Coming from Europe or the United States, Singapore may not feel like an Asian country at first, with its wide use of English and high prices. Digging a little deeper, however, and you can see the city-state’s own unique diversity and charm. Exploring the many districts Singapore can feel like visiting several different cultures and countries in a single city. With places like the iconic Marina Bay and the shops of Orchard Road to the hipster vibe of Kampong Glam and the colorful Little India, it can be difficult to decide where to stay in Singapore.
Where To Stay In Singapore
While Singapore is often known for its high prices, that doesn’t mean you can’t find more budget-friendly options. The city is home to modern hostels, five-star luxury accommodations, and everything in between. No matter which district you choose to stay in during your time in Singapore, it’s easy to get anywhere else in the city thanks to the reliable public transportation. Keep reading to find out more about the best places to stay in Singapore.
Marina Bay
Marina Bay is home to some of the most well known landmarks of Singapore. There’s Marina Bay Sand (sometimes referred to as the surfboard building), the Gardens by the Bay with its otherworldly Supertrees, and the iconic half-lion, half-fish Merlion statue. There’s a wide range of delicious places to eat in the Marina Bay area as well, ranging from the low-key hawker center to fine dining.
Where to Stay in Marina Bay
Marina Bay is where you will find many of the luxury, 5-star hotels in Singapore. Most hotels have great views of the bay and you can walk to several of the city’s top attractions. Keep in mind this is the most expensive area of Singapore.
Luxury
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands has become one of the best known places in Singapore, particularly due to its iconic shape often described as a ship or a surfboard. Home to the largest rooftop infinity pool in the world, high-end shopping mall, a casino, more than a dozen restaurants, and more, this 5-star hotel offers all the amenities you could want. The rooftop cocktail bar boasts some incredible views of the city.
Fullerton Bay Hotel
With a location right on the river, the Fullerton Bay Hotel provides guests with plenty of luxury. The staff here are professional and friendly and the pool is fantastic. A near perfect hotel, guest rooms feature rainfall showers and some of the softest bathrobes you’ll ever wear. The Lantern rooftop bar is a great place to take in the view of the Marina.
The Quays
A center for nightlife, The Quays is a good choice for where to stay in Singapore for anyone wanting to to be close to late night party spots and plenty of dining. From Robertson Quay to Clarke Quay to Boat Quay, there’s a little bit of something for everyone along the waterfront. Restaurants and bars at Clarke Quay serve classic Singaporean food and some of the best eateries can be found on the side streets.
Where to Stay in The Quays
Surrounded by a social scene and museums, hotels in The Quays typically have a stylish design and are often upscale. There are, however, a few more budget friendly options for travelers compared to the nearby Marina Bay district. The Fort Canning Park and Clarke Quay MRT stations nearby make it easy to explore the rest of Singapore.
Luxury
Swissotel Merchant Court Singapore
The Swissotel Merchant Court Singapore is a stylish hotel near the Singapore River surrounded by all Clarke Quay has to offer. Boasting picturesque waterfront views, the 5-star hotel is a colonial-style building with an outdoor pool featuring a waterfall and perfectly landscaped gardens. Located near the MRT station, the hotel has a great location and there’s a cocktail bar and restaurant on site. Guests are also provided with a complimentary phone to use during their stay.
Fullerton Hotel
Considered to be the most exclusive hotel in Singapore, the Fullerton Hotel is a history building that has been transformed into a grand hotel abundant in classic, 5-star luxury. The elegant rooms are great, but the 25-meter long terrace pool is the real gem of this hotel with its views over Marina Bay.
Mid-Range
M Social Singapore
The M Social Singapore is colorful, fun, and has a touch of class. The interior features touches of Singapore heritage, intriguing details, and quirky color schemes. It’s also located within walking distance to Clarke Quay and Orchard Road and is near a bus stop and MRT station. One of the most unique things about the M Social Singapore is its robot that can make breakfast and deliver things to your room.
Park Hotel Clarke Quay
Park Hotel Clarke Quay is a good choice if you’re looking for a more affordable hotel in The Quays. With clean rooms, a large pool, and a full-service restaurant/bar, it has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Some of the rooms also offer a view of the river.
Budget
Champion Hotel City
An interesting hotel near the riverside, the Champion Hotel City offers compact rooms designed with a focus on bringing in nature and maximizing the space. Picture glass-paneled ceilings with real greenery and murals of orchids and other plants. Your luggage can easily be hidden under the bed to leave more open space. The hotel is also located just an easy walk from Chinatown and Raffles Place.
BEAT. Capsule Hostel @ Boat Quay
BEAT. Capsule Hostel @ Boat Quay is a small hostel where travelers sleep in capsule-like bunk beds. Along with being one of the most affordable hotel options in The Quays, this hostel offers a free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and an excellent location in Boat Quay. Every guest gets their own private locker, however, the bathrooms are shared. Capsules feature a privacy screen, power outlets, a folding workstation, and under-bed storage, and there are female-only dorms available.
