The 8 Best Markets in Singapore (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 8 picks

The best markets in Singapore in 2026 are Tekka Centre in Little India, Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre, Tiong Bahru Market and Geylang Serai Market for fresh produce and hawker food, plus Chinatown Street Market and Bugis Street for souvenirs and clothes, and Fleawhere for weekend pre-loved shopping.

Singapore's wet markets sell fresh fish, meat, vegetables and spices, and many sit under the same roof as a hawker centre, which is why you will see names such as 'Market & Food Centre'. Go early for the wet market, because stalls tend to wind down by around noon, and bring small notes. Street markets such as Chinatown and Bugis are for souvenirs and clothes rather than groceries, and hours vary by stall. If you mainly want to eat, see our best hawker centres guide.

1. Tekka Centre — Little India

A big wet market, shopping arcade and hawker centre at the heart of Little India.

$ Budget

Roots, the National Heritage Board's heritage site, traces Tekka's market to 1915, when it opened as Kandang Kerbau Market. The present Zhujiao Centre, later renamed Tekka Centre, was built across the road in 1981, and the old market was demolished in 1982. Today the building houses a wet market, a shopping arcade and a hawker centre.

Roots notes that Tekka Centre has the highest number of Indian Muslim stalls under one roof in Singapore, so the food centre is a good place to try Indian Muslim dishes. The wet market sells fish, meat, vegetables and spices, and it is busiest in the morning.

Good to know: Visit in the morning for the wet market, then explore Little India's shops and temples.

665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665

Google Maps

2. Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre — Chinatown

A multi-storey complex with a basement wet market, sundry shops and a large food centre upstairs.

$ Budget

According to Roots, the building was built in 1981 as the Kreta Ayer Complex and renamed Chinatown Complex in 1984, and it reopened in 2008 after an upgrade with more than 700 stalls. It has a wet market in the basement, sundry shops at ground level and the food centre on the second level.

The architecture borrows from Chinatown's shophouses, with pavilions, arches and clay tiles, and there is a rooftop garden. It is a good place to see everyday Chinese food shopping: fresh fish, meat, vegetables and dried goods in the morning, then lunch upstairs.

Good to know: Wet-market stalls are quietest by midday, so shop first and eat afterwards.

335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335

Google Maps

3. Tiong Bahru Market — Tiong Bahru

A two-storey wet market and food centre in Singapore's oldest public housing estate.

$ Budget

Roots says the market opened in 1951 as Seng Poh Road Market, to house street hawkers serving the new estate. It closed in 2004 for a full rebuild and reopened in 2006 as a two-storey building whose Art Deco-inspired facade echoes the surrounding homes.

It combines a wet market with a hawker centre. It is a convenient first stop before a walk around Tiong Bahru's cafes, bakeries and bookshops.

Good to know: Come before the lunch rush if you want a seat in the food centre.

30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Google Maps

4. Geylang Serai Market — Geylang Serai

The Malay community's market, with fresh produce, spices and a food centre.

$ Budget

Roots records that the market opened in 1964 and was later rebuilt, with the new building opening around 2009-2010 and modelled on a Malay kampung house. It remains the hub of Geylang Serai's Malay food shopping, with fresh produce and spices alongside a food centre.

The area is also known for its annual Ramadan bazaar, whose dates move each year because they follow the Islamic calendar. The permanent market is open year-round, though stalls vary, so check opening times before you go.

Good to know: Visit before lunch for the wet market, and go during Ramadan if you want the atmosphere of the bazaar.

1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001

Google Maps

5. Chinatown Street Market — Chinatown

The souvenir stalls and shophouse streets of Chinatown, between Sri Mariamman Temple and Jamae Mosque.

$ Budget

The street market is spread across Pagoda, Trengganu, Sago, Temple and Smith Streets, between the Jamae Mosque and the Sri Mariamman Temple. The stretch between Pagoda and Trengganu Streets is the main souvenir strip, and the area is also known for Chinese New Year goods, dried foods and temple offerings.

Many stalls sell similar souvenirs, so compare prices before you buy. Shops keep their own hours, and the market tends to be busiest in the evening.

Good to know: Walk the strip once before buying so you can compare prices.

