Joanna James
Ranked among Asia's best holiday destinations for a Christmas getaway, Singapore pulls out all the stops when it comes to the most wonderful time of the year. While it may not snow down on the tropical paradise come winter season, Singapore is the perfect location to shop during the Christmas time. From finding the best bargains to hitting the island's finest Christmas fairs, here's a comprehensive guide to crossing things off your Christmas shopping list in Singapore.
Travellers who are heading to Singapore in November or December to shop for Christmas must ensure that they secure a strategic base location. Since it is one of the busiest periods for retailers, Singapore transforms into a lively hub with countless Christmas events, fairs, and festivities that attract large crowds from all corners of the globe. Whether it's the Venue Hotel or any similar hotel in Joo Chiat Road, serious shoppers must find a strategic base that offers easy access to these seasonal fairs and the city's biggest malls. Writing down a Christmas shopping list is equally important as it's easy to overspend in a shopper's paradise such as Singapore and come away without purchasing the must-haves for loved ones back home. Depending on the duration of the trip, visitors may also want to plan each day's shopping itinerary so no major retail hubs are left out.
Occupying pride of place down fashionable Orchard Road each year, Singapore's vibrant Christmas villages are great places to buy gifts and other festive items in November and December. The three main Christmas villages in the area include the Shaw House Urban Plaza Christmas Village, which is set to take centre stage from 24th November onwards to 1st January, and the Plaza Singapura Christmas Village, which will kick off on the 1st of December. The Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza Village will be the last to get underway on 8th December. It's best to hit these enclaves during the daylight hours as they tend to get crowded as night descends.
Don't forget to visit ION Orchard, Orchard Central, Raffles and regional mega-malls such as the Mustafa Centre, Far East Plaza and Lucky Plaza. Stock clearance sales and seasonal discounts are on offer at each of these venues and most retail outlets in Singapore as shops must unload old stocks to make room for the new in the coming year. This means shoppers can expect massive bargains on everything from designer goods to clothes, accessories, footwear and even electronics. Visitors will witness massive "sale" signs decorating most shops, malls and boutiques in the Lion City and budget travellers can also enjoy these deals without heading to Little India or Chinatown for more affordable gifts.
Singapore's famous Christmas fairs and bazaars are other retail hotspots that shopaholics shouldn't miss when enjoying Christmas shopping in the Lion City. The Cluny Court’s Christmas Fair has been taking place for the last decade and is one of the finest places to pick up ceramics, home decor items and artisanal products on Bukit Timah Road. The Razzle Dazzle Christmas Fair in Camden Park is no less impressive as this fair hosted by the Hollandse Club specialises in handmade jewellery, artisanal homeware and decor items as well as soy wax candles. The Christmas Atelier 2023, on the other hand, is where local brands including House of Holly, Bynd Artisan, Maison Q and RawBought offer their best gift items for the festive season. The Mistletoe Alley Christmas Fair is another highlight for families while the Christmas Makers’ Market @ SOTA and the Christmas Makers Market & Charity Marketplace @ KINEX are other bazaars to add to the list.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
