Visitors have many safe and affordable ways to travel throughout Singapore
The island nation of Singapore is about the same size as California’s City of Los Angeles. But when visiting this safe, vibrant Southeast Asia destination, getting around is much easier and faster than in Southern California. The options for how to get around Singapore abound with free walkability, ample on-demand rideshares, and safe, affordable buses and local trains.
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What to expect
In this overview of Singapore transportation options, we’ll share observations from our own travels as parents, along with Jodie’s perspective not only as a mother, but as a person with a mobility disability.
Since fares are always subject to change, we won’t list prices, but we will link out to official websites so you can see what’s accurate and current for your own Singapore travel plans.
Based on our experience visiting Singapore twice with kids, here are our suggestions and observations for getting around Singapore.
Getting around Singapore
Before we get into types of transportation, here are a few general things to know, both in terms of practicality and setting your mind at ease when navigating Singapore.
Look for traffic on the left
Singapore traffic drives on the left side of the road. If you’re accustomed to right-side traffic (such as in the USA), you’ll want to look both ways, but especially remind yourself that traffic will be on the left side.
It can take a little getting used to, but you’ll be fine. Remember to watch what other people are doing, and that’ll help you adjust your own actions.
On the sidewalk
While traffic moves along the left lane, there is no true rhyme or reason to sidewalk pedestrian traffic in Singapore. We usually err on the side of sticking to the left, to follow the flow of traffic. Honestly though, people pretty much just walk as they walk, on whatever side of the sidewalk they prefer or happen to be on. Everybody trusts one another to find their way efficiently and with courtesy.
With kids
When traveling anywhere with kids, every parent’s first concern is safety. Singapore is renowned for its safety, and that extends to local transportation, sidewalks, neighborhoods, and streets.
Even with its tropical climate, Singapore has lots of people walking around, especially in major areas such as Orchard Road, Little India, Chinatown, Bugis, and beyond. You’ll see plenty of kids out and about too, many on their own as they go to and from school independently.
You’ll want basic street smarts and street safety, naturally, such as looking both ways before crossing the street, and being mindful of other people on the streets and sidewalks. Otherwise, most areas in Singapore are family friendly, and you can trust you and your family to get around in safety.
With a mobility disability
Much of Singapore’s architecture is modern. Buildings and transportation infrastructure have modern accessibility standards.
Since much of Singapore’s development has been over the past few decades, it’s been easier to incorporate accessible building standards. Especially for visitors, you can typically find accessible entrances, elevators, ramps, and curb inclines.
Much of Singapore is also flat. When you have a mobility disability, you typically can expect flatter terrain. Plus, it’s easy to map out transportation routes in apps like Google Maps, and note when you’d like accessibility factored in.
Is it perfect? No, of course not. But when you have a mobility disability, getting around Singapore can be much easier than access in areas with older infrastructure.
For more on accessibility when visiting Singapore, Accessible Singapore is a handy resource on the accessibility features and options for tours and attractions throughout the country.
On a budget
Singapore is not a “budget destination” the way one might consider, say, Bangkok or Da Nang. Overall, Singapore’s costs have far more in common with New York or Zurich.
However, while accommodation is typically pretty spendy and food can be more costly too, Singapore tries to bring some balance to the high cost of visiting by having affordable transportation options.
Being a pedestrian is always free, and the island’s walkability indoors and outdoors makes it easy to get around. Plus, shopping centers and covered areas can give needed breaks from sun or rain.
Bus and train fares are typically affordable, even for a family or group.
Transportation options: How to get around Singapore
The many options for how to get around Singapore make it easy to check out and visit the island nation’s attractions, on a budget and without having to spend ridiculous amounts of time just getting from one place to another. Here’s our breakdown of transportation options:
Stroll or roll
For starters, Singapore has excellent walkability. Dense housing and overall urban infrastructure mean that you are usually just a few blocks from shops, train stations, and other amenities.
During our own visits, we’ve stayed in the Chinatown and Bugis areas. Both times, we could easily walk to anything, including Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rail stations, convenience stores such as 7-11, hawker center food stalls, and more.
Singapore has kept pedestrian access front and center throughout its urban planning. The country encourages walkability and use of public transportation by striving to have convenient, well-connected sidewalks and transit stations. Neighborhoods and other areas often have wide sidewalks, and some neighborhoods have pedestrian-only streets.
When walking or using a mobility device to get around Singapore, you rarely need to worry about safety or access. Usually, your biggest concern is the weather.
Always keep the weather in mind
At only 85 miles (137 km), tropical Singapore is closer to the equator than Boston, Massachusