Marina Bay Sands is not just a hotel. It is one of the main attractions of Singapore. And probably not just Singapore.

In fact, if I have to name just one single hotel that comes to mind immediately, it's probably this one.

The reason is simple: the best and biggest infinity pool on the roof.

I've been wondering a lot if staying at the hotel makes real sense, or is it just an overpriced Instagram spot?

Book your stay at Marina Bay Sands

Why we booked Marina Bay Sands

Most people don't come here to sleep. They come here for the experience.

• The world's largest infinity pool
• overlooking all of downtown Singapore
• Iconic architecture you know from photos
• the feeling of staying in the most famous hotel in the world (for me, Marina Bay Sands is a much bigger icon than The Plaza in New York)

So it was a no-brainer to book Marina Bay Sands for the majority of our stay in Singapore.

And because I like to try other hotels and the architecture of Marina Bay Sands appeals to me, I booked a stay at Swissôtel The Stamford for the first night, with the best view of Marina Bay Sands.

Price - how much did we pay for 2 nights?

We were in Singapore in mid-January 2026. I had planned our Thailand trip, where we visited Bangkok, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, combined with just Singapore, about a month in advance.

And I came across a pretty interesting price (via booking.com) - in a room with a balcony and a view of Gardens by the Bay, we paid about 1 600 sgd.

Plus, it included a credit of 100 sgd to spend at select bars and restaurants in the hotel.

The normal price is more around 1 000 sgd.

Check current prices on booking.com

Infinity Pool: The best pool in the world?

This is why this hotel exists. The largest rooftop hotel pool in the world. 150 meters long, about 10 meters wide. The views from the 57th floor are priceless.

I was very curious if I was just influenced by the perfect instagram and youtube videos, and I was very worried that the reality would be much worse.

But it isn't. On the contrary!

What's important to know (and what most reviews don't tell you)

• the pool is bigger than it looks in the photos
• you can swim there normally (it's not just "for a photo")
• the water and the entire facilities are perfectly clean
• there are plenty of sunbeds around (we never had to wait for a free spot)
• you can order food and drinks via QR code directly from the sunbed
• there are 2 hot tubs on the other side of the roof

The sunbeds are also located on the other side of the roof where there is no pool and it is more quiet.

👉 And most importantly: the pool is only open to hotel guests and not to the public.

This fundamentally improved the whole experience. It's still quite crowded, but it's not chaotic and there's always plenty of room to spare.

What did I like the most?

The view.

The view.

From the length of the pool, Downtown Singapore is in the palm of your hand. And if you walk to the other side of the roof, you can see Gardens by the Bay and hundreds of cargo ships in the background on the high seas.

And great service, too.

You get a free towel when you step onto the roof.

You can order anything from the Spago Pool Bar or use the ever-present staff via QR code at any time.

Toilets with showers and changing rooms in the basement below the pool are handy.

There is also a small children's pool.

What didn't I like?

If you've read some of my past reviews, you probably already guessed 😀 😀

The water in the pool was just too cold for my needs. But I admit that for most guests it is rather refreshing.

It's also a shame that the pool doesn't work 24/7, but only during the 6am-0pm hours.

A minor flaw is the fact that you have to transfer between lifts 2 times immediately on your way to the pool from the lower floors. But it's really a small thing.

When to go to the pool

• in the morning (7:00-9:00) → least crowded
• sunset → best light, most people, but you can always find free sunbeds
• evening → best atmosphere for me (illuminated skyline)

If you have time in Singapore, I would easily plan a whole relaxing day by the pool.

Book a stay at Marina Bay Sands

Room: beautiful design, great view

Staying at Marina Bay Sands, I wanted a better room.

So I booked a room like Sands Premier King Gardens by the Bay View with a balcony overlooking the iconic Supertrees.

✅ What to expect and what I liked

I was thrilled the first time I checked out the room. I really like the design and it was clear at first glance that the room would be quite practical too.

