What is it – Singapore’s waterfront has become an iconic location for world travelers and Asian residents looking for an upscale vacation destination. One aspect of the city’s appeal is The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, an 800,000 square foot, high end retail complex with distinctive architectural features, 270 stores and restaurants, and an unhurried atmosphere. While the adjacent Marina Bay area also includes one of southeast Asia’s largest casinos, a world-famous hotel and sky park, museums, and performance venues, the experience of visiting The Shoppes is one which every shopper can enjoy.

These are some of the things that make The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands a world class shopping experience:

Luxury and Premium Stores - The Shoppes include approximately 170 stores with luxury and premium goods. International brands want a presence in the complex because many tourists with high spending power visit Singapore each year and the location provides an opportunity for stores to attract purchases from high roller casino customers. These stores offer designer clothes for men and women, beauty and fragrance products, luxury jewelry and watches, premium children’s clothing and toys, and specialty items. Some of the stores there include Louis Vuitton, Armani, Cartier, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Bulgari, Porsche, Tom Ford, Channel, Burberry, and Tag Heuer. Dozens of other retailers focusing on family goods and casual clothing also have stores in the mall.

Canal Experience and Other Displays - There are malls around the world with aquariums, a ski slope, amusement rides, and other displays in them designed to attract and entertain shoppers. The Shoppes may be the only mall in the world with a canal in it. The waterway allows shoppers to take a sampan ride along one wing of the mall or enjoy the unique ambiance of a “waterfront” while strolling around the mall or relaxing in a café. Another part of the mall has a special skylight called the Rain Oculus which appears like a glass waterfall. Meanwhile, the four stories of the mall are wide open so shoppers can see stores on other levels easily and enjoy the view. 

Restaurants - Another important feature of the Shoppes are the fine dining and casual dining options. Celebrity chefs like Guy Savoy, Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali have restaurants there along with establishments featuring Asian fusion cuisine, café items and coffee. With casino and performance venues nearby, the Shoppes recently arranged for its restaurants and some stores to stay open until midnight to accommodate late night diners and shoppers. 

Special Services - Like many high-end establishments, the Shoppes also provide special services to accommodate the needs and desires of its customers such as a currency exchange. Customers can retain a personal shopper to take them around the complex or help find items of interest. There is also a concierge to book restaurant reservations and get entertainment tickets. Most stores will deliver purchased items to the shopper’s hotel.

How to Get Here – Singapore’s Changi airport is rated among the top two or three airports in the world and it also serves as the home base of respected Singapore Air. This airport has features such as a movie theater, a swimming pool, a garden, and hotels. Since the city is located approximately nineteen flying hours from the United States whether you head west across the Pacific or east through Europe, getting there requires planning. Singapore Air sometimes runs a direct flight from the West Coast, but most people transit through Hong Kong, Dubai, or a European hub. Once you are in Singapore, it is easy to locate the Shoppes since it is in front of the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino on the water. Water and land taxis service the establishment, but it is only a fifteen-to-twenty-minute walk from downtown hotels around the bay to the Shoppes. 

When to go – Singapore is known for its humidity and the old expression “it is not the heat it's the humidity” comes true at this destination. With a tropical climate, rain showers come and go all year long, but they rarely interfere with sightseeing and adventures. Downpours are most likely to occur during the months of January and February. The Shoppes are a great place to go during a rain shower or to escape the heat.

Cost - There is no admission charge for entry to the Shoppes but it always a good idea to have a budget and preferred items in mind when visiting expensive stores.