Visiting Singapore: Mustafa Center

Mustafa Center is a popular shopping mall in Singapore. Many tourists head to this 24-hour shopping mall which is located near the Farrer Park or Little India MRT. The Farrer Park and Little India area is famous among backpackers as there are various hostels here. Room rates are also much cheaper here compared to the Orchard area. For those with families, there are also budget hotels near Mustafa Center that offers family friendly amenities at affordable prices.

Throughout the years since its opening, the shopping center has also evolved in terms of the goods on sale. It has also expanded in size with the addition of a new wing. Currently, there is also a restaurant at the rooftop level, which sells Indian food. Unlike the shopping area, currently the restaurant does not operate 24 hours a day. However, it is open till pretty late and you can dine here for lunch, dinner or supper for less then SGD10.

For those new to Mustafa Center, you will find that it offers a lot more than the typical mall. First off, the place is well-known for being a good place to change foreign currency. Both locals and tourists flock here for the good rates at the money changers. Besides that, those who require visas to enter Malaysia can also get it done here. If you hate to do the planning, book a trip over to Malaysia too at the same time! Oh! And don't forget to change some Ringgit Malaysia (RM) too while you are here as Mustafa Center's money changers offer some of the best rates.

For foreigners working in Singapore, you can also use the remittance services available here. Print the form available on their website and just bring it along to the center and it will be completed smoothly.

Besides the special services available at Mustafa Center, you will also find a typical department store area which offers a huge variety of goods for sale such as clothes, shoes and household appliances. Prices here are reasonable too.

For those who are looking to purchase watches and gold jewellery too, Mustafa's is a great place to head to. There are rows of designs to choose from.

As with most shopping malls in Singapore, the crowd can get pretty crazy during weekends. If possible, do come here on a weekday, or early morning on a weekend if you want to do some serious shopping. However, if your plan is to soak in the atmosphere and do some people watching, feel free to ignore this tip!

Also, the basement level of the centre connects the different wings of Mustafa Center so you can remain dry even on a rainy day. Another logical thing to do while you are here would be to try the Indian food as this precinct is definitely the best area to get cheap and authentic Indian food. There is also a lot more variety here compared to the Indian food available outside of the Little India area.