Your best buys in the city are electronics, jewellery, fashion clothing and Asian artefacts. Remember that when buying electronics it is worth insisting on a one-year international warranty and making sure the specifications of the item comply with those of your home country.

Without a doubt, Orchard Road is the first place many Singaporeans would think of if the word "shopping" is uttered. It is akin to the Champ Elysees of Paris or Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Many major shopping centres can be found here: Takashimaya, Paragon, Isetan, etc. Just alight at any of the following MRT stations to get to the shopping strip: Orchard, Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut.

As Singapore is a major transport hub, you may be here in transit and thus able to take advantage of duty free shopping. Changi Airport is one of the world's greatest airports and has outstanding shopping facilities, with electrical and computer items especially discounted.

The Great Singapore Sale is held from the end of May until July each year. The city's main stores and malls slash an incredible up to 70% off the prices of even the best labelled goods. It's an excellent time for shoppers to be in the city, although the stores are always crowded so be prepared to fight for the best bargains.

If you would like to shop for ethnic stuff, then to Serangoon Road and its neighbouring side streets are still today a bustling hive of wondrous sights, exotic sounds and intriguing aromas. Here where the locals shop, you can buy almost anything that's Indian, from handicrafts and Kashmir silk to peacock feathers and flower garlands. Glittering saris, some of simplest muslin and others of handmade silk threaded with gold, brassware,
cooking utensils and Indian-designed jewellery are particularly good buys

Opening hours vary tremendously. Malls and supermarkets are typically open between 08h00 and 21h00, while markets frequently operate from 05h00 to as late as 24h00. Banks and other shops 09h30-15h30 Mon-Fri; 09h30-13h00 Sat. .