Singapore Transports

The MRT - which stands for Mass Rapid Transit system - is easily the world's cleanest and smoothest running. Like, the public buses, it runs daily from 06:00 - 24:00, with reasonable fares. These two modes of reliable and comfortable transportation make little sense out of renting a car to move around Singapore.

All MRT trains come with "No Smoking" rules. The same goes for eating and drinking. There are also signs at the ticket counters prohibiting what appear to be hedgehogs from the MRT. These signs are actually referring to durians. Not an unreasonable request for those who have yet to acquire a taste for the famous pungent fruit of Asia.

A useful tip for travellers is to avoid rush hour traffic between 08:00 - 09:00 and 17:00 - 19:00. Singapore at anytime outside these hours still remains a pleasure to roam about in. Transitlink Guides are available at MRT stations, bus interchanges, and major bookstores. These handy guides outline every MRT and bus route in detail, so you won't get lost with one of these in hand at only SG$ 1.40.

Singapore has more than 15,000 air-conditioned taxis, available even on the road anytime during the day and even night, at surprisingly affordable prices. All taxis run on the meter, but there are surcharges applicable when using the expressways and also if travelling within the Central Business District between 07:30 - 09:30 and 17:30 - 19:00, weekdays.

Taxis for hire are also available from the airport, with a levy surcharge of SG$ 3. Take note that if a taxi displays a red sign on its dashboard, the driver is changing shift and will only pick up customers going in his direction. TIBS Taxis also offers ten cabs, which are wheelchair-accessible, to tourists and locals who need them.

If renting a car, be aware that Singaporeans drive on the left side of the road; and the maximum speed limit is 50km per hour in residential areas, and 80km per hour on the expressways. Also take note of surcharges on entering the Central Business District and on expressways, especially during peak hours.

Trishaws, or three-wheeled bicycles with a carriage, used to be Singapore's practical transportation in olden times, but are now quite a rare treat. You can opt to try these out if when exploring Chinatown and Little India. Most trishaws can really be found waiting for visitors along Waterloo Street. A routine 45-minute sightseeing ride would normally cost about SG$ 25 - 45.

Other great ways of getting around Singapore include organized tours and cruises. Just ask at your hotel or the tourist information offices, and you'll find out that Singapore offers river, island and also harbour cruises on fleets of cruise boats plying Singapore's southern waters every day and night.

The Singapore River cruise, which casts off from North Boat Quay and Clarke Quay at every hour from 09:00 - 19:00, is one of the best at only SG$ 7 a cruise. Traditional bumboats bring you past the old godowns upriver in which, traders of long ago stored their merchandise. Other cruise companies also cast out of Clifford Pier and the World Trade Centre. These cruises offer a host of opportunities ranging from luxury catamaran trips around islands at the southern end of Singapore, to dinner on a tongkang, or traditional Chinese sailing boat. Normally, a simple cruise will cost about SG$ 20, and a dinner special will cost anything from SG$ 35 - 80.

To and From the Airport

The Changi Airport is Singapore's major airport and is located at the eastern tip of the island. Travel from the airport to the city centre, and vice versa,can be undertaken by the Airbus, the public bus, or taxi. An MRT station right next to the airport is currently under construction.

The Airbus runs every 20 minutes or so from 6 am to midnight. Choose from three main routes which service all the main hotels in the Central Business District, the colonial district and Orchard Road and its environs. The cost is SG$ 5 a trip for adults, and SG$ 3 for children.

You can also take the public bus no. 16 or 16E, that runs every 10 minutes or so and takes about half an hour to get to the city centre. The cost is SG$ 1.50 per ride.

Taxis from the airport are the quickest, if most expensive, way of getting to the city. Just follow the arrows from the the Departure Hall, get into queue, and you'll be hopping into a cab in no time. Taking a taxi from the airport incurs a SG$ 3 surcharge, but there is no surcharge when you travel from the city to the airport. A trip from Changi to the city centre (not including the surcharge) should cost about SG$ 13.

Bus

Buses are cheap, easy to take and cover virtually every corner of Singapore. A trip will cost you anything between 60 cents and SG$ 1.20, depending on how far you wish to travel. For a comprehensive guide on bus time-tables, routes and fares it's a good idea to buy a copy of the TransitLink Guide, which is sold for SG$ 1.50 at most bookstores.

Like travel on the MRT, you can buy tickets for each individual journey or get a stored value card, allowing you to make multiple trips.

Car

Singaporeans drive on the left side of the road, and wearing a seat-belt is compulsory. If you intend to drive around Singapore, get a copy of the Singapore Street Directory first.

Cruise

Taking a bumboat cruise down the Singapore River is a great way for you to savour a bit of what central Singapore and its harbour must have been like in the old days.

You can also take a harbour cruise, and hop from one offshore island to another. The cruise will bring you around St John's, Lazarus and Kusu islands.
 

Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

The MRT is a cheap, fast and convenient way for you to get around Singapore. The trains are frequent, arriving about every 5 minutes, as well as extremely clean and safe. However, Singapore's urban train system is not as extensive as that of New York, London or Paris, so for door-to-door public transportation, public buses are sometimes the best option. 

The MRT connects various points in the city area - such as Raffles Place, Orchard Road, City Hall and Somerset - with the suburban town centres all across Singapore. They run from 18:00 - 24:00.

The cost for your MRT trip will range from 60 cents to SG$ 1.50, depending on how far you want to travel. You can buy tickets for each individual journey; or, if you intend to travel a lot by MRT, get a stored value card. This card, available at values between SG$ 10 and SG$ 50, allows you to make multiple trips via MRT and public bus, until the value runs out. 

Taxi

At times, it seems as though Singapore is just overflowing with taxis, so it's usually quite easy to get one. An exception however, is during rush hours (09:00 and 17:00 - 18:00). At these times it may be best to call a cab, costing you about SG$ 2 extra.

Taxi fares are SG$ 2.40 for the first 1.5km, and then 10 cents for each additional 240m. However, there are quite often extra charges - such as for entering the CBD area at peak hours, travelling from the airport, or travelling after midnight - so your final charge can come to more than what's indicated on the meter.