Singapore has done it again – we’ve landed ourselves a coveted spot on Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2025 list in the ‘Places to Stay’ category, but it's probably not what most are expecting.
Think of the best hotels in Singapore and big names like Raffles Hotel and Capella would immediately come to mind – after all, both of them recently scored a five-star rating in the Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards 2025. But Time Magazine sings a different tune by choosing to honour a new entrant, and a less pricey one at that: Boutique hotel QT Singapore. It’s the very first QT Hotel outside of Australia and New Zealand, and only just opened its doors to guests in September last year.
According to Time, its team sought out “one-of-a-kind spots and experiences around the globe” to come up with a final unranked list of 100 best venues across the world. And QT Singapore has caught Time’s eye for being housed in a restored 1920s colonial building, its proximity to Lau Pa Sat which made an appearance in Crazy Rich Asians, and “luxe Nic Graham-designed suites kitted out with marble rain showers and Kevin Murphy toiletries”. The hotel along Robinson Road is also lauded for its lively common spaces including Cygnet Bar – where you can enjoy $1 oysters and $10 cocktails – as well as the rooftop bar that’s right near the open-air lap pool.
QT Singapore has bragging rights as the only establishment from Singapore that is featured as part of Time’s World’s Greatest Places in 2025.
Asia-wise, Japan has the most number of featured spots. Nipponia in Sado and Mirukashi Salon in Karatsu make the ‘Places to Stay’ list; while the new Nintendo Museum in Uji, Kyoto, and Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine and Seigantoji temple in Wakayama are in the ‘Places to Visit’ list. See below for the full list of World's Greatest Places winners from Asia.
Asia’s Greatest Places to Stay in 2025, according to Time Magazine:
- Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas (Thailand)
- Celestia (Indonesia)
- Community Homestay Network (Nepal)
- L*SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort (Shanghai, China)
- Mirukashi Salon (Karatsu, Japan)
- Nipponia (Sado, Japan)
- Oberoi Vindhyavilas Wildlife Resort, Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh, India)
- QT Singapore
- Raffles Jaipur (India)
Asia’s Greatest Places to Visit in 2025, according to Time Magazine:
- Chelebi (Baku, Azerbaijan)
- Eagle Hunter Cultural Center (Ulgii, Mongolia)
- Ho Chi Minh City Metro (Vietnam)
- Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine and Seigantoji temple (Wakayama, Japan)
- Nangma Valley Trek (Pakistan)
- Nintendo Museum (Uji, Japan)
- Papa's Bombay (Mumbai, India)
- The Beijing Library (China)
- The Pekoe Trail (Central Highlands, Sri Lanka)
- Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum (Jakar, Bhutan)
- Wild Food Adventures (Areni, Armenia)
- Zebun Nessa Mosque (Ashulia, Bangladesh)
Check out the full list of Time’s World’s Greatest Places 2025 here.
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