Getting around · Singapore
Getting around Singapore
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Fabio Achilli, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The MRT network of six lines reaches most sights, with buses filling the gaps. Air-conditioned underground walkways connect many stations to malls, which helps in the heat and rain. Taxis and ride-hailing are plentiful and reasonably priced by regional standards. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- SIN
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Singapore Tourist Pass
Ways to get around
Metro
The MRT runs from about 5:30am to around midnight, with frequent, air-conditioned trains. Tap a contactless bank card or phone at the gates; the fare is calculated by distance.
The same contactless card works on buses, and transfers made within a short window are charged as one distance-based journey.
Bus
An extensive bus network covers areas the MRT misses, such as Tiong Bahru, Katong and Dempsey Hill. Tap in and tap out with the same card.
Walking
The old quarters, the river and Marina Bay are walkable, but the heat means walking is best before 10am or after 5pm; carry water and an umbrella.
Taxi
Metered taxis queue at stands outside malls and hotels and can be hailed on most streets outside the central business district. Surcharges apply at peak hours, late at night and from the airport.
Ride-hailing
Grab is the main ride-hailing app and is widely used, including for airport pick-ups.
Ferry
Bumboats cross from Changi Point to Pulau Ubin, ferries run from Marina South Pier to the Southern Islands, and international ferries go to Batam and Bintan from HarbourFront and Tanah Merah.
Tickets and passes
Singapore Tourist Pass
A card giving unlimited rides on standard buses and MRT for one, two or three days; worthwhile only if you ride a lot.
Contactless bank card
Visa, Mastercard and other contactless cards or phones can be tapped directly at MRT gates and on buses, so most visitors need no special card.
From the airport
Changi Airport is about 20 km east of the centre. The MRT (East-West line, changing at Tanah Merah) reaches City Hall in about 35–45 minutes; a taxi or Grab takes about 20–30 minutes outside rush hour. Jewel connects to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 on foot.
Do you need a car?
No. Car hire is expensive, roads are tolled and parking costs add up; public transport and taxis cover the whole island.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Johor Bahru | About 1–2 hours including the border | Causeway bus from Queen Street, or shuttle train from Woodlands |
| Batam | About 1 hour by ferry | Ferry from HarbourFront Centre |
| Bintan | About 1 hour by ferry | Ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal |
| Southern Islands | About 30 minutes by ferry | Ferry from Marina South Pier |
| Malacca | About 3.5–4.5 hours by coach | Coach from Singapore to Melaka Sentral |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Singapore?
No. Car hire is expensive, roads are tolled and parking costs add up; public transport and taxis cover the whole island.
+How do you get from the airport to Singapore?
Changi Airport is about 20 km east of the centre. The MRT (East-West line, changing at Tanah Merah) reaches City Hall in about 35–45 minutes; a taxi or Grab takes about 20–30 minutes outside rush hour. Jewel connects to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 on foot.
+What is the best way to get around Singapore?
Metro: The MRT runs from about 5:30am to around midnight, with frequent, air-conditioned trains. Tap a contactless bank card or phone at the gates; the fare is calculated by distance.