Getting around Singapore: MRT, buses, taxis and Grab

The MRT at a glance

The MRT runs underground and elevated across almost the whole island. It is clean, punctual and signed in English. Visitors mostly meet six lines, each with its own colour on maps and station signs.

The busiest interchanges for visitors are Dhoby Ghaut, Raffles Place, Outram Park, Chinatown and Bugis. Check the terminus name on the platform sign to pick the right direction.

Paying: SimplyGo, EZ-Link and the Tourist Pass

• SimplyGo: tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard, or Apple Pay and Google Pay, at gates and bus readers. You pay the adult fare and need no separate card.
• Foreign cards may attract a small daily admin fee from the card issuer or the system. Check with your bank and the official site before you travel.
• EZ-Link: a stored-value card sold at stations and convenience stores, handy if you prefer not to tap a bank card.
• Singapore Tourist Pass: unlimited rides for a fixed number of days. Check the current price, terms and sales points on the official site, and compare with the trips you will really take.

Taking buses: tap in and tap out

Buses reach places the MRT does not, such as residential districts and some attraction entrances. They are easy once you know the routine.

1. 1Check the route numberOpen Google Maps or SG BusLeh for the route number, boarding stop and arrival time.
2. 2Tap on boardingBoard at the front and tap the card or phone you will keep using for the whole journey.
3. 3Press the bellPress the bell as your stop approaches, since buses may skip stops with no request.
4. 4Tap on alightingTap again as you get off. If you forget, the system may charge a default fare.

From Changi Airport into the city

Changi Airport station is on the East-West line, and you may need to change at Tanah Merah depending on the service pattern. Check station announcements or your app. The Thomson-East Coast line extension toward the airport is still under works, so check its status before you fly.

With big bags or a late arrival, a taxi or Grab from the airport pick-up points is often easier.

Taxis and Grab

• Grab covers rides and payments, while Gojek, TADA and CDG Zig are alternatives.
• Taxis can be hailed at taxi stands. Surcharges depend on time and place, so read the app estimate or the meter.
• Cars are hard to get in heavy rain and at rush hour, so keep the MRT as a backup.

Ride-hailing apps use modest data. See “How much data do ride-hailing and delivery apps use?” for more.

MRT rules that catch visitors out

• No eating or drinking on trains or in stations. Follow the posted signs.
• Durians are not allowed on the MRT.
• Stand on the correct side of escalators, let people off before boarding, and leave priority seats for those who need them.
• Smoke only at designated areas, and do not carry or use vapes.

Apps and data on the move

Google Maps and Citymapper plan MRT and bus routes, and SG BusLeh or MyTransport.SG shows bus arrivals. Mobile coverage extends into MRT tunnels, so maps keep working on the train. If you still need data, read “Singapore Trip Prep and Internet: eSIM or SIM, Plus a Checklist”.

Which transport suits which trip

The central districts work well on foot plus MRT. On very hot or wet days, pick stations with underground links or direct mall access, such as Raffles Place and Dhoby Ghaut.

If your hotel is far from an MRT station, check in Google Maps which buses stop outside it before you book. It makes daily travel much easier.

Before leaving the hotel each morning, glance at the operator notices in your app or at the station for any delays or planned closures that day. It takes a minute and saves a detour.

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