Singapore is one of the best cities in the world, or so we think. We just absolutely love the incredible skyline integrated perfectly with nature. It's a photographers dream and every corner of Singapore has something to offer for every kind of traveler. Even though Singapore is a small city/country there are alot of things to do and many different areas you could stay in. So we've put a list together to help you decide where to stay in Singapore on your visit.
Where to Stay in Singapore - A neighborhood guide.
Below you'll find a neighborhood guide helping you choose where to stay in Singapore based on things like what there is to do nearby, proximity to subway stations, and even some hotel recommendations. If you are planning a trip to Singapore consider bookmarking this page and sharing with your travel buddies!
By booking a hotel through our links we receive a small commission that helps us keep our site up and running at no extra cost to you.
Also, be sure to check out our guide for best things to do in Singapore for your trip.
Orchard Road
THE SCENE
Orchard Road is a great place to stay in Singapore thanks to it’s world famous shopping and beautifully manicured streets. Just taking a stroll down Orchard Road is an amazing experience and you can see why this is one Singapore’s most in-demand neighborhoods. Everything you could possibly imagine or need is tucked away in this beautiful street with lovely architecture that is both futuristic, charming, and filled with nature. We recommend leaving no stone unturned as you take a leisurely stroll soaking in the atmosphere of the rich and famous on Orchard Street.
WHO IT’S FOR
Orchard Street is a must visit for everyone, but it is definitely geared towards people who love to shop at designer stores. Orchard Street has cutting edge everything, from cafés, restaurants, and boutiques this place is a heaven for shoppers and where to stay in Singapore for luxury travelers.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Orchard Road is full of shopping, so much so that you could spend days without even stepping foot in the same store twice. But what’s also great is staying on Orchard Street means you are close to tons of great food options, as well as walking distance to the Botanical Gardens, The National Orchid Garden, Fort Canning Park, Ion Sky, the National Museum and a short subway or taxi ride away from activities like Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, China Towns Street Markets, and Singapore Cable Car to name a few.
Singapore SUBWAY
Orchard TE14 & NS22 (Thomson East-Coast Brown Line) & North South Line
Hotel
If you are staying on Orchard Road than you might as well treat yourself and stay at Shangri-La. We had the priveledge of staying at the Shrangi-La in the Philippines and absolutely loved them.
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Marina Bay Sands
THE SCENE
This is where to stay in Singapore if you're up for hitting up one of the best infinity pools in the world! Marina Bay Sands is a breathtaking blend of nature mixed with modern luxuries. Marina Bay Sands is home to some of the most lavish hotels, impressive skyscrapers, and boasting one of the world’s most recognizable skylines. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also home to some of the best restaurants and entertainment in the world. The iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel has an incredible list of activities as well as nightly laser shows that just can’t be missed.
WHO IT’S FOR
Marina Bay Sands is definitely for everyone, if not just to see the spectacular light and laser shows held at Gardens of the Bay and Marina Bay Sands every night. This is an area you definitely cannot miss on your trip to Singapore!
You can see a clip of the show in our Come Walk With Us Wedding Edition hyperlapse.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
You can easily spend days eating and marveling your way through Marina Bay Sands as it has an impressive list of things to do. But if you stay in the area it’s a great hub to explore nearby activities like Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Golf Course, China Town's Street Markets, and Singapore Cable Car and Orchard Street.
Singapore SUBWAY
Orchard TE14 & NS22
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
If you are going to stay in the Marina Bay area why not go hard and stay at the Marina Bay Sands Resort and enjoy the views and wake up early and be the only person at this insane world-famous infinity pool.
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Clarke Quay
THE SCENE
Clarke Quay and the nearby riverside neighborhood is a fantastic idea for where to stay in Singapore because it is centrally located between Orchard Road and Marina Bay Sands. It is a great place to stay filled with both a bustling nightlife scene, and a place to enjoy some peace and quiet all along the waters edge. Clarke Quay showcases the best of Singapore's incredible nightlife and award winning restaurants. Riverside and Robertson Quay, just located a short walk west, has the same, but a more tame and relaxing version. The area is a blend of financial buildings, old colonial style shops, and impressive Chinese junks all converted into nightclubs, posh pubs, and restaurants. Take a stroll to the mouth of the river and you’ll find amazing architecture of colonial Singapore
WHO IT’S FOR
Clarke Quay is a great neighborhood and a fantastic option of where to stay in Singapore that is definitely a bit more up-scale and caters to the more posh crowd. For food it’s great for everyone as long as your wallet is thick. The night it definitely aiming at attracting the 20-30 somethings.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
What’s great is Clarke Quay and Riverside are centrally located in between Orchard Street & Marina Bay Sands. Both of them boasting a tons of activities on their own. So this is a great location for where to stay in Singapore.
