Where to Stay in Singapore During Your Visit (Updated 2023)

Posted: 2/16/2023 | February sixteenth, 2023

Singapore is likely one of the world’s smallest nations. But this tiny nation packs a punch.

Home to some 5.7 million folks, Singapore is a cosmopolitan city-state that separated from the British in 1963 and gained independence from Malaysia in 1965. In the a long time that adopted, it advanced from a low-income nation to one of many facilities of world finance.

It’s a foodie’s dream, bursting with tasty hawker-stall choices, scrumptious Indian delicacies, and recent seafood. In reality, among the most cost-effective Michelin-starred eateries on the planet may be discovered right here.

For extra energetic guests, there are mountain climbing trails on which you’ll be able to stretch your legs, quite a few biking paths, and loads of kayaking adventures available. And once you run out of vitality, there are seashores for chilling out and absorbing the solar.

Though a small city-state, every neighborhood in Singapore has its personal distinctive vibe. Here’s my breakdown of all of them so you’ll be able to work out the place to remain in Singapore once you go to.

But, earlier than I get into specifics, listed below are some widespread questions I get requested about Singapore neighborhoods:

What’s the very best neighborhood in Singapore for funds vacationers?
Kampong Glam is considered one of Singapore’s oldest neighborhoods. It has a great deal of retailers promoting textiles, rugs, and Turkish homewares; some scrumptious Arabic eating places; the big golden-domed Sultan Mosque; and a ton of eye-catching avenue artwork.

What’s the very best neighborhood in Singapore for households?
While many households gravitate to Sentosa for the seashores and laid-back vibe, Orchard Road is a way more central place to remain. Known extra for being the purchasing heart of Singapore, it’s nicely related to the remainder of the island, is crammed with eating places within the malls and alongside the road, and has some nice family-friendly motels.

What’s the very best neighborhood in Singapore for first-time guests?
Not removed from the fashionable Central Business District, Chinatown is the very best place to get an actual sense of Chinese tradition in Singapore. The streets are lined with temples, craft retailers, stalls, and eating places, so you’ll be able to decide up a discount right here after which get some tasty meals.

What’s the very best neighborhood in Singapore for partying?
If it’s a buzzing nightlife scene that you simply’re after, any of the Quays (Clarke, Robertson, or Boat) are the place to go. They have a great deal of bars and eating places and many of the golf equipment are in or round this space too.

What is the very best neighborhood in Singapore general?
Chinatown is centrally situated and has (or is tremendous near) most of the island’s primary sights, together with its scrumptious hawker meals, lovely temples, vibrant avenue artwork, and considerable historical past.

So, with these questions answered, right here’s a breakdown of every neighborhood, with advised lodging for every, so precisely the place to remain in Singapore:

Where to Stay for Sightseeing: Chinatown

Chinatown is my favourite space: it’s excellent for searching retailers and tasting native dishes. It’s additionally tremendous central, so it’s straightforward to get to and from different in style elements of the island, together with Gardens by the Bay, Little India, Kampong Glam, and the Botanic Gardens.

If you’ll be able to, eat at Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle (aka Hawker Chan), the world’s most reasonably priced Michelin-starred restaurant. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is one other Michelin-starred hawker stall value a go to. Like Hawker Chan’s, it’s situated within the Maxwell Hawker Center.

Best Places to Stay in Chinatown:

• BUDGET: The Bohemian – This is a brilliant enjoyable hostel that doesn’t take itself too critically. Right in the midst of Chinatown, and aimed solely at backpackers, it affords dorms and capsules, free Wi-Fi, and a shared lounge for hanging out and assembly different vacationers.
• MID-RANGE: The Scarlet – This lodge in a preserved prewar shophouse (a constructing sort serving each as a residence and a business enterprise) is in an excellent location for exploring Chinatown. It has a rooftop restaurant, an out of doors scorching tub, a fitness center, and laundry and dry-cleaning providers.
• LUXURY: The Park Royal at Pickering – At the excessive finish of your funds, this property has been featured in a load of worldwide publications because of its luxurious eco-paradise strategy, together with residing partitions on its exterior. It has a health ground with an out of doors pool and a fitness center, in addition to a scenic backyard skywalk.

