Singapore has one of the world’s best public transport systems, and for visitors it makes getting around astonishingly easy: the MRT metro reaches almost everywhere you’ll want to go, it’s clean, fast, air-conditioned and cheap, and you can pay by simply tapping the same contactless card you use at home. This guide covers it all — the MRT lines, exactly how to pay and which option is cheapest, whether the Tourist Pass is worth it, how to get from Changi Airport to the city, buses, taxis and Grab, how to reach Sentosa, plus the etiquette and tips that help you ride like a local. Pair it with our full Singapore travel guide to plan the rest of your trip.

1. Getting around Singapore: the basics

For visitors, the MRT metro is the best way to get around Singapore — it’s fast, spotless, air-conditioned, cheap and reaches almost every attraction, and you pay by simply tapping a contactless card.

Singapore is compact (about 50 km across) and superbly connected, so most journeys take 20–40 minutes by train. Beyond the MRT, an extensive bus network covers the gaps, Grab (ride-hailing) and metered taxis handle door-to-door trips and late nights, and the central districts are pleasantly walkable, often via sheltered, covered walkways. English signage is everywhere, making the whole system easy for first-timers.

2. The MRT lines explained

The MRT runs on colour-coded lines that interconnect, so you can reach virtually anywhere with one or two easy transfers.

• North-South Line (red): Marina Bay and the CBD up through Orchard, Dhoby Ghaut and the north — great for shopping and the city centre.
• East-West Line (green): links Changi Airport in the east to the far west, via Bugis, City Hall, Raffles Place and Tanah Merah (the airport transfer).
• North East Line (purple): Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Little India, Dhoby Ghaut and HarbourFront (for Sentosa).
• Circle Line (yellow): loops the centre, connecting HarbourFront, Botanic Gardens, Bishan and Marina Bay.
• Downtown Line (blue): Bugis, Chinatown, Bayfront (Gardens by the Bay) and the downtown core.
• Thomson-East Coast Line (brown): the newest line, serving Orchard, Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay and the east coast.

Interchange stations like Dhoby Ghaut, City Hall, Raffles Place, Bugis and Outram Park let you switch lines easily. The map is intuitive and signs are in English.

3. How to pay: the easiest options

The simplest way to pay is to tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard (or your phone) at the gate — no ticket, no top-up, nothing to buy. Here’s how the options compare.

You can buy an EZ-Link card or Tourist Pass at station Passenger Service Centres, SimplyGo Ticket Offices and convenience stores (7-Eleven, Cheers). For most short trips, contactless tapping is the simplest choice.

4. Fares & costs

MRT fares are cheap: a single adult journey costs roughly S$1.28 for short hops up to about S$2.57 across the island, charged by card or contactless.

Paying by card, contactless or EZ-Link is about S$0.22 cheaper per trip than cash. Buses use the same fares and cards. A typical day of sightseeing by MRT costs only a few dollars, which is why public transport is the secret to keeping a Singapore trip affordable. Note the December 2025 fare adjustment raised prices slightly, so confirm current fares on the LTA or SimplyGo site.

5. Is the Singapore Tourist Pass worth it?

The Singapore Tourist Pass gives unlimited bus, MRT and LRT travel for S$17 (1 day), S$24 (2 days) or S$29 (3 days) — worth it only if you ride a lot.

As a rule of thumb, it pays off if you take roughly five or more rides per day. If you’re doing two or three journeys daily and plenty of walking (as many visitors do), simply tapping a contactless bank card usually works out cheaper and saves you buying anything. The pass also doesn’t cover the Sentosa Express, the Night Owl buses or other premium services. Buy it at the airport or major MRT stations.

6. From Changi Airport to the city

The cheapest way from Changi Airport to the city is the MRT — about 30–40 minutes for roughly S$2 — and it’s easy once you know the one transfer.

Head to the basement of Terminal 2 or 3 for the Changi Airport MRT station. Tap in with a contactless card or pass and take the East-West (green) line two stops to Tanah Merah. There, cross the platform to the westbound train towards the city — it runs directly to Bugis, City Hall and Raffles Place, reaching the centre in about 30–40 minutes.

Prefer door-to-door? A taxi or Grab takes 20–30 minutes and costs about S$25–40 (more between midnight and 6am). There are also airport shuttle buses to most hotels. And don’t rush off — Jewel Changi, with its giant indoor waterfall, is attached to the airport and free to explore.

7. Buses, taxis & Grab

Beyond the MRT, an extensive bus network and the Grab app cover everywhere else, using the same easy payment.

Buses: the network is huge and scenic, using the same contactless cards and fares as the MRT (if paying cash, you need the exact fare). Apps like Google Maps and MyTransport.SG show routes and arrival times.

Grab: Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing super-app is the simplest door-to-door option, especially late at night, for groups, with luggage, or to reach spots off the rail network like the Mandai wildlife parks. Fares are metered and cashless.

Taxis: street taxis are plentiful, metered, honest and a good alternative to Grab. There are some surcharges (late night, peak hours, airport), but no tipping is expected.

8. Getting to Sentosa

To reach Sentosa, take the MRT to HarbourFront, then choose the monorail, the boardwalk or the cable car — and note the Tourist Pass doesn’t cover the Sentosa Express.

• Sentosa Express monorail: from Level 3 of VivoCity mall (a few dollars), the most popular way in.
• Sentosa Boardwalk: a free, sheltered walk from VivoCity — pleasant and scenic.
• Cable car: the scenic (and pricier) option, with harbour views.
• Taxi or Grab: straight to your hotel or attraction on the island.

Once on Sentosa, getting around is easy and free via the internal Sentosa Express stops, buses and beach trams.