Pagoda Street, Singapore 059207

Google Maps

6. Bugis Street — Bugis, Kampong Glam

A covered maze of stalls for budget clothing, accessories, gifts and snacks.

$ Budget

Bugis Street is a covered market of small stalls selling clothing, accessories, bags, souvenirs and snacks, with food stalls on the ground floor. Guides generally give opening times from late morning to around 10pm, and some stalls open later or close earlier.

Prices are generally lower than in the malls nearby, but quality varies, so check items before you buy. It is a short walk from Bugis MRT and from Kampong Glam.

Good to know: Visit on a weekday if you want fewer crowds.

3 New Bugis Street, Singapore 188867

Google Maps

7. Fleawhere — Bugis and Dhoby Ghaut

A weekend pre-loved market with indie brands and thrift sales, in two central venues.

$ Budget

Fleawhere's website describes a weekend pre-loved shopping market run by Invade. Its Bugis Street space is somewhere @ Bugis Street on Level 2, and its Dhoby Ghaut event is Remix by Fleawhere at Dhoby Xchange, above Dhoby Ghaut MRT. The site lists both venues as open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 7pm.

The Bugis space is aimed at younger shoppers, with indie brands, activities and workshops, and the Dhoby Ghaut event is described as a thrift party and sustainable market. The website does not list specific dates, so check Fleawhere's channels for the next one.

Good to know: Check Fleawhere's website or Instagram for the current weekend programme before you go.

Bugis Street, Level 2, 3 New Bugis Street, Singapore 188867

Google Maps Website

8. Hong Lim Market and Food Centre — Chinatown

A neighbourhood market and food centre on Upper Cross Street, a short walk from Chinatown.

$ Budget

Roots dates Hong Lim to 1978 and describes it as one of Singapore's earliest hawker centres, which absorbed many street hawkers from Hokkien Street. It was upgraded in 2009, with better ventilation, more seating and improved wheelchair access.

Roots says it stays quiet despite its position near Chinatown's traffic, and that nearby HDB residents are its regulars, so it is a good alternative to the busier Chinatown Complex if you want a more local feel.

Good to know: Combine it with a walk to Chinatown and Clarke Quay.

531A Upper Cross Street, Singapore 051531

Google Maps

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a wet market and a hawker centre?

A wet market sells fresh food such as fish, meat, vegetables and spices, and the floors are 'wet' from washing down stalls. A hawker centre sells cooked food. Many Singapore buildings combine the two, such as Chinatown Complex, Tiong Bahru Market and Geylang Serai Market, which have a wet market and a food centre in the same building.

What is the best wet market in Singapore for visitors?

Tekka Centre in Little India and Chinatown Complex in Chinatown are the two most visited by tourists, because both are next to heritage districts and have a food centre in the same building. Tiong Bahru Market is a local favourite near the area's cafes and bookshops.

Where can I buy souvenirs in Singapore?

Chinatown Street Market, which runs along Pagoda, Trengganu, Sago, Temple and Smith Streets, is the traditional place for souvenirs, dried goods and Chinese New Year items. Bugis Street is a covered maze of stalls selling clothing, accessories and gifts. Compare prices before you buy, and see our best shopping malls guide for fixed-price shopping.

Is there a flea market in Singapore?

Fleawhere runs weekend pre-loved markets, and its website lists Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 7pm at somewhere @ Bugis Street and Remix by Fleawhere at Dhoby Xchange. Many neighbourhood flea markets are held in community spaces and change from month to month, so check the organiser before you go.

When is the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar?

The bazaar is tied to Ramadan, so its dates move each year, and recent editions have varied in size. Check the current year's announcement before you plan; outside Ramadan, the permanent Geylang Serai Market is open for fresh produce and food.

1. Tekka Centre — Little India

2. Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre — Chinatown

3. Tiong Bahru Market — Tiong Bahru

4. Geylang Serai Market — Geylang Serai

5. Chinatown Street Market — Chinatown

6. Bugis Street — Bugis, Kampong Glam

7. Fleawhere — Bugis and Dhoby Ghaut

8. Hong Lim Market and Food Centre — Chinatown

Frequently asked questions

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