Getting around Singapore is a genuine pleasure. The city runs one of the best public-transport systems in the world: a spotless, air-conditioned MRT metro that reaches almost every attraction, an extensive bus network, honest metered taxis and the ubiquitous Grab app, all cheap and superbly efficient. This guide covers how to get in from Changi Airport, how to ride the MRT and buses with a single contactless tap or EZ-Link card, when to use taxis and Grab, and whether the Singapore Tourist Pass is worth buying — with real routes, prices and practical advice.
Singapore transport explained
1.Changi Airport (SIN) to the city
Changi Airport, routinely voted the best airport in the world, sets the tone for Singapore's superb transport from the moment you land, and getting into the city could hardly be easier. The cheapest option is the MRT: from the station beneath Terminals 2 and 3 (with Terminal 4 linked by shuttle), the green East–West Line runs to the centre, requiring a quick cross-platform change at Tanah Merah, for well under S$3 — unbeatable value, though the journey takes around 45 minutes to an hour and involves handling your luggage on the train, so it best suits daytime arrivals travelling light. For door-to-door comfort, the airport's famously orderly taxi ranks offer metered fares to downtown of roughly S$25 to S$40, with modest airport, late-night and peak surcharges, while ride-hailing via Grab works from designated pick-up points at similar prices; both take 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. There is also a convenient shared airport shuttle to city hotels for around S$10 per person, bookable at arrivals, and public buses for the truly budget-conscious. Whichever you choose, the airport is a joy to move through, with the stunning Jewel complex and its indoor waterfall attached should you have time to spare. To pay for the MRT and buses you can tap a contactless bank card or buy a stored-value or tourist transit pass. For departure, allow extra time not because the airport is slow — it is wonderfully efficient — but because you may want to enjoy Jewel and the terminals themselves. In short, Changi to the city is quick, cheap and painless by any method.
Hours
MRT ~05:30–23:30; taxis and buses 24h
Price
MRT under S$3; taxi ~S$25–40 (surcharges apply); airport shuttle ~S$10
Getting there
MRT from Changi (CG2) via Tanah Merah to the city; or taxi/Grab from the arrivals ranks
Insider tip: The MRT is the cheapest way in at under S$3, but it's a long ride with a transfer; for late arrivals or with luggage, a metered taxi or Grab (~S$25–40) is stress-free.
2.The Singapore MRT
The Mass Rapid Transit, universally known as the MRT, is the backbone of getting around Singapore and consistently rated among the finest metro systems in the world — clean, safe, punctual, air-conditioned and remarkably cheap. Its six colour-coded lines fan out across the island and, crucially for visitors, reach almost every place you are likely to want to go: Orchard Road, Marina Bay, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Sentosa (via HarbourFront), the airport and far beyond. Trains are frequent, arriving every few minutes, and the stations are immaculate, well signed in English and often connected directly into malls and attractions via underground and covered links, a genuine blessing in the tropical heat and sudden downpours. Fares are calculated by distance and typically run from around S$1 to S$2.50 a trip, making it by far the most economical way to travel. Payment is refreshingly simple: you can tap a contactless credit or debit card straight onto the fare gates, use a stored-value EZ-Link card, or buy a Singapore Tourist Pass for unlimited daily travel if you plan a lot of hopping around. A few practical notes: eating, drinking and, famously, carrying durians are prohibited on board and can incur fines, so respect the rules; trains run from around 05:30 to midnight, so plan late nights accordingly; and rush hours can be crowded. Navigation apps like Citymapper or Google Maps make route-planning effortless. For the vast majority of visitors, the MRT combined with a little walking is all you need to explore Singapore comfortably and affordably, and using it is a pleasure rather than a chore.
Hours
Daily ~05:30–24:00
Price
Fares ~S$1–2.50 per trip by distance; tap a contactless card or transit pass
Getting there
Six colour-coded lines cross the island, interchanging at hubs like City Hall, Dhoby Ghaut, Raffles Place and Bugis
Insider tip: The MRT reaches almost everywhere a visitor needs, is spotless, air-conditioned and cheap — download an app like Citymapper and just tap in with a contactless card.
3.Buses & the EZ-Link card
Singapore's public bus network is comprehensive, inexpensive and a useful complement to the MRT, reaching residential neighbourhoods, parks and pockets of the island that the trains do not, and offering the bonus of a scenic, at-ground-level view of the city as you travel, especially from the top deck of a double-decker. The buses are modern, air-conditioned and clean, and the system is fully integrated with the MRT for payment: you simply tap the same contactless bank card, EZ-Link stored-value card or Singapore Tourist Pass on the reader when you board and again when you alight, with fares calculated by distance and typically costing between S$1 and S$2.30 — remembering to tap out is important to avoid being charged the maximum fare. The EZ-Link card, available from MRT station machines and ticket offices for a small cost plus stored value, is a handy option for those who prefer not to use a foreign bank card, and it works across all buses and trains; alternatively the Singapore Tourist Pass offers unlimited travel for one, two or three days if you intend to move around a lot. The main practical challenge for visitors is simply knowing which bus to catch, but this is easily solved with apps like Google Maps, Citymapper or the local bus-arrival apps, which give real-time arrival information and step-by-step routing. Services run from early morning until around midnight, with limited night-bus routes on Friday and Saturday nights. While most visitors will rely primarily on the MRT for its speed and simplicity, keeping the bus network in mind opens up cheaper, more direct journeys to certain attractions and a more local way of seeing the city.
