DFS Galleria

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 with its displays of designer handbags and endless cosmetic counters, DFS Galleria is the only one that offers true duty-free shopping. This means that the usual taxes and duties imposed on imported goods are left off the price tags, making items 10–40% less expensive than at any other department store in Singapore.

Luxury shopping without the crowds.

Duty-free shopping is usually reserved for the international departure area of airports, but at DFS Galleria you can browse at your own pace. The only catch is that you must be leaving Singapore by plane to get the duty-free discount. Simply bring your passport and flight details, and the Galleria staff will arrange for your purchase to be waiting for you at the departure gate — that’s right, you won’t be taking those new Tiffany crystal earrings back to the hotel with you.

Head inside for discounts on luxury goods like handbags and perfumes.

Though DFS Galleria sells souvenirs like tea sets and elegantly packaged chilli crab mix, the majority of the mall is dedicated to luxury goods. Posh brands like Louis Vuitton luggage and Tag Heuer watches have their own corners of the mall, while the 15,000 square foot beauty hall sells stem cell anti-aging creams, MAC cosmetics and every perfume known to mankind. Alcohol and cigarettes, which are otherwise exorbitantly taxed in Singapore, are another big seller and there is an impressive selection of premium spirits, champagne, and hand-rolled cigars.

Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, DFS Galleria is fun for window shopping and significantly less crowded than other luxurious malls like Ion Mall or Ngee Ann City. You can test cosmetics and skin care products in the new beauty hall, and if you’re lucky they’ll offer you some samples or a free hand massage.