The invention relates to a method for synthesizing 5-bromoindole. The method comprises the following steps of: (1) dissolving indole into alcoholic organic solvents, adding an aqueous solution of sodium hydrogensulfite or potassium hydrogensulfite, reacting for 15 to 20h, filtering a reaction solution, washing, and drying to obtain an intermediate I; (2) mixing the intermediate I and acetic anhydride, raising the temperature to 68 to 75 DEG C, reacting for 2 to 3h, adding ester or benzene organic solvents, reacting for 0.5 to 1h, cooling to room temperature after the reaction is finished, filtering, washing, and drying to obtain an intermediate II; and (3) dissolving the intermediate II into water, adding bromine at the temperature of between 0 and 5 DEG C, keeping the reaction for 1 to 3h, raising to room temperature, continuing to react for 1 to 2h, adding the aqueous solution of sodium hydrogensulfite or potassium hydrogensulfite, reacting for 10 to 30min, adding an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, refluxing for 12 to 18h, cooling a reaction solution, precipitating crystals, filtering, washing, and drying to obtain a product, namely the 5-bromoindole. The method is low in cost consumption and is simple, and the quality of the product is high.