Best Places To Stay In Singapore | The Ultimate Guide

Singapore is an amazing destination with so many interesting things to see and do. I really loved it! But where are the best places to stay? This post reviews the best accommodations for every budget in a variety of areas or districts around this stunning, sovereign city-state. From the luxurious hotels in glitzy Marina Bay, to more humble accommodation in bustling Chinatown, places in the lively Arab Quarter, a colonial classic in the Civic District, budget options in hipster Katong, all the way to the plush resorts on Sentosa Island. Choose one, or move around, like I did, to experience different parts of Singapore.

Best Places To Stay In Marina Bay, Singapore

For the ultimate in luxury, stay in the Marina Bay area. This is the central area of Singapore. The views here are stunning, with sleek high rises and colorful lights, contrasting with the serene bay. Top attractions here include the Marina Bay Sands itself, Gardens by the Bay, the innovative Supertree Grove, The Cloud Dome and Flower Dome, the ArtScience Museum, iconic Merlion Fountain, and more.

• Marina Bay Sands is the ultimate splurge experience of Singapore. Even if you only stay a day or two. I stayed 3 nights here and thought it was 100% worth it! The rooms are stunning and overlook either the twinkling city or Gardens by the Bay on its opposite side. They have several amazing restaurants, a fitness center, and the rooftop entertainment area which includes free access to the infinity pool (which is the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool).
• If you would prefer luxury on the opposite side of the bay, by the Merlion Statue, consider staying in the 5-star Fullerton Bay Hotel. Some rooms feature views of the lovely Marina Bay Sands Hotel across the bay.
• The Mandarin Oriental is another 5-star hotel in Marina Bay, with rooms that overlook the harbor, the ocean, or the skyline. It also features an outdoor pool with city views and a luxurious spa.

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Best Places To Stay In Chinatown, Singapore

Chinatown is another fantastic place to stay in Singapore. It’s just a short ride away from the Marina Bay area on the Blue Line and offers more affordable accommodation. You can stay in historic, renovated shophouses close to the Chinatown Street Market, see colorful street art, explore the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple, and try a variety of food options in Chinatown’s two well-known hawker centers. In addition to staying in Marina Bay, I also stayed in Chinatown and loved it as well.

• The Scarlet Singapore is set in renovated pre-war shophouses near the Maxwell Center food center. It offers elegantly appointed, colorful rooms with a rooftop restaurant, a fitness gym, and an outdoor hotub. All at an affordable price.
• The Claude Hotel also offers affordable rooms. It’s located about a 5-minute walk from the Chinatown Complex.
• If you want something really inexpensive, try one of their capsule hotels in Chinatown. Capsule Hotel on Smith Street is super cozy, but gets very high reviews, is very clean, and remarkably quiet.
• If you want to stay near the Telok Ayer area of Chinatown, which offers many international restaurants and cafes, stay in the beautifully restored heritage shophouse Ann Siang House, The Unlimited Collection managed by The Ascott Limited.

Best Places To Stay In The Arab Quarter, Singapore

The Arab Quarter of Singapore is another great place to stay with its vibrant tapestry of culture, street art, atmosphere, many restaurants, and its history. Once the home of Malay royalty, today it offers a unique blend of Malay traditions and Middle Eastern influences. See the golden dome of Sultan’s Mosque rising majestically against the skyline, explore streets lined with quaint, colorful shophouses, admire its street art, trendy boutiques, hip cafés and, surprisingly, cool cocktail venues. Here are a few places that get great reviews in the Arab Quarter, or Kampong Glam.

• The Sultan offers affordable, boutique rooms in renovated shophouses on Jalan Sultan Road, providing the charm of Singapore in the Arab Quarter.
• Heritage Collection on Arab has affordable, clean rooms on Arab Street. It offers the convenience of self-checkin (using their app), but staff is always available if you need anything.
• For something more exclusive, stay at Andaz Singapore by Hyatt. Not technically in the Arab Quarter, it’s just a 2-minute walk from Haji Lane. This sleek high rise also has a rooftop bar to soak up local ambiance.

