How to Choose a Hostel in Singapore City in 2025 (What to Expect)

This guide is part of our main page where you can compare all hostels in Singapore City. Instantly find the best-rated hostels and real-time prices from Hostelworld and Booking.com. Compare prices side-by-side and save money every time. Learn how we compare prices.

Find your Perfect Hostel in Singapore City

If you think Singapore is all high-rise banks and $30 cocktails, wait until you score a hostel pod with mood lighting and robo-check-in.

On my first stay, the pod door made a Star Wars hiss every time I crawled out for kaya toast—felt fancy, paid peanuts (well, relative peanuts).

This guide covers how to choose a hostel in Singapore like a pro, so you spend more on hawker food and less on trial-and-error bunk hopping.

Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Singapore City

Best for Hostel Newbies

Atelier Hostel9.0

from $22.25 | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Cube Hostel8.8

from $27.27 | More Details

This is not an ad. We help you find the perfect hostel and compare prices from Hostelworld and Booking. You can save up to 23.7%

Types of Hostels in Singapore

• Party Hostels: A rare breed here. Expect tiny rooftop bars, pub-crawl partnerships on Clarke Quay nights, and quiet hours that actually start on time. Pros: central location, Insta-friendly neon signs. Cons: alcohol prices still sting.
• Social (Non-Party): Common pods with curtain privacy, movie nights in basement lounges, and free Chinatown walking tours. Great for chatting without hangovers. Downside: some pods feel more capsule hotel than hostel, so mingling relies on common-area design.
• Quiet & Budget: No-frills bunk rooms above shophouses in Little India or Lavender. Perfect if you plan dawn till dusk exploring and just need AC and Wi-Fi. Less staff interaction; bring your own adapter and towel.
• Female-Only Dorms: Easy to find and usually €2-4 pricier than mixed beds. Expect tighter security, hair-dryers, and sometimes free mini amenities like sheet masks—Singapore loves the little extras.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Singapore City

1. The InnCrowd Backpackers Hostel 1 - best for Solo Traveller
2. A Travellers Rest-Stop
3. Betel Box Backpackers Hostel - best for Beach Lovers Retreat, Party Hostel, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel
4. HI - Hangout at Mt. Emily Hostel
5. Hostel One66

The InnCrowd Backpackers Hostel 1

9.2

Little India

"…Best hostel in Singapore, if not the region, I reckon. I love the area in which it's located, the more

A Travellers Rest-Stop

9.1

"GREAT PLACE! One of the best hostels I stayed in. The rooms as well as the hostel are pretty clean more

Betel Box Backpackers Hostel

8.6

"…Communal area is excellent, a good place to meet the others living there. The dorm room is basic, more

from

$12.57

HI - Hangout at Mt. Emily Hostel

9.1

"…The receptionist was very courtesy, helpful and always had smile. It's my favorite place - This is more

Hostel One66

8.3

"…Not having much chance to meet Yang (the owner). Not his fault since we are out all the time. But more

What to Expect from Hostels in Singapore

• Atmosphere: Generally calm, techy, and efficient—think RFID doors and app check-ins. Social vibes peak at scheduled events rather than spontaneous beer-pong.
• Cleanliness: Singapore takes hygiene seriously. Expect daily cleaning, shoe-free interiors, and sanitizer pumps every ten feet.
• Safety: Lockers and CCTV everywhere. Most hostels sit on well-lit streets two minutes from MRT stations.
• Facilities: Pod beds with charging ports, curtains, and sometimes Netflix screens. Kitchens are coffee corners at best—hawker centers are the real communal dining rooms.

What NOT to Expect:

• Massive lounges—real estate costs more than your student loans.
• Full kitchens with stoves—eating out is the national sport.
• Dirt-cheap dorms—Singapore is pricey even by Southeast Asia standards.

Best Location for Hostels in Singapore

• Chinatown: Best areas for backpackers chasing culture, cheap hawker stalls, and direct MRT to the airport.
• Little India: Colorful temples, budget eateries, and late-night convenience stores.
• Bugis & Kampong Glam: Hip cafés, indie shops, and quick walks to the ArtScience side of town.
• Lavender & Jalan Besar: Quieter streets, big food halls, slightly cheaper beds.
• Areas to avoid in Singapore: Orchard Road for hostels—it’s retail heaven but dorm-bed desert. Also the far western industrial estates unless you fancy 45-minute MRT rides.

How Much Do Hostels Cost in Singapore

Hostel pods aren’t a steal, but they’re still half the price of capsule hotels. Weekends, Formula 1 week, and major conventions bump rates fast, so timing matters.

Expect larger dorm = cheaper price. Big events like National Day parades or F1 Grand Prix can hike prices by 30 % overnight.

How to Book a Hostel in Singapore Without Overpaying

Use Hostelz.com to pit Booking and Hostelworld against each other in one click. For Friday–Sunday stays, book at least a week ahead; weekdays have more wiggle room. Watch for extras—some pods charge key-card deposits or linen fees you’ll only see in the fine print.

Hostel Safety and What to Watch Out For

• Bring a medium padlock; hostel lockers vary from slim to suitcase-sized.
• Check for 24-hour reception—late Changi flights are common.
• Avoid leaving electronics on window sills; Singapore rains sideways.
• Read reviews for pod ventilation complaints—some older capsules get stuffy.
• In common areas, keep voices low after 11 p.m.; quiet hours are enforced.

5 Hidden Gemz in Singapore City (by Hostelgeeks)

How it works

Final Thoughts

Choosing a hostel in Singapore is less wild card, more spreadsheet: decide your neighborhood, pod style, and budget, then let Hostelz point to the best deal.

Dorms won’t be dirt cheap or enormous, but you’ll trade square footage for spotless pods, bullet-train Wi-Fi, and an MRT stop at your doorstep.

Grab a kopi, tap your EZ-Link card, and enjoy skyscrapers and street food without blowing the travel fund.

Backpacking Singapore City? Here’s What You Need to Know

These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I’ve been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I’m passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!

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About the author: Nour De Wilde Salhab

A Lebanese-Congolese-French-Belgian girl as likely to be found climbing a volcano in Indonesia or reading a sci-fi book by the sea in the South of France. Always on the hunt for remarkable experiences. My two favorites so far: volunteering in emergency medical services in Lebanon and solo backpacking around the world. Life is enjoyable in all its facets, from its healthy extremes to its mundane slows.