Where to Stay for Nightlife: The Quays

The three primary Quays (pronounced “keys”) are Clarke, Robertson, and Boat. Packed with vibrant bars, tasty eating places, cute cafés, and vigorous golf equipment, that is the very best place to go for an evening out (or simply some enjoyable people-watching). While the venues on the principle drag (by the riverfront) are the most well-liked for his or her location, the facet streets are the place you will discover some much less touristy venues.

Best Places to Stay in The Quays:

• BUDGET: hipstercity hostel – There aren’t many hostels in and across the Quays, however this one is clear, comfy, and pleasant. It has a shared lounge and kitchen but in addition affords breakfast and free Wi-Fi.
• MID-RANGE: KINN Capsule Hotel – One of a handful of capsule motels within the Quays space, KINN has air-conditioned cabins, a shared lounge, free Wi-Fi, a laundry facility, shared bogs, and a solar terrace.
• LUXURY: Paradox Singapore Merchant Court at Clarke Quay – With an enormous out of doors pool, fitness center, sauna, and backyard, Paradox is a luxe choice for many who need to splurge and keep close to the motion. It additionally has a restaurant and a terrace with scenic views overlooking town.

Where to Stay for Street Art: Kampong Glam

Graffiti in Singapore is unlawful, however that doesn’t imply there’s not an abundance of avenue artwork throughout city: the artists simply want a license to color there.

Kampong Glam, often known as the Arab Quarter, has essentially the most avenue artwork on the island. Wander round Haji Lane, which is brightly adorned from high to backside, and stroll via Gelam Gallery, a backstreet devoted to this sort of artwork. Singapore’s most well-known avenue artist, Yip Yew Chong, has some murals right here too.

Little India and Chinatown, each avenue artwork scorching spots, are simply strolling distance away as nicely.

Best Places to Stay in Kampong Glam:

• BUDGET: Beary Best! – In the guts of Kampong Glam in a restored heritage constructing, Beary Best! is a capsule lodge with a laid-back vibe. It’s a self-check-in, self-service idea, with shared bogs and free Wi-Fi. The AC solely comes on between 3pm and 9pm, however the payback is the roof terrace, which has nice views of Sultan Mosque and surrounding neighborhood.
• MID-RANGE: Cube – Boutique Capsule Hotel – Another capsule lodge, this one is a brief stroll from the middle of Kampong Glam. As nicely as en suite rooms, it affords free Wi-Fi, complimentary self-service laundry, free breakfast, and work areas with enterprise providers must you want them.
• LUXURY: Village Hotel Bugis by Far East Hospitality – Village Hotel Bugis is on the intersection of Kampong Glam, Chinatown, and Little India, offering quick access to among the greatest sights on the town. It has a fitness center, an out of doors pool, and a few eating places the place you’ll be able to feast on tasty native delicacies.

Where to Stay for Relaxation: Sentosa

If you’re in want of some R&R, look no additional than Sentosa. One of Singapore’s 64 islands, it’s linked to the principle one by a causeway. It is filled with good seashores, luxe resorts, and a load of sights, together with Universal Studios, an aquarium, bungee leaping, and rather more.

It was additionally a strategic army level throughout World War II and Siloso Fort is an attention-grabbing place to discover if you would like a break from the resorts and costly actions.

Sentosa will not be the most cost effective space of Singapore, as there are solely resorts to remain at, however if you happen to’re within the temper to interrupt the funds, that is the very best place to do it!

