Real stories from haunted hotels in Singapore

In the lobby of one of the oldest hotels in Singapore, you'll find a grand timber staircase. It's an architectural marvel in its own right – decked in the fanciest Persian rugs. It has been said that guests have seen a lady in white just hanging around at the staircase. Well, who can blame her? If we were spirits, we'd choose to reside in this luxurious hotel too. 

Sometimes, spirits are just mischievous. A former employee at a five-star hotel near the Marina Bay has had numerous complaints from the VIP suites. Apparently things have the tendency to move around on its own, and the laughter of kids fills the air from time to time. Don't look out of your window at night, either – you might just see phantom kids playing by the pool. 

Supposedly built on grounds where the Japanese held executions during World War II, this towering hotel has made headlines several times over the past few years – for all the wrong reasons. There have been rumours of phones turning on by themselves in the middle of the night, strange noises at night, furniture being shifted around, and even spirits asking for mercy in the corridors. But hey, for all we know, they were probably just jamming along to Amy Winehouse's Mercy.  

Here's one from a 1900s heritage hotel. One of the oldest in Singapore, it has had many reincarnations, from being home to an elite enclave, to serving as headquarters of the Japanese navy during the Japanese occupation. 

There have been reported ghost sightings in the corridors and doorways, and strange occurrences: like lights turning on and off by themselves and mysterious noises late at night. A guest has even reportedly complained to the reception – only to be told that the room wasn't haunted, and that they had a priest from England exorcise the hotel.

Well the thing is, the guest didn't even imply that the room was haunted. 

At one of the hotels in the Marina Bay district, it's an unspoken secret amongst the staff that a lady in white and long black hair is a common presence in the guest rooms and lift areas. Just watch your back when you walk around – who knows who you might run into. 

Changi Village is a popular destination these days for foodies hunting for the next best eating spot, family picnics and those making day trips to Pulau Ubin – but the area hides a dark past. Changi Beach was one of the killing grounds of the Sook Ching massacre during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore of the Second World War, where 66 Chinese male civilians were killed on the beach by the Japanese Hojo Kempei in 1942.

Is it any wonder that many supernatural experiences have been reported at a popular hotel in the area? We heard stories of someone being visited by spirits in the middle of the night, held down and pressed onto the bed while loud pounding on the wall sounded. Luckily, he managed to free himself after chanting a few prayers. But it's safe to say he probably won't be staying there again. 

A friend of ours had a staycation at a newly opened hotel in the Civic District. He was woken up at 2am by a loud banging sound which sounded like a hammer on metal – so he thought that they were still working on renovations. The next day in the lobby, he told the staff that they shouldn't house guests near areas of constructions. Her reply? They've stopped renovations months ago. 

Ah, the notorious chalets. Where do we even begin? Anyone who grew up in Singapore probably has had countless parties, barbecues, and sleepovers at these holiday chalets. But they're also notorious for paranormal happenings and ghost sightings, specifically the ones in the east. Once, we had a birthday party at one of the bigger chalets and one of our friends (with a heightened sixth sense) told us to cover all the mirrors in the chalet that night – and refused to tell us why. It's safe to say, we slept with our eyes wide open.