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

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

Singapore is without doubt one of the world’s smallest nations. But this tiny nation packs a punch.

Home to some 5.7 million individuals, 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 contemporary seafood. In reality, a few of the least expensive Michelin-starred eateries in the world may be discovered right here.

For extra energetic guests, there are climbing trails on which you’ll stretch your legs, quite a few biking paths, and loads of kayaking adventures to be had. And once you run out of power, 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 keep in Singapore once you go to.

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

What’s the very best neighborhood in Singapore for price range vacationers?
Kampong Glam is certainly one of Singapore’s oldest neighborhoods. It has a great deal of outlets promoting textiles, rugs, and Turkish homewares; some scrumptious Arabic eating places; the large 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 keep. Known extra for being the purchasing heart of Singapore, it’s nicely linked to the remainder of the island, is crammed with eating places in the shops 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 outlets, stalls, and eating places, so you’ll be able to decide up a cut price 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 a lot 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 shut to) most of the island’s most important sights, together with its scrumptious hawker meals, stunning temples, brilliant avenue artwork, and plentiful historical past.

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

 

Where to Stay for Sightseeing: Chinatown

Chinatown is my favourite space: it’s excellent for searching outlets and tasting native dishes. It’s additionally tremendous central, so it’s straightforward to get to and from different standard components 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 price a go to. Like Hawker Chan’s, it’s situated in 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 center of Chinatown, and aimed solely at backpackers, it provides 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 kind serving each as a residence and a industrial enterprise) is in an outstanding location for exploring Chinatown. It has a rooftop restaurant, an out of doors scorching tub, a health club, and laundry and dry-cleaning providers.
• LUXURY: The Park Royal at Pickering – At the excessive finish of your price range, this property has been featured in a load of worldwide publications thanks to its luxurious eco-paradise method, together with dwelling partitions on its exterior. It has a health flooring with an out of doors pool and a health club, in addition to a scenic backyard skywalk.

 

Where to Stay for Nightlife: The Quays

The three most important Quays (pronounced “keys”) are Clarke, Robertson, and Boat. Packed with vibrant bars, tasty eating places, cute cafés, and energetic 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 preferred for his or her location, the aspect streets are the place yow 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, snug, and pleasant. It has a shared lounge and kitchen but additionally provides breakfast and free Wi-Fi.
• MID-RANGE: KINN Capsule Hotel – One of a handful of capsule motels in the Quays space, KINN has air-conditioned cabins, a shared lounge, free Wi-Fi, a laundry facility, shared loos, and a solar terrace.
• LUXURY: Paradox Singapore Merchant Court at Clarke Quay – With an enormous outside pool, health club, 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 the 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 paint there.

Kampong Glam, also referred to as the Arab Quarter, has probably the most avenue artwork on the island. Wander round Haji Lane, which is brightly embellished from high to backside, and stroll by way of Gelam Gallery, a backstreet devoted to this type 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 center 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 loos 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 provides free Wi-Fi, complimentary self-service laundry, free breakfast, and work areas with enterprise providers do you have to 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 a few of the finest sights in city. It has a health club, 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 far more.

It was additionally a strategic navy level throughout World War II and Siloso Fort is an fascinating place to discover if you need a break from the resorts and costly actions.

Sentosa isn’t the most cost effective space of Singapore, as there are solely resorts to keep at, however in the event you’re in the temper to break the price range, 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 affordable place to keep on Sentosa (price range vacationers are higher off visiting for the day), however in the event you really need to discover lodging on the island, Siloso Beach Resort might be your least expensive choice. It’s an award-winning eco-resort with a spring-water pool (the longest landscaped pool in the nation), a health club, and spa.
• MID-RANGE: Oasia Resort Sentosa – A good-sized resort, the Oasia has an in-house spa and leisure actions for visitors, in addition to a pool in the event you want to beat the warmth. There are additionally yoga and wellness courses, in addition to scrumptious eats on the bar and grill. It’s additionally in an awesome location, not removed from Siloso Beach.
• LUXURY: Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa – The Shangri-La is without doubt one of the solely resorts in Singapore to have its personal personal seashore. Add to that the outside pool (together with water slides), children’ membership, spa, and a number of other eating places, and also you’ve received 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 beneath).

 

Where to Stay for Families: Orchard Road

Famous for its many shops and purchasing malls that line the road virtually from starting to finish, Orchard Road is without doubt one of the most central locations to keep in Singapore, making it an awesome alternative for households. Lots of the motels listed here are family-friendly (though they’ll additionally carry a little bit of a price ticket), and there are lots of eating choices round right here too.

Best locations to keep 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 personal 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 visitors 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 daily, 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 children’ membership, and large gardens to discover. There are a number of eating places, together with one providing all types 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 unbiased shops, eating places, bars, and cafés to browse and hang 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 shut to a number of markets with nice hawker stalls. The clear and fashionable 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 try too) and a laundry service. There’s additionally a good looking pool and rooftop terrace for taking in the views.

***

Singapore is small, however there actually is quite a bit to do right here. The excellent news is that a lot of the sights are between the middle and the south of the island so that you’re unlikely to have to journey too far to get anyplace, that means yow will discover someplace to fit your price range and plan accordingly.