Singapore’s retail market is well-known for being a shopaholic’s paradise. Alongside this, Merlion city’s retail scene also offers plenty of opportunities for duty-free shopping. 

Shopping for nontaxable products means that you are purchasing goods without the excise and customs duties usually levied on imported goods. This means buying imported and quality items at a lower price. 

As good as that might sound, not all stores offer these items. There are only select shops in Singapore that sell authentic duty-free goods. 

Check out the list below and find the best places to buy duty-free products in Singapore! 

Places to Buy Duty-Free Products in Singapore

You can buy duty-free products in the airport, city centers, ferry terminals, and online stores. Singaporeans frequent the following shops:

• Shilla Duty-Free 
• Lotte Duty-Free
• Duty-Free Shoppers (DFS) outlets
• ishopChangi

At the Airport

The airport is the primary spot for duty-free items. People purchasing items here are technically leaving the country and thus ‘exporting’ the goods out of the country of departure. 

Hence, it exempts from the tax that the local residents would have to pay for the transfer of goods. 

Take a look at the table below to get the address, contact details, and operating hours of the shops: 

The Shilla Duty-Free

The Shilla Duty-Free was established in the Changi Airport in 2015 and is currently one of the biggest beauty and cosmetics stores in Singapore. 

This duty-free shop boasts over 140 international perfume and cosmetic brands. 

You can find all kinds of luxury brands in The Shilla Duty-Free stores including Dior, Burberry, Chanel, Cartier, Coach, Estee Lauder, and more. It is a haven for beauty and cosmetics enthusiasts, and you may even find exclusive items as you shop. 

This shop takes beauty and fashion matters seriously, so you will find not just makeup, skincare, and perfume, but also clothing brands and luxury watch brands. 

The highlight of Shilla is the first-ever beauty loft where customers can indulge in top-notch beauty services from high-class fashion brands like Chanel, Dior beauty house, and La Prairie.  

Lotte Duty-Free 

Lotte is one of the top travel retail brands in the world and is well-known for being Korea’s representative duty-free shop. Customers from all over Singapore Lotte because it offers exciting deals and discounts. 

Lotte Duty-Free in Singapore’s Changi Airport offers the world’s best wines and spirits. It is the go-to for shoppers looking for premium quality alcohol and tobacco products. 

Some of the brands that you may find are Johnny Walker, Hennessy, Chivas Regal, and more. Every purchase also comes with beautiful packaging, making them the perfect gift and souvenir or simply just a keepsake of your travel.

At the City Center 

City centers are another primary spot for duty-free goods in Singapore. Since there are plenty of foreigners on the island, duty-free stores like DFS and Lotte take advantage of the tourism market to open their standalone shops in city centers. 

Duty-free stand-alone shops often connect to malls or build separate buildings right at the city’s heart or near the busiest parts of the metro. 

These shops allow both foreigners and locals who can’t go to the airport to enjoy duty-free products even without going out of their way to travel. The locals can get away with buying imported items without the usual custom tax levied on products.  

Take a look at the table below to get the address, contact details, and operating hours of the shops: 

DFS Venture Singapore 

Duty-Free Shoppers (DFS) Ventures is one of the top providers of consumer discretionary products in Singapore. This means that its products are intended for leisure. 

The products that are sold here are usually luxury or high-class brands that have exceptional quality. Some of these are foods, fashion items, perfumes, or even household goods. 

The DFS store is considered one of the best places to grab a gift or a souvenir in Singapore mainly because the products are high quality, authentic, high class, and come at a cheaper price than usual. 

Lotte Travel Retail Singapore 

Lotte Travel Retail is located at the popular Tampines Mall. This store sells various products, including gadgets, liquors, perfumes, cosmetic items, and even confectionery goods. 

It is a popular private-owned company in Asia and has established itself as a trusted brand across the world. Its selection of products often includes luxury brands and most importantly, locally grown products that exhibit the talent of local businesses. 

What people love most about Lotte is how it focuses on mostly Asian brands and provides a platform for outstanding Asian companies that produce artisan products and goods.

The high-quality products make it the prime spot for shoppers looking for the perfect souvenirs and gifts. Lotte also frequently gives out incredible deals and discounts on its items.  

At the Ferry Terminals

Ferry terminals are popular spots for duty-free shops since this is where most tourists and socialites flock to when going on a cruise or a trip out in Singapore’s harbor. 

DFS stores located near the city harbor give shoppers the perfect opportunity to do some last-minute shopping before hopping aboard Singapore’s luxury cruise lines or boats.  

Take a look at the table below to get the address, contact details, and operating hours of the shops: 

DFS Singapore Harbourfront

DFS Singapore Harbourfront is a duty-free shop located right in the Harbourfront cruise center, which is a ferry terminal located at the Southern part of Singapore facing Keppel harbor. 

A lot of celebrities and high-profile personalities visit this side of the harbor and thus, there are plenty of opportunities to spot luxury brands. 

The store offers plenty of product choices, including handbags, jewelry, apparel, fragrances, cosmetics, liquors, homeware, and confectioneries. 

DFS duty-free is also located near a variety of fashionable boutiques. 

DFS Singapore Tanah Merah

DFS Singapore is a branch located in the Tanah Merah cruise center near Changi. This terminal is popular with people who want to cruise around the Indonesian islands of Batam, Bintan, and Desaru. 

Despite being relatively smaller than the other DFS stores in the country, DFS Tanah Merah boasts a wide selection of luxurious and high-quality items from well-known brands across the world. 

At the Online Stores 

The only online store where you can buy duty-free products in Singapore is ishopChangi. 

Check out the information about this online shop below: 

ishopChangi

The only duty-free online shop in Singapore is ishopChangi, which delivers products straight from the duty-free stores in the Changi Airport. This shop offers a wide array of products including liquors, cosmetics, apparel, and electronics. 

What makes ishopChangi popular to shoppers is that it removes the hassle of having to go out to airports, ferry terminals, and busy city centers around Singapore.

Additionally, there are frequent sales and deals online that you wouldn’t find in a physical store.

Even better is that ishopChangi also offers fun and exciting giveaways and perks during special events like the Lunar New Year and Christmas season. You may find promo codes on the website that will help you save on your purchase. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Singapore is home to different duty-free stores that you can take advantage of anywhere you are in the country. 

Regardless if you are in the bustling city, traveling by air or by sea, or simply lounging at home, duty-free stores are just within reach.