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How to Get Around When You Travel in Singapore?

Travel in SingaporeSingapore is an island country in Southern Asia that offers something for everyone. It is one of the most exciting destinations in Southeast Asia. Especially if you’re visiting Singapore for the first time, it’s definitely one for the books. Even though it’s a small city, it’s still essential to familiarize yourself with its transport system. Add to this its complexity due to the technological advancement of the city.

In Singapore, government and private transport systems are closely integrated, with a set of underground and overground trains and a bus network. Furthermore, commuters can receive incentives outside of peak hours to ease congestion.

 

By Train

Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is an amazing transportation system you can only experience in Singapore. Further, the fastest way to travel around Singapore is probably the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system. You can get anywhere in Singapore using the country’s public transportation system.

The Singapore Tourist Pass is a great way to save cash and time. It gives you unlimited free or discounted transport for however long you need. You can choose whether to purchase a one-day pass, two-day pass, or a three-day pass.

Tourists can pay through the following options:

  1. Purchase a Singapore Tourist Pass (STP), which is available in TransitLink Ticket Office at selected MRT stations or more conveniently after landing at the Changi Airport Station (Terminal 2 and 3). STP is your storage-value card to run on unlimited travel. It gives you the option to buy a one-day pass, two-day pass, and three-day pass costing S$10, S$16, and S$20, respectively.
  2. If you have a contactless bank card (Mastercard® and Visa), you may use it to pay public transport fares in Singapore even if these were issued in another country. However, this may be costly on your part because using them in Singapore will apply admin fees. This can be your option if you run out of STP balance.
  3. The last option is what locals use: the Adult Stored Value Smartcard (EZ-link / Nets FlashPay). It costs S$12 with a consumable S$7. On top of it, you may easily buy them at convenience stores!

 

By Bus

Many of us are familiar with riding the bus, but there’s a high chance that you’ll get lost when you’re in Singapore. Bus routes to travel in Singapore cover most areas, making it one of the world’s largest transport systems. However, tourists may feel overwhelmed or confused by the numerous bus routes.

Here are ways on how you can pay your fare:

  1. Similar when riding the train, purchase a stored-value smartcard (EZ-link / Nets FlashPay) or the STP. An electronic card reader beside the bus driver where you should tap your card as you board.
  2. Contactless bank cards (Mastercard® and Visa) can also be tapped on the electronic card reader for you to pay. But don’t forget that you may be charged admin fees.
  3. You may also choose to pay in cash.

All public buses allow open strollers, and bus captains are friendly and willing to assist anyone who requires assistance.

 

By Bicycle

If you have the time, you can explore Singapore with a bicycle. The cycling paths in Singapore are well connected, and you can rent a shared bicycle from licensed operators. It is guaranteed to be safe and hassle-free.

By Taxi

Occasionally, it is more convenient to simply hop in a car instead of taking the MRT. Taking a taxi is particularly convenient if you want to go to places which are not reachable by bus or MRT. But Uber is no longer available in Singapore, though taxis are quite pricey there. Taxis have meters, but you can expect extra charges depending on the location, taxi brand, and time you’re hailing a taxi.

 

What Are the Mobile Transportation Apps You Can Use in Singapore?

Given that you’re not familiar with their transportation system, there are other apps that could help you, such as SG Buses, City Mapper, and MyTransport Singapore. These apps can show you the bus routes, MRT and LRT stations, and much more.

SG Buses

The SG Bus app shows three bus arrival times in contrast to most other apps that only show one. In the event that you miss a bus, you can get on the next one without getting late. It will also let you know if you are near the stop where you need to get off. This app has all route information for busses, the number of stops, and the distance from the top.

City Mapper

This application gives mobile users the option of choosing Singapore’s public transportation system based on their preferences. Further, bus stop locations can be found through the app, so don’t worry if you don’t like walking.

MyTransport

Singapore Transport Authority’s official app is MyTransport. This app typically provides information regarding schedules of buses, distances of MRT/LRT routes, taxi booking services, breakdown information on trains, and real-time traffic statistics.

Sometimes public transportation won’t go along with your schedule. If you want to hail a taxi or a can, you can access similar apps to Uber such as the following:

  • Grab
    With Grab, you are able to find a cab near you along with their contact information and plate number. You can also use this app to see estimated cab fare so that you don’t get swindled and overcharged. It is recommended to use GrabShare if you are looking to save on travel costs by sharing the cost of a cab with another traveler.
  • Gojek
    Gojek has millions of drivers, merchants, and service providers on its team, so the app is certainly an important one for Singaporeans to commute around the city. Save time and money by booking rides on Gojek. Besides showing you the real-time location of your cab drivers, this app can also help you find them.

On top of the amazing places and mouth-watering food, Singapore is also one of the safest places for you to travel. In Singapore, public order and security are generally higher than in most countries, which makes the country relatively safer. Besides, criminal activity is very low in Singapore, and there are hardly any locals with scams intent on stealing tourists’ money.

What are you waiting for? Book a flight now and discover the beauty Singapore has to offer you.

Travel in Singapore