Singapore is an incredible destination, but it can be hard to pick a hotel to stay at when you visit since there are many options available. In this blog post I will share the best area to stay in Singapore for tourists to help you find a neighborhood that will be the perfect base for you during your trip. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Chinatown
In my opinion, Chinatown is the best area of Singapore to stay at when you first visit Singapore. It has a central location and you will be close to all attractions in Chinatown, food courts, Marina Bay Sands, and the City Hall area.
It’s a great base for exploring the city as you can walk to a lot of attractions.
AMOY Hotel by Far East Hospitality
AMOY Hotel is a 4-star boutique hotel by Far East Hospitality. It’s probably the most unique hotel I’ve ever stayed at since the entrance is a former temple, now the Fuk Tak Chi museum.
And it’s not just any temple, but Singapore’s first Chinese temple. This area was the landing site of Chinese immigrants and so the forefathers of Singapore built this temple to give thanks for their safe journey there.
You read that right. To get to the hotel lobby from Telok Ayer Street you have to go through the oldest temple in Singapore. When I got there and I saw this entrance the first thing that crossed my mind was: such a cool hotel!
The hotel has a great location in Singapore’s Chinatown, right by the Telok Ayer MRT station. It’s also very close to the Central Business District (CBD), so you’ll be able to experience the old meets new vibe of this area.
Tourist attractions such as Clarke Quay, Marina Bay Sands, and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple are all within walking distance.
It’s the ideal spot if you’re a foodie because you will also be close to 2 hawker centres: Lau Pa Sat and Maxwell Food Centre. Lau Pa Sat is literally down the street and you’ll be there in 5 minutes. Maxwell is about 10 minutes away.
Even though the AMOY hotel does not have an in-house restaurant, they partnered with 2 local restaurants next door to offer 2 different breakfast experiences for their guests.
AMOY Hotel doesn’t have amenities like a gym or a pool onsite. However, the perk of being a Far East Hospitality Hotel, is that AMOY Hotel guests have exclusive access to the amenities of the Clan Hotel such as their incredible outdoor pool with an unbelievable view of the skyline.
Boat Quay
There are 3 quays along the Singapore River: Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Robertson Quay. While these quays used to be used for shipping, they have been redeveloped. They are now used for dining by the river, shopping, and strolling by the water.
Boat Quay has a lively atmosphere as it has lots of bars and restaurants.
Heritage Collection on Boat Quay (Quayside Wing)
Heritage Collection on Boat Quay (Quayside Wing) is a digital hotel. I booked the Stamford Studio because it had a balcony and spectacular views of the Singapore River, Marina Bay Sands, and the Boat Quay area.
The hotel is located in a central area of Singapore, right on Boat Quay, in the heart of the city. You will find a lot of restaurants here. And the Clarke Quay area (where you board the Singapore River cruise), Chinatown, and the Central Business District are all a short walk away.
Even though there were a lot of restaurants on the ground level and they were all playing music at night, the noise level was not too bad. You could hear a little music, but I was able to fall asleep with no problems when I stayed there.
I used to live in NYC, so I’m used with a little noise. If you need your hotel to be extremely quiet at night, I suggest you pick another area.
Even though it is a digital hotel, the customer service was so amazing and they provided all the information I needed to make sure the check in and check out processes went smoothly. They also stored my bags until I had to go to the airport.
The hotel room was spacious and had all the amenities you would expect from a traditional hotel.
This was my first stay at a digital hotel and I enjoyed so much. It’s a more unique Singapore hotel.
Central Business District
While the Central Business District is a top choice for business travelers, I think it can be a great area for leisurely travelers as well. That’s because CBD is close to many attractions such as Marina Bay, Chinatown, and the City Hall area.
In addition, many hotels in this neighborhood will be located in skyscrapers which will offer a really nice view of Singapore’s skyline.
Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay
Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay is a luxury hotel in the Central Business District, close to Marina Bay Sands. They have over 500 large rooms with impressive views of the Singapore skyline and balconies.
The hotel also has Southeast Asia’s largest indoor sky-lit atrium. This atrium has over 2,400 plants and trees from more than 60 varieties of plants. They are going for the garden in a hotel concept.
It’s also a hotel that focuses on sustainability and environmental responsibility. For example they use solar panels for renewable energy to power all guest lifts and emergency lights. The hotel also installed filtered water system in all guestrooms to eliminate the use of 360,000 plastic bottles annually.
They have 5 restaurants and bars on site and they are some of them have awards for best restaurants in Marina Bay.
Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is the Arab Quarter of Singapore. The neighborhood has beautiful architecture. Haji Lane is one of the major attractions in the neighborhood. It’s a very colorful street with boutiques, cafes, and street art.
Little India is very close to Kampong Glam, so you can easily explore this neighborhood too.
The Sultan Heritage Hotel
The Sultan Heritage Hotel is a 4-star hotel in Kampong Glam. The owner of the hotel is an aficionado of Singapore culture and heritage who put together 10 shophouses to create this hotel.
This endeavor was a tribute to Singapore’s past as the hotel retains many beautiful architectural features from a time when Kampong Glam was a busy shopping and trading district.
The hotel won the 2012 Urban Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Award for this restoration effort.
The hotel has 60 guest rooms and all rooms have different designs.
There is a restaurant on-site, called The White Label, that offers a unique blend of French and local Malayan cuisine.
