Shopping in Singapore! (Part I)

Singapore, best known for the numerous numbers of shopping centers has lived up to its name.

Orchard Road

Orchard Road is known as the shopping belt of Singapore and you can get almost everything you want, especially clothes and other fashion-related products. From your designer items to local fashion, the many malls of Orchard Road will provide you with the best of international, regional and local labels.

Take Ion Orchard for example, it is a newly opened mall just this year. At a square feet of 660,000 shopping space made up of more than 320 stores spread over eight floors. It features new-to-market brands, unique store concepts, creative F&B offerings and first-of-its kind mall features.



Besides Ion Orchard, there’s Ngee Ann City, a massive complex that won Tourism Awards 2002. For people who love Japanese products, a giant departmental store awaits you, Takashimaya. For book readers, Kinokuniya, the largest bookstore in Southeast Asia is right in Ngee Ann City.



If you’re looking for designer labels, drop by shopping centers such as Ngee Ann City or Ion Orchard while local labels could be found at Far East Shopping Center and Heeren which showcases local talent in designing.

You could spend a week just exploring the multitude of shops in the many malls all along tree lined Orchard Road and enioy the cool breeze while walking along the streets of Orchard Road. There are also many ice cream carts located at certain areas of Orchard Road which provides you with some cooling goodies just to keep you hydrated under the hot weather of Singapore.



Nearest MRT station: Orchard NS22. (Exit and you are there!)

City Hall

City Hall is a massive shopping space for shopaholics! It has three major shopping malls– Raffles City, Marina Square and Suntec City which are all linked to the huge underground Citylink mall.

In Raffles City, we can shop at the renowned local department store, Robinsons, together with Marks & Spencer. Besides that, there are many others branded store like Raoul, Coach, Kate Spade, Guess, Agnes b. and etc. After shopping, visitors can take a trip to Spa D’Or for relaxation. For dine-in, the basement houses a gourmet supermarket. Raffles City also offers the services of a concierge, who tends to the needs and inquiries of shoppers.

Visitors can walk to through the Citylink mall to Marina square. Walking through the Citylink mall, The mall is brightly lit, seven metres wide and includes skylights that allow sunlight to splash in. The mall also helps commuters avoid the warm tropical weather, providing cool shelter to link to other shopping malls. This spacious mall includes HMV, Dymocks, Fashion Connection UK, Shade, The Body Shop, Delifrance , Pacific Coffee Company and Adidas.



In Marina Square shopping mall, it is anchored by Metro department store, it has an eclectic mix of bargain boutiques, entertainment venues and food outlets that generally draw a younger crowd. Be careful, though--you might get lost in the passageways and windowless atrium's, in the midst of more than 220 shops and hordes of teenagers. Also scattered over the three stories are amusement centers for kids, dozens of cafes and restaurants for the famished and a choice of two cineplexes for film buffs.



Lastly, visitors cannot miss the Suntec City! Suntec City covered an area of 83,850 square metres, it is the largest in Singapore and has the largest fountain in the world to accentuate its grandeur. Three floors cater to the needs of locals and tourists alike, with up market boutiques for international brands, and a broad array of shops selling home furnishings, lingerie, leisure products, souvenirs and casual wear. The French hyper mart Carrefour takes up 13,000 square metres, offering economical consumer goods, from fashion and food to pharmaceuticals and car accessories. In addition, there are some 70 restaurants, pubs, fast food outlets and food courts to whet your appetite.




Nearest MRT station: City Hall NS25 / EW13. (Exit and you are there!)

Stay tuned for the next post on other shopping destinations in Singapore!

Sources: visitsingapore.com,travel-singapore-with-me.com, travel.yahoo.com, rafflescity.com.sg, timeoutsingapore.com