Best Areas to Stay in Singapore (Budget and Luxury Suggestions)

We spent so much time in Singapore that we were able to get around so many places and so create a good comparison. Locating the best area to stay in Singapore is a game changer, and we are here to help you.

Even though the country is so small, there are many different areas. The metro is kind of slow, and sometimes, you might end up so far away from the attractions that you’ll regret the choice.

During our trips, we’ve stayed in some of the most iconic neighbourhoods, often away from the popular areas (as we like more local places). Still with ease to reach Marina Sand, the bay and the gardens, but saving on accommodation costs. Well, the good old way of backpacking.

In this guide, we’ll compare areas of Singapore, some you might haven’t heard of before, and give some tips from our experience.

Where to stay in Singapore?

The best place to stay in Singapore depends on your priorities. Do you want luxury near Marina Bay or authentic vibes in Chinatown? Are you seeking nightlife around Clarke Quay or affordable digs in Little India?

Singapore is compact, so many areas are within a short MRT ride. However, staying in the right neighbourhood saves time and adds character to your visit.

Also, you should consider how long you are staying in Singapore, as this can determine the right location, whether close to popular sights or steps away from the airport. Below are some of our favourite suggestions.

9 best areas to stay in Singapore

Here’s our curated list of Singapore’s best neighbourhoods based on convenience, price, and nearby attractions.

Marina Bay

If budget isn’t your concern, Marina Bay tops the list. This iconic area boasts high-end hotels like Marina Bay Sands, jaw-dropping skyline views, and attractions like Gardens by the Bay.

It is the centre of Singapore and the most popular area. We explored it many times, but I have to be fai, it is the perfect neighbourhood where the annual F1 Grand Prix takes place. The atmosphere is brilliant.

Look at Marina Bay as your home in Singapore only if you have a high budget. Think about that: a standard room at the iconic Marina Sand starts from $600 per night, booking in advance. Besides the high price of accommodation, there are still many activities for free at Marina Bay, so you can save somewhere.

Pros: Luxurious, scenic, and centrally located.
Cons: Expensive and lacks budget options.

Chinatown | Perfect for first-timers on a budget

Chinatown is still authentic but busy and touristy. In our opinion, it has remained full of character and charm. Still, during the day, it offers bustling streets, souvenir shops, and overpriced restaurants, but on the side roads, you can find the affordable hawker centre.

The Sacred Temple of Tooth Relic is the centre of action, so I suggest staying here. At night, you’ll experience everything typical of Chinatown, with street food, a vibrant market, and cheap drinks.

Chinatown’s MRT connects you to the rest of the city in less than 20 minutes on each side. It’s one of the best places to stay in Singapore for first-timers. Read our guide to Chinatown Singapore for more!

Best places to stay in Chinatown Singapore

M Hotel // Mid-Range // $208 per night (€200 | £165) // RESERVE HERE!

Dao by Dorsett // 8.8 Rating 1000+ Reviews // $230 per night (€215 | £180) // CHECK NOW!

The Fullerton // 5-star with 9.3 Reviews Rating // $500 per night (€480 | £400) // BOOK HERE!

Why Orchard is the Best Area for Shopping Lovers?

Orchard Road is Singapore’s shopping mecca. If you love retail therapy, this is the place to be. Write down the name of this street even if you aren’t staying around here. Hotels in Orchard Road aren’t the cheapest ones, and we keep them in the range from mid-tier to luxury.

The best hotel on Orchard Road is the Marriott Tang Plaza, while two other good options are the Pullman and the Ascott. All three options are a little up the roof for budget travellers, but hey, you are on Orchard Road.

Overall, Orchard Road is an excellent choice for families or couples who enjoy modern comforts. To give you a hint, check out the YOTEL, which is the “cheapest” hotel in Orchard Road, yet with good service for $90 (£77 | €84) per night.

Little India and Bugis Village

Little India and Bugis Village are perfect for budget travellers. We explored Little India and were amazed by the unique atmosphere.

However, we were more blown away by Bugis Village, which is colourful, buzzy, well-connected, and budget-friendly. This is the best area for backpackers, and it’s not a secret you’ll find us here next time in Singapore.

It has great eateries (very cheap), and Hawker Centres are open until late. Bugis is a short walk away from Little India and Arab Street, two other areas we love in the tiny country.

This proximity adds to the perks of staying in Bugis, a more casual area, mostly locals with a good range of budget accommodations.

We enjoyed visiting Mustafa Centre for bargains and grabbing a beer at Olibier Rooftop Bar after a long day of exploring.