Orchard Road
A shopping paradise, the Orchard Road neighborhood of Singapore is a beautifully designed center for upscale shopping. A series of boutique, department stores, and malls entice shoppers and offer something for just about everyone. Orchard Road is also a prime location with its numerous dining options and access to transportation.
Where to Stay in Orchard Road
Most of the hotels in Orchard Road are on the luxury and upscale end, with a few mid-range options available. The district is a shopper’s dream with its wide variety of stores. MRT lines make the area well connected and there are plenty of places for a delicious meal. It does, however, get quite busy during the holidays and weekends, and the hotels aren’t exactly for budget travelers.
Luxury
Shangri-La Hotel
The Shangri-La Hotel is located at the west end of Orchard Road in the middle of all the district’s amazing shopping. Known for its world-class service, the luxury hotel features a swimming pool, tropical gardens, abundant orchids, and a pond featuring a waterfall. The rooms in the Tower Wing each have their own unique theme, but the Garden Wing feels like a resort with its villa-style oasis.
Four Seasons Hotel
The Four Seasons Hotel is ranked as one of the best hotels in Singapore, and with good reason. It offers everything you would expect from a top 5-star hotel: a fantastic rooftop pool area, a well equipped gym, beautiful guest rooms, a bar, restaurants, excellent service, and even an outdoor and indoor tennis court. Located in the heart of Orchard Road, the Four Seasons is a short walk to everything the area has to offer.
Mid-Range
The Quincy Hotel
The Quincy Hotel is a smart boutique hotel that gives you value for your money in Orchard Road. Situated on a quieter street, the pool on the twelfth floor provides some good views of the area. The free perks for guests here is part of what makes it a great choice of where to stay in Singapore, such as a free in-room mini bar, free drinks in the evening, a snack drawer, buffet breakfast, light refreshments throughout the day, and more. Guests also receive a phone to use during their stay.
Lloyd’s Inn
A minimalistic and clean boutique hotel, Lloyd’s Inn is another good value in Orchard Road. Boasting a zen vibe, the hotel consists of over thirty rooms featuring elements of nature, such as a bathtub or shower outdoors and terraces opening out to lush gardens. The hotel is close to all the shopping of Orchard Road, as well as near the inexpensive and cozy restaurants of Killiney Road.
JEN Singapore Orchardgateway
JEN Singapore Orchardgateway is a 4-star hotel with modern and comfortable rooms, complimentary fast internet, plenty of space to unwind, and amazing views of the Singapore skyline from its rooftop pool. With a convenient location inside the Orchard Gateway Mall, the hotel is just steps away from shops, restaurants, and an MRT station.
Chinatown
Located among the skyscrapers of Singapore, Chinatown is the country’s center for Chinese culture and an exciting area of the city. You can find some of the most delicious food at the hawker centers and shops selling classically Chinese items. During the Chinese New Year, the area is full of lights and special marketplaces. There’s also a MRT station right in the heart of it all.
Where to Stay in Chinatown
Great for backpackers and travelers in general looking for more affordable accommodations, hotels in Chinatown range from budget hotels and hostels to affordable, stylish 4-star options to luxury hotels. While there aren’t really any big attractions in the area, Chinatown offers close proximity to delicious, great little shops, and easy access to multiple MRT stations.
Luxury
Parkroyal on Pickering
Parkroyal on Pickering is an iconic hotel themed around the concept of a “hotel within a garden.” Fitting in with the idea of a futuristic, green city, the outdoor areas of this 5-star hotel overflow with tropical greenery and waterfalls. Located next to the Chinatown MRT Station, this eco-friendly hotel offers complimentary water in reusable glass bottles and there’s a great infinity pool with views hanging gardens and the surrounding skyline.
Mid-Range
AMOY by Far East Hospitality
AMOY by Far East Hospitality offers luxury on a budget. This charming boutique hotel is a bit different than most hotels, as it’s reached by walking through a historic Chinese temple. Designs here are inspired by old China and rooms include a free minibar, a complimentary mobile phone, western TV channels, and a rainfall shower in the bathroom. Guests also receive free airport transportation and breakfast at the neighboring cafe. The Telok Ayer MRT Station is across the street, with the Chinatown station just a few blocks down.
Oasia Hotel Downtown
The Oasia Hotel Downtown is located in the middle of bustling Chinatown and boasts a unique design of tropical vines and other greenery. A newer hotel in the downtown scene, the hotel has a good location near the Maxwell Hawker Center and the Tanjong Pagar MRT station.
Budget
CUBE – Boutique Capsule Hotel @Chinatown
CUBE – Boutique Capsule Hotel @Chinatown is an excellent value hotel in Singapore with comfortable beds and pillows in modern dorms. Both the rooms and bathrooms are very clean. Fast Wi-Fi is available both in the public areas and the cubes, and a buffet breakfast is provided as well.
