treats. Top buys include artwork, clothes, accessories and candles as well as souvenirs.
Considered the most exclusive shopping destination in all of Singapore, Orchard Road is lined with some of the country's finest malls and designer boutiques. The 2.2km stretch is home to mega malls and department stores, the likes of ION Orchard while Paragon is another mall where international brands and signature labels occupy shop space. Those in search of more affordable fare in Orchard, however, should head down to Lucky Plaza
Although Clarke Quay is better known as one of the Lion City's pub heartlands and dining Meccas, the area is also a shopper's paradise lined with malls and independent boutiques. Some of the most coveted retail highlights in Clarke Quay include malls such as Great World City, Clarke Quay Central, and the sprawling Riverside Point. Fashion stores dominate this part of the island with the brightly lit avenues lined with waterfront eateries. Tourists based at the Park Hotel Alexandra or any other similar hotel near Harbourfront Singapore will have easy access to these retail hubs.
As the biggest shopping mall in the country, VivoCity is a must-visit point of interest for all tourists exploring the country. Being the largest of all shopping complexes means this mammoth retail outlet packs in a punch not only in terms of the shopping venues but also the recreational and entertainment attractions in-house. High street shops and signature labels galore are the main highlights of a shopping encounter at this lifestyle centre.
Little India's most popular shopping centre is not only one of Singapore's most frequented shopping malls but a wonderland for those in search of huge discounts on clothing, accessories and lifestyle products large and small. Retailing everything under the sun within its air-conditioned confines, shoppers may need several days to fully experience this massive mall renowned for low price points. Open around the clock, it is the only mall of international standard in Little India.
Perhaps best known for its convenient placement, the Raffles City Shopping Centre is no ordinary shopping centre in the Lion City. Ideally situated in the heart of the Civic District, this mega-mall is also a great place to find the latest fashion items and accessories off the runways of Paris and Milan. Offering a host of exciting dining options, the shopping centre is a stone's throw from Marina Bay.
Another market place for those on the hunt of bargains and Indian wares including fabrics and clothing, the main street market strip down Bayfront Avenue or Serangoon Road is a shopping district tailor-made for budget travellers.
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