“The complete guide to finding the best places to stay in Singapore”
Finding Accommodation in Singapore: Overview
This ‘Singapore Accommodation Guide’ has been designed to provide you with everything you need to know about finding hotels in Singapore.
Regardless of whether you are an international tourist, domestic tourist, businessman or ex-pat looking for a ‘staycation’, this is your insider guide to finding Singapore’s best accommodation choices to suit your individual preferences.
Fortunately, Singapore has something for everyone in hotels, apartments, condos, hostels and boutique hotels. Typically, Singapore gets classified as an ‘expensive’ place to visit. And although there is some truth to this, Singapore does have many budget-oriented hostels and capsule hotels that cater to backpackers and budget travellers. You can also find a lot of family-friendly places to stay as well. For instance, Sentosa Island is one of the best places to stay if you are travelling with children.
Singapore accommodation choices are conveniently spread all over the city. Whether you are doing business downtown or elsewhere, you shouldn’t be too far from hotels, apartments and hotels.
What kind of accommodation choices are available in Singapore?
Singapore is loaded with a massive selection of high-quality hotels and apartments to choose from. A quick search on major accommodation sites such as Agoda or Booking.com reveals hundreds of different hotels that range from ultra-luxury to budget.
Luxury Hotels
Affluent visitors to Singapore are particularly well taken care of in terms of 5-star hotels. The city boasts some of the best luxury hotels in all of Asia. Raffles Singapore and The Fullerton Bay Hotel are two examples that you may want to consider. Many of these properties are located in the Marina Bay area, which features one of the world’s nicest skylines. These properties tend to have outstanding facilities and world-class service standards.
Over the last ten years, staycations have become much more popular in Singapore. Consequently, these super luxurious properties are an ideal retreat for not only foreign guests to the city. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply seeking a relaxing weekend, Singapore’s five-star properties, we’ll be sure to impress.
Mid-Range Hotels
Singapore has a wide range of 3 and 4-star hotels as well. These tend to be the most popular choice for families and middle-class tourists in the city. Even though they are cheaper than 5-star hotels, many of the three and four-star hotels in Singapore are managed by large corporations. As a result, many of them are well maintained with a wide range of services and amenities. You can still expect to find gym facilities, spa facilities and indoor or outdoor pools.
Due to Singapore’s extensive MRT network, these properties are well serviced by public transportation. This is especially true in the downtown area of the city. Sentosa Island also has many mid-range properties that are popular with families visiting the city.
The three and 4-star hotels in Singapore are considerably cheaper than the most expensive 5-star hotels. You can save hundreds of dollars per night by finding a 3-star property in a convenient area that receives positive review scores from guests. Food and beverages are also cheaper than in Singapore’s ultra-luxurious hotels.
Budget-Friendly Boutique Hotels and Hostels
Singapore accommodation is more expensive than in nearby countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Although this is true, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a wide selection of budget properties available. You can still save money in Singapore by making proactive planning decisions and staying in some regions of the city. Singapore has many boutique hotels and hostels to choose from to avoid ‘breaking the bank’.
Areas such as Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Little India, Kampong Glam and Geylang are particularly famous for being ‘backpacker’ zones in Singapore. Restaurants here tend to be cheaper, and they offer convenient access to MRT stations.
You will be surprised by how innovative Singapore’s budget accommodation industry is.
The Development of more Capsules
More and more interesting ‘pod’ and ‘capsule’ hotels have opened over the last 5 years. Traditionally, one of the major downsides of staying in a hostel is the lack of privacy that is offered in ‘dorm rooms’ shared between numerous people. Singapore has worked towards eliminating this lack of privacy by opening up ‘capsule hotels’. Capsule hotels are a practical option in Singapore if you want more privacy than a traditional hostel while saving more money than staying in a hotel.