Hours
Daytime services ~05:30–24:00; some night buses at weekends
Price
Fares ~S$1–2.30 by distance; tap in and out with a card or transit pass
Getting there
Comprehensive routes island-wide; check Google Maps, Citymapper or the bus arrival apps for real-time timings
Insider tip: Buses reach the spots the MRT misses and offer great city views up top; the same tap-in card or contactless payment covers buses and trains seamlessly.
4.Taxis & Grab ride-hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing are a comfortable, affordable and stress-free way to get around Singapore, particularly for late-night journeys, trips with luggage, travel in a sudden tropical downpour, or reaching spots off the MRT network. Singapore's taxis are famously honest and well regulated: they are metered, drivers take the direct route, and there is no need to haggle or worry about being overcharged. Fares start with a flagfall of around S$3.90 to S$4.80 and build by distance and time, with various surcharges for peak hours, late nights, public holidays, airport trips and city-centre zones, but a typical hop across town still costs only around S$8 to S$15, very reasonable by the standards of most major cities. You can hail taxis on the street, pick them up at the ubiquitous ranks outside malls, hotels and MRT stations, or, most conveniently, book them through an app. Grab is the dominant ride-hailing platform in Singapore and the region — the local equivalent of Uber — and it is well worth downloading: it shows the fare upfront before you book, removing any uncertainty, lets you pay by linked card, and offers everything from budget cars to larger vehicles and even taxi bookings. Gojek and the taxi company ComfortDelGro's own app are alternatives. Grab prices are broadly comparable to metered taxis, sometimes cheaper off-peak and higher during surge periods. Between the two, you are never far from an easy ride. For most visitors, the ideal approach is to use the cheap and efficient MRT for the bulk of daytime sightseeing and turn to a taxi or Grab for convenience when it counts — arriving at a restaurant, heading home late, or beating the heat and rain.
Hours
24 hours
Price
Taxi flagfall ~S$3.90–4.80 plus distance; various surcharges; typical city hop S$8–15
Getting there
Hail a taxi at ranks and hotels, or book via the Grab, Gojek or ComfortDelGro apps
Insider tip: Taxis are metered, honest and reasonably priced; the Grab app is the local Uber and shows the fare upfront — both are great for late nights, rain or luggage.
5.The Singapore Tourist Pass
The Singapore Tourist Pass is a special transit card offering unlimited travel on the MRT and public buses for one, two or three consecutive days, aimed at visitors who intend to move around the island heavily by public transport. Priced at roughly S$22 for one day, S$29 for two days and S$34 for three days (each including a small refundable card deposit reclaimable within a few days of purchase), it removes any need to think about individual fares and lets you hop on and off trains and buses as often as you like. Whether it actually saves you money, however, depends entirely on how much you travel: because Singapore's ordinary distance-based fares are already very cheap, at roughly S$1 to S$2.50 a trip, you need to make a good number of journeys each day — generally four or more longer trips — for the pass to pay for itself against simply tapping a contactless bank card or a pay-as-you-go EZ-Link card. For visitors on a packed, transport-heavy itinerary, criss-crossing the island between far-flung attractions like the Mandai zoos, the airport, Sentosa and downtown, the pass offers convenience and peace of mind and can work out cheaper. For those doing more relaxed, walkable sightseeing concentrated in the central districts, or who prefer to mix in taxis and Grab, pay-as-you-go is usually simpler and often cheaper. It can be bought at TransitLink ticket offices in major MRT stations, including at Changi Airport on arrival, and there is also a digital version. Do the rough maths against your plans before buying: for many light-to-moderate users, the humble tap of a contactless card is the easiest and most economical choice, but for the transport-intensive it is a handy, hassle-free option.
Hours
Valid 1, 2 or 3 consecutive days from first use
Price
1-day ~S$22, 2-day ~S$29, 3-day ~S$34 (includes a refundable card deposit)
Getting there
Buy at TransitLink ticket offices in major MRT stations, including Changi Airport, or as a digital pass
Insider tip: Worth it only if you'll ride public transport heavily — otherwise just tap a contactless card and pay as you go, which is simpler and often cheaper for light users.