Singapore SUBWAY
Clarke Quay NE5
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
One of the great things of Singapore is the juxtaposition of colonial and modern styles. Jayleen is smackdab in the middle of it, with killer views like the one above but inside of the most adorable colonial building. Seriously go check out their listing photos, the place is adorable AF and gets great reviews and is a steal for Singapore at that price.
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Civic Center
By William Cho. - Overview of Marina Bay Sands with its neighboring attractions..., CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
THE SCENE
Centrally located in Singapore the Civic District is known for it’s important government buildings, museums, parks, and memorial spaces. At night the Civic Center opens to some electric nightlife and of course amazing shopping and restaurant choices.
WHO IT’S FOR
The Civic district is where to stay in Singapore for the person who wants a central location. Walkable to Clarke Quay, Orchard Street, and Marina Bay Sands, this is a great spot. The area itself is great for history buffs and just like any other area in Singapore, a great area if you like to shop and eat.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Just like mentioned above, the location is what makes the Civic District such a great choice for your stay in Singapore. You can easily walk to Clarke Quay, Orchard Street & Marina Bay Sands. All with tons to do.
Singapore SUBWAY
Orchard EW13 & NS25
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
We like the Hangout @ Mt. Emily here because of it's friendly price, review, and central location. The location isn't prime "Civic Center" but Hangout @ Mt. Emily seems the most value for your money in this area and a great option of where to stay in Singapore for budget travelers.
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China Town
THE SCENE
China Town is one of our favorite areas in Singapore and is full of life. Filled with colorful shop-houses, beautiful décor, and one of the best food-stalls in all of Singapore boasting a Michelin star restaurant for only a few bucks. The architecture and food in China Town are to die for and you won't want to leave making this area one of the best places to stay in Singapore.
WHO IT’S FOR
This is where to stay in Singapore if you're a food lover or if you're the type of person charmed by cute little neighborhoods.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Clark Quay, Raffles and Fort Canning Park are all just a short walk away.
Singapore SUBWAY
NE 4 & DT 19
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
We stayed at Hotel 1929 conveniently located on Keong Saik Road one of the most happening areas of Singapore. We absolutely loved the location, decor, and the view of these old colonial homes. Even though the rooms are more compact, they are expertly designed to feel like spacious rooms complete with a cute balcony overlooking this amazing area. Check out our review of Hotel 1929 to see for yourself.
Sentosa Island
THE SCENE
Sentosa is an island that was built for fun and recreation. Think an island that has beaches and theme parks and where to stay in Singapore for any thrill seekers or amusement park junkies. Some of the attractions at Sentosa include Universal Studios Singapore, Tiger Sky Tower, Singapore Butterfly & Insect Kingdom, and SEA aquarium which has one of the largest collections of aquatic animals in the world.
WHO IT’S FOR
This is where to stay in Singapore if you have a family. This is the ultimate destination for families, amusement park seekers, and people just looking to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
You need to take an exhilarating cable car or boat to get to the island, so there isn’t much nearby. The closest city would be Vivo City. But you have all those fun amusement parks and entertainment footsteps away.
Singapore SUBWAY
Harbourfront NE1 & CC29
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
Staying on Sentosa comes at a price, but when you do some digging and look for the best value we believe you'll find it at the Hard Rock Hotel. They have 5 star reviews all over Agoda and it's a brand you can trust.
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Little India
THE SCENE
Little India is the center of the Indian Community in Singapore. OBVIOUSLY. Filled with multi-colored shop-houses that line the streets, stunning mosques and temples, vivid colors, and the aroma of some of delicious Indian food. This is a must-visit neighborhood and where to stay in Singapore if you love culture.
WHO IT’S FOR
In our humble opinion this is a must-explore neighborhood and a great place to stay in Singapore that is totally for everyone. If you are a food or culture lover and like to take photos, this area is your cup of tea.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Little India isn’t as centrally located as some of the other neighborhoods, but you can still get to Sim Lim Square, the City Square Mall, Singapore Art Museum or Bugis Street all by foot. Or take the subway to your next destination.