If you want to save the most money while booking accommodation in Singapore, then hostels are still the most affordable option. Many hostels in Singapore include continental breakfast which can also save you serious money over the course of a 3-4 day stay in the city. In general, the more people staying in a room, the cheaper it is. Many hostels in Singapore have a few private rooms as well, but they tend to be considerably more expensive than the dorm rooms.
Also, take note that most of Singapore’s hostels arrange their doom rooms according to gender. Hence, females and males are typically separated for safety purposes. Video surveillance is the norm in hostels so you can expect more safety and security than in most places around the world.
What are the most popular areas to stay in Singapore?
Singapore accommodation is distributed all over the city. However, there are some mean areas that seem to attract tourists year after year. Where you decide to stay in Singapore really depends on your budget and how convenient you want your trip to be?
Staying near Marina Bay
If saving money is not a big priority, then staying at a luxury hotel such as Marina Bay Sands or the Fullerton Bay Hotel is hard to beat. Both of these properties are located in iconic Marina Bay.
Marina Bay has become world-famous for a few different reasons. First of all, this is the ideal place to capture breathtaking skyline photos and to visit some of Singapore’s most famous attractions such as:
- Merlion
- Singapore Flyer
- Gardens by the Bay
- Sands SkyPark
- ArtScience Museum
- Red Dot Design Museum
- Marina Barrage
Aside from being in one of the most picturesque areas of all Singapore, another benefit of staying near Marina Bay Sands is direct access to multiple MRT stations. Getting to Marina Bay from the airport is also very straightforward using MRT.
You can expect the hotels in Marina Bay Sands to be quite expensive, however. This is regarded as one of the ‘trendiest’ areas for affluent visitors to the city. There are simply too many photo opportunities to be missed by staying elsewhere (if you can afford it!). Conveniently, you can walk to a few shopping malls around Marina Bay such as Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Marina Square and Suntec City.
Highest rated hotels near Marina Bay in Singapore
Most of the hotels within walking distance of Marina Bay in Singapore are five-star properties. If you want to book a room that overlooks Marina Bay, then make sure you do so well in advance of your intended travel dates. Typically, hotels in this area offer you the choice of “Marina View” or “City View”. It is definitely worth paying a premium to capture breathtaking views of Marina Bay while you are staying at a hotel in this area. Therefore, opt for “Marina View” unless your travel budget doesn’t allow for it!
Many of Marina Bay’s hotels ranked among the top luxury hotels in all of Singapore. They consistently receive review scores that are close to 9/10 on major accommodation sites such as Agoda and booking.com.
The top three hotels right beside Marina Bay at the time of writing are:
- The Fullerton Bay Hotel (5-star, 9.4/10 review score)
- The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore (5-star, 9.2/10 review score)
- Marina Bay Sands (5-star, 9.0/10 review score)
Needless to say, if you stay at any one of these properties, you will get top-notch service, spectacular rooms and world-class amenities. You can also walk to neighbouring MRT from all three of these hotels in 5 minutes or less.
MUST-READ: Learn more about all of the hotels around Marina Bay in Singapore with this comprehensive guide.
Staying in Chinatown
This Singapore accommodation guide wouldn’t be complete without a discussion of where to stay in Chinatown.
Chinatown in Singapore is one of the best places to stay in the city. It is regarded as one of the most popular areas for budget travellers and backpackers visiting Singapore. Although there are many benefits of staying in Chinatown, it is incredibly popular because it is an affordable area to book rooms and eating out is cheap here relative to other areas of Singapore. You can walk to many cultural attractions such as Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple.
You can find clean, well-priced hostels and boutique hotels in Chinatown that are very close to many street markets and hawker stalls. Therefore, if you stay here, you can spend three or four nights here without breaking the bank and exceeding your trip budget.
An added benefit of staying in Singapore’s Chinatown is convenient access to public transportation such as the MRT. You can easily use this comprehensive guide to get from Changi Airport to Chinatown using the MRT. It is cheap and convenient relative to booking a taxi or private vehicle. Furthermore, it is surprisingly easy to get to Chinatown from other areas of the city using public transport.
Chinatown in Singapore has an extensive selection of hotels to choose from. Most hotels are in the 2-3 star range. There are a few 4-5 star properties, but they are the exception and not the norm. Various ‘capsule’ hotels in Chinatown are also worth checking out. They receive solid review scores from verified guests. Most of the hotels and hostels here are only a few hundred meters southeast of Chinatown Station.
Highest rated hotels and hostels in Chinatown Singapore
Many of the hotels and hostels in Chinatown receive review scores ranging from 7-7.8/10 on major booking websites. But there are a few properties that consistently get reviewed more positively.
Some of the best places to stay in Chinatown are:
- CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Chinatown (2-star, 8.6/10 review score)
- PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore (5-star, 9.1/10 review score)
- Chic Capsule Otel (2-star, 8.6/10 review score)
You can walk to any of these three properties in under 5 minutes from Chinatown Station. There are lots of other places to stay so shop around before confirming.
MUST-READ: Learn more about all the best areas to stay in Singapore with this comprehensive guide.
Singapore Accommodation Guide
What are the best 5-star hotels in Singapore?
Singapore has an extensive selection of 5-star hotels and apartments. When we completed a quick search on Agoda, well over 50 luxury properties were available for bookings. Some of these are luxury hotels, whereas others are apartments with a range of facilities.
When you consider just the 5-star hotels in Singapore (excluding the apartments), you will notice that even though they are classified as 5-star properties, the range of luxury varies significantly. Therefore, don’t think that all of Singapore’s 5-star properties are similar in terms of price, amenities, service standards and experience.
What to expect when staying at 5-star hotels in Singapore?
If you plan on staying at a five-star hotel in Singapore if you can expect world-class service standards. Similarly, Singapore’s best hotels are known to have spotless rooms. Cleaning standards in Singapore are extremely high in comparison to many Southeast Asian countries.
Safety is rarely an issue at high-end hotels in the city. Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world and you shouldn’t have any issues related to theft while staying at top-notch hotels. Typically, 5-star hotels have CCTV outside and throughout common areas.
Five-star hotels in Singapore have a wide range of facilities to enjoy such as:
- Swimming pools
- Fitness centers (gyms)
- Spas
- Bars
- Cafes
- Restaurants
Breakfast and dinner choices tend to be superb, with a wide selection of both local and international dishes.
The Top-Rated 5-Star Hotels in Singapore
To find the top five star hotels in Singapore we completed a comprehensive online search using Agoda. This is one of the largest accommodation websites in the world and it features tons of hotels in Singapore. In order to filter our search results, we selected ‘5-star hotels’ and ‘review score’.
This ranked all luxury properties in Singapore and provided a numerical value to summarize the ‘review scores’ that were created by verified guests. Obviously, certain hotels will suit your personal preferences more than others. Therefore, do not rely only on the review score. You should consider variables such as location, price, services and amenities before you book your room.
Raffles Singapore (9.2/10, 670+ reviews from verified guests)
Raffles Singapore is one of the most famous hotels in all of Asia. It is the ideal venue to spend an unforgettable special occasion. Expect colonial elegance and unmatched personalized service. Many world-famous guests have stayed at Raffles Singapore over the years and for good reason. It is also located in the heart of the business and civic district, and a 5-minute walk from City Hall MRT Station and Raffles City Shopping Centre.
The Fullerton Bay Hotel (9.2/10, 1050+ reviews from verified guests)
If you want a perfect view of Marina Bay Sands this is the perfect place to stay. It is situated right in the heart of Singapore’s central business district, surrounded by impressive skyscrapers. You will enjoy a spectacular exterior design and stylish interiors and 100 luxurious rooms and suites accompanied by stunning waterfront views and first-class facilities.
Also, take note that The Fullerton Bay Hotel is within walking distance of major attractions such as Merlion Park, Esplanade Theatres, and Singapore Flyer.
