Shopping is Singapore’s favourite pastime, but visiting the same neighbourhood mall can get boring. If you have the time to spare this weekend (or any time, really), why not visit another district bustling with activity? Some shopping districts in Singapore are home to happening malls that every shopper should patronise to splurge money on a day’s worth of items.
Here are the 10 best shopping districts in Singapore to shop to your heart’s desire, ranked according to the number of malls in the district and the diversity of their offerings.
1. Orchard Road
While it has lost its lustre over the years, nothing can steal the limelight from the glitzy Orchard Road, which has the most malls in Singapore. These include 313@Somerset, Cathay Cineleisure, ION, Lucky Plaza, Mandarin Gallery, Ngee Ann City and Wisma Atria.
What we like most about Orchard Road is that it caters to various budgets. If you are feeling bougie, drop by ION Orchard, an eight-storey mall that houses luxury brands such as GUCCI and Cartier. After shopping, stop by ION Sky to bask in the panoramic views of Singapore’s skyline and indulge in a lofty dining experience at the rooftop 1-Atico Lounge.
If luxury is not your thing, cross the road for an affordable shopping spree at Lucky Plaza. A popular gathering place for Filipino domestic workers, the mall sells cheap perfume, cosmetics, bags, shoes, and sports goods. There is also a food court in the basement that sells local dishes.
2. Tampines
If you stay in the East, Tampines is home to 3 major heartland malls: Tampines One, Tampines Mall and Century Square, which are within walking distance of one another.
Completed in 1995, Tampines Mall is one of the largest suburban shopping malls in Singapore. It offers a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options for families, professionals and young adults. The shopping mall has had anchor tenants such as an Isetan department store, a Golden Village cineplex, and an NTUC FairPrice supermarket.
Alternatively, drop by Century Square, which completed refurbishment works in 2018. Situated in the heart of Tampines Central, the mall is located next to Tampines MRT interchange and Tampines Bus Interchange. The mall attracts shopper traffic from the populous residential area, commuter traffic and working populace in the East. Notable tenants are FairPrice Finest, Kiddy Palace, Cow Play Cow Moo and Cathay Cineplexes.
3. Pasir Ris
Another must-visit shopping district in the East is Pasir Ris. It is home to old-school malls such as White Sands, Elias Mall and Loyang Point, which have been around since most of our schooling years. White Sands is a haunt of full-time National Servicemen because of its proximity to Pasir Ris Bus Interchange, which is where they are dropped off from Pulau Tekong. The 5-storey mall has retail outlets and 2 additional floors of basement carparks.
Pasir Ris also recently welcomed Pasir Ris Mall, a heartland mall that opened its doors in 2024. With over 150 retail, food and beverage, and wellness options, as well as amenities such as an upcoming polyclinic, and enrichment centres, the mall is another step closer to making Pasir Ris a more well-served neighbourhood. The mall also features 3 food courts.
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4. Queenstown
Westies, rejoice! One shopping district in the West to make it to our list is Queenstown, featuring malls that include IKEA, Queensway Shopping Centre and Alexandra Central Mall.
Opened in 1976, Queensway Shopping Centre is one of Singapore’s oldest malls. It is also one of Singapore’s first multi-purpose shopping complexes with 4 retail floors and a 1-storey basement car park. Affectionally dubbed by locals as “Singapore’s Sports Mall”, the mall is a popular spot for sports goods, which include sports shoes and badminton rackets.
Another old-school mall in Queenstown is Anchorpoint Shopping Centre, which opened in 1977. The mall recently underwent a revamp in 2023. Former retailers such as Cotton On Outlet and Jack’s Place were retained, while new tenants such as Anagram Coffee and Overbrod were included. With the mall designed to be the anchor point for the shopping district in Singapore, it also incorporates maritime features throughout its new structure.
5. Chinatown
If you are a sucker for old-school malls, Chinatown is another shopping district in Singapore that you can’t miss. Chinatown is home to several retro malls, namely: Chinatown Point, People’s Park Complex and Centre, and Chinatown Street Market.
Chinatown Point is a mall next to Chinatown MRT station at the junction of New Bridge Road and Upper Cross Street. When it first opened in 1990, the mall housed gift shops, pawn shops and jewellery stores. After it was renovated from 2011 to 2012, a new tenant mix was introduced, featuring new anchor occupants, NTUC FairPrice, Daiso and UNIQLO.
