Singapore is an incredible city to visit at any time of the year. Whether you are backpacking through Southeast Asia or looking for a standalone destination, you’ll love your time in this vibrant city.
With great weather throughout the year and only slight variations in the temperature, it’s the perfect all-year-round travel destination. It has so many things to see and places to visit, you could easily spend a whole week here.
With a wide variety of cultures represented, each of the Singapore neighborhoods offers a unique place to stay and different sights to see. While Singapore has a reputation for being an expensive place to visit, there are some areas that are better than others for budget travelers.
I would particularly recommend Little India and Chinatown for hostels. They have many different hostels to choose from, as well as great budget food options in those areas.
What is the Best Place to Stay in Singapore?
If you are looking for a quick guide to the best place to stay in Singapore, here are my top choices for each category:
- Best Hotel for Families – Ascott Orchard Singapore
- Best Hotel for Couples – Swissotel Merchant Court
- Best Luxury Hotel – Marina Bay Sands
- Best Midrange Hotel – The Daulat
- Best Budget Hotel – Hotel Conforto
- Best Hostel in Singapore for Solo Travelers or Digital Nomads – Wanderloft Capsule Hostel
- Best Hostel in Singapore for Couples – The Bohemian Chic
Today I’m going to share with you my guide on where to stay in Singapore. It can be hard to know which Singapore area to choose, so I’ll share with you some details regarding my favorite areas first.
If you are looking for a true luxury stay, you may want to also consider the Marina Bay Sands or Sentosa areas. They offer luxury resorts, but little in the way of budget accommodation.
Below I’ve chosen some great areas that offer Singapore accommodation recommendations to fit every budget and travel style.
Chinatown
Chinatown is one of my favorite places to stay in Singapore. It’s an area of rich culture, great food, and some good budget hostels. Unlike most of Singapore, the buildings are much lower here, generally about three or four stories high.
While there are not many attractions here, there are some beautiful temples such as the Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple. However, the food is the biggest draw in this area, particularly on Club Street and Ann Siang Road.
Don’t miss spending an evening at the Chinatown Complex Food Centre, where you can pick from different stalls to enjoy a whole range of authentic food. Here are my top recommendations for the best Singapore hotels in Chinatown.
See also: Best Beaches in Singapore
Best Luxury Hotel in Chinatown Singapore
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore – Located right by the Chinatown MRT Station, this is the perfect luxury hotel choice for couples or solo travelers.
The big draw here is the wellness floor which features a garden walk, outdoor pool, and gym high above street level. All rooms offer city or garden views and luxury amenities. The price for a room here starts from $175 a night.
Best Midrange Hotel in Chinatown Singapore
The Scarlet Singapore – This hotel is located in a pre-war shophouse within Chinatown. The hotel has a rooftop restaurant, and an outdoor hot tub and is just a 10-minute walk from the MRT station.
The rooms are all boutique-style with mood lighting and artistic decor. Even if is midrange, the price is still a bit high, as Singapore is a very expensive city. One night here would be $125 a night.
Best Affordable Hotel in Chinatown Singapore
Eighteen by Three Cabins – If you are traveling to Singapore on a budget, it can be difficult to find options that aren’t hostels. This is where capsule hotels come in. This 3-star capsule hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi but shared bathrooms.
They are very modern with everything you would need to rest at night after a busy day in the city. The price for a one-person cabin a night starts from $39.
Best Hostel in Chinatown Singapore
The Bohemian – Located in the center of Chinatown, The Bohemian Chic offers excellent budget accommodation in a stylish setting. With a games room and shared lounge, it was the perfect place to relax after exploring the city all day on my last trip.
All the dorms come with a shared bathroom, and they provide a free shuttle from the Singapore airport to the city center. A bed in a
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is the perfect place to visit for shopaholics, and there are plenty of great stores to choose from. If you love to shop, drink and eat, it’s the best location to stay in Singapore.
ION Orchard Mall is well worth a visit, especially for the ION Sky on level fifty-six, which offers amazing views over the city. The area also has some great food on offer, particularly at the Food Republic Court.
Here are some of the top choices for Singapore accommodation on Orchard Road. You’ll see there isn’t a hostel or cheap hotel listed in this area, as it’s not a good area for budget accommodation!
Best Luxury Hotel on Orchard Road Singapore
Ascott Orchard Singapore – Linked to the Paragon Shopping Mall by a bridge, this luxury hotel offers incredible accommodations in the center of the Orchard district. It has an outdoor swimming pool and a modern fitness center and offers spacious studios and apartments.
The apartments are well equipped with modern amenities such as home entertainment systems and are perfect for work trips. A night in this luxury hotel starts at $331/night.
Best Midrange Hotel on Orchard Road Singapore
Ji Hotel Orchard Singapore – Located in the heart of the city, this hotel is just 5 minutes away from Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station.
It’s less than 15 minutes walk away from Orchard Road on foot and offers trendy, modern rooms at a more reasonable price than many hotels in the area.
