Singapore is one of Asia's top shopping spots, with luxury boutiques, heritage neighbourhoods, local food brands, and independent designers all close by. Its multicultural roots are evident in items such as Peranakan ceramics, premium teas, orchid jewellery, and traditional food specialities. The things to buy in Singapore vary depending on what you're looking for: a meaningful souvenir, a practical purchase, or a premium gift.
This guide explains the best shopping categories, where to find them, how to get GST refunds, customs info for Indian travellers, and good places to visit after shopping.
Why Is Singapore Worth Shopping In?
Things to purchase in Singapore offer two very different experiences: air-conditioned malls with fixed prices and international brands, and open-air street markets where you can bargain. Choosing the right place for what you want helps you save time and money.
Singapore is small, but its shopping areas are spread out. The things to buy in Singapore vary widely depending on where you are in the city.
Shopping Area | Best For | Price Style | Nearest MRT |
Orchard Road | Luxury brands, international fashion | Fixed price | Orchard (NS22/TE14) |
Chinatown | Souvenirs, traditional crafts | Negotiable | Chinatown (NE4/DT19) |
Katong/Joo Chiat | Peranakan crafts, local boutiques | Fixed price | Dakota (CC8) |
Bugis Street | Fashion, accessories, bags | Negotiable | Bugis (EW12/DT14) |
Changi Airport | Duty-free goods, food, tech | Fixed price | Airport (CG2) |
The GST Tourist Refund Scheme lets visitors claim a GST refund on eligible purchases of at least SGD 100 made at participating retailers. Collect the receipts and process the refund at the eTRS self-help kiosk at Changi Airport before check-in for checked luggage, or in the departure transit area for hand-carried goods.
Tribe Travel Tip: Present your original passport to the retailer at the time of purchase. Photocopies are not accepted. Process the refund at the eTRS self-help kiosk at Changi Airport before departure.
What Are the Top Things to Buy in Singapore?
The list below covers Singapore's famous things to buy, from cultural crafts and food to premium brands and electronics. Each section tells you where to find them and what to check before buying. These are the best items for different budgets and needs.
Here’s a quick overview of the 7 categories:
- Peranakan Crafts and Ceramics
- TWG Tea and Singapore Kopi
- Kaya Jam and Singapore Food Specialities
- RISIS Orchid Jewellery and Orchid Perfumes
- Electronics and Tech
- Luxury Fashion and Accessories
- Merlion Souvenirs and Tiger Balm
The things to buy in Singapore listed below include cultural keepsakes and everyday foods. Each category is suited to different types of shoppers.
1. Peranakan Crafts and Ceramics
Peranakan culture blends Chinese, Malay, and European influences and is unique to Singapore, Malaysia, and parts of Indonesia. Crafts from this community are among the most unique things to buy in Singapore.
What to look for:
- Hand-painted porcelain: Bowls, tea sets, and serving plates with floral and phoenix motifs in vivid pastels; genuine pieces have intricate brushwork and a maker's mark or signature on the base
- Kasut manik (beaded slippers): Hand-stitched using hundreds of tiny glass beads; each pair takes weeks to complete and is a genuine craft item, not a mass-produced replica
- Tile coasters and decorative tiles: Smaller and easier to pack, they feature the same distinctive colour palette and patterns.
Try to avoid mass-produced Peranakan-style items at airport convenience stores, as their quality is much lower than what you find in heritage shops.
Where to buy:
- The Intan: Private Peranakan museum shop in Joo Chiat; curated and authentic
- Katong Antique House: 208 East Coast Road; mix of vintage and reproduction pieces
- Peranakan Museum gift shop: 39 Armenian Street; authenticated items with cultural context
Price range: SGD 25 to SGD 400+ depending on size and craftsmanship
2. TWG Tea and Singapore Kopi
TWG Tea is a premium tea brand from Singapore that is now sold in many countries. It offers hundreds of blends in gift-ready tins, making them great for personal use or as presents.
