Being one of the smallest countries in the world, Singapore is so easy to get around! The island country has an amazingly comprehensive public transport systems that is easy to use and can get you anywhere you need to go. It’s one of our favourite public transport systems from over 30 countries that we’ve visited! It’s just so reliable and easy to use as a tourist!

We used the MRT and buses to see everything we wanted to in Singapore. You can read more about everything you can do on a budget in our post all about our favourite activities.

We absolutely love using public transport systems in countries all over the world. It’s usually one of the cheapest ways to get around, and gives the most authentic feel for a place. But, we do know how overwhelming it can be to arrive in a new city and have no idea how to transport system works. We’ll go through everything you need to know to confidently navigate the public transport in Singapore. You’ll be getting around like a local in no time!

There are two main modes of transport in Singapore: trains and buses. The train system consists of the MRT, the LRT and the Sentosa express.

The MRT system is quick, efficient, and super clean (as most things are in Singapore). The whole system is automated and driverless. The network originally opened in 1987, and currently covers the vast majority of the country. There are six lines with around 130 stations, 30 of which are interchanges between two or more lines. The names are for the location of each line (e.g. Downtown Line and North East Line), and the lines are all colour coded.

There are also a few light rail lines around the country, however they are mostly in residential areas. As a tourist, you’re less likely to encounter the LRT lines. You can pay for them the same way you pay for other transport in Singapore.

The Sentosa Express is a monorail that runs from the ViviCity Shopping Centre to Sentosa Island. It is a single line with 4 stops, taking only 8 minutes to get from one end to the other.

Buses were first introduced in Singapore in 1925, and the network has since grown to over 350 routes. There are four different bus companies: Go-Ahead Singapore, SBS Transit, SMRT Buses, and Tower Transit Singapore. There is no difference in payment method or fare between the bus companies. Similar to the trains, bus routes in Singapore cover most of the country.

There are a few different options for paying the fare on public transport in Singapore, and there are some differences in cost based on the mode of transport. This is one of the areas that the Singapore transport network could use some work. It is very confusing identifying the differences between payment methods, and choosing the one that will work best for you.

As we often recommend, if you have a contactless card that does not charge you fees for international transactions, you should use the contactless method. It is the easiest, as you don’t need to buy another card, and you will pay the best fare available. However, if you’re planning to make a lot of journeys in a small number of days, then the Singapore Tourist Pass may work out cheaper.

Let’s have a look at these options that are available to you:

Similar to other major cities like London, Sydney, and New York, you can pay for public transport in Singapore by using your bank-issued contactless card or your mobile wallet. You simply tap your card at the entrance gates to the station or on the reader as you board a bus. You will also need to tap off at the end of a journey, as the fares are based on distance. The standard adult fare will be charged straight to your card. This includes on premium services such as the Sentosa Express and express buses.

There is an administration fee of up to 60c per day for using a foreign-issued bank card. However, this is still less than the cost for purchasing a tourist pass, as we will discuss below.

The one downside to this method is that every person needs their own card. If not everyone in your party has an individual card, then one of the next options might be better suited.

If you are in Singapore for only a few days and plan to use transport several times per day, then a Tourist Pass might be a cost-effective option for you. Depending on the distance you travel and the card you choose, you would need to take 3-6 rides a day for it to be worthwhile.

The tourist passes are variations on the transit card that Singaporeans use – EZ-link cards. The tourist passes offer you unlimited travel for a set number of days. You could also choose to purchase an EZ-link card, however you would need to register this card with an account on the EZ-link app. For the vast majority of tourists, one of the tourist passes or using your contactless card will be the best option.

None of the tourist passes include the Sentosa Express, or any express buses (you can identify these by the ‘e’ after the bus number). They all count your first day as the day you first use the card, ending at midnight that night. Any multi-day card only applies to consecutive days.

There are a few kinds of tourist passes that you can purchase:

The SG Tourist Pass is a 3 day pass that allows you unlimited rides on public transportation for S$29. You can purchase the card at Changi Airport only, so if you are already in the city, or not arriving through the airport, then this won’t be the best option for you.

