Welcome to Singapore, the Lion City, and the gateway to Southeast Asia. It is a city known for its vibrant culture and modern lifestyle, with strong cultural connections, especially with the Philippines. In this post, we will help you find the best areas to stay in Singapore. We will share our values, interests, and experiences, and highlight the top places to stay. Let’s start our journey together and explore the most comfortable attractions for visitors to Singapore.
best area to stay in singapore ? best travel and stay areas
Bugis
Bugis Junction has many shopping malls, and Bugis Street is very famous. This area is known for its Islamic influence, especially with Kampong Glam nearby, which we’ll show you later. Another popular place is Chijmes, a historic colonial area. When you say “Chijmes,” remember the “J” in the middle. Along Chijmes Junction and Chijmes Street, there are many shops. You can find expensive shopping at luxury malls and five-star hotels, but there are also affordable places to stay starting at around $100.
CBD
I stayed at the Westin Hotel here. There are also food courts around, like the Maxwell Hawker Centre. They have La Piat, which is probably the best hawker stall in all of Singapore. The CBD is right next to the Marina Bay area. Many of you know Marina Bay Sands, but Marina Bay is more than just that.
Marina Bay
Marina Bay is more than just the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, which is the most famous place here. The area surrounds a man-made reservoir created by the river meeting the ocean to the south. You’ll find many luxury hotels, like the Fullerton Hotel and Fullerton Bay Hotel, both beautiful places. There’s also the Hotel Travertin, Park Royal Collection at Marina Bay, and the Ascot. While Marina Bay Sands is the most famous, it is quite expensive, with rooms costing around $500 to $600 per night. This area is second most famous in all of Singapore.
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is a long, beautiful street full of modern malls. There are also many luxury hotels here, including the Grand Hyatt, the Marriott, and the Hilton, along with several other world-class hotels. People come to Orchard Road mainly for shopping and the atmosphere. It’s kind of like the Times Square of Singapore.
There are plenty of MRT stations and buses that can get you to the CBD in about 10 to 15 minutes. Singapore has one of the most efficient MRT systems in the world, with lots of overpasses and underpasses, so much of the city is underground. Everything is air-conditioned, and the malls are all connected. By the way, we have a channel called Island Hopper TV Hotels, where we show the best hotels from the places we visit.
Little India
In this area, there’s the Hampton Inn and the Holiday Inn, where I stayed. Both are great options. There’s also a Marriott Tapestry Collection Hotel here and some really good, affordable hotels around Little India. It’s a nice place to walk around at night, and you’ll get more of an Indian cultural experience compared to the rest of Singapore. It’s not as modern, but it’s much more affordable. If you need something cheap, like a new suitcase, shoes, or eyeglasses, Little India is the place to find great deals. I also come here for the temples, the food, and even for a haircut.
Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is a great area to stay if you’re looking for some nightlife and a different vibe. This is where you’ll find the Islamic mosque and culture in Singapore. It’s a very colorful, cultural area with lots of restaurants serving Turkish and other Middle Eastern food. If you’re craving that kind of food, you’ll find it here.
There are also two cool spots to check out, Arab Street and Haji Lane, where you can walk around, enjoy a coffee or a beer, and soak in the atmosphere. It’s very picturesque, and it’s close to Bugis, so you can easily stay in either area and get around. There are plenty of MRT stations nearby. I stayed at the Onas Hotel, which has an amazing rooftop bar called Mr. Storks. It’s a great place to have cocktails or mocktails at sunset with nice views of the CBD and Marina Bay. Now, we are at the riverfront. The river runs from the Marina Bay Area all the way…
River Front
The river runs all the way past Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, and Robertson Quay. You can walk along this whole area and find many different hotels, starting with the Intercontinental at Robertson Quay, along with the Holiday Inn and a few others.
