Hotels
The best hotels in Singapore: ten places to stay, from Marina Bay to Sentosa
At eight in the evening the Supertrees light up in Gardens by the Bay, and the light show starts over Marina Bay. It is still close to thirty degrees, and the air smells of rain and hawker food. Many people treat Singapore as a stopover, but with the right hotel two nights will feel too short.
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Singapore is a city state on an island, and distances are short. Marina Bay is the modern centre with towers and waterside gardens, the Civic District holds the museums and colonial buildings, and Orchard Road is the shopping street. South of the city lies Sentosa, an island of beaches and theme parks. The MRT, the metro, goes almost everywhere, and taxis are cheap by European standards.
We have chosen ten hotels across four areas, from the colonial grandeur of Raffles to a pool villa on Sentosa, and we say who each one suits. Every hotel has a guest rating of at least 8.8 out of 10 and more than 50 reviews on Expedia. The links go there, and we always pick the hotel before we look for a link.
In short: where should you stay in Singapore?
On a stopover, stay at Marina Bay or in the Civic District, where you can walk to the gardens, the museums and the food. With children, Sentosa works well, and if shopping is the plan, choose Orchard Road.
Best for romance: Capella Singapore
Best for families: W Singapore Sentosa Cove
Best for a first visit: Raffles Singapore
Best for design: Pan Pacific Orchard
Best for views: The Fullerton Bay Hotel
How to choose the right hotel in Singapore
Stopover: stay central, at Marina Bay or in the Civic District. Changi Airport is about twenty minutes away by taxi.
Heat and rain: it is hot and humid all year, with heavy afternoon showers. A good pool makes a real difference.
Food: the hawker centres, large covered food markets, are one of the best things about the city. A hotel with one nearby is a bonus.
Sentosa: the island has beaches and theme parks, but it takes about twenty minutes to reach the centre.
Rules: Singapore is strict about smoking, chewing gum and litter. Hotels will explain the rules at check-in.
The facade
The white facade and front garden of Raffles Singapore.
The Civic District and the river
Around the mouth of the Singapore River sits the old heart of the city, with colonial buildings, museums and restaurants along the quays.
Raffles Singapore: the 1887 original
Raffles opened in 1887 and is the most famous hotel in Singapore, with white facades, deep verandas and palm gardens. Every room is a suite, and the Singapore Sling cocktail was first mixed in the Long Bar. A full restoration was completed in 2019, and a butler comes with every suite.
This is our pick for a first visit, for the history and the location within walking distance of the museums. It is expensive, and the Long Bar is crowded with day visitors. Go for a drink late in the evening, when hotel guests have the courtyards more or less to themselves.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Raffles Singapore
The pool
The pool at The Fullerton Hotel with the skyscrapers behind.
The Fullerton Hotel: the old General Post Office
The Fullerton occupies the former General Post Office from 1928, a large neoclassical building at the mouth of the river, now protected as a national monument. The atrium is tall and bright, and the pool looks out over the river.
It suits you if you want a historic building in the middle of the city for less than Raffles. Some rooms face inwards onto the atrium with no view, so ask for the river or the bay. Walk along the water to Boat Quay in the evening for dinner.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
The garden pool
The pool surrounded by gardens at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, seen from above.
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering: gardens in the sky
Pickering is known for the hanging gardens on its terraces, where tropical plants spill over the facade. The hotel faces Hong Lim Park, between Chinatown and the river, and has a long pool set among the greenery.
It suits you if you want to stay somewhere green and central at a gentler price. The rooms are modern but plainer than at the most expensive hotels. Chinatown and its food markets are on the doorstep, so breakfast out is easy.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering
The rooftop pool at night
The rooftop pool at The Fullerton Bay Hotel with Marina Bay lit up at night.
Marina Bay: views across the water
Marina Bay is the modern centre, with skyscrapers, Gardens by the Bay and a promenade around the bay. The hotels here have the famous view.
The Fullerton Bay Hotel: right on the edge of the bay
Fullerton Bay sits at the end of the quay on Marina Bay, with glass walls facing the water and a rooftop pool that looks across the bay. Its rooftop bar is one of the most popular in the city, and the Merlion statue is a five-minute walk along the water.
This is our pick for views, if you want to watch the light show over the bay from your room. It is a smaller hotel, and rooms are pricey. Cross the bridge to Gardens by the Bay in the evening, when it is cooler.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Fullerton Bay Hotel
The pool
The pool at Mandarin Oriental with parasols and skyscrapers behind.