The Singapore Tourist Pass is almost identical to the SG Tourist Pass, but it has two key differences: firstly, it is available in 1, 2 or 3 day cards, and it also has a refundable fee for the purchase of the card. You can purchase a Singapore Tourist Pass at the automated kiosks at Changi Airport, or at select SimplyGo ticket offices. You can see current opening hours for the offices here.

The Singapore Tourist Pass costs S$22, S$29 or S$34 depending on the number of days you get. The costs includes a S$10 deposit, which is refunded when you return the card within 5 days of purchase. You can return Singapore Tourist Passes at any of the SimplyGo ticket offices.

If you are not able to return the card, or would like to keep the card as a souvenir, then you will not recieve the deposit back. This means that for the 3 day card, you are better off using an SG Tourist Pass instead.

The Singapore Tourist Pass Plus is a version of the Singapore Tourist Pass with additional benefits. It comes only in a 3-day version which costs S$48. The benefits that you can get with this card can change, so you can find the current add-ons here. At the time of writing this, the bundle includes a free one hour walking tour, a postcard set, and $5 off a concierge service. Unless you are likely to use every available benefit, this card is not a good deal.

On buses, you can also opt to pay with cash as you board the bus. This wouldn’t be the best option unless you don’t have a contactless card with which you can pay. You will pay a slightly higher fare if you opt to pay with cash than you would if you were to pay on card. Keep in mind that you won’t receive change, so you will need to have the exact fare for your journey.

Fares on the MRT/LRT and buses in Singapore are calculated on a distance basis. From your first tap on, you will have 2 hours to make as many transfers as you need, and will be charged for the total distance of the journey.

Train fares range from S$1.50 to S$2.50. You can calculate the exact fare of your journey at this website.

You can pay for the Sentosa Express with the same contactless methods you can for other transport, and you can also buy tickets online or at the station in ViviCity. A standard adult ticket is S$4, and certain concession card holders will only pay S$2. Children up to the age of 2 can ride the Sentosa Express for free.

However, something important to note is that the Sentosa Express only costs for the journey from ViviCity to the island. For journeys between stations on Sentosa, or for a journey from the island back to the mainland, there is no charge. This is the case regardless of whether you used the Sentosa Express to arrive on the island.

Buses range in price from S$1.09 to S$2.37 for standard buses, and S$1.69 to S$2.97 for express buses.

One of the things about Singapore’s transport system that makes it so tourist-friendly is that it is integrated with Google Maps. Simply search for your destination and select the public transport option, and Google Maps will give you the best route option for the journey. You can also use other map services, such as Apple Maps or CityMapper.

If you are wanting to plan out a route ahead of time, you can use the SMRT website to find the lines you’ll need and the stations you will need to change at. If you’re after a timetable, they unfortunately don’t exist for trains. The MRT system doesn’t run on a set timetable, but instead has guidelines for how often trains will arrive at varying times of day.

For buses, only the ones run by SBS have a way to find out how frequently they run.

We didn’t find this to be a problem at all though, as they buses and trains run frequently enough, and you can always see upcoming departures in your map app or on display boards at train stations.

As is to be expected in Singapore, there are rules you have to abide by when you are on public transport. There is no eating or drinking allowed, no smoking, and no durian. If you’ve ever been somewhere that durian is sold, you’ll understand why!

We found that the public transport in Singapore was incredible, thanks to its efficiency, cleanliness and organisation. You’ll now be all set to take on this incredible country in the most affordable way! Let us know if you have any questions about the transport system.

If you want to see what we got up to while we were in Singapore, you can check out our vlogs here:

• 10+ Best Affordable Things to do in Singapore
• The Ultimate Guide to Siem Reap: Temples, Markets, and More!
• Lan Ha Bay: A Beautiful Alternative to Halong Bay
• How to Make the Most of Your Time in Bangkok