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore (9.2/10, 1000+ reviews from verified guests)
Also rated as a strong 9.2/10 at the time of writing, the Capitol Kempinski Hotel is a beautiful property. It is situated in a stylishly restored building that is extremely photogenic. Aside from its catchy facade, it is also conveniently located within walking distance of City Hall MRT Station (and also Esplanade Station).
If you stay at the Capitol Kempinski, you can also walk to Marina Bay and attractions such as the Merlion and Esplanade.
Sofitel Singapore City Centre (9.2/10, 580+ reviews from verified guests)
Unlike the other best 5-star hotels listed above, the Sofitel Singapore City Centre is located a bit west of the main ‘Marine Bay sightseeing area’. It is south of Chinatown and a few minutes away from Tanjong Pagar Station. This property is in a great location if you plan on doing business while in the city.
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore (9.1/10, 1480+ reviews from verified guests)
If you are planning on shopping in Singapore, then there is no better place than Orchard Road. Fortunately, the Four Seasons Hotel is located right in the heart of this shopping mecca! Minutes from both Orchard MRT Station and Orchard Road, if you stay here, you can easily access tons of shopping malls.
What are the best 4-star hotels in Singapore?
Similar to 5-star hotels, Singapore has a healthy selection of 4-star properties to choose from. When we completed a search on Agoda, there were 91 hotels listed at the time of writing. This means that there are way more 4-star hotels than 5-star hotels in Singapore. This makes sense, considering that they are cheaper and cater to a wider range of visitors. You will find 4-star hotels scattered all over Singapore, with the exception of Marina Bay, where 5-stars dominate the famous skyline.
What should you expect at 4-star hotels in Singapore?
Many of Singapore’s 4-star hotels offer similar (but less luxurious facilities) in comparison to the city’s elite 5-star properties.
- Swimming pools
- Fitness centers (gyms)
- Spas
- Bars
- Cafes
- Restaurants
Also, expect the selection of restaurants to be more limited than at 5-star hotels. Gym facilities should still be clean and well maintained, but smaller with less equipment to choose from. Buffet meals still should be good, but may not have the same extensive selection of international choices as 5-star hotels.
Many 4-star hotels in Singapore are owned and operated by smaller private companies as opposed to world-wide international chains. Consequently, it’s important for you to read guest reviews before booking and to look into ‘review scores’. Most of the best 4-star hotels in Singapore are rated between 8.5-8.9 out of 10. Needless to say, if you book a ‘positively’ reviewed 4-star property, you shouldn’t have issues with cleanliness, safety or convenience.
Once you begin booking low rated properties, you are taking a gamble and expecting substandard services and amenities. Stick with the top-rated hotels, and you shouldn’t have any issues.
The Top-Rated 4-Star Hotels in Singapore
After completing an extensive search on Agoda, we have found the highest rated 4-star hotels in Singapore.
Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong (9.0/10, 2,050+ reviews from verified guests)
If you are looking for a reasonably-priced, top-rated hotel in Singapore, then this is it! With a great infinity pool and artistically designs rooms, guests love the fine touches of this hotel. There are lots of restaurants around Hotel Indigo, making it a convenient and affordable place to stay. Also, take note that it has a fitness centre and a pool area with awesome views of the surrounding area.
Capri by Fraser China Square Singapore (8.9/10, 590+ reviews from verified guests).
Nestled in Chinatown, this hotel is in an awesome location for sightseeing in Singapore. You can access the big-time attractions in Chinatown within minutes of this hotel. It is also only a few minutes away from Chinatown MRT Station. Expect to find many affordable restaurants and cafes in this area of Singapore. And let’s not forget about street markets.
Chinatown is one of the best areas to stay in Singapore. Expect busy narrow streets and photogenic corners. According to guest reviews, this hotel ranks 9.3/10 in terms of cleanliness.
Iyf Funan Singapore (8.9/10, 125+ reviews from verified guests)
Ideally located next to Fort Canning Park and minutes from Marina Bay, Iyf Funan Singapore is a great place to stay. It has super modern rooms and amenities with an artistic touch. If you want to see some creative interior designs, this is where you should stay. It scores 9.5/10 for location since it is ideally located only minutes from City Hall MRT Station.