It isn’t easy to find great hotels that match a mid-range budget with great reviews and ratings in Little India, so we felt the urgency to share our suggestions:

Citadines Rochor // 8.4 Rating 4000+ Reviews // $125 per night (€120 | £100) // CHECK NOW!

Hilton Garden Inn // 4-star with 7.9 Reviews Rating // BOOK HERE!

Katong

Katong flies under the radar, but it’s a gem for conscious and slow travellers. I found out about this area because I was invited by a Singaporean Friend for a day of climbing (well, I was at the wrong facility). Katong isn’t a touristy area, but people know it because of the Peranakan Houses (Read our full guide here). 

Known for its heritage culture, this area offers boutique hotels and a quieter vibe. We loved walking around, trying different local cafes and famous laksa stalls.

It’s a bit further from central attractions (45 minutes by bus to Marina Bay). However, if you want to experience local charm, Katong is a fantastic pick.

The best places to stay in Katong are: 

Santa Grand Hotel East Coast
Hotel Indigo
Village Hotel Katong

Clarke Quay

We had fun at Clarke Quay, which is definitely a hotspot for accommodations in Singapore. It is a little pricey, though. Clarke Quay is where Singapore comes alive at night, with nice and cute bars, outdoor riverside restaurants, and vibrant energy. It is perfect if you want to have long walks and stay close to the centre and main attractions.

During our stay, we appreciated the mix of nightlife and calm daytime vibes along the river. We didn’t stay here, but we appreciated the area when we visited while in Singapore for a long time. Mid-range and boutique accommodations are popular in Clarke Quay but definitely not for budget travellers.

The location is perfect and makes it easy to explore other neighbourhoods because it is central within the tiny country. From Clarke Quay is easy to explore the Singapore National Gallery, walk through Fort Canning Park and visit one of the most instagrammable staircases in Singapore.

By the way, a short distance from there, we snapped the most epic photo of Singapore with the Old Police station in the background.

The best places to stay in Clarke Quay are:

The Robertson House: This hotel has the best service in Singapore, and it’s actually managed by Ascott Group. It’s not the most budget-friendly, but you will stay in Singapore in style. You must enjoy the rooftop pool, with a perfect view of Singapore, one of the best in the city. SEE AVAILABILITY!

Paradox Singapore Merchant Court: One of the most beautiful and finely curated hotels in central Singapore. Over 6K positive reviews and mid-range prices for great serviced spacious rooms. CHECK PRICES HERE!

Heritage Collection on Boat Quay: An old heritage house converted into a boutique hotel by the river. Essential but still unique, reviews boost the hotel for the friendly staff and extremely polite service. It’s the best affordable hotel you will find near Clarke Quay. Check the availability for your dates.

Pasir Ris

Pasir Ris is the easiest, most convenient, and closest residential area to Singapore Changi Airport. The first time we visited Singapore, we stayed here. Pasir Ris isn’t often mentioned in travel blogs about Singapore, and we can’t blame them. It’s out of the way!

However, this is the right spot if you plan to stay longer in Singapore. The area is still in development, but there are already many private condos converted into Airbnb and serviced apartments.

While you might not be in the centre or have breakfast included, these spaces are peaceful, and you’ll have an on-site pool, gym, and even co-working. Yes, we had all of that. The commuting takes about 1 hour, door to door to the city centre, but acting fast, you might grab a deal.

Best places to stay in Pasir Ris:

D’Resort @ Downtown East, located just 9 km from Singapore Airport, is perfect for a few days of relaxing in a local area of the small state. CHECK AVAILABILITY HERE!

Singapore Expo

IIf you’re visiting for an event or travelling on business, Singapore Expo is a strategic location. You’ll have easy access to the airport, and so some shopping includes visiting Changi Business Park.

If you are in Singapore for a short layover or just a couple of days, this is the right location for you.

Best places to stay around the Singapore Expo

Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, for a bit of luxury, a great breakfast buffet and walking distance from the expo and conference halls. Check availability.

Q Loft Hotels is perfect for budget travellers who want to stay close to the Expo and the airport. Nice and finely decorated room, with nice small loft and apartments for longer stay as well. Book it here.

Sentosa | Perfect for families

We left it for last, not because it isn’t the best area, but because it is expensive, and ideal only if you want to spend quiet time on the beach. Sentosa is the perfect area to stay in Singapore for families and luxury travellers.

From Universal Studios to beautiful beaches, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. Staying in Sentosa you will feel like you are on a mini holiday within Singapore.

To be honest it’s a dream, starting already from taking the cable car to pass from the mainland to the dreamy shoreline.