Best Places To Stay In Little India, Singapore

Little India is a very colorful, bustling part of Singpaore. Stroll through its bustling streets to discover its unique architecture, the glittering jewelry stores, its fascinating temple, along with the flower vendors making their colorful garlands for religious offerings there, and its hawker center with its unique award-winning, Indian dishes.

Unfortunately, a lot of the hotels here get too many negative reviews for me to note any suggestions here. If you’re really set on staying here, check Little India hotels yourself, but I suggest that you read the worst reviews before you book.

Otherwise, I suggest staying in the Arab Quarter above, or Civic District below, as both are about a 20-minute walk from Little India.

Best Places To Stay In The Civic District

The Civic District is home to key government buildings as well as landmark buildings dating back to its colonial era, like the iconic Raffles Hotel. I loved staying in this area too as I felt that it provided a more authentic Singaporean experience (it’s less touristy). Plus there are many great restaurants and cafes to discover here as well.

• Raffles Hotel is a well-known luxury hotel, located in the city center. It is named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern singapore. This elegant 5-star hotel offers both historic charm and outstanding service. And of course you must visit the Raffles Long Bar for the obligatory Singapore Sling while staying here.
• Heritage Collection on Seah offers more affordable accommodation in the Civic District. The rooms are exceptionally clean and most have a loft, which makes it unique. It’s just a few minutes walk from Raffles Hotel. Like the Heritage Collection on Arab, they offer self check-in, but staff is always a just a quick text away if you need anything.

Best Places To Stay Near Joo Chait

The famous photogenic streets of Joo Chiat and Koon Seng, with their colorful Peranakan shophouses, are in Katong. This area is a little out of the way, but has become very trendy, loaded with a wide variety of international food options. If you want to stay here, try one of these two highly rated, but affordable recommendations near famous Joo Chiat.

• Betel Box Backpackers Hostel offers very affordable dorm rooms in a restored shophouse close to Joo Chiat Road.
• The boutique Santa Grand Hotel East Coast offers affordable rooms close to Joo Chiat Road, some with a balcony. There is also a rooftop swimming pool.

Best Places To Stay On Sentosa Island Singapore

If you choose to stay on Sentosa Island, whether you plan to explore the many scenic and adventurous things to do on this island in more detail, or you prefer a more serene location in Singapore, here are some of its highest rated accommodations. Note that to stay here, it’s really best to have a car, but you can also use the Singapore cable car to get to and from the island daily. The options are listed from the least expensive to the most expensive below.

• The Outpost Hotel Sentosa by Far East Hospitality is an adult-centric hotel for the fun and the stylish. They offer curated experiences, fitness activities, a customized mini-bar, and adults-exclusive access to 1-Altitude Coast, the Sentosa’s only rooftop pool and day club.
• Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa features spacious guest rooms and suites with balconies and views of the South China Sea, pools and gardens. This is a family resort with daily activities, pools, including a pool with water slides for children, a fitness center, and complimentary bicycle rental. It’s located near Siloso Beach.
• The W Singapore – Sentosa Cove is a luxury hotel in beautiful Sentosa Cove Marina. There are daily activities from yoga to movies and more. Rooms features views of the pool or ocean and some have a balcony. There’s a pool that has a slide for children, a spa, and a fitness center.
• Equairus Villas is a splurge choice, located in Resort Worlds Sentosa, close to the Sentosa Station. Villas offer pools views or the surrounding forest. Transport buggies and personal 24-hour butlers are provided for all guests throughout their stay.

Want To Read More About Singapore?

Want to read more about Singapore? See my posts on my favorite things to do here.

• Experience The Best Of Marina Bay | Must-See Waterfront Experiences
• Hidden Treasures & Things To Do In Chinatown Singapore
• The Charming Arab Quarter of Singapore
• 7 Must-See Sites in Little India Singapore
• Joo Chiat Road | Colorful Shophouses, Culinary Wonders & Cultural Fusion
• Is It Worth Visiting Sentosa Island?
• Singapore Night Safari Review | Is It Worth It?
  

Safe Travels!

Julie