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore: the bay from your window
Mandarin Oriental stands on Marina Bay, with rooms looking over the bay or out to sea. There is a large outdoor pool, a spa and several restaurants, and service is consistently strong.
It suits you if you value good service and a view, perhaps on a longer stopover. During the Formula 1 weekend the hotel sits beside the circuit and prices climb. The promenade around the bay is at its best early in the morning, before the heat builds.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
The bath
The bath by the octagonal window at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia, with the city lit up at night.
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia: a bath with a view
The Ritz-Carlton is known for its large bathrooms with octagonal windows, so you can see the city from the tub. The hotel also has a big art collection and a tropical garden with a pool.
It suits couples and families who want space and a view at Marina Bay. It is a little away from the core, but covered walkways lead to shopping centres and the MRT. Book a room facing the bay rather than the city.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
The rooftop bar
The rooftop bar at Andaz Singapore looking out over the city.
Kampong Glam and Orchard Road
Kampong Glam is the old Malay and Arab quarter, with the Sultan Mosque and small independent shops. Orchard Road is the long shopping street.
Andaz Singapore: a rooftop bar above Kampong Glam
Andaz sits high up in a tower beside Kampong Glam, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a popular rooftop bar. Breakfast is served from a row of small kitchens with different dishes, and the mood is relaxed.
It suits you if you want to be close to the streets of cafes, shops and the mosque. It is modern and lively rather than classic. Walk down Haji Lane and Arab Street in the evening, when the shops and bars are busiest.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Andaz Singapore
The pool terrace
One of the planted terraces with a pool at Pan Pacific Orchard.
Pan Pacific Orchard: a tower of gardens
Pan Pacific Orchard opened in 2023 and is built around open terraces full of plants on several levels, one of which holds the pool. It stands at the far end of Orchard Road.
This is our design pick, if you want to shop and still stay somewhere green. It is a large hotel with lots of guests, so the pool can be busy at weekends. The Botanic Gardens are a short taxi ride away and worth a morning.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Pan Pacific Orchard
The pools
The tiered pools surrounded by rainforest at Capella Singapore.
Sentosa: the island to the south
Sentosa is an island just south of the city, with beaches, theme parks and golf courses. A cable car, a monorail and a boardwalk connect it to the mainland.
Capella Singapore: colonial buildings in the rainforest
Capella sits on a hill on Sentosa, in restored colonial buildings from the 1880s with curving new wings designed by Norman Foster. The villas have their own pools, and peacocks wander the grounds. The hotel stands in parkland, with the beaches on the south side of the island just below.
This is our romantic pick, for a special occasion or the last days of a long trip. It is expensive and some way from the centre. The tiered pools look out over the sea, and sunset is the time to be there.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Capella Singapore
The pool
The large pool in front of W Singapore Sentosa Cove.
W Singapore Sentosa Cove: the marina and the pool
W sits by the marina at Sentosa Cove, with a big pool and the beach close by. The style is colourful and playful, and there is a kids' club.
This is our family pick, with a pool, a beach and the theme parks a short ride away. The centre is a long way off, so expect to use taxis. The marina has restaurants along the quay for easy evenings.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at W Singapore Sentosa Cove
When should you book?
February to April: slightly drier and the most comfortable time of year.
Formula 1 in September or October: hotels around Marina Bay fill up and prices rise sharply.
Chinese New Year: January or February, with celebrations and higher prices around Chinatown.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Singapore
Where should I stay in Singapore on a stopover?
Marina Bay or the Civic District. You can walk to Gardens by the Bay, the museums and the river, and the MRT takes you further. Changi Airport is about twenty minutes away by taxi, so even a short stopover leaves time for an evening in the city.
Why is Marina Bay Sands not on the list?
The hotel with the famous rooftop pool has too few reviews on Expedia to meet our requirement of at least 50. The pool is for hotel guests only, but the SkyPark observation deck is open to everyone with a ticket, so you can still get the view.
Is Sentosa good for children?
Yes. The island has beaches, Universal Studios, a large aquarium and water parks. It is a short taxi or monorail ride into the city, so you can stay on Sentosa and still go into town for dinner. Choose a hotel with a kids' club and a big pool.
How many nights do I need in Singapore?
Two to three nights cover the city, with the gardens, the museums, Chinatown and a few evenings at the hawker centres. Add a couple of days on Sentosa or a day trip across the border to Malaysia, and four or five nights is not too many.
Is Singapore expensive?
Hotels are among the most expensive in Asia, and alcohol is costly because of high duties. The food in the hawker centres is cheap and very good, though, and the MRT costs little. Stay somewhere smart, eat locally and the budget still works.