However, Sentosa isn’t budget-friendly. If you’re looking for an affordable stay, you’re better off visiting the island for a day trip. Anyway, these are our suggestions for accommodations in Sentosa Island:

The Barracks Hotel Sentosa is a 5-star luxury resort with incredible facilities and a picture-perfect pool. Already booking this standard room, you will feel the deep touch of luxury, the stone bath is something out of this world. The hotel features each room touches that will take you back on time. It’s unique and, in some ways, pretty ok price-wise. BOOK NOW!

Village Hotel Sentosa has the best rooftop pool on the island and incredible amenities. The four-star hotel is located in a strategic position, within walking distance from the Adventure Cove Waterpark and the S.E.A. Aquarium. BOOK HERE!

W Singapore – Sentosa Cove is one of the most popular hotels in Sentosa, Singapore. This is the only luxury hotel in this part of the island, the Cove Marina. All around, you will find essential shopping, great business districts and tropical beaches. SEE AVAILABILITY HERE!

Where backpackers stay in Singapore?

Finding an affordable place as a backpacker in Singapore is very difficult. When you find it, is better to book ASAP. The best area to stay in Singapore as a backpacker is Little India.

Still affordable and a vibrant neighbourhood during the day and at night. Also, you’ll be very close to the Muslim District, with Haji Lane as the perfect hub to meet other travellers. Little India offers great budget-friendly hostels, some nice hawker centres and an active market during the day.

The district is levelling up its offering, with some co-working and co-living spaces opening up. This makes it perfect if you plan to visit Singapore as a Digital Nomad.

Plus, with the MRT right around the corner, exploring the rest of the city is easy and just a 20-minute ride away.

Best hostels in Singapore

The Bohemian | This is the most popular hostel in Singapore, offering several types of rooms, up to 16 bunk beds, but also female-only dorms and en-suites for couples. The Bohemian has over 2.5K reviews, with the super wi-fi and central location. Check availability; it sells fast!

Backpacker Cozy Corner Guesthouse | The location of this hostel is perfect for two reasons: During the day, you can stay around Bugis Street or travel around with the MRT right in front of the door. At night, visit Haji Lane and enjoy the Singapore nightlife. The hostel is affordable for backpackers, and has a lot of cheap eateries surrounding, which makes your trip to Singapore possible on a budget. Check availability here!

BEAT. Sports Hostel | The cheapest hostel in Singapore is Beat, which offers bunk beds in 6 to 14 dorms. The hostel is fun with tons of free activities, walking tours and communal areas to meet friends and catch up with work. This is the best affordable accommodation for backpackers in Singapore.

Dream Lodge @ Farrer Park | Located in the central Lavender Street, the hostel is housed in a 1950s shophouse surrounded by 3 MRT stations (Closest Station: Downtown Line – Bendemeer Station). The 18-bunk bed, mixed dorm is the cheapest option, but it also offers a solo female dorm. Check the options.

Best area to stay in Singapore for couples

For a romantic escape, Marina Bay is the best area to stay in Singapore for couples. Booking your hotel here often gives access to nice walks on the promenade, or for a few bucks more, you can have a nice view of Singapore.

This area offers the best view and access to iconic landmarks like Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, ideal for creating unforgettable memories. If you’re a foodie, Marina Bay also spoils you with rooftop dining and cosy spots for drinks with a view.

Best hotels in Singapore for couples

Lyf one-north Singapore | One of the best hotels in Singapore for couples, even though it’s still a hidden gem. The options are endless, from small rooms to cosy apartments rich in detail. Take advantage of the outdoor area but also of the accessible transportation to Singapore city centre. CHECK AVAILABILITY HERE!

Thanksgiving Serviced Residence is perfect for couples, with luxury stylish accommodation, but still affordable and reliable with over 1K positive reviews. It features an outdoor swimming pool and an apartment with a kitchen and washing machine, ideal for a longer stay. Check availability.

What is the best area to stay in Singapore for nightlife?

When it comes to nightlife, we have only two areas in Singapore we love to go to: Haji Lane and Clarke Quay. The first is more casual, perfect for budget travellers in the heart of Arab Street.

The second area, Clarke Quay, is more polished, with fancy restaurants and quirky venues. We saw this riverside district transforming the atmosphere as the day bliss. At night, it is a buzzing nightlife hub, with neon lights reflecting off the water and music pouring out of bars and clubs.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly area to stay in in Singapore with nightlife Vibes, you must consider Haji Lane. The best hostel here is Backpacker Cozy Corner Guesthouse.

FAQ | Best area to stay in Singapore