Singapore is an accessible city to navigate for most tourists. There are several public transportation modes like buses and trains, private ones like taxis and fun ones like scooters! It is also stress-free when it comes to approaching the public for directions. They will happily point lost tourists to the nearest bus stop or explain in detail the way to the destination (if they are not in a rush). This guide explains Singapore’s transportation network system to make you a smarter and efficient traveller.
MRT
The Mass Rapid Transit also referred to as “MRT” by Singaporeans, is the country’s train network and a regular mode of transportation for the locals. Without having to stop every 100-metre for a bus stop or traffic light on the road, getting to your destination on a train is faster.
As of 2020, the MRT system runs on five main lines in Singapore, primarily those listed below.
- North-South Line (Red)
- North-East Line (Purple)
- East-West Line (Green)
- Circle Line (Yellow)
- Downtown Line (Blue)
These lines interconnect to each other at some stations along the line and station to station transit is easy with the readily available signs.
It is a good practice to pay attention to the colour of the MRT lines as locals refer to the lines by colour instead of its name. For example, “To get to Orchard Road, you have to take the Red Line (North-South Line).”
How to pay for the ride?
There are single-ride tickets and contactless smart cards (EZ-Link Cards) available at the ticketing kiosks outside the train station gantry.
We recommend buying the Singapore Tourist Pass from the airport or convenience stores in the city, for fantastic deals like a 3-day pass with unlimited rides on buses and trains for SGD25!
Public Buses
Another mode of transportation is the public buses; there are aplenty, and bus stops are within close proximity. Some buses loop only within a zone, and some travels from the East to the West of Singapore. It takes less than an hour’s bus ride to travel from one end to another in this tiny but mighty island. A search on Google Maps or Gothere.sg provides direction and information to your next destination.
Pro-Tip: Download the Singabus App, a bus transportation app that lets you see the real-time location of buses and the next bus arrival timings.
How to pay for the ride?
Travelling on buses is made easy with the Singapore Tourist Pass for tourists or any regular EZ-Link bus cards like the one’s locals use. You can also pay with cash (coins) at the front of the bus; let the captain know where you’re going, and he will let you know how much to pay.
Private Hire (Taxis, Grab)
The flagged down vehicle is not a usual way to commute unless locals need a quick and efficient way to get to their destination. Blue and yellow Comfort DelGro cabs are a common sight on the roads.
Similar to Uber or Lyft in the U.S, there is the ride-hailing Grab App that allows riders to book a ride to their destination.
During peak hours from 7.30 am – 9 am, and 5.30 pm – 7 pm, the roads are the busiest and congestions might make taking a private hire a lousy decision. Also, the price surge during those hours is a horrible sight to take in!
How to pay for the ride?
Pay through your app with a linked credit card or select cash and pay the driver cash at your destination.
Bike-Sharing
One of the fun ways to explore Singapore is on a bicycle. Depending on the bike-sharing company, locals can locate and unlock the bikes at dockless locations using an app. The bike is usually used to travel within the neighbourhood and is a great form of exercise.
It is common to see locals coming out of the MRT stations and finding the nearest bicycle to unlock and ride home. The bikes run by usage and prices vary as different companies offer individual combo deals.
How to pay for the ride?
Download the SG Bike (SGD 1 for first 30-minutes) or Anywheel (SGD 0.5 for the first 30-minutes) bike-sharing app on your phone and follow the set-up functions. The app comes with functions that let you locate and unlock a bike, as well as, scan the bike’s QR code and have a linked credit card to pay for the ride at the end.
E-Scooters
A popular way amongst tourists to tour the prime spots of Singapore is via the scooters. There are some heritage and food tours (SGD30) conducted on a kick scooter. Your guide meets you at a designated location and brings you around the local residential area of Singapore on a scooter. Participants must know or at least dare to ride a scooter to join the tour.
If you would like to ride a scooter in your free time, consider renting an electronic scooter from City Scoot Electric Scooter (from SGD17.26) and conduct a self-tour with one of our itineraries.
How to pay for the ride?
Pay online for the cultural-heritage guided scooter tour here and for the rental of City Scoot electric scooter here.
