Singapore offers numerous high-quality capsule hostels and backpacker lodges, making it challenging to decide where to start.
Boutique Hostels
Boutique hostels go beyond your expectations of typical hostels! Stylish decor, ultra-comfortable rooms, and often included extra luxuries. These are the best hostels in Singapore for backpackers!
Five Steps Alley Guesthouse
5FootWay.Inn is the largest boutique hostel chain in Singapore. During my last visit to Singapore, I had the opportunity to stay at their Project Boat Quay hostel. This particular hostel stands out due to its exceptional location, situated right next to the picturesque Singapore River. In contrast, the chain’s other two hostels are nestled in tranquil settings within Chinatown.
The Boat Quay area is teeming with reasonably priced restaurants and vibrant bars, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere, especially in the evenings. However, it’s worth noting that the area can get quite noisy, so packing a pair of earplugs is advisable for a peaceful night’s sleep. Despite the noise, the hostel’s charm is undeniable, with some original architectural features from the 5FootWay.Inn building, such as the weathered wooden doors leading to the terrace, still preserved and adding character to the ambiance.
When it comes to comfort and convenience, 5FootWay.Inn hostels excel. They offer modern amenities, including individual lighting and power outlets for each bed, ensuring that every guest has easy access to charging their devices and personal illumination. Moreover, all of the hostels feature outdoor terraces and/or cozy lounges, providing guests with inviting spaces to relax and unwind after a day of exploring Singapore’s vibrant streets and attractions.
Adler Hostel
If you’re on the lookout for one of the top-notch hostels in Singapore, I wholeheartedly recommend Adler Hostel. Situated right in the heart of Chinatown, this hostel served as my base during a week of exploration in Singapore.
One of the standout features of Adler Hostel is its unbeatable location. Within a short subway ride from the hostel, you can easily access some of Singapore’s most iconic and must-visit attractions. Whether it’s the stunning Gardens by the Bay, the bustling Orchard Road shopping district, or the cultural richness of Little India, you’ll find that Adler’s proximity to public transportation makes your travel around the city incredibly convenient.
Furthermore, the hostel is ideally positioned for culinary adventures. The vibrant food markets of Chinatown are just a stone’s throw away, making it an absolute delight to indulge in delectable local dishes after a day of sightseeing. From mouthwatering hawker stalls to cozy eateries, you’ll have no shortage of dining options in the vicinity.
As for the hostel itself, it exudes a modern and welcoming atmosphere. The reception area is not only aesthetically pleasing but also efficient, with staff ready to assist you with any inquiries or travel recommendations. Adler goes the extra mile by offering complimentary tea to make you feel at home. And, to top it all off, my personal favorite touch – they provide foot massagers! After a day of exploring the city on foot, having access to these relaxing amenities is a true luxury. Adler Hostel combines convenience, comfort, and a touch of luxury, making it a superb choice for your stay in Singapore.
Casual Social Hostels
These Singapore youth hostels are perfect for meeting fellow travelers—if you’re traveling alone or seeking a social atmosphere, they are the perfect choice. All of these hostels have great common areas or encourage interaction with tours and activities. However, we’re not talking about party hostels—you can still get a good night’s sleep in these recommendations!
Tribe Theory
If you’re a digital nomad, this is definitely the place for you in Singapore. Tribe Theory is a new category of budget-friendly business accommodation designed for startups and entrepreneurs. The hostel features dormitory rooms with capsule beds, free breakfast, and, of course, co-working spaces.
Tribe Theory is perfect for bloggers and anyone who works online while traveling. Most importantly, Tribe Theory is located on the bustling Tanjong Pagar Road in the heart of Singapore. The hostel is situated within the heritage shophouse of Singapore’s first entrepreneur, Chow Ah Chey.
One of the best things about Tribe Theory is its atmosphere, as you can live in a place surrounded by like-minded individuals where you can work, socialize, and get inspired.
Little Red Dot
The problem with many hostels is that they cram in as many beds as possible, but the social spaces fail to ignite your wanderlust. The advantage of Little Red Dot is that it has a spacious social area. The huge, comfy bean bag chairs are incredibly comfortable, and you can spend a day there (or maybe I just wanted to make myself feel better because I actually spent a day in one of those bean bag chairs?), and there are board games and a PlayStation. How about some alcohol-free bonding?
