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Singapore hotels

What's On?                     Overview                     Prepare                     Highlights 

Hotels in Singapore, although perhaps expensive when compared with usual South Asian hotel prices nevertheless offer plenty of choice. In this city of rich cultural diversity, backpackers looking for exceptionally cheap accommodation may find themselves limited in their options, but there are still some less expensive alternatives available alongside the more luxurious Singapore hotels.

 mid range hotels can be found clustered at the western end of the Singapore River.... 

Most Singapore hotels are concentrated in two main districts - the Colonial District and Orchard Road. The former is perfect for seeing the historical sights, whilst the latter is the place to stay for those that are seeking retail therapy. Chinatown, the cultural core of this locale, and Little India, with its enjoyable cuisine and traditional shopping potential, are the areas in which the smaller boutique hotels can be found. Other mid range hotels can be found clustered at the western end of the Singapore River, and there are some budget-conscious hotels around the city fringes, which have only basic facilities available. The most famous hotel in Singapore is Raffles, home of the Singapore Sling.

Cheap hotels in Singapore are best found using our price comparison tool. Booking in advance is vital, as demand can outstrip supply (especially where the luxury hotels are concerned) in this crowded, but fascinating, city.

Overview

Overview

Glitzy malls showcasing the latest international designs, ornate Hindu temples and noisy Chinese markets - pint-sized Singapore is a mosaic of contrasting cultures.

See

The colonial grandeur of Raffles Hotel and Corinthian-columned Supreme Court contrast starkly with the marigold garlands and Hindi-pop-blaring markets of Little India. To escape busy city life, join the Night Safari at the Singapore Zoo or amble through Singapore Art Museum, housed in a restored school building, for a huge collection of South Asian art.
Spend

Find designer fashion in Ngee Ann City and boho chic at the fun Heeren Shops on Orchard Road, electronics and computers in gleaming Sim Lim Square, and traditional Chinese medicine in Chinatown's exotic halls. Buy silk from Arab Street, Indian spices and brassware on Serangoon Street, or arts and antiques in the Tanglin Shopping Centre.
Get Out

Most activities are outdoors especially in the cooler evenings, so alfresco dining is the norm. East Coast Park is a refreshing coastal escape for picnics, rollerblading and watersports, and the huge Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is bursting with lush rainforest popular for trekking. Seaside theme park Sentosa Island is indulgent fun, and the energetic go cycling on the nearby island of Pulau Ubin.
Culture

The spectacular multi-staged Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay plays host to performances by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Dance Theatre. Get to grips with Chinese opera at small venues around Chinatown or watch English-language plays by the Singapore Repertory Theatre at DBS Arts Centre. Substation is the place to go for edgy contemporary productions.
Eat & Drink

Local delicacies should not be missed. Singapore's blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian such as Hainanese chicken rice can be sampled in Hawker Centre courtyards throughout town. Taste chilli crab in East Coast Parkway, south Indian snacks in Little India, Cantonese char siu (barbecued pork) around Chinatown, and Malay delights in Geylang Serai.
New Perspective

Drink and dine as you gaze from your private cable-car cabin, 90 metres above Singapore's harbour and lights.

Prepare

Prepare

Arm yourself with bags of deodorant for those sticky days, an empty suitcase for cheap electronic goodies, and a cool pair of shades.

Singapore Year

Start the year with a bang with parades and fireworks during Chinese New Year in January or February, get your credit cards at the ready for the Great Singapore Sale in May, and cheer on the oarsmen racing in the Dragon Boat Festival in June. Watch the lively National Day street celebrations in August, and join the party in Little India for Deepavali, the festival of lights (Oct/Nov).
Public Holidays

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Chinese New Year (two days, Jan/Feb), Good Friday (Mar/Apr), Labour Day (1 May), Vesak Day (Buddha's birthday, May), National Day (9 Aug), Deepavali (Festival of Lights, Oct/Nov), Christmas Day (25 Dec), Hari Raya Puasa (end of Ramadan, Oct, [10 days earlier every year]), Hari Raya Haji (Feast of Sacrifice, Jan, [10 days earlier every year]).
Weather