9. MRT etiquette & tips

A few simple rules and tips keep Singapore’s transport famously smooth — and help you blend in.

• No eating or drinking (even water), no smoking and no durians on trains or in stations — there are fines.
• Let passengers off first before boarding, and move to the centre of the carriage.
• Stand on the left of escalators so people can walk on the right.
• Avoid peak hours (roughly 8–9am and 6–7pm) with luggage if you can.
• Mind the last train (usually around 11:30pm–midnight) if you’re out late — otherwise take a Grab.
• Keep your card handy — you tap both to enter and to exit.
• Free Wi-Fi and good mobile coverage work throughout the network, even underground.

10. Useful apps for getting around

A couple of apps make navigating Singapore effortless — download them before you arrive.

• Google Maps or Citymapper: real-time MRT, bus and walking directions, including the best exit to use.
• MyTransport.SG (official LTA app): live bus arrivals, MRT maps and service alerts.
• Grab: for ride-hailing, plus food delivery and payments.

With mobile data (an eSIM is the easiest way to get online on arrival), you’ll always know the fastest route and the next train or bus.

11. Popular routes & how long they take

Because the MRT links almost everything, most key journeys take well under an hour — here are some routes visitors ask about most, with rough times and lines. Times are approximate and exclude waiting.

Apps like Google Maps and Citymapper give exact, real-time routing with platform and exit details, so you never need to memorise the map.

12. The wider network: LRT & transfers

Beyond the six MRT lines, light rail (LRT) loops serve some residential areas, and fares are distance-based — so transferring between trains and buses is charged as one continuous journey, not multiple fares.

The LRT (in areas like Bukit Panjang, Sengkang and Punggol) feeds into the MRT and uses the same cards; most visitors won’t need it. More usefully, Singapore charges by total distance travelled: as long as you tap out and tap in again within about 45 minutes (and don’t repeat a line), connecting MRT and bus rides count as a single fare, so you’re not penalised for changing lines or hopping on a bus. Always remember to tap out at the end, or you’ll be charged a maximum fare.

13. Crossing to Malaysia & island ferries

Singapore’s transport also connects beyond the island — to Malaysia across the Causeway, and to nearby islands by ferry — handy for a day trip.

• Johor Bahru, Malaysia: cross the Causeway by bus (e.g. from Kranji or Queen Street) or the dedicated Causeway Link coaches; bring your passport and allow extra time for immigration, which can be slow at peak times. A new cross-border rail link (the RTS) is also due to open, which will speed this up.
• Bintan & Batam, Indonesia: ferries depart Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and HarbourFront (passport, and possibly a visa, required).
• Pulau Ubin: a short bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to the rustic car-free island.
• Southern Islands (Lazarus, St John’s): ferries from Marina South Pier.

See our main guide for day-trip ideas, and always carry your passport for any cross-border trip.

14. Walking, covered walkways & cycling

Central Singapore is wonderfully walkable, and an extensive network of sheltered, covered walkways links MRT stations, malls and attractions — a lifesaver in the heat and the rain.

Many neighbourhoods (Marina Bay, the Civic District, Orchard, Chinatown) are best explored on foot, with shaded underground links connecting stations to nearby buildings. For longer distances there are scenic Park Connector cycling and walking routes, and shared bicycles and e-scooters (via apps) in some areas — note that personal mobility devices are restricted to cycling paths, not footpaths. Bring comfortable shoes, a water bottle and a compact umbrella, and plan indoor or underground routes for the hottest midday hours.

15. Accessibility, families & luggage

The MRT is one of the most accessible and family-friendly metros anywhere, with lifts, step-free access, platform screen doors and priority seating throughout.

Every station has lifts and barrier-free access, making it easy with a wheelchair, a stroller or luggage, and trains have dedicated spaces for prams and wheelchairs. Priority seats are reserved for those who need them. With heavy luggage, try to avoid the busiest peak hours (roughly 8–9am and 6–7pm); otherwise a Grab is comfortable and good value for groups. Clean toilets and nursing rooms are widely available at stations and malls, and the whole system is air-conditioned.

16. Common transport mistakes to avoid

A few simple slip-ups catch first-timers — avoid these and you’ll glide around Singapore.

• Forgetting to tap out at your destination — you’ll be charged the maximum fare.
• Buying a Tourist Pass you won’t use — it only pays off at roughly 5+ rides a day; otherwise just tap a card.
• Eating, drinking or carrying a durian on the train — all can earn a fine.
• Taking taxis everywhere when the MRT is faster and far cheaper.
• Travelling at peak hours with luggage — it’s hot and crowded; go off-peak or take a Grab.
• Assuming the Tourist Pass covers Sentosa Express — it doesn’t.
• Not checking the last train if you’re out late — plan a Grab home.

17. Tips for first-time visitors

A handful of final tips will help you move around Singapore with zero stress.

• Just tap a contactless card or phone — it’s the simplest way and avoids buying tickets.
• Only buy a Tourist Pass if you’ll take 5+ rides a day; otherwise tapping is cheaper.
• Choose a hotel near an MRT station to save time and stay out of the heat.
• For Changi, allow time and remember the Tanah Merah cross-platform transfer.
• Use Grab for Mandai, late nights, groups or heavy luggage.
• Keep a little cash for the rare cash-only bus or hawker stall.

Now that getting around is sorted, use our complete Singapore travel guide to plan the rest of your trip — read our guide to where to stay by neighbourhood, line up must-see sights like Gardens by the Bay, and eat your way through the city’s hawker centres.

Frequently asked questions

Plan the rest of your trip with our Singapore travel guide →