Adler Hostel
The Adler Hostel is a quaint hostel with a distinctive old Chinese atmosphere, featuring plenty of Chinese antiques. Guests can enjoy comfortable beds, privacy curtains, Wi-Fi, private storage, and air-conditioning in the dorms. There are female-only dorms available, as well as some king-size dorm beds. Complimentary coffee, tea, and water are offered all day and there are several restaurants and cozy cafes nearby.
Little India
Little India is an energetic and fun little spot of Indian culture in Singapore, where temples, restaurants, and shops reflect the Indian heritage of those who have settled in the neighborhood. One of the most iconic places in this unique district is the Mustafa shopping center where you can find just about anything you can think of. Serangoon Road boasts some particularly good eateries, with food ranging from cheap but tasty curries to upscale dining, while the smell of spices from shops waft through the air.
Where to Stay in Little India
Several hostels and guesthouses can be found in Little India, making it an ideal area to stay in Singapore for backpackers and budget travelers. That doesn’t mean you can’t find mid-range and even luxury hotels here as well. The Little India MRT station makes it easy to reach other parts of the city, too.
Luxury
One Farrer Hotel
One Farrer Hotel is a posh, comfortable, and modern 5-star hotel in Little India that’s a bit more affordable compared to many of the other luxury hotels in Singapore. The service here is excellent. Located next to the Farrer Park MRT station, the location makes it easy to explore other areas and the hotel is also just a short walk away from the massive Mustafa Centre. There’s also a large gym, swimming pool, and a cafe and bar here as well.
Mid-Range
Wanderlust
Situated in the middle of Little India, Wanderlust is an affordable hotel option that’s all about wild, humorous, and fun design. Each of the rooms is a bit different and some even include deluxe, large baths. Less than a 10-minute walk from the Mustafa Centre, this boutique hotel has a good location with the Jalan Besar MRT station nearby. The rooftop garden also offers a relaxing place to unwind and includes a Jacuzzi area with small elephants and rainbow-colored lighting in its decoration.
Budget
Dream Lodge Hostel
Dream Lodge Hostel is a good hostel option that’s quiet and clean. The dorms include both double and single beds, as well as a privacy curtain and lockable storage locker. While the bathrooms are shared, like most things in Singapore, they’re kept clean. There’s a kitchen downstairs and several restaurants, cafes, and a market nearby.
Bugis & Kampong Glam
Also known as Arab Street, the Bugis and Kampong Glam area of Singapore is a blend of hip, chic restaurants and cafes and Singapore’s Arabic culture. There’s street art, trendy cafes, and boutiques in abundance here and the streets of Kampong Glam are particularly come to life at night, especially Haji Lane. The Singapore Bazaar offers delicious cheap eats.
Where to Stay in Bugis & Kampong Glam
Bugis and Kampong Glam boasts a perfect mix of luxury, mid-range, and budget hotels. It’s especially a great choice of where to stay in Singapore for travelers looking for a place to save money on accommodations and food. One of the largest bus terminals can be found here, along with the Bugis MRT Station. The neighborhood is also known for being welcoming and friendly, with many restaurant and shop owners more than happy to chat.
Luxury
Hotel Naumi
Hotel Naumi is a chic boutique hotel with big-name art and designer furniture. There’s a great on-site Indian restaurant near the lobby and a rooftop infinity swimming pool. Rooms include complimentary coffee and a mini bar stocked daily with water, sodas, and juice. Right outside the hotel doors, Purvis Street has restaurants for all budgets.
InterContinental Singapore
InterContinental Singapore has an elegant and modern feel combined with excellent service and spacious guest rooms. The on-site restaurant, Man Fu Yuan, serves delicious Chinese cuisine and there’s also a well equipped fitness center and a rooftop pool and garden. Guests also receive a mobile phone with free calls and data to use during their stay.
Mid-Range
Hotel G Singapore
Hotel G Singapore is a trendy, modern hotel in the heart of Bugis, conveniently located just around the corner from the Bencoolen MRT station. Featuring laid-back minimalism, this hotel has compact rooms and is a good choice for affordable style. It’s an easy walk to great eateries, Little India, and the museum area.
Mercure Singapore Bugis
The Mercure Singapore Bugis is a modern hotel that blends several cultures into its design, a reflection of Singapore itself. Situated in a lively area, the hotel makes it easy to enjoy a night out at hip bars and restaurants. There’s also a nearby MRT station for reaching the rest of the city.
Budget
The Pod – Boutique Capsule Hostel
The Pod – Boutique Capsule Hostel is a modern, clean hostel with large dorm rooms that include privacy screens. Dorms include both female/male only rooms and mixed rooms. The hostel also offers free Wi-Fi, breakfast, laundry service, and free coffee.
Leave a Reply