Singapore’s an ideal place to stock up on fresh English-language reading material. You will find bookstores in the shopping malls, but true bookworms will want to support these independent bookstores specialising in quirky reads and works by local authors. Singapore’s hands-down best independent bookstore is Books Actually in the hip Tiong Bahru neighbourhood. Opened in … read the full post

Maybe Singapore is a nation of shopaholics – or maybe Singaporeans and visitors here just love free air-conditioning – but the city-state has more than its fair share of shopping malls. Most can be found along Orchard Road, but there are mega-malls in every area of Singapore. Here are our top picks for malls not … read the full post

Ever wish your flight would be delayed just so you could have more time to take advantage of the shopping at Changi Airport? If you can plan ahead a little, you can avoid that by shopping for duty-free goods anytime you like at DFS Galleria. Though it looks like any other mall on Orchard Road … read the full post

Finding a souvenir that sums up the Singapore experience can be a bit of a challenge because there aren’t many locally-made products (other than the hawker food you ate for lunch – burp!). Some may be quite cheesy, but these are the most popular souvenirs of Singapore. Spice packages to make Singaporean food: The highlight … read the full post

Most travellers know to be wary of scams in cities like Bangkok, but feel they can let their guard down in Singapore. The fact that people feel so safe here combined with the belief that Singapore has cheap electronics is the perfect breeding ground for shopping scams. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, 37% of … read the full post

Now is a dangerous time for shopaholics to be in Singapore – The Great Singapore Sale has returned. This year the event runs from May 25 until July 22 with special events, extended shopping hours, contests and, of course, discounts. Here are some tips for making the most of the sale. First off, it’s worth … read the full post

As the economic hub of Southeast Asia, people from across the region are drawn to Singapore to try to make a buck. These groups add to Singapore’s colourful cultural diversity and, as the communities grow, they establish their own restaurants, temples, and even shopping malls. Golden Mile Complex is the domain of the Thais, Lucky … read the full post

Whoever said, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” has certainly shopped at the Thieves Market along Sungei Road in Singapore. In addition to being the oldest flea market in Singapore –  this riverbank between Little India and Bugis has been a site of casual commerce since the 1930s – the Thieves Market is the … read the full post

While Chinatown and Little India are so big they have their own MRT station, Singapore does have other, less obvious ethnic neighbourhoods. Migrant workers from nearby countries like Thailand, Burma, the Philippines, and Indonesia all have their own enclaves where they go for a taste of home on their weekly day off (that’s right, just … read the full post

While a recent post about whether Singapore is an expensive city concluded with a resounding yes, one exception is used books. The supply of used English-language books greatly outweighs the demand (thanks iPhones!) which translates to dirt-cheap prices — from S$2 a book. While you won’t find a cheap bookstore in any of the shiny … read the full post