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Key Attractions :
Orchard Road :
This world famous stretch is the favourite shopping belt in the city. Whatever your budget, you can almost always find something you want. Most shopping centres will have an anchor tenant (usually a major department store) and other smaller retailers. Gems for the picking range from designer labels, to mid-range goods, to budget items. Some popular department stores to check out: Marks & Spencer, Robinsons, Tangs, Ngee Ann City, Wisma, Centrepoint, Scotts, Plaza Singapura.
Around Marina Square
Marina Square itself is the size of seven football fields. If you're just setting up your home, check out the Habitat and Mothercare stores. Next to Marina Square is Suntec City Mall--stroll round the Fountain Terrace to view the full circle of gastronomic treats. CHIJMES is worth a visit for its architecture and specialty shops. Further up Stamford Road towards the National Library and Museum, MPH House offers three storeys of books, CDs, videotapes, and a café.
Riverside
At Clarke Quay, air-conditioned shops now reside within former godowns and shophouses. The streets are lined with pushcarts selling handicrafts and knick-knacks.
The Suburbs
Shopping centres a la Orchard Road have also sprung up in housing estates away from the city centre. There's Junction 8 in Bishan, Lot 1 in Choa Chu Kang, Parkway Parade in the East Coast, Century Square and Tampines Mall in Tampines, Ginza Plaza in the West Coast.
Some Quick Pointers :
Arts,
crafts and antiques: Holland Road Shopping Centre - Head this way if you
love ethnic-looking furniture and other paraphernalia. Books and stationery: Names like MPH, Times and the Word Shop.Borders at Wheelock Place and Tower Books at Pacific Plaza have been drawing the crowds. For school texts and art books, head for the Bras Basah Complex. Places like Big Bookshop and Popular Bookshop offer stationery at bargain prices.
CDs: HMV at the Heeren and Tower Records at Pacific Plaza.
Designer labels: shops at the Hilton Hotel, Palais Renaissance, the Paragon, the Promenade and the Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade. Sales are often held at hotel function rooms. Scan the newspapers for these ads.
Electric and electronic goods: Sim Lim Square.
Sim Lim's reputation has taken a few dents, but still worth going.
Sports shoes: Queensway Shopping Centre.
The place is rather dingy, but you'll find good value and most shops are open to bargaining.