How tourists can get around Singapore (10 ways compared)
As part of my mission to provide visitors to Singapore with a single source of helpful information, I put together this guide on all the ways visitors can travel around Singapore, and some of my experiences and opinions helping visitors with each of these methods.
From public transport to private tours, this is the guide for visitors to Singapore who need help getting around.
1. Big Bus Tour
Big Bus are those famous double-decker open-top brown buses that you see ply the streets of any city popular with tourists - Singapore included. They include audio tours and a “hop on hop off” pricing structure meaning that your ticket is valid all day as you use the buses to explore the city.
There are two routes for Big Bus Tours in Singapore, highlights of these routes include:
| Route 1 (Yellow) | Route 2 (Red) |
|---|---|
|
|
Each route operates roughly from 9:30am to 5pm every day with a frequency of roughly 30 mins between buses. This means you have time to get off at any of the stops to explore and then find another bus to continue your journey. There is an app available to track the location of the bus.
Tours with Big Bus Singapore cost roughly S$60 (the price is in USD so it can vary). Big Bus Singapore also operates Duck Tours (a combination boat+bus) that can be added on to your ticket.
2. MRT
The underground network of trains forming the Singapore MRT is probably the most popular form of transport in the country (buses would be the other contender). I encourage all tourists to try it out.
Singapore’s MRT network covers most of the major tourist destinations, including Changi Airport.
I like recommending tourists take advantage of the MRT because:
- It’s cheap: Rides typically cost S$1.09 to S$2
- Foreign credit cards can be used for payment
- Toilets available at nearly every station
- Air conditioned trains
I wrote a complete guide on how to take the MRT in Singapore, check it out here: reachingsingapore.com/singapore-catch-train-guide
3. Public bus
Public buses cover nearly every inch of Singapore. There are routes that go out to every tourist attraction, every far-flung part of the island, and even the airport.
And you will not pay more than S$2.26 for a bus ride no matter how far you travel. Most rides cost less than $2!
I like recommending visitors to Singapore use public buses, they’re a great way to escape from the heat.
Google Maps will also keep you from getting lost when taking a bus - nearly all bus routes are mapped out on Google Maps, and for many routes it will even tell you when the next bus is coming.
If you need more detailed information on Singapore’s buses, check out my favourite bus planning website busrouter.sg - it has the entire network mapped out and will give you information about next bus at every stop.
I wrote a whole guide on how visitors can catch the bus in Singapore, check it out here: reachingsingapore.com/singapore-catch-bus-guide
4. Taxi
Taxis are a fast and convenient way for visitors to get around Singapore. And compared to many western countries, Singapore taxis are still relatively cheap.
I find taxis are best used by visitors in the following situations:
- Getting to the Mandai Wildlife attractions (though I do NOT recommend waiting for a taxi to take you back)
- Getting to and from Changi Airport, particularly if your hotel is not near an MRT station on the green East West line
- Exploring some parts of Singapore that are a bit harder to reach by public transport, such as Joo Chiat
Taxi fares in Singapore typically cost between S$15 and S$35 based on the distance travelled, time of day, and any location surcharges based on your starting or ending location. I wrote a whole guide on taxi costs here, and I’ve extracted some examples in the table below:
| Journey | Time of day | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Changi Airport to Downtown (Fullerton Bay) | Morning off-peak | S$24.20 |
| Sentosa to Changi Airport | Evening peak | S$34.10 |
| Orchard to Sentosa | Morning off-peak | S$15.40 |
| Boat Quay to Orchard | Night | S$12.40 |
| Mandai to Orchard | Afternoon off-peak | S$21.50* |
* my fare from Mandai to Orchard did not include the Mandai surcharge, an additional S$3 that you pay when you take a taxi out of Mandai. Between this and the long queues, I usually recommend people take the bus to get out of Mandai and then an MRT or taxi from the stop the bus drops you at.
Payment for taxis is typically made using cash or credit card. There is another surcharge of 10% if paying by credit card.
For a complete guide to catching a taxi in Singapore, check out my guide here: reachingsingapore.com/singapore-catch-taxi-guide
5. Bicycle
I’ve been really enjoying cycling around Singapore lately, and I’ve been encouraging everyone (visitors and locals alike) to give it a go. Bicycles are easy to rent, and many paths are wide and cycling friendly - particularly around Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay.
There are three types of bicycle transport visitors can choose from in Singapore:
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bike sharing scheme | S$3 per hour |
| Hourly bike rental shop | S$15 per hour |
| Bicycle tour with guide | S$80 per tour |
I like recommending bike sharing because you can rent bikes one-way. My favourite route to recommend is one way around Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay, and then to return to the city using the MRT. HelloRide (blue) and Anywheel (green) are the most popular bike sharing companies in Singapore.
