Market & Bazaar Guides

Singapore markets: what to expect

Singapore markets come in a few types. Street markets sell souvenirs, clothes and snacks. Wet markets sell fresh food to locals, often with a hawker centre in the same building. Flea markets and craft markets pop up at weekends, and festive bazaars arrive before big holidays. Each one shows a side of daily life that you will not see in the malls.

Street markets for souvenirs and snacks

Chinatown Street Market

The streets around Pagoda Street, near Chinatown MRT station, are lined with stalls. They sell souvenirs, T-shirts, fridge magnets, tea and dried snacks. Pair a browse with the Chinatown Heritage Walk. See our Chinatown topic for food and sights nearby.

Bugis Street

Bugis Street is a covered market with hundreds of small stalls. It is good for low-cost clothes, accessories, phone cases and souvenirs. Snack stalls sell fruit juice and local treats. It sits across the road from Bugis MRT station.

Little India

In Little India, shops spill out onto the five-foot ways with flowers, spices, textiles and bangles. A five-foot way is the covered walkway in front of a row of shophouses. Little India Arcade Guide: Shops, Snacks and Henna covers one of the best places to browse.

Wet markets: where locals shop

A wet market is a fresh food market. The name comes from the floors, which are hosed down often to keep them clean. Stalls sell fish, meat, vegetables, tofu, spices and flowers. Most are busiest early in the morning, and many stalls close by early afternoon. Upstairs or next door, there is usually a food centre.

• Tekka Centre in Little India has a wet market and a food centre, with clothing and textile shops upstairs.
• Geylang Serai Market is at the heart of the Malay community in the east. It has fresh food, a food centre and stalls selling clothes and textiles.
• Tiong Bahru Market has a wet market downstairs and a food centre upstairs.
• Chinatown Complex Food Centre has a large wet market in the same building.
• Albert Centre Market & Food Centre in Bugis mixes fresh produce with hawker food.

In the CBD, Lau Pa Sat is now a food centre. Its name means "old market" in Hokkien, a Chinese dialect.

Wet market etiquette

• Wear shoes with good grip, as floors can be wet.
• Ask before you take photos of stallholders.
• Point to what you want and let the stallholder weigh it.
• Carry small notes and coins. Many stalls take QR code payments, but cash still helps.
• Keep to one side in narrow aisles so shoppers can pass.

Flea markets and festive bazaars

Weekend flea markets and craft markets pop up at malls, parks and event spaces. Dates and places change, so check the event listings on Visit Singapore before you go. Expect second-hand clothes, vintage items, handmade goods and food stalls.

Festive bazaars are the biggest markets of the year.

• Chinese New Year. In the weeks before the holiday, Chinatown fills with stalls selling decorations, dried goods and festive snacks. See our Chinese New Year topic.
• Hari Raya Puasa. During Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, a large night bazaar runs in Geylang Serai. Stalls sell food, clothes and decorations. Many people come to buy food to break their fast after sunset, so be patient and respectful. See our Hari Raya topic.
• Deepavali. Before the Hindu festival of lights, Little India has festive stalls selling clothes, lamps and sweets. See our Deepavali topic.

Tips for shopping at Singapore markets

• Bargaining. At street stalls, a polite request for a small discount can work, especially if you buy several items. Keep it friendly. Wet market prices are usually fixed.
• Timing. Visit wet markets in the morning. Street markets open later and are livelier in the evening.
• Bring a bag. A reusable bag is handy for small buys.
• Eat as you go. Most markets have a food centre close by. Read What to Bring to a Hawker Centre: A Short Checklist.
• Customs. Check your home country's rules before you pack fresh or dried food. For gift ideas, see Souvenirs & Gifts.

FAQs about Singapore markets

What is the best market in Singapore for souvenirs?

Chinatown Street Market and Bugis Street are the easiest. Both are near MRT stations and have many stalls in a small area.

What is a wet market?

It is a fresh food market selling fish, meat, vegetables and more. The floors are washed down often, which gives it the name.

Can you bargain at markets in Singapore?

At some street stalls, yes, if you ask politely. In wet markets, malls and food stalls, prices are fixed.

When are Singapore markets open?

Wet markets start early and wind down by early afternoon. Street markets open later in the day. Festive bazaars run only in the weeks before each holiday.