Planning a trip to Singapore and wondering where to base yourself? We’ve selected the best neighbourhoods in Singapore that make ideal areas for your stay.
Singapore is a compact hub with all the Southeast Asian charm: hawker centres serving world-class street food, vibrant street art, and buzzing night markets.
But it’s also all about rooftop infinity pools, Michelin-starred restaurants and high-end stays.
So, whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly stay for your extended layover or somewhere to splurge for a special weekend, Singapore has options for you.
Despite its small size, Singapore has a remarkable diversity. Some neighbourhoods are full of tourist energy, whilst others feel wonderfully local.
In many ways, it doesn’t matter where you stay in Singapore; the excellent metro system will get you to most attractions within 20-30 minutes from anywhere in the city.
But it’s nice to find an area that gives you the experience you’re looking for.
In this guide, we have selected a few of our favourite areas in Singapore, along with hotel recommendations to help you book the perfect stay.
Quick Recommendations
To help you decide where to stay, it’s helpful to know what you want to do. So, read our guide on the best things to do in Singapore for ideas. Here is a snapshot of where you might want to base yourself.
Singapore Accommodation: Map
All the hotels recommended in this guide are on the map below, organised by region to help you find the perfect stay.
Where to Stay in Singapore
1. Marina Bay (Best for First-Time Visitors & Iconic Views)
If it’s your first time in Singapore and you want to be near the city’s most iconic sights, Marina Bay is the obvious choice.
This is where you’ll find Singapore’s main tourist attractions, including the Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, the ArtScience Museum, and the waterfront promenade.
It’s close to the Merlion, the Esplanade, and some of Singapore’s best shopping.
The area is purpose-built for tourism and feels incredibly modern and polished. As a result, it can feel a little sterile.
Prices reflect the prime location: whilst you’re close to major attractions, you’re somewhat removed from local neighbourhoods.
However, if you’re looking for a central location and short on time, Marina Bay is a good choice.
Our Marina Bay Hotel Recommendations
Marina Bay Sands ($$$$$) – Singapore’s most iconic hotel, with its famous rooftop infinity pool, world-class restaurants, and direct access to the luxury shopping mall. The views are breathtaking, and staying here is an experience in itself.
The Fullerton Bay Hotel ($$$$$) – An elegant waterfront hotel with stunning bay views, a rooftop bar, and refined service. This is contemporary luxury in a prime location overlooking Marina Bay.
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore ($$$$$) – A five-star hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Marina Bay and the city skyline. Features an impressive modern art collection, excellent spa, and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Pan Pacific Singapore ($$$$) – A polished business hotel near Marina Bay with a stunning atrium, rooftop pool, and comfortable rooms. Good value for the location with easy access to both Marina Bay and the historic centre.
2. Chinatown (Best for Culture & Authentic Atmosphere)
Chinatown is Singapore’s historic Chinese quarter, a vibrant neighbourhood where traditional shophouses have been beautifully preserved and converted into trendy cafés, boutique hotels, and artisan shops.
This neighbourhood feels genuinely local, with temples like the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, traditional medicine halls and hawker centres serving some of the best food in the city.
Chinatown offers excellent value for money compared to Marina Bay, with everything from budget hostels to boutique hotels in restored heritage buildings. It’s probably our pick of where to stay, and it’s very central if you are using our Singapore itinerary.
The main downside is that the main tourist strip (Pagoda Street and Smith Street) can feel overly commercialised with souvenir shops. However, venture just a street or two away, and you’re in what feels like a fairly local area of Singapore.
Our Chinatown Hotel Recommendations
The Scarlet Singapore ($$$$) – A stunning boutique hotel in a restored 1920s shophouse with opulent décor, plush rooms, and a rooftop jacuzzi. The attention to detail is remarkable, blending heritage architecture with contemporary luxury.
Mondrian Singapore Duxton ($$$$) – A stylish design hotel in Duxton Hill with 302 contemporary rooms, rooftop infinity pool, and multiple restaurants and bars. Bold interiors blend heritage and modern design.
Amoy Hotel ($$$) – A sophisticated boutique hotel in a beautifully restored heritage shophouse. Features 37 elegant rooms with a unique entrance through the Fuk Tak Chi Museum, a former Chinese temple.
Beary Best! Chinatown ($$) – A highly-rated hostel offering both dorms and private rooms in a great Chinatown location. Clean, well-designed, and perfect for budget travellers who still want character.
3. Orchard Road (Best for Shopping & Central Location)
Orchard Road is Singapore’s premier shopping district, a tree-lined boulevard packed with luxury malls, department stores, and international brands.
It’s a great middle ground: central, well-connected, with plenty of dining options, but without being right in the thick of the tourist sights.
The neighbourhood has evolved beyond just shopping to include excellent restaurants, rooftop bars, and entertainment venues. Emerald Hill nearby offers a glimpse of preserved Peranakan shophouses.
The downside is that Orchard Road is more about convenience than character. It’s urban and commercial rather than atmospheric, and you won’t find the cultural diversity of neighbourhoods like Chinatown or Little India here.
Our Orchard Road Hotel Recommendations
Goodwood Park Hotel ($$$$) – A legendary Singapore hotel, built in 1900, combining colonial elegance with modern amenities. Beautiful gardens, multiple restaurants, and a gorgeous heritage swimming pool.
Shangri-La Singapore ($$$$$) – A legendary five-star hotel set within 15 acres of lush tropical gardens. Award-winning restaurants, spa, two outdoor pools, and complimentary shuttle service to Orchard Road shopping.