What to buy:
- Singapore Breakfast Tea: Light, aromatic, and one of the most gifted blends
- 1837 Black Tea: A robust black tea named after Singapore's role in the global spice trade
- Sets and hamper boxes are available for a more complete gift option.
Singapore Kopi is the city's traditional coffee. Robusta beans are roasted with sugar and butter, giving the final brew a caramelised flavour that is distinct from filter or espresso coffee. It is one of Singapore’s famous things to buy for anyone who drinks coffee daily.
Trusted Kopi brands for home: Killiney and Ya Kun; both are available as sachets and 250g packs.
Where to buy:
- TWG Tea salons at ION Orchard and Changi Airport (Terminals 1, 2, and 3)
- Ya Kun Kaya Toast outlets (multiple city locations) and FairPrice supermarkets for Kopi
3. Kaya Jam and Singapore Food Specialities
Kaya Jam is a sweet, coconut-egg jam often spread on thick toast for breakfast. It's a practical and one of the best items to buy in Singapore for food lovers; sealed jars are easy to pack, widely sold, and commonly enjoyed by locals.
Other food specialities worth picking up:
- Laksa paste: A pre-mixed cooking base for Singapore's spiced coconut noodle soup; sealed packets are available in supermarkets; just add water, noodles, and protein
- Pandan flavouring and gula melaka: Used in Southeast Asian desserts; small bottles travel well
- Curry spice mixes: Dried and packaged, they work for Singaporean-style chicken or fish curry at home.
These are some of the best things to buy in Singapore if you enjoy cooking.
Important note for Indian travellers: Meat-based items, including bak kwa (pork jerky), cannot be imported to India. Stick to packaged vegetarian food items with sealed, labelled original packaging for customs clearance.
Where to buy: Ya Kun Kaya Toast (city-wide), Bengawan Solo shops for traditional sweets, Cold Storage and FairPrice supermarkets for spice pastes
4. RISIS Orchid Jewellery and Orchid Perfumes
RISIS is a Singapore-based jewellery brand known for preserving real orchid blooms in jewellery. Each piece is coated through a multi-stage process: the actual flower is hand-picked, preserved in a fine layer of copper, and then finished with 24K gold plating using RISIS's in-house-formulated process. The result is a preserved natural orchid you can wear.
Most RISIS pieces are inspired by Vanda Miss Joaquim, Singapore's national flower. The range includes pendants, brooches, and earrings.
These are some of the best souvenirs in Singapore and make great gifts. They have cultural meaning, are easy to explain, and are simple to pack safely.
Orchid-infused perfumes are also a good choice. The Gardens Shops at Singapore Botanic Gardens sell orchid-themed gifts, plants, and lifestyle products. Check their website for the latest products before you go. These are unique things to buy in Singapore that you won't find elsewhere.
Where to buy:
- RISIS boutiques and authorised retail locations at Changi Airport
- National Orchid Garden boutique: Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road
5. Electronics and Tech
Singapore has official flagship stores for Apple, Samsung, and Sony, often with international warranties and GST refunds. For Indian travellers, electronics such as cameras, laptops, and headphones are among the most popular things to buy in Singapore.
Key buying points:
- Funan Mall (Hill Street; City Hall MRT, Exit B): The most organised tech retail hub in central Singapore; authorised stores for most major brands alongside indie tech shops
- Apple Orchard Road (270 Orchard Road) and Apple Marina Bay Sands: Apple's two Singapore flagship locations
- Challenger outlets (multiple malls): Reliable for accessories, headphones, and everyday tech
Changi Airport duty-free carries cameras, headphones, and portable tech at tax-free prices, useful for last-minute purchases before departure.
Always check for international warranty before buying, and keep your receipts for GST refunds. Electronics are some of the best things to buy in Singapore if you plan ahead.