Best Places to Stay in Sentosa:

• BUDGET: Siloso Beach Resort – There’s no such factor as an inexpensive place to remain on Sentosa (funds vacationers are higher off visiting for the day), however if you happen to actually need to discover lodging on the island, Siloso Beach Resort might be your most cost-effective choice. It’s an award-winning eco-resort with a spring-water pool (the longest landscaped pool within the nation), a fitness center, and spa.
• MID-RANGE: Oasia Resort Sentosa – A good-sized resort, the Oasia has an in-house spa and leisure actions for company, in addition to a pool if you should beat the warmth. There are additionally yoga and wellness lessons, in addition to scrumptious eats on the bar and grill. It’s additionally in a fantastic location, not removed from Siloso Beach.
• LUXURY: Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa – The Shangri-La is likely one of the solely resorts in Singapore to have its personal non-public seashore. Add to that the out of doors pool (together with water slides), youngsters’ membership, spa, and a number of other eating places, and also you’ve acquired just about all you want. It’s extra secluded than the remainder of the resorts, however all of the enjoyable issues to do are nonetheless inside strolling distance. Don’t confuse this lodge with its sister close to Orchard Road (see under).

Where to Stay for Families: Orchard Road

Famous for its many shops and purchasing malls that line the road nearly from starting to finish, Orchard Road is likely one of the most central locations to remain in Singapore, making it a fantastic alternative for households. Lots of the motels listed below are family-friendly (though they’ll additionally carry a little bit of a price ticket), and there are numerous eating choices round right here too.

Best locations to remain on Orchard Road:

• BUDGET: YMCA @ One Orchard – This gained’t be the most cost effective hostel you’ll ever keep in, and it solely has non-public rooms, however you’ll be able to’t argue with its location close to the National Museum and the Istana (the spectacular workplace constructing for Singapore’s president that’s used to obtain and entertain state company and solely opens on choose days of the yr). (For extra budget-friendly choices, the Quays, Little India, and Kampong Glam are all shut by.)
• MID-RANGE: York Hotel – Located simply off Orchard Road, this lodge has a pool, a health heart, and a restaurant that serves breakfast every single day, in addition to free Wi-Fi.
• LUXURY: Shangri-La Orange Grove – Considerably cheaper than the Shangri-La on Sentosa, this lodge has an enormous pool, a splash space with slides, a youngsters’ membership, and massive gardens to discover. There are a number of eating places, together with one providing all kinds of Western and Asian meals, in addition to an Italian restaurant and a bar with snacks proper by the pool.

Where to Stay Off the Beaten Track: East Coast

If you’re trying to get away from the principle vacationer path, head to the East Coast. Around the Joo Chiat space is the place a few of Singapore’s most well-known shophouses may be discovered; there may be all method of impartial shops, eating places, bars, and cafés to browse and hand around in. There are a couple of strolling trails, some cool avenue artwork, a number of temples, and an honest seashore with an extended bike monitor that leads all the best way into Gardens by the Bay and past.

Best Places to Stay on East Coast:

• BUDGET: Hotel Classic by Venue – This is budget-friendly lodge is situated proper on Joo Chiat, conveniently situated very near a number of markets with nice hawker stalls. The clear and trendy rooms all have AC and free Wi-Fi.
• MID-RANGE: Champion Hotel – Also on Joo Chiat, this lodge is in a Peranakan (Malay-Chinese) shophouse, making it a brilliant cute place to spend the evening. The rooms all include complimentary drinks and toiletries, a TV, and free Wi-Fi, whereas the lodge has 24-hour safety, web kiosks, and laundry.
• LUXURY: Santa Grand Hotel – The Santa Grand is one other lodge that’s in a historic shophouse. It’s not removed from Joo Chiat, on East Coast Road, and it has its personal restaurant and bar (though there are many locations close by to take a look at too) and a laundry service. There’s additionally a phenomenal pool and rooftop terrace for taking within the views.

Singapore is small, however there actually is loads to do right here. The excellent news is that many of the sights are between the middle and the south of the island so that you’re unlikely to need to journey too far to get anyplace, which means you will discover someplace to fit your funds and plan accordingly.