Another mall that you should visit while it is still around is People’s Park Centre, which is now planned for redevelopment. The Centre is a mixed-use development in the heart of Chinatown. Completed in 1973, People’s Park Centre features 4 floors for retail shopping. Shops selling Chinese handicrafts and Chinese-oriented travel agencies are located here.
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6. Sengkang
If you reside in the family-friendly estate of Sengkang, there’s much for shoppers staying in the other districts to be envious of. Sengkang is home to numerous shopping malls: Sengkang Grand Mall, Compass One, Rivervale Mall, Seletar Mall and Anchorvale Village.
Of these, Sengkang Grand is the newest kid on the retail block, having just opened in 2023. Designed to be the beacon of the neighbourhood, Sengkang Grand Mall has more than 90 brands, including FairPrice Finest, McDonald’s, UNIQLO and more. For a holistic shopping experience, it has community spaces such as a playground and shower facilities.
Located next to the Sengkang MRT Station, Compass One is a fully integrated mall with a mix of 180 brands. The mall, which was renovated from 2015-2016, welcomed more than 50 new retailers, as well as returning anchor tenants Cold Storage, Sengkang Public Library and Kopitiam. Positioned as both a family-oriented and recreational hub, Compass One curates special activities designed to enrich your shopping experience with your loved ones.
7. Marina Bay
With its soaring skyscrapers, Marina Bay is a dazzling shopping district in Singapore that is a tourist magnet. Its malls include Marina Bay Sands, Millenia Walk and Marina Square.
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is one of Singapore’s largest luxury shopping malls, boasting over 800,000 square feet of high-end retail fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel. This eye-catching shopping mecca embraces a modern design, offering breathtaking views of the city skyline. Here, indulge in the world’s sole floating Louis Vuitton Island Maison and visit the one-of-a-kind Apple store completely flanked by water.
Marina Square is a 5-storey shopping centre with 200 speciality shops comprising fashion, F&B, children and lifestyle concepts. When it opened in 1996, it was the largest shopping mall in Singapore and Southeast Asia at the time. In the late 1980s and 1990s, it had anchor tenants such as the Tokyu and Metro department stores. In 2013, Marina Square opened a gastronome wing called “The Dining Edition” as part of its redevelopment policy.
8. Jurong
If you stay in the West, Jurong is another shopping district in Singapore to make it to our list. Yet it boasts popular household names such as IMM, Jem, Westgate, and Jurong Point.
Strategically located in Jurong Gateway, Westgate is a family and lifestyle mall. Directly linked to the Jurong East MRT station and the bus interchange, it offers a holistic shopping experience with facilities such as The Courtyard, which is naturally ventilated. It also has alfresco dining options such as Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant and a playground.
Jurong Point is the largest shopping mall in the West in terms of the number of tenants. The mall is home to quaint thematic precincts that include the Japanese Food Street and Mongkok District. With over 350 shops spread out across 4 levels, the regional mall offers an impressive range of F&B, retail and lifestyle options to satisfy every shopper’s craving.
9. Bugis
While Bugis is no longer the bustling tourist hotspot it once was, it is still frequented by locals. The malls in the shopping district in Singapore include Bugis Junction, Bugis Street and Bugis+.
Located in the heart of Singapore’s Civic and Cultural District, Bugis Junction is directly connected to the Bugis MRT Station and is served by public bus routes. In line with its proximity to the Singapore Management University, LASALLE College of the Arts and School of the Arts, Bugis Junction positions itself as a modern fashion destination for young adults.
Bugis+ is a vibrant mall boasting endless entertainment and an exciting F&B and stylish fashion mix, creating a shopping magnet for fun-seeking teenagers in the heart of the city. The mall has over 200 speciality shops. These include international fashion labels such as Coach, luxury watch and jewellery brands, and beauty outlets including Top Secret Studio.
10. City Hall
If your office is in the Central Business District, drop by City Hall after work to unwind. The district has malls of the likes of Funan, Raffles City and Peninsula Shopping Centre.
A short walk from City Hall MRT, Peninsula Shopping Centre is known for its sports shops, apparel and photography studios. Located in an old but well-spread-out mall, the shops sell diverse unconventional products not found in a standard retail mall. Since its opening in 1974, the mall has largely stayed the same. Bet you didn’t know that Peninsula Shopping Complex was the first shopping centre locally to operate a 24-hour coffeehouse.
Funan is located right in the heart of the Civic District. It possesses excellent connectivity, including a direct underpass that connects it to the City Hall MRT interchange station. As a novel model for living, working and playing in the city centre, Funan plies a synergistic mix of electronics, appliances, fashion, food, and more, designed to attract shrewd customers.
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