East Coast Park is also a popular place to cycle around, there are quite a few shops here offering hourly rental and since there are so many shops it can be one-way.
Changi Airport even has special deals for hourly bicycle rental if you’re transiting through Singapore, check out their website here for more details.
Guided bicycle tours are also available in Singapore. There are heritage tours, night tours, and even private tours available. The starting price point for the better ones I’ve seen is roughly S$80 and they provide you with a bike for the duration of the tour.
6. Private hire
Private hire cars with drivers are available to transport visitors to Singapore anywhere around the island. These are typically rented on a per hour basis, but I have seen some rented per trip - my friend once booked a private hire car to take him from an event at Sentosa back home late at night for a cost of S$55 (this was roughly S$20 more than a taxi would have charged for the same journey).
The most common place I see visitors take advantage of private hire is for airport transfer. With prices between S$50 and S$200 depending on group size and destination, it can be worth it to have someone meet you there right after your flight and transfer you or your group to your hotel.
Hourly rates are typically around S$50 to S$100 depending on the size of your group. A minimum purchase of two hours is often required. Check out the references section at the bottom of this guide for more detail on companies that offer hourly hires.
7. Walk
Walking is my favourite way of moving around Singapore and I recommend that - despite the heat - all visitors give it a go.
When I first started visiting Singapore I would look for any escape from the heat; I would demand that my hotel be near an MRT station so that I could quickly duck in to the air conditioned station and catch the air conditioned train to my destination. But over the years I realised that this was a waste of time (going down to MRT platforms and then coming up again at the other end), and that I missed out on a lot of interesting things in the city by doing so.
A lot of the areas I find very walkable are:
- Downtown and the CBD, including Tanjong Pagar
- Chinatown
- Orchard Rd
- Civic district (where a lot of great museums are)
- Marina Bay
Gardens by the Bay, including the flower dome and cloud forest, can only really be explored by walking.
I recommend carrying an umbrella if you plan on walking around in Singapore - it’s great at providing some shade from the heat, and protection in case it suddenly rains.
8. Group tour
Tour buses ply the roads of Singapore guiding tourists through all the top attractions the city has to offer. These are large air-conditioned coaches with tour guides who will show you top attractions in Singapore, as well as share with you about the culture and history of Singapore.
Common tour destinations include:
- Merlion
- Chinatown
- Little India
- Gardens by the Bay
- Sentosa
Pricing for group tours starts at about S$35 per person and can be booked through sites like Klook (not sponsored). Tours often include hotel pick up as well.
9. Private tour
Hiring a private tour guide is the perfect option for visitors who want to see the sights but do not want to experience the crowds or pace that typically comes along with a group tour.
Private tours can be at your discretion, or can be purchased as a package of pre-planned activities by the operator. Buying a package will typically include all extra spending.
Some examples of packaged private tours include:
| Tour | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Local food tour | 4-6 hours | S$650 |
| Singapore at night | 4 hours | S$530 |
| Self-directed | 4 hours | S$600 |
I took the above examples from Hello Singapore Tours and Let’s Go Tour (I’m not sponsored by either company).
10. Hire a car
The Singapore government has gone to great extent to make driving in Singapore an expensive endeavour. Singapore is famous for its expensive “certificate” that an individual or company is required to purchase to own a car, but it’s also home to expensive car parking (there is very little free parking), fuel excise, and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) tools.
Visitors to Singapore will find that all this adds up to make hiring a car very expensive in Singapore. I do not recommend visitors to Singapore hire a car, unless they have a very specific need (such as my friend who hires a car to drive his baby to visit his wife’s family in heartland housing estates).
Costs of hiring a car start at about S$90 per day for a small hatchback, though can easily cost over S$120 for even a simple Toyota Vios.
There are 4 car rental outlets at Changi Airport:
| Location | Car Rental Company |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Sixt |
| Terminal 2 | Avis / Budget |
| Terminal 3 | Avis / Budget, and myCarriage |
References
The Singapore Tourist Board requires that all guides hold a valid Tourist Guide License. Providing unlicensed tours is illegal in Singapore; if you’re concerned your tour guide may be unlicensed, you can reference the complete list on the Singapore Tourist Board’s website here
For hourly hires of taxis and private cars, check out MaxiCab for their transparent pricing. The Grab app also has the option for hourly hire. (I’m not sponsored by any hire car company).
For detailed guides to the different public transport methods available in Singapore, check out my step-by-step guides on how to use…
