The Best Areas to Stay in Singapore
Contrasting neighbourhoods offer different experiences in the Lion City - here’s where to base yourself during a stay.
Singapore is small enough that you can cross the city in 30 minutes by MRT, which means wherever you stay, nothing is far away. But each neighbourhood stands alone, and picking the right one to stay in will shape your visit, so we’ve put a guide together to help you decide.
Marina Bay
If you want the Singapore you've seen in every photo, Marina Bay is where to be. The skyline, the Merlion, Gardens by the Bay and the waterfront promenade are all here, and at night the whole area lights up. It's also the most convenient base for first-time visitors, with the Civic District, Chinatown and Kampong Glam all within easy reach.
Marina Bay Sands is the obvious choice and its rooftop infinity pool is reason enough to book, but The Fullerton Hotel, converted from the city's grand 1928 General Post Office on the waterfront, has a heritage that the bigger properties can't match.
The Fullerton Bay next door is its sleeker, more contemporary sibling, sitting right on the water with views from every room. Mandarin Oriental and the Ritz-Carlton Millenia are also here, both facing the bay, so you truly have your pick of luxury stays.
Our pick: Marina Bay Sands, The Fullerton Hotel
Credit: Raffles
The Civic District
A 15-minute walk from Marina Bay brings you to the Civic District, home to the National Gallery, Fort Canning Park, the Esplanade and, of course, Raffles. Staying here puts you squarely at the heart of the city, with museums, theatres and colonial architecture on every corner.
We could talk about a few different properties here, but if it’s your first trip, there's really only one hotel worth talking about. Raffles Singapore has occupied 1 Beach Road since 1887, holds three Michelin Keys, and remains one of the most famous hotels in Southeast Asia.
The 115 suites are spread across the colonial compound, the courtyard pool is one of the best in the city, and a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar is still one of those touristy but satisfying things you simply have to do. If you’ve frequented other Raffles properties, you won’t be disappointed by the original.
Our pick: Raffles Singapore
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is Singapore's main shopping boulevard, stretching roughly two kilometres through the centre of the city, and it's lined with all the international brands, malls and hotel towers you might expect. It's less characterful than the other neighbourhoods on this list, but it's supremely well connected.
St Regis Singapore sits at the western end of Orchard on Tanglin Road, with 299 rooms, recently refreshed interiors inspired by the neighbouring Botanic Gardens, and round-the-clock butler service. Nearby, Four Seasons is on Orchard Boulevard, slightly set back from the main strip, with a quieter, more residential feel.
If your trip isn’t imminent, both The Hari and NoMad are arriving in the area in 2027, which will add two design-focused properties among the larger players for anyone who prefers a more personalised, boutique experience.
Our pick: Four Seasons Singapore
Tanjong Pagar and Duxton Hill
This is our pick for anyone who has been to Singapore before and wants something with more personality. Tanjong Pagar sits south of Chinatown, where rows of restored shophouses now hold cocktail bars, independent restaurants and small galleries. Duxton Hill, a steep lane running up from the main road, is one of the best drinking streets in the city.
Around the corner, Bukit Pasoh isn’t dissimilar: low-rise, intimate and full of places to stumble upon. The whole area is walkable and linked to the rest of the city by Tanjong Pagar MRT on the East-West line.
Jiang Nan Chun Restaurant / Credit: Four Seasons
Six Senses Singapore overshadows most other brands here, with two properties within walking distance of each other: Six Senses Maxwell, a Jacques Garcia-designed conversion of 14 colonial shophouses, and Six Senses Duxton by Anouska Hempel just up the street.
We love Six Senses, but in this neighbourhood, we’d suggest checking out The Warehouse Hotel at Robertson Quay. A converted riverside warehouse with industrial bones and a rooftop pool, it has an impressively restrained design that has kept elements of the property's heritage.
If you're staying around here, Maxwell Food Centre is just around the corner for hawker food, and Tiong Bahru, with its art deco apartments and cafe culture, is one MRT stop away.
Our top pick: The Warehouse Hotel
Credit: Raffles Sentosa
Sentosa
If you'd rather be at a resort than in the city, Sentosa is the answer. The island sits just off the southern coast, connected by a short causeway, and while some of it leans towards theme parks and family attractions, the western end is where luxury properties are clustered.
Capella Singapore is the standout: a Foster + Partners-designed resort built around 1880s colonial buildings on a hilltop, with 30 acres of tropical grounds, André Fu interiors and a Michelin Key.
For a full-day pool experience, the W Singapore Sentosa Cove has one of the largest hotel pools in the country, right on the marina waterfront. And Raffles Sentosa, which opened in 2025 as Singapore's first all-villa resort offers 62 private villas, each with their own pool.
Our top pick: Capella Singapore