Singapore SUBWAY
Little India NE7 & DT12
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
We stayed at Wanderlust Hotel and absolutely loved our time. Every floor has a different theme and so does every room. The entire place is Instagram worthy from the fun pop art style room like we stayed in to the french restaurant and the rainbow outdoor whirlpool. You can check out our review of Wanderlust Hotel before you book.
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Bukit Timah
By No machine-readable author provided. Calvin Teo assumed (based on copyright claims). - No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5, Link
THE SCENE
Bukit Timah is the ritzy and expensive neighborhood and where to stay in Singapore for luxury travelers. Located just next to Orchard Road so that you're right next to some of the best shopping in the world.
WHO IT’S FOR
Bukit Timah is great for people traveling for business or luxury. It's also where to stay in Singapore for some of the best shopping in the world.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Bukit Timah is centrally located and right next to Orchard Road, as well as the Singapore Botanic Gardens, The Singapore Island Country Club, as well as it’s very own Nature Reserve.
Singapore SUBWAY
Newton DT11
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
What's great about Bukit Timah is you are removed from the tourist epicenter. Pegasus Boutique Hotel is all secluded by itself and boasts elegant rooms & suites in a relaxed lodging enviroment offering an outdoor pool, a spa & a restaurant.
Bugis and Kampong Glam
THE SCENE
Bugis and Kampong Glam is Singapore’s Arabic/Muslim quarter and the best spot to shop along the bazaars and markets with an authentic Arabic feel to them. There is a huge Hindi influence as well. This is a great place to visit the Bazaar and Flea Market for souvenirs, as well as taste some delicious and exotic cuisine.
WHO IT’S FOR
Bugis and Kampong Glam is where to stay in Singapore for the foodies and people who love the hustle and bustle of a good bazaar. This is also a great area to stay in if you're a budget traveler.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Bugis and Kampong Glam is conveniently located next to a subway making it easy to get out. It’s also right next to Little India, Singapore Art Museum, Al Gafoor Mosque and Kwan Im Thong hood Cho Temple.
Singapore SUBWAY
Bugis DT14
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
The Zen in Kampong Glam gets our nod due to it's great value according to reviews and price. Zen is an unpretentious rooms in a streamlined budget hotel offering casual dining & complimentary breakfast.
Airport & East Singapore
THE SCENE
This area is mostly residential and located just outside the main hub of Singapore. But it does have 20km of white sandy beaches and some of the best restaurants. Changi is also known as one of the most beautiful and efficient airports in the world with great shopping and on site activities.
WHO IT’S FOR
We stayed here for a few days and loved it. This is where to stay in Singapore if you're on a budget or are looking to get a local feel since this is where so many people live. Beach lovers and business travelers would find this great since it’s close proximity to both the beach and Changi Airport. It’s really easy to get into town from here using local transport.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
The beach, Changi Airport, and some great food hawker stalls for seafood in the country are located nearby.
Singapore SUBWAY
It really depends on where you end up staying but your looking at the Green Line by Changi, perhaps Eunos, Kembangan, Bedok or Tanah Merah.
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
The Amber Hotel gets our vote here for two reasons. If we are coming to this area we want to be as close to the beach as possible, and be able to take a ride share app car to/from the subway/city. At $50 under the nearest hotels per night with a 4 star rating thats good enough for us.
Geylang
THE SCENE
Geylang is an interesting corner of Singapore. It’s in Geylang you can find charming architecture and shophouses dating back to the 1900s, however, it’s also slated for redevelopment. So who knows what this town will look like in the future. In the meantime it’s a charming area that was once the red light district that is turning itself around with an Indian presence and some more famous eateries and dishes such as the local wonton noodle dishes found down the side streets.
WHO IT’S FOR
This is where to stay in Singapore for really anyone but it’s also a bit more budget friendly for a city where it's hard to find nice budget options. This is also a great place to stay in Singapore if you want to witness a more preserved version of the city while you still can before it all changes like the rest of the city.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Geylang is a bit outside of the main area of Singapore, so the closest attractions would be the beach, Little India, the National Stadium, 112 Katong Mall & Suntec City.
Singapore SUBWAY
Depends on where you stay, but could be Paya Lebar, Aljunied, Kallang etc.
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
Amber Hotel gets our vote for this neighborhood as well, even though it's a bit removed for similar reasons as before. You can check here to see it as well as hotels nearby.