6. Luxury Fashion and Accessories
Orchard Road is Singapore's main luxury shopping corridor. ION Orchard, Paragon, and Ngee Ann City between them carry flagship boutiques from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermès, and Prada. The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands carries Cartier, Bottega Veneta, and Valentino, along with several brands that do not have standalone Orchard Road stores.
If you want Singapore-made fashion, visit Design Orchard on Orchard Road. This shop features local designer brands, including clothing, accessories, and lifestyle products not available anywhere outside the country. This makes it one of Singapore's famous destinations for visitors looking for both local and international labels.
7. Merlion Souvenirs and Tiger Balm
The Merlion (half-lion, half-fish) is the official symbol of Singapore and one of the most recognised images associated with the city. Figurines are available in ceramic, resin, crystal, and metal in various sizes and price points at souvenir shops around Chinatown, Merlion Park, and Changi Airport retail outlets.
Tiger Balm was originally formulated in Singapore in the late 19th century. It is a topical analgesic available in red (warming) and white (cooling) variants. It is practical, compact, and one of the most recognisable Singapore-origin products globally.
Both are some of the best souvenirs in Singapore for family and friends back home. They are easy to recognise, simple to pack, and sold almost everywhere in Singapore.
Where to buy:
- Chinatown: Pagoda Street and Temple Street souvenir shops for Merlion figurines and Tiger Balm
- Changi Airport: Souvenir shops across all terminals carry both items
What Things to Buy from Singapore to India?
If you're making a list of things to buy in Singapore to bring to India, the most important thing is to check customs rules. Not everything you buy in Singapore can be brought into India.
Permitted categories:
- TWG Tea tins: Sealed, dry, and customs-friendly; one of the best items to buy in Singapore specifically for Indian travellers
- RISIS orchid jewellery: No restrictions; compact and premium
- Peranakan ceramics: Packaged carefully; no import restrictions
- Kaya jam: Permitted in sealed, commercially labelled original packaging
- Electronics: Permitted with international warranty documentation
- Cosmetics and skincare: Permitted; keep original sealed packaging
Tribe Travel Tip: Meat-based products, including bak kwa (pork jerky), cannot be imported to India. Packaged food items must carry original seals and full ingredient labels. All duty-free purchases at Changi Airport count toward India's duty-free limit. Indian residents can bring goods worth up to ₹75,000 duty-free by air under India's Baggage Rules 2026. Check the latest limit on the official CBIC website before you travel. These are the things to buy in Singapore that you can easily bring home.
What to Do After Shopping in Singapore?
After you've picked up some unique things to buy in Singapore, you'll find that the main shopping areas are close to many popular attractions you can visit on the same day.
- After Orchard Road: Gardens by the Bay is a short cab ride to Marina Bay; Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are ticketed separately; the outdoor Supertree Grove is free and best at dusk.
- After Chinatown: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple on South Bridge Road is a 5-minute walk away; Chinatown Heritage Centre is on Pagoda Street in the same neighbourhood.
- After Marina Bay Sands: Merlion Park and the Civic District are a short walk away; ArtScience Museum is inside the same complex and covers rotating international exhibitions.
- After Changi Airport shopping: Jewel Changi's Rain Vortex and Canopy Park are accessible without leaving the Singapore Changi Airport, ideal for long layovers.
The best things to buy in Singapore go well with these attractions. Try to shop in the morning and save the afternoon for sightseeing.
Final Takeaway
There are more things to buy in Singapore than most visitors expect. Peranakan ceramics and RISIS orchid jewellery are top souvenirs, while TWG Tea, kaya jam, and electronics appeal to other shoppers. You don't need to search for hours; just knowing where to go is the key.
The best things to buy in Singapore offer both quality and cultural value. Use the GST Tourist Refund Scheme for purchases over SGD 100, plan your shopping by neighbourhood, and save some space in your luggage for duty-free buys at Changi Airport.
If you're planning a holiday to Singapore and want a custom itinerary that includes shopping and sightseeing, Holiday Tribe's travel advisors can help you with every detail.