• Modern design, clean lines
• large windows + balcony (big bonus)
• good quality bed and quiet air conditioning (you can control the air conditioning from the bed, which is not exactly standard)
• lots of storage space
• large bathroom

❌ What I didn't like so much

• the lack of a larger desk for working on the laptop
• no seating on the balcony

Room amenities

• minibar (relatively well priced) + capsule coffee machine
• cocktail bar (cocktails are chargeable, standard hotel prices around 22 sgd)
• large TV
• safe
• bathrobes and slippers
• iron and ironing board
• hair dryer
• free bottled water refilled regularly twice a day (4x 1 litre)
• fast Wi-Fi

Bathroom

The beautiful and practical bathroom is a great bonus of the room.

• Bath + shower separated by a door
• Toilet separated by a door (and with lots of features)
• quality cosmetics brand "Jo"
• rich amenity kit including shaving supplies, a box for braces or a small sewing kit
• plenty of space

👉 Summary: The room is great and even if the hotel didn't have the iconic pool, this alone would justify the price for me.

Breakfast - two completely different experiences

I love hotel breakfasts and especially at the more upscale hotels, I'm really curious about them.

MBS didn't disappoint me - the fact that I have a choice of 3 options is already original.

I like details, so I appreciated the latte art in the form of the Marina Bay Sands logo on the coffee drinks.

Option 1: main restaurant Rise

Classic buffet breakfast in the main lobby near the reception (ground floor).

• ✅ Buffet breakfast
• ✅ huge selection
• ✅ Asian and European cuisine
• ✅ local specialities (traditional Singaporean Kaya toast or Chinese savoury Jianbing pancake)
• ✅ not so nice environment (restaurant in the open hotel lobby)
• ❌ lots of people and queues for more than 15 minutes after 9:00
• 6:30-10:15

I rate the breakfast as above average, on the other hand there was nothing that I remember (like TKT Toast or coconut at W Koh Samui hotel where we stayed 3 days before Singapore).

👉 best if you want a "full breakfast" or need breakfast early

Option 2: Spago Bar on the 57th floor

Breakfast served in the Spago Bar right by the iconic rooftop pool.

• ✅ Absolutely unique view
• ✅ beautiful airy environment (partly outdoor)
• ✅ lots of healthy food
• ❌ a la carte breakfast only
• ❌ less choice than the buffet breakfast downstairs
• ❌ you can wait 30 minutes for a seat after 9:30
• 8:30-11:00

Above average a la carte breakfast with one of the best views in the world.

👉 great experience, perfect for healthier eating (the buffet breakfast always makes me want to overeat more)

Option 3: Skypark Infinity pool

The last option is breakfast right on a sun lounger at the famous infinity pool.

• ✅ peace, quiet, sun lounger and pool
• ✅ nothing to worry about
• ❌ the weakest selection (only sandwiches, sweets, fruit bowls, etc.)
• 8:30-11:00

👉 unique experience, which we recommend in case you want to lie by the pool in the morning and you are not too hungry

Hotel services - a quick overview

Marina Bay Sands offers classic services like any other 5* hotel:

• 🏋️‍♂️ Fitness - huge, modern and open 24/7, but it is located in the shopping centre complex and you have to walk past the casino from the hotel to get there (about 10 minutes walk)
• 👕 Laundry service - classic. You leave your dirty clothes in a bag in your room and they will be washed by the next day
  • higher prices (for example, a men's t-shirt for 18 sgd)
• 🤵 Concierge - will help you with everything related to your stay in Singapore
• 🛅 Luggage storage - available free of charge on the ground floor by the Concierge desk
  • before check-in
  • and after check-out
• ℹ️ Restaurant Reservations - use the QR code to make a reservation at any restaurant in the Marina Bay Sands complex

But Marina Bay Sands is not just a hotel. It is a huge modern and luxurious shopping mall with everything that goes with it.