Hot and humid, the average temperature is around 30°C throughout the year and air-conditioning is essential for hotel rooms. The rainfall is heaviest November to February, and falls in dramatic torrents rather than day-long drizzles. Indoor venues use ferociously high air-conditioning, so long sleeves are useful.
Electricity

220-240V AC, 50 Hz, three-pin plugs are standard.
Dialling Code

+65 (national), + eight-figure number (Singapore)
Money

Singapore dollars (S$) is the currency, but US dollars are widely accepted.
GMT

+8
Singapore Tourist Info

Singapore Tourism Board website

Fit In

The less the better in sticky Singapore. Shorts, vest tops and T-shirts are acceptable for both men and women, although shoulders and knees should be covered for visits to Hindu temples or mosques. High levels of air-con means indoor venues require a little more covering, and upmarket restaurants and clubs often have a smart-casual dress code.

Get Around

Get Around

This small diamond-shaped island, linked to Malaysia by two causeway bridges, is easy to get around. Places of interest are clustered mainly in the south.

There's not much distance between the shopping, historical sights and ethnic areas, and the enviably superb public transport system and cheap taxis means getting around is easy.

The ethnic districts of Chinatown and Little India, plus Boat and Clarke quays, Raffles and the Civic District are in the south. To the east are seafood and sands at East Coast Park, and Changi Village with its chapel built by World War II PoWs. Travel west to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Jurong Birdpark, the city's natural highlights.
MRT

Singapore's underground train network, or Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) is the quickest way to get around and is cheap, clean and safe. Trains run between 5.30am-12.30am. All signs and announcements are in English. Trains and stations are air-conditioned. Avoid cramped rush hours.
Taxi

More than 15,000 yellow air-conditioned taxis ply Singapore's streets. Starting fares are low, with a small supplement for travelling through the CBD (Central Business District) and on certain highways during rush hour, and a 50% surcharge between midnight and 6am. Advanced bookings can be made with private minicab companies.
Bus

Singapore's buses are the cheapest way of getting around and accept exact fare only. The air-conditioned vehicles charge slightly more.

Foot

In spite of the often oppressive humidity, many areas are far better explored on foot, especially the streets around Chinatown and Little India. Maps and signs are clearly marked throughout the city. Maps of self-guided walking tours are available from the tourist offices and main hotels.
Boat

A cruise on the Singapore River on a traditional small, motorised "bumboat", a glass-top or open-top boat, takes in the historic colonial sights on the riverbank. Sampans (small boats) ferry passengers to the tiny island of Pulau Ubin.
Transport Tips

A stored-value ez-link card, bought at any station or bus interchange, can be used on the MRT and bus and saves foraging around for change. Taxis can be hard to come by during a sudden downpour and just before the changeover from day to night-time fares.
Time Travel

The oldest government building in this thoroughly modern city is the Old Parliament House, built in 1827, with its stately columns and bronze elephant statue. Less imposing but more inviting are the shady fronts of the shop-houses in Little India, which date back to the 1920s.
Singapore Transport Link

Singapore Mass Rapid Transport SMRT website

Highlights

Highlights

Singapore's historical ethnic quarters are surrounded by soaring skyscrapers, shopping centres and natural beauty.

There's more to Singapore than urban glitz: Ramble in the rainforest of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to the west, and wonder at the wildlife on a night safari at Singapore Zoo to the north.

Head for spices, fortune-telling and temples in Little India. Decide if a Singapore Sling is worth the hype in the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel and discover the region's best art at the huge and elegant Singapore Art Museum.
Sightseeing Tips

For animal lovers, a discount ticket for visiting Jurong Bird Park, the Night Safari and Singapore Zoo is valid for one month and works out cheaper than individual admission prices. The Singapore Art Museum has late-night free entry on Fridays, 6-9pm.

Content provided by Frommer's Unlimited © 2009, Whatsonwhen Limited.