Singapore has one of the best public transportation networks in Asia. In the busy city, it is quick and convenient to use the subway to get from A to B. Although Singapore is an expensive city when you look at our expenses, public transportation is fairly inexpensive. Please note that it is forbidden to eat and drink on public transportation. Even durians should not be taken because of the foul odor emanating from the fruit. Check out all your options for your transportation in Singapore below.
Content of this blog:
Metro
As mentioned above, the subway, called the MRT in Singapore, is the most common mode of transportation. Traffic is often chaotic in the city, making it convenient to travel underground. Also, there is air conditioning in all subways making it a refreshment to get on these with Singapore’s hot, humid climate.
The subway runs to all famous neighborhoods and attractions in Singapore. If you have access to a sim card with data, it is very easy to use google maps to see the exact route and subway line from your starting point. Should you not have an Internet connection, you can always ask a local as well. They will point you in the right direction.
You have a choice of three options for the subway:
- Single tickets
To buy a separate metro ticket, you need to have cash or a credit card in your pocket. You also have to know exactly which subway station you want to go to and buy a new ticket for each trip. If you plan to stay in Singapore for more than 1 day, it is not recommended to buy single tickets each time. Not only do you spend a lot of time doing this, it also costs more money.
- EZ-Link card
The EZ-link card is a kind of chip card. You can very easily check in and out at the gates with this. You can buy the card at the airport or at the offices near the metro stations. The EZ-Link card costs 15 Singapore dollars (SGD), of which you immediately get 10 SGD credit to your account. You can make 8 to 10 subway rides out of this. The card is valid for 5 years so should you have another long layover or know someone going to Singapore you can keep it.
- Singapore Tourist Pass
The Singapore Tourist Pass can get you one (10SGD), two (16 SGD) or three (20 SGD) days of unlimited travel around the city. If you plan to walk little and travel a lot back and forth on the subway, it is wise to purchase the Singapore Tourist Pass. If you are going longer than 3 days or expect to travel a little less by subway then it is advisable to buy the EZ-Link card. We used the subway a fair amount and paid 40 SGD for 6 days. Same amount as twice the 3-day Singapore Tourist Pass.
Bus
In addition to the extensive subway network, there are also many buses in Singapore. They are mostly double-deckers that can seat 50 people. Because of this, there is always a place. When you walk into the bus, you can buy a ticket from the bus driver for the route. On average, a ticket costs between 1 and 3 euros. Due to the busy rush hour, it may take longer to arrive at your destination.
Taxi/Grab
Cabs in Singapore always run on meters. Very nice because that way you don’t have to negotiate endlessly about the price in advance like in some other countries in Asia.
Still, there is a cheaper alternative to the cab: Grab. This is the Uber of Southeast Asia. It works very simply: you can create a free account with your name and email address. Once your account is created, you can specify where you want to go. Grab then automatically calculates the price based on mileage and shows it to you. When you press “book,” the nearest Grab driver will be notified to pick you up. You see on your screen exactly where the Grab is and you can follow it live. Also, you can see the license plate number and brand/make of the car so you can recognize it when it is nearby. The ride is tracked with Grab, so you are not suddenly dropped off somewhere else, and the driver is reliable and verified by Grab. You can, if you wish, just pay with cash when you get off.
In short, it is the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to travel by public transport (and especially the metro) in Singapore, also to get to the 10 most enjoyable sights. Grab is a good alternative to the subway.
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