• 🛍️ Shops - a huge selection, with gift shops in the lobby and a full range of luxury brands in the adjacent mall with fashion, electronics, tea, sports etc.
• 🥗 Restaurants - great choice, many with Michelin stars
  • International restaurant Cé La Vi, modern cuisine Spago and Italian Lavo, right in the hotel on the 57th floor by the pool
  • good poolside lounger ordering service (I really liked the sandwiches, for example)
  • Dozens of other restaurants on the ground floor and in the shopping centre

But what was very disappointing, and frankly shocking to me, was that none of the really large number of restaurants are vegetarian. I find that a bit embarrassing these days.

Check-in and check-out

This is more of an additional piece of information, but one that I do address from time to time.

• The hotel is huge and check-in was very slow (long queue)
• But we got early check-in for free (not guaranteed), and before 12:00 (officially check-in is at 3:00), which was a huge plus!
• porter service is a given - our luggage was delivered to our room in about 10 minutes

Check-out is very fast and there is also a contactless express check-out where you just insert your room card into the machine.

If you spent money in restaurants on your room bill, it will automatically be charged to your card after check-out.

The credit of 100 sgd, which we were given for spending at several hotel restaurants, was easily credited.

Location - absolute heart of Singapore

This is one of the biggest advantages of the hotel. You can't even say that Marina Bay Sands is right in the centre.

That's because Marina Bay Sands itself forms the main hub. It's the main Singapore icon that most tourists head for.

And many of the central attractions are located in Downtown around Marina Bay.

It's walkable:

• Gardens by the Bay - about 5 minutes
• Merlion Park - approx. 15 minutes
• Lau Pa Sat - approx. 15 minutes
• CapitSpring Sky Garden - approx. 15 minutes
• Chinatown - approx. 30 minutes

Metro:

• Bayfront (directly below the hotel)
  • Blue Line
  • Yellow Line

How did we travel around Singapore? Find out our experiences in the articles:

• Metro Singapore
• Transportation in Singapore (Grab, Taxi, Buses)

Is Marina Bay Sands worth it?

✅ Yes, if:

• you want to experience the iconic infinity pool
• you want to treat the hotel as an experience, not just an accommodation
• you have Singapore as the highlight of your trip

❌ More likely not if:

• you are looking for the best value for money
• you plan to be away from the hotel all day
• the pool is not important to you

💡 Alternative:
We stayed in these hotels in Singapore as well:

• 🏨 Swissôtel The Stamford

My verdict after 2 nights

Would we do it again?

Yes! I was honestly thrilled with Marina Bay Sands.

Without exaggeration, it was one of the best hotels I've stayed in so far and actually quite reasonably priced compared to other top famous hotels.

Personally, I don't like going back to the same hotels. On the contrary I like to try new and new things.

But in the case of Marina Bay Sands, I would probably make an exception and stay here again the next time I'm in Singapore.

A handy tip for the end

Prices vary greatly depending on the date and time you book.

👉 Differences are as much as 20%

Compare available dates

Alternatives that make sense

For some, Marina Bay Sands is just a visual symbol and they don't need to experience the world's best hotel pool for themselves.

We considered these hotels too.

Hotel overlooking the MBS

• Swissôtel The Stamford - luxurious but half the price of MBS, close to the centre

Other famous hotels with an infinity pool

• PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering - modern luxury near Chinatown
• The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore - another Singapore icon, similar rates to MBS, great views

Cheaper accommodation in the city centre

• 👉 Ideally Marina Bay/Bugis/Chinatown area
• Best compromise of price vs. location
• 👉 Tips on cheap hotels in the article Where to stay in Singapore

FAQ - what you ask us

Can a non-guest enter the infinity pool?
No, access is for hotel guests only.

Is Marina Bay Sands worth the money?
Yes, if you want to experience the infinity pool and an overall great hotel.

Which room to choose?
Ideally with a view of Gardens by the Bay.