The interior decor is not only cozy and pleasant but also very beautiful. The green plants growing along the walls will constantly remind you that you are in the city responsible for the Gardens by the Bay! There are even outdoor swinging sofas, making the hostel feel like a blend of a living room and a garden. The perfect relaxed social hub in Singapore!
Betel Box Hostel
One of my favorite things about Betel Box Hostel is its owners. It’s one of the friendliest hostels I’ve ever been to, and I’ve stayed here four times. The rooms are clean and tidy, and the rates include breakfast. They offer a variety of dormitory rooms and a private double room. They provide various services, including their own organized tours. We went on a food tour to places like the Katong/Joo Chiat food street, which we absolutely loved.
Betel Box Hostel is located in the Katong area of Singapore. There are many old shophouses, nightclubs, and great restaurants around. If you’re in the mood for chili crab, it’s not far from the East Coast area, and it’s also convenient for getting to the airport and the city center.
There’s a spacious common area with comfy chairs, video games, a pool table, and foosball. They organize local tours, making it one of the best hostels in Singapore if you want to meet other travelers.
Beary Best is the best!
Beary Best is one of the most popular social hostels in Singapore on Hostelworld! It looks like a proper backpacker hostel – which seems rare in Singapore – and it’s very focused on socializing.
Beary Best! is located within a restored Art Deco heritage building. It features a spacious guest lounge filled with comfy chairs and teddy bears, complete with a large-screen TV for Netflix viewing. The dorms may appear simple but are quite comfortable, with high cleanliness ratings. Additionally, there’s an outdoor garden terrace where they sell “ridiculously cheap drinks” (their words) and regularly host free tours – always great for making friends.
Budget Youth Hostels in Singapore
These basic yet comfortable hostels offer ideal budget choices for backpackers in Singapore! Think cheap and cheerful, not damp and dingy!
Bunc Hostel
I found Bunc Hostel in Singapore to be a safe, clean, and budget-friendly accommodation option. They offer clean dormitory rooms (male, female, or mixed) with air conditioning. The white color adds to its charm; it looks clean and cheerful. Each bed comes with personal reading lights, wall power outlets, and individual storage lockers.
The hostel provides free breakfast. It is located in Little India, just a 2-minute walk from the Farrer Park MRT station. Little India MRT station and Bugis MRT station are also within a 10-minute walk. This is my favorite hostel in Singapore, and I’ve stayed here several times; I wouldn’t mind coming back again.
Zen Hostel
In April 2016, I planned a stopover in Singapore on my way to Perth, Australia, and booked four nights at Zen Hostel. While I was a bit hesitant to book a 12-bed female dorm without windows, I was still impressed by this small yet well-equipped place. Six comfortable bunk beds were arranged in two rows inside the dorm, extending its length rather than width. Nevertheless, the hostel was quiet, and despite eight people sleeping in it, I hardly noticed the crowd.
The kitchen and all facilities were well-equipped, and the Wi-Fi speed was fast. Overall, it’s a clean hostel, and it feels safe to walk back at night. Additionally, Zen Hostel is conveniently located next to shops and restaurants, making it an excellent place to stay in Singapore. It’s not far from the center of Little India, which is within walking distance. The nearest subway station is the East-West Line, just a 7-minute walk away. All in all, for an expensive city like Singapore, the price of 100 euros for four nights of accommodation was a great deal.
Capsule Hotels and Hostels in Singapore
If you value privacy but can’t afford a private room or hotel, Singapore offers many amazing capsule hotels and pod-style hostels. These provide the best of both worlds; you’ll have your own little capsule with thick curtains or pull-down blinds to ensure privacy.
Spacepod@Com
As an introverted person, I usually stay in hotels because I always need some personal space when I travel. However, the hotel prices in Singapore were too high for my budget, and that’s when I discovered Spacepod@com in the Geylang area.
The hostel’s prices were within my budget, very reasonable, and had everything I needed for my stay. They offered free DIY laundry service if needed, and the room rate included complimentary breakfast as well as 24-hour free tea/coffee.
The breakfast was a DIY affair with bread and jam provided, along with eggs that we could cook ourselves, whether it be scrambled eggs or omelets. In a place like Singapore, having a hearty breakfast in the morning was a nice touch, as everything there is quite expensive!
