Getting Around Singapore: MRT, Buses, Taxis and Grab Explained (2027)

Singapore has one of the easiest public transport systems in Asia. Trains are frequent, air-conditioned and signposted in English, buses fill the gaps, and taxis and ride-hailing cars are easy to find. You do not need to buy a ticket or a travel card: you can tap the same bank card you use at home. Here is how it all works.

What is the easiest way to pay for transport in Singapore?

Tap a contactless credit or debit card, or a phone wallet, at the gates. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) says contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express and NETS cards and mobile wallets work on trains and buses through the SimplyGo system, with no registration, at standard adult fares.

Use the same card or phone to tap in and tap out, so the system can charge the right distance. Charges are grouped rather than taken trip by trip: Mastercard journeys post after five days or once S$15 has been spent, whichever comes first, and Visa, American Express and NETS charges post after three days. Your bank may add a foreign transaction fee, so a card without one is the best choice.

Other options are an EZ-Link or NETS FlashPay card, sold at stations and convenience stores, or cash on buses only, which costs more and needs the exact fare.

How much do MRT and bus fares cost?

Fares depend on distance, and most trips across the centre cost a dollar or two. Fares rose by 9 to 10 cents per journey for adult card users from 27 December 2025, after the Public Transport Council's annual review.

One discount is worth knowing: if you tap in at a train station before 7.45 am on a weekday that is not a public holiday, you get 50 cents off the fare. For exact prices, use the fare calculator on the LTA website.

Transfers between trains, and between trains and buses within the time allowed, are charged as one journey by distance, so changing lines does not add a new fare.

Is the Singapore Tourist Pass worth it?

Usually not. The Singapore Tourist Pass gives unlimited rides on MRT, LRT and standard buses and costs S$17 for one day, S$24 for two days or S$29 for three days. A few rides a day on a contactless card usually cost less than that.

The pass makes sense if you plan to criss-cross the island all day, or if you would rather not use your own bank card. Charm versions and bundles with Changi Airport offers are also sold, at higher prices.

Which MRT lines will you use?

Six MRT lines cover the island, each with a colour and a two-letter code that appears on every station sign:

• North-South Line (NS, red): Marina Bay, City Hall, Orchard and the north.
• East-West Line (EW, green): Changi Airport branch, Bugis, City Hall, Tiong Bahru and the west.
• North East Line (NE, purple): HarbourFront for Sentosa, Chinatown, Clarke Quay and Little India.
• Circle Line (CC, orange): a loop linking Bayfront, Esplanade, Botanic Gardens and HarbourFront.
• Downtown Line (DT, blue): Bugis, Bayfront, Chinatown, Botanic Gardens and Expo.
• Thomson-East Coast Line (TE, brown): Orchard, Maxwell, Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay and the east coast.

Trains run from about 5.30 am to around midnight. Use a route-planning app or the maps in stations to find the quickest change.

How do you get from Changi Airport to the city?

By MRT: take the train from Changi Airport station (CG2) and change at Tanah Merah for the East-West Line towards the city, or ride to Expo and change to the Downtown Line. The first trains leave at 5.31 am Monday to Saturday and 5.59 am on Sundays and public holidays; the last train connecting to the city line leaves at 11.18 pm.

By taxi: the trip takes about 30 minutes and costs S$25 to S$45 on the meter. An airport surcharge of S$8 applies from 5 pm to midnight, and S$6 at other times. Between midnight and 5.59 am there is a 50% midnight surcharge on the metered fare.

By ride-hailing: book through Grab, Gojek, Zig, Tada, Ryde or Geolah and meet your driver at the signed pick-up points in Terminals 1 to 4.

By transfer: the airport's Ground Transport Concierge sells fixed-price cars to anywhere in Singapore, from S$70 for four seats.

The Changi branch is being converted to the Thomson-East Coast Line, and the LTA says service adjustments will be announced when ready, so check for changes before you fly.

Should you take a taxi or a Grab in Singapore?

Both are safe and reliable. Taxis are metered and can be hailed at taxi stands, while ride-hailing apps show the fare before you book. Taxi meters add surcharges at busy times: 25% on weekday mornings, on weekend and public holiday late mornings and every evening from 5 pm, and 50% from midnight to 5.59 am. At those times an app fare is often similar or cheaper, so compare both.

For short trips in the centre, the MRT is usually faster than either, especially at rush hour.

How do Singapore's buses work?

Tap your card when you board and again when you get off, using the readers by both doors. Buses are useful for routes the MRT does not cover, such as parts of the east coast, Holland Village and some of the nature reserves. Most buses stop running around midnight. Arrival times are shown at many stops and in transport apps.

Is Singapore easy to walk around?

Yes, for short distances. Many routes in the centre are linked by covered walkways, underground passages and malls, which help in the heat and the rain. Walk in the morning or evening, carry water, and use the MRT for anything more than a couple of stops.

To choose a base close to the right MRT lines, see where to stay in Singapore, and to time your trip read the best time to visit Singapore.

Facts checked October 2026. Fares, surcharges, train times and the Changi line changes are set by Singapore's transport authorities and can change; check the LTA and Changi Airport websites before you travel.