Getting around Singapore

Question 1

Can I tap a Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay on the MRT and bus?

Accepted Answer

Yes, contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express and NETS cards work at the gates and on buses, and so do phone wallets such as Apple Pay. You don't need an EZ-Link card or a SimplyGo account, though a foreign-issued Mastercard or Visa adds a S$0.60 admin fee for each day you ride, and your own bank may add fees too. Tap in and out with the same card or phone, or you may be charged more than once.

Question 2

MRT, bus, Grab or taxi: what is best for getting around?

Accepted Answer

Take the MRT for most journeys, because it's quick, air-conditioned and reaches most of the neighbourhoods in this guide. Add a bus for the places the trains skip, such as Changi Village or Mandai, and keep a taxi or Grab for late nights, heavy bags and the last stretch in the rain. We'd start with the train and reach for a car only when the weather or the hour decides it.

Question 3

How do I get from Changi Airport to the city?

Accepted Answer

The simplest way into town is the train from Changi Airport MRT Station, changing at Tanah Merah for the East-West Line towards Tuas Link. A metered taxi from the arrival stands takes about 30 minutes and costs S$25 to S$45 to the city, plus an airport surcharge of S$6, or S$8 from 5pm to midnight. We'd take the train unless you're landing late or carrying a lot.

Question 4

Is the Singapore Tourist Pass worth buying?

Accepted Answer

Usually not, because a one-day pass costs S$17 and you'd need between seven and 14 MRT rides to beat paying by card. A card fare runs about S$1.28 to S$2.57 a ride, and the pass leaves out the Sentosa Express and express buses. We'd tap a contactless card and save the pass for a day of hopping right across the island.

Question 5

How do I get to Sentosa without a car?

Accepted Answer

Take the MRT to HarbourFront, then ride the Sentosa Express from VivoCity for S$4 or walk in free over the Sentosa Boardwalk. The boardwalk starts at Lobby F on Level 1 and the monorail at Level 3, and bus 123 also runs in from Orchard and Tiong Bahru at the standard bus fare. We'd walk in and keep the S$4 unless you're heading straight for Universal Studios. Sentosa has the stops.

Question 6

What are the first and last train times on the MRT?

Accepted Answer

Trains typically start between about 5.30am and 6.30am and the last ones leave between about 11pm and a quarter past midnight. Every station has its own times, and Sundays and public holidays start later. Bugis on the Downtown Line, for example, has a first train towards Expo at 5.57am from Monday to Saturday and a last one at 12.01am. SMRT and SBS Transit publish the rest station by station.

Question 7

Can I pay cash on the MRT or bus?

Accepted Answer

Cash works on buses only, and you should have the exact fare ready because no change is given. A cash fare costs more than a card fare, from S$2.10 for a short basic-bus ride against S$1.28 by card. The MRT and LRT don't take cash at the gates and single-trip tickets are no longer sold, so tap a contactless card or top up an EZ-Link card with cash at a designated kiosk.

Question 8

Do children ride the MRT and bus free in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Children under seven ride free on basic buses and trains, and those shorter than 0.9m need nothing more than a fare-paying adult with them. A taller child under seven needs a free Child Concession Card, which any SimplyGo Ticket Office issues against the child's passport. Express and premium buses still charge the adult cash fare.

Question 9

What if my flight is before the first train or after the last?

Accepted Answer

If the trains aren't running, take a taxi or private-hire car: Changi says both are available 24 hours a day from every terminal. From Changi Airport station the first train leaves at 5.31am Monday to Saturday and 5.59am on Sundays and public holidays, and the last connection towards Tuas Link leaves at 11.18pm. A taxi between midnight and 6am adds a 50 percent surcharge to the metered fare. If you land with hours to fill, the landside guide has a plan.

Question 10

Is Singapore walkable for a visitor?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in pieces: the Civic District and the Singapore River are easy to walk, and LTA says a sheltered walk runs within 400 metres of every MRT station. Between areas the train does the long stretches, because the midday heat turns long walks into a chore. We'd walk the Civic District in the morning and the river at dusk.

Question 11

Where can I cycle in Singapore without joining a tour?

Accepted Answer

East Coast Park is the easiest place to start: it runs 13km along the coast, has smooth pathways and bike rental shops, and never closes. Pulau Ubin earns a day too: you rent a bicycle on the island, and NParks suggests renting or bringing a helmet. We'd ride East Coast Park at sunrise, before the path heats up, and save Ubin for a day on the bumboat.

Question 12

Can I ride an e-scooter in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

E-scooters may be ridden only on cycling paths, and the Active Mobility Act bars riding a motorised personal mobility device on a footpath. Every e-scooter must be registered with LTA, which no longer registers them for individuals: only new scooters that retailers and companies sell or hire out can be registered. For a ride along the coast, East Coast Park has bike rental.

Question 13

Should I rent a car in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Not for a first trip: trains and buses reach most of the places in this guide, and a taxi or Grab covers the rest. A car also means paying Electronic Road Pricing each time you pass a gantry during its operating hours, on top of the rental. We'd only hire one for a day if you're travelling with several children or a lot of gear.