YOTEL Singapore Orchard Road (8.8/10, 9,050+ reviews from verified guests)
If you enjoy shopping, then YOTEL Singapore Orchard Road is the ideal place to access the wide selection of malls along Orchard Road. This is Singapore’s premier shopping district with tons of shopping malls, restaurants and eateries.
YOTEL Singapore is conveniently located within a few minutes of Orchard MRT Station. This makes it an affordable property to access public transport while having direct access to all the nearby malls. This hotel receives a 9.5/10 rating for breakfast and a 9.2/10 rating for cleanliness.
Oasia Hotel Downtown Singapore by Far East Hospitality (8.8/10, 1,970+ reviews from verified guests)
Oasia Hotel is a modern property that has a catchy green facade. It features modern recreational facilities. You can enjoy a fitness centre, outdoor pool and a good location near Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. It receives a cleanliness rating of 9/10 according to verified guests.
What are the best budget hotels in Singapore?
When you start looking at 2-3 star hotels and hostels in Singapore, you are looking at one of the most competitive markets out there. According to Agoda, there are well over one hundred and twenty 3-star properties in Singapore and over one hundred and twenty 2-star properties. Needless to say, you should have no problem finding something that suits your personal preferences!
Budget accommodation in Singapore can be classified according to boutique hotels, hostels and capsule hotels. Capsule hotels are sort of a hybrid between traditional hotels and hostels. Since private hotel rooms in Singapore tend to be quite expensive, capsule hotels have become very popular over the last 10 years. They offer more privacy than a shared dorm room, but they are cheaper than a private hotel room.
Similar to high-end luxury hotels in Singapore, there are many budget properties scattered throughout the city that receive very positive reviews. Expect to find many places rated well over 8.5/10 according to guest reviews.
Budget friendly areas include Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Clarke Quay and Geylang. Chinatown, in particular, is a popular spot for budget travellers and backpackers. Not only can you find cheap rooms, but food is also cheap. Public transport is also nearby (Chinatown Station).
Dorm rooms are still the cheapest accommodation option in Singapore. Many of them are segregated according to gender. Expect to share bathroom facilities at hostels. Many hostels in Singapore are strict with ‘quiet hours’, but if you are concerned about noise at night, you might want to consider paying more for a private room.
The Best Budget Hotels and Hostels in Singapore
To find the top rated budget hotels and hostels in Singapore, we filtered our Agoda search to show only 1,2 and 3-star properties. Then, we searched for the properties which have received the top reviews. The results indicate that there are tons of properties with positive reviews!
Dream Lodge (2-star, 9.3/10, 1,025 reviews from verified guests)
Dream Lodge is Singapore’s top-rated budget property according to review scores. With a 9.3/10 score and over 1000 reviews, you know this is a well-managed place to stay. This is like a capsule hotel because it features ‘sleep pods’ that offer additional privacy compared to traditional dorm rooms. You can also book dorm rooms here for a cheaper price. It rates super high in terms of comfort, cleanliness and service. The closest MRT Station is Bendemeer which is a few minutes away.
CapsulePod@Aljunied (2-star, 9.2/10, 319 reviews from verified guests)
This property features capsules that offer guests additional sound blocking and privacy while sleeping. It is located in the Geylang area of the city, which is known to be affordable. Expect spotless capsules with modern amenities. It receives a 9.3/10 ‘value for money’ score according to verified guests. It is right beside Aljunied MRT Station, which is super convenient for getting to Changi Airport and other tourist attractions.
Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Chinatown (2-star, 8.8/10, 2,336+ reviews from verified guests)
If you want to stay in the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown, then this is a great option. Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Chinatown has a ‘fantastic breakfast’ according to guests. It is also only a few hundred meters away from Chinatown Station (2-3 minutes by foot). Expect modern amenities, a trendy bar and thick capsule walls for sound blockage. This place is hard to beat, considering its superb location and very competitive prices!
