Vivocity

Staggeringly large, the waterfront Vivocity megamall is Singapore's largest, and offers a viable alternative to pavement pounding on Orchard Rd, though its broad, squat design (by Japanese architect Toyo Ito) means there's still a prodigious amount of walking to do.

There are dozens of ubiquitous fashion chains such as Diesel, Hang Ten and Esprit (and locals such as M)phosis) as well as smaller boutiques. Electronics giants such as Denki and Challenger also have a heavy presence. The excellent Page One bookshop is a rival to Kinokuniya in Orchard Rd, while the Golden Village cineplex is also Singapore's largest, with luxury Gold Class, GVMax and Cinema Europa cinemas. At night the waterfront side resembles a lower key version of Sydney's Darling Harbour, with top-end restaurants and a few lounge bars catching the evening breeze.