Lloyd’s Inn ($$$) – A unique minimalist boutique hotel with a striking contemporary design, small private pools for some rooms, and a peaceful garden setting just off the main Orchard Road buzz.
JEN Singapore Orchardgateway ($$$) – Good-value hotel connected to Orchard MRT station. Modern rooms, rooftop pool, and unbeatable convenience for public transport.
4. Kampong Glam (Best for Bohemian Vibes & Culture)
Kampong Glam is Singapore’s historic Malay-Arab quarter, centred around the stunning Sultan Mosque.
The atmosphere is relaxed and artistic, with Arab Street lined with carpet shops and perfume stores, Haji Lane covered in colourful street art and vintage boutiques, and excellent Middle Eastern and Malay restaurants.
This neighbourhood has a distinct identity that sets it apart from the rest of Singapore. It feels creative and independent, with indie cafés, artisan shops, and a palpable sense of community.
It’s smaller than Chinatown or Little India, so there are fewer hotel options, but the ones that exist tend to be boutique properties full of character.
The main downside is that it can get quite busy on weekends, particularly Haji Lane, which has become Instagram-famous and attracts crowds hunting for the perfect photo backdrop.
Our Kampong Glam Hotel Recommendations
The Sultan ($$$$) – An elegant boutique hotel in a beautifully restored heritage shophouse, designed in Art Deco style. Individually decorated rooms, excellent service, and prime location near the Sultan Mosque.
Wanderlust Hotel ($$$) – A quirky, artistic hotel where each room is uniquely designed by different artists and designers. Bold, colourful, and utterly unlike any other Singapore hotel.
Village Hotel Bugis ($$$) – A modern hotel near Kampong Glam with a rooftop pool, spacious rooms, and excellent connectivity to MRT. Good value and very close to Bugis street market.
Dream Chaser Boutique Capsule Hotel (€€) – A modern capsule hotel near Sultan Mosque offering both pods and private rooms. Clean facilities, friendly staff, and a 10-minute walk from Bugis MRT.
5. Clarke Quay / Boat Quay (Best for Nightlife & Riverside Dining)
Clarke Quay and Boat Quay sit along the Singapore River in beautifully restored colonial shophouses that now house restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.
By day, the riverside is pleasant for strolling, with views of the financial district skyline. By night, it transforms into Singapore’s most vibrant party zone, with everything from riverside cocktail bars to pumping nightclubs.
The area offers a fun, energetic atmosphere with stunning river views and proximity to both the business district and historic neighbourhoods.
You’re also well-positioned for exploring: Chinatown is a short walk away, as is the Colonial District with its museums and historic buildings.
The downside is obvious—this is one of Singapore’s loudest neighbourhoods, especially Thursday through Saturday nights. The riverside bars and clubs stay open late, so light sleepers should choose accommodation on quieter side streets or opt for a different neighbourhood entirely.
Our Clarke Quay/Boat Quay Hotel Recommendations
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore ($$$$$) – An iconic five-star hotel in a magnificently restored 1928 colonial building that once served as the General Post Office. The architecture is stunning, the service impeccable, and the location unbeatable.
Paradox Singapore ($$$$) – A contemporary riverside hotel with outdoor pool, rooftop terrace, and spa. Comfortable rooms, excellent breakfast, and prime location steps from Clarke Quay MRT and nightlife.
Robertson Quay Hotel ($$$) – A boutique hotel slightly removed from the main Clarke Quay party zone but still riverside. Quieter whilst maintaining easy access to the action.
Heritage Collection on Boat Quay ($$) – Modern serviced apartments with kitchenettes, washing machines, and river views. Digital check-in, complimentary laundry facilities, and excellent value in a central riverside location.
6. Little India (Best for Budget Travellers & Cultural Immersion)
Little India is Singapore’s vibrant Indian quarter, where the air smells of curry and jasmine, and the shops overflow with colourful saris and golden jewellery.
The neighbourhood is less polished than the CBD or Marina Bay, and that’s precisely its charm. Serangoon Road is lined with shops selling everything from spices to textiles, whilst temples like Sri Veeramakaliamman offer a glimpse into Singapore’s Hindu heritage.
On weekends, particularly Sundays, the neighbourhood becomes the gathering place for Singapore’s South Asian migrant worker community, creating an incredibly vibrant, bustling atmosphere.
The area is perfectly connected to the rest of Singapore by MRT, so you’re still only 15-20 minutes from major sights.
The main consideration is that Little India is grittier and more chaotic than Singapore’s more manicured neighbourhoods, which some travellers love, and others find overwhelming.
Our Little India Hotel Recommendations
The Vagabond Club ($$$$) – A luxury boutique hotel with individually designed rooms in a restored heritage building. Bold, eclectic décor that reflects the neighbourhood’s character.
Hotel 81 Dickson ($$) – Simple, budget-friendly accommodation in the heart of Little India. Basic but clean rooms at excellent prices, perfect for travellers who plan to spend most of their time exploring.
One Farrer Hotel ($$$) – A modern lifestyle hotel located directly above Farrer Park MRT station. Spacious rooms, huge outdoor pool, and excellent service. Easy access to Little India and well-connected to the rest of Singapore.
Arcadia Hotel ($$) – A boutique hotel in two restored Art Deco shophouses near Little India. Clean, modern rooms with a quiet location. Ten-minute walk to Lavender MRT and close to authentic local eateries.
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