11 Best Places to Shop in Singapore

This unique shopping complex is worth visiting just to see its shophouse facades, all enclosed under glass domes and cooled with arctic-strength air-conditioning. While you're here, look for affordable streetwear boutiques, a movie theater, cafés and restaurants, and the Kinokuniya bookstore. The center of Bugis Junction connects to the InterContinental Singapore hotel and Bugis MRT station.

One of the rare outlet malls in Singapore, Changi City Point houses more than 140 shops, including the factory stores of big-name sports and fashion brands like Nike, Adidas, Clarks, and Esprit. The landscaped rooftop garden of the three-story mall is a great place to take a breather in between shopping, and the top floor also houses a free playground and tree-house trail for kids.

This double-story Minangkabau-style market and hawker center is the beating heart of Singapore’s Malay community. Here, you can pick up a vast range of Malay groceries, fashion accessories, and some of the best—and most reasonably priced—Muslim food in town. The ground floor of the open-air structure contains a wet market that peddles everything from halal meat to the fabled tongkat ali drink (meant to help with male fertility). The second floor has a dry-goods bazaar and food center.

Explore this large retail space and family club for designer kids' clothing, featuring collections from Stella McCartney Kids and Bobo Choses, and cute kid-friendly gifts and toys.

One of Singapore’s most well-loved family lifestyle brands has an “in real life” concept store at Downtown Gallery. If you are looking for high-quality kids clothing or gifts, this should be your first stop.

Home to more than 250 shops and restaurants, Marina Square was once the largest shopping mall in Singapore, an honor that now belongs to VivoCity. Banks, convenience stores, a movie theater, a bowling alley, a large food court, coffee shops, and spas and salons are all here. Some nearby hotels and attractions, including Esplanade–Theatres on the Bay, Pan Pacific Singapore, and Suntec City, can be accessed directly from here via underground walkways.

If the myriad megamalls of central Singapore just aren't enough, head east to wander through this multilevel shopping center, with more than 250 stores and restaurants. You can shop in relative peace and quiet during the week, but it tends to get uncomfortably crowded on weekends.

Step aside ION Orchard and Marina Square—this is the largest shopping mall in Singapore, at least for now. Located on the southwestern tip of the island—about 10 minutes by taxi from Orchard Road—and doubling as a de facto gateway to Sentosa, this monolithic complex has, as expected, hundreds of retailers and restaurants and a 15-screen movie theater. But it also has art installations, an outdoor playground for kids, and a rooftop amphitheater near huge pools of water in which you can splash about. Expect a full house during the weekend.

Home to one of Singapore’s best selections of picture books, Woods in the Books is a small independent bookstore that prides itself on its unique offerings. Staff are always willing to recommend an age-appropriate book, and you'll also find a selection of greeting cards and other gifts for a range of occasions.