Each room features stylish facilities, free bottled water each day, and a modern bathroom. The price in this hotel would start from $111 a night.
Little India
Located north of the Singapore River, this area is a vibrant part of the city to stay in. With a wide mixture of architecture and culture, it’s one of the best places to stay in Singapore.
Make sure you pay a visit to the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, which is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple. Little India, much like Chinatown, is an incredible area for dining.
Here are some of my top hotels in Singapore if you are looking to stay in Little India. This area is one of the lower-priced places to stay, so it offers some good cheap places to stay in Singapore. One of my friends spent a week here recently and highly recommended the area for backpackers.
Best Luxury Hotel in Little India Singapore
Citadines Rochor – Located near Bugis Street and the Mustafa Centre, this is one of the best luxury options in the area. It offers a swimming pool and fitness center, as well as a great lounge with views of the city.
Each room features a private bathroom and flatscreen TV, and it’s great for anyone on business or solo trips. A room here would take out of your pockets no less than $126 a night.
Best Midrange Hotel in Little India Singapore
The Daulat – This boutique hotel is just a 5-minutes walk from the Little India MRT Station. Featuring an outdoor swimming pool with water treadmills and a free American breakfast, it’s a good value option for visits.
Rooms are air-conditioned offer Nespresso machines and luxury bedding and are contemporary and chic in design. There are free bicycle rentals at the hotel, which make for a fun way to sightsee in the area. The price for a night starts from $98 a night.
Best Affordable Hotel in Little India Singapore
Arianna Hotel – Located in the middle of Little India, opposite the Mustafa Shopping Centre, this hotel offers basic air-conditioned rooms with all the facilities you would need.
With private bathrooms and a 24-hour desk, this is one of the best hotels in Singapore for budget travelers looking for more privacy than a hostel. The price for a room would be $52 a night.
Best Hostel in Little India Singapore
7 Wonders Hostel – This hostel offers air-conditioned rooms, a shared kitchen, and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. I’ve heard great things about this hostel from some of my travel friends, who really recommend it for its modern dorm rooms and great location.
The price for a room starts from $17 a night.
The Quays: Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay and Boat Quay
Perfectly located between the Colonial District and the Central Business District are the three quays. These are some of my favorite areas to spend time in Singapore and offer some fantastic places to stay in Singapore.
If you are looking for an area with great nightlife and entertainment, this is the place to be. Offering endless bars, breweries, best restaurants, and clubs along the river, you’ll never be short of things to do come nightfall.
If you love to party on your trips, this is the best area to stay in Singapore. Here are my top hotel choices in the area:
See also: The Absolute 10 BEST Places to Visit in Southeast Asia
Best Luxury Hotel on Clarke Quay Singapore
Swissotel Merchant Court – Located within the entertainment area of Clarke Quay, the rooms here offer amazing views overlooking the Singapore River. With a stunning outdoor pool, this is the perfect place to stay for a holiday as a couple or with friends.
All the rooms feature large windows, allowing you to admire the wonderful views, as well as modern, luxury amenities. A night would cost you no less than $184 for a room.
Best Midrange Hotel on Robertson Quay Singapore
Studio M Hotel – If you are looking for more space on your next trip, consider these loft-inspired designer rooms. Located in Robertson Quay, the hotel has an onsite deli and lap pool.
All rooms come with flat-screen TVs and en suite bathrooms. $125 is the minimum fare for a night in this hotel.
Best Affordable Hotel on Clarke Quay Singapore
Hotel Conforto – For a cheap option with a great location, look no further than Hotel Conforto. Just 350 yards away from Clarke Quay MRT Station, it offers comfortable guestrooms with full air-conditioning.
Located within walking distance of many great attractions, it is a good option for a central Singapore area to stay in. A single room with a shared bathroom starts from $59.
Best Hostel on Boat Quay Singapore
Wanderloft Capsule Hostel – If you are like me and enjoy staying in modern, capsule hostels, this is a fantastic choice. With an incredible location, near nightclubs such as Zouk, this is one of the most modern hostels in the city.
The dorm beds are fitted to the highest standard, and all dorms have private bathrooms, seating areas, and kettles. It’s a great sociable hostel, with free Wi-Fi throughout. A bunk bed starts from $18/night.
Best Luxury Hotel in Singapore: Marina Bay Sands
As you can see, the choices for places to stay in Singapore are endless. If you do have a high budget for your next trip, consider splashing out on a once-in-a-lifetime stay at the Marina Bay Sands, even if for just one night.
This iconic venue is well worth a visit even just to see from the outside, and is known for its infinity pool on the roof. Singapore has a reputation for being an expensive city to visit, especially in comparison to the rest of Southeast Asia.
However, as you can see, there are some great hostels in the Singapore city center that are really reasonable price-wise to stay at. Wherever you stay in Singapore, you’ll be able to travel easily between the different areas.
The city is an incredible destination to tag onto any Southeast Asia trip. I hope you get the chance to visit soon and explore everything it has to offer.
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