There are also capsule hotels in Boat Quay, which are very affordable and located in a nice area. If you’re a budget traveler, these might be a good option for you. Around Clarke Quay, there are many boutique hotels, and both Clarke Quay and Boat Quay are known for their nightlife, especially on weekends. Here, you can see one of the river boats that takes you to Marina Bay and back. It’s about a 30-minute to 1-hour ride and a great way to see the area along the river.
Walking along the riverfront, you’ll also see some history, like the Cavanagh Bridge, which has been preserved, showing the old charm of the area.
Now, we are at Raffles, which is located between Bugis and the CBD. Raffles is a very popular area and can be considered the heart of Singapore’s city area. If you can, take the MRT to Raffles to explore this central spot.
Raffles
You’ll find yourself right in the heart of the city, and there are plenty of different hotel options to choose from in this area of Singapore. By the way, when you’re getting around, I recommend getting an MRT card. You can buy one at the airport or at any MRT station by visiting one of the booths. I suggest starting with 30 Singapore dollars on the card to see how long it lasts. Usually, 30 dollars will last you a few days of regular travel. Also, try to get a hotel with a rooftop pool—it can be a fun experience, as you can see here. Now, we’re heading to Sentosa Island, which is a very popular destination.
Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island is a popular spot because of its beaches, like Palawan Beach and others. It also has a lot of entertainment, such as Universal Studios, malls, and resorts. If you want a relaxed beach vibe, Sentosa is the place to be. They have hotels like the W and more. Sentosa is outside the city, about 15 to 20 minutes by Grab or MRT from the CBD, so it’s a great place to visit during your trip.
You can take a big cable car from the main island to Sentosa. For adventure lovers, there are activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, and plenty of bars and restaurants by the beach. Sentosa is very popular on weekends with locals, so if you want to avoid crowds, consider going on a weekday. Prices go up on weekends, and some beach clubs can fill up quickly. If you like the beach club vibe, similar to places in Santorini or Bali, you’ll find that here.
There is also a monorail that connects the main island to Sentosa. Many people walk or use stand-up scooters to get around.
Kallang
You can also stay at the Hotel Indigo or other hotels like the Merer at Roxy Square. The MRT line was recently finished, and it’s now open all the way to Marine Parade. Kallang is a nice place to visit, and it’s not as expensive as other areas. There are many budget hotels here, like an Ibis along Joo Chiat. If you’re looking to save money, staying in Kallang would be a good choice.
The restaurants in this area are better than in most parts of the city because of the affordable prices and great options. This part of Singapore has a more relaxed, local vibe that I really like. That’s why I always try to stay here for at least a couple of days.
china Town
we’re in Chinatown, which is one of the most cultural areas in Singapore. If you want to stay near Chinatown, this is a great spot for you. It’s a bit more expensive here, and it’s next to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. You’ll also find Michelin-starred hawker restaurants, which is a great perk of staying in Chinatown.
Novena
In Novena, there are some nice hotels like the Courtyard Marriott, which has a great rooftop pool and bar. There’s also the Holiday Inn nearby, along with an Aloft hotel, and a few other options. Novena has more of a medical city vibe because of the medical facilities in the area, but it’s a decent place to stay. It’s located just outside of Orchard and Little India, to the north of Little India and a little northeast of Orchard.
There are some food hawker stalls here, and the area has a more laid-back feel, so you can enjoy a cosmopolitan vibe without the crowds. I’d say this is a good area for a longer stay, especially outside of the main shopping mall. If you stay near the Aloft Hotel area, it’s a good spot.
Another area you might want to consider staying in is Holland Village, which is just outside of Queenstown.
Holland Village
You might want to stay in Holland Village because it’s where the tech hub is located. Many technology companies are being built and growing in this area. It’s more suited for long-term stays and is a bit further out from the heart of the city, about a 30-minute drive.
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To conclude, in this post, we’ve shared the best areas to stay in Singapore. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments. If you love traveling like we do, stay connected with us. We explore various places, gather useful information, and provide top travel tips, recommendations, and guides. We’re here to give you all the details you need, so stay tuned. If you think we missed anything, feel free to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