Marina Bay area
The Marina Bay area probably needs no introduction. It’s the modern area of Singapore that is home to the Marina Bay Sands building, the SkyPark observatory, and Gardens by the Bay. The perfect location if you like a modern vibe and luxury.
Marina Bay Sands
If you have a higher budget and want to experience true Singaporean luxury then stay at the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel. You can enjoy a 5-star stay and take advantage of their incredible rooftop infinity pool.
You’ll also have direct access to the SkyPark observatory and Gardens by the Bay. In addition, you will be across the street from an incredible shopping mall.
And other attractions are within walking distance from the hotel.
You can also take advantage of their many dining options: a rooftop restaurant, a waterfront restaurant, as well as private dining.
Sentosa Island
Sentosa is an island on the Southern Coast that is connected to the city by road, cable car, monorail, and pedestrian boardwalk. Think of it like a neighborhood of Singapore rather than an island because it has a convenient location that’s very well connected to the city centre.
Sentosa is also home to Universal Studios Singapore. The lush tranquility of Sentosa can be a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
If you choose to stay on Sentosa you can take advantage of ample space, ocean views, plenty of dining options, and even a personal pool.
Equarius Villas at Resorts World Sentosa
Equarius Villas at Resorts World is a luxury resort on Sentosa Island, located about 30 minutes away from Changi Airport by car.
All Equarius Villas have an outdoor swimming pool. These tropical villas also come with a personal butler.
You can pick from a one-bedroom villa that can host up to 3 adults, a two-bedroom villa that can host up to 4 adults, or a three-bedroom villa that can host up to 6 adults.
The hotel offers a range of workouts and wellness workshops to their guests. There is a shuttle service that operates daily between 8am and 10pm and can take you to different places on Sentosa Island.
Resorts World also offers a complimentary Sentosa express pass to everyone staying with them.
There are also buggies on stand by if you need to go to a different part of the resort and don’t feel like walking.
FAQs about Singapore
Can I visit the Jewel after passport control?
No, you cannot. I made this mistake the day I was flying out. I went to the airport, dropped my bag, and went through passport control. Then I wanted to go visit the Jewel, that area with the famous indoor waterfall.
Well, to my surprise I didn’t see any signs in the airport on how to get there. I thought that was weird, so I went to the info desk to ask how I can get there.
Only for them to tell me that I cannot visit since the Jewel is landside and I am airside.
I was so angry with myself that I didn’t do proper research on this. I guess it’s just an excuse to visit Singapore again soon.
But I wanted to share this information with you all so you don’t make the same mistake I did.
What is the best time to visit Singapore?
I visited in early April and the weather cooperated for the most part. No matter when you visit it will be hot and humid and temperatures will be around 25-32 degrees Celsius (77-90 F). However, because of the humidity, it feels like it’s even hotter.
There will most likely be thunderstorms. It happened almost every day when I was there. But the good news is that they mostly last for a few hours. And other than that it tends to be pretty sunny.
How can I get to the city center from Singapore Changi airport?
Public transport
You can take the bus. They have buses going to the city from all terminals of Changi.
Or you can take the train to Tanah Merah MRT Station, then transfer to the East West Line towards Tuas Link MRT Station.
You can pay for all public transportation with a contactless Mastercard or Visa card, your mobile wallet, EZ-link cards or the Singapore tourist pass.
Grab
Grab is the most popular e-ride app in Asia. It’s basically the Uber of Asia. So make sure to download the app before your trip.
The app is super easy to use. The service is very reliable and you can easily get a car.
This is the most convenient option to get to your hotel from the airport.
If you don’t want to download yet another app, then you can schedule a private transfer.
How can I get around Singapore?
Singapore is a walkable city. I usually like to walk a lot when exploring a city and I was able to do this in Singapore.
If you need to get to a place further away you can either use the Mass Rapid Transit (or MRT) subway system or get a Grab car.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
Is Singapore safe for a solo female traveler?
Yes! Singapore was probably one of the safest countries I’ve ever been to. It’s the 5th safest country in the world according to the Global Peace Index.
You can walk around by yourself anywhere in the city and nobody says anything to you. People mind their business.
I haven’t seen any scammers, beggars, or homeless people during my trip. I didn’t even have to be on high alert as I usually am when I travel in Western Europe, for example.
It felt as safe walking outside at night as it felt during the day. Singapore can be a great first solo destination in Asia since it’s a developed country and it’s very safe.
Do I need cash for my trip to Singapore?
Yes, you will need a bit of cash to get food at the hawker centers and at some bakeries in Chinatown. But even at hawker centers, most stalls accept card payment. Other than that I paid for everything with a credit card.
There are plenty of ATMs in the city, so if you forget to get some at the airport there won’t be any problem.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the country you’re visiting instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do I have to tip in Singapore?
No, you do not have to tip in Singapore. No matter where I ate I never had to leave a tip.
Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?
I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. Singapore’s main attractions are very popular and can get sold out if you don’t book in advance.
Do people speak English in Singapore?
Yes, they do. English is one of the official languages in Singapore. It’s also the language they use in schools and it’s the exclusive language in many public services.
The level of fluency varies from person to person depending on their educational background, but I had no problems communicating in English with everyone during my trip.
Do you recommend Singapore as a solo destination?
Yes, I highly recommend Singapore as a destination for solo female travelers. There are so many things to do, the food is delicious, the people are great, and I felt very safe.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.