Chic Capsules (2-star, 8.8/10, 1,979+ reviews from verified guests)
Another solid option in Chinatown is Chic Capsules. It has a 9.5/10 ‘location’ score because you can walk to Chinatown Station in only 2 minutes. It has a 9.4/10 ‘service score’ and a 94% ‘satisfaction score’ for its breakfast offering. Expect to find a solid range of capsules to choose from.
Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam (2-star, 8.8/10, 1,561+ reviews from verified guests)
A cool and underrated area to stay in Singapore is Kampong Glam. This is a cultural neighbourhood with lots to see and do. It’s also home to Haji Lane and Arab Street – two streets worth checking out! Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam is located right in the heart of this area, only a few minutes from Bugis Station. It has exceptional service and receives superb ‘breakfast’ reviews. Expect private capsules that make you feel like you have your own private room!
Frequently Asked Questions about Hotels in Singapore
What is the best area to stay in Singapore if you are travelling with children?
Sentosa Island is hard to beat if you have kids! Not only does Sentosa have public beaches to enjoy, it’s loaded with world-class attractions like Universal Studios. It has a healthy selection of hotels, villas and resorts to choose from and lots of space for children to run around.
You might also consider Marina Bay. There is lots of room for walking around (strollers) and there are family-friendly attractions such as Cloud Forest, Flower Dome and TreeTop Walk worth exploring.
How much do 5-star hotels cost in Singapore?
Under normal conditions, 5-star hotels in Singapore range from S$200 dollars per night to well over S$1000 per night. The best luxury hotels in Singapore, such as Raffles Singapore, for example, often cost at least S$500 per night. Expect to pay more during weekends and peak travel periods when the demand goes up.
How much do the cheapest rooms cost in Singapore?
The cheapest hotel rooms in Singapore tend to be in shared dorms. Generally, the more people in a room, the cheaper it is per person. At the time of writing, the cheapest rooms in Singapore ranged from S$25 per night to S$30. This is considerably more expensive than in other Southeast Asian cities but much cheaper than luxury hotels in Singapore.
What hotel in Singapore has the best skyline views?
The Marina Bay area of Singapore is world-famous for its breathtaking skyline views. Try to book a room at Marina Bay Sands to get the best possible views. When you book a room, you will have a choice to get a city room. Book a city view room, and you will not be disappointed!
Can you get to hotels in Singapore using MRT directly from the airport?
It is very common for guests to Singapore to use public transport to and from Changi Airport. Most hotels throughout the city can be accessed using the MRT. Simply go to Changi Station, and then you can take the MRT into the city. In most cases, it takes anywhere from 35 minutes to 1 hour to reach major hotel districts from the airport. You can also get a taxi directly from Changi Airport, but the MRT is considerably cheaper.
What is the safest area in Singapore to stay?
Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world with a strict justice system. Therefore, relative to other places, you shouldn’t worry too much about safety while you are in the city. Most major tourist areas are safe in Singapore. For example, the Marina Bay area and Sentosa Island are perfect examples of safe places to stay with little crime risk. Hotels closer to party areas may get a bit wilder at night with more noise and minor disturbances.
Do you have any more questions about booking a hotel in Singapore?
We truly hope that this Singapore accommodation guide has been detailed enough to help you find the right hotel in the right area of the city. Some of the most important variables you have to consider include your personal budget, whether you are travelling with children, and what attractions you plan to visit.
If you are celebrating a special occasion, then search for the top-rated 5-star hotels. Some of these hotels in Singapore are truly world-class and will impress even the most experienced travellers. However, if you are on a ‘shoe-string’ budget, then opt for a modern capsule hotel that balances cost and privacy.
Also, remember to book a property as close as possible to an MRT station. This will ensure that you can get around the city fast and save money while doing so. Parking costs are expensive in Singapore so avoid using a private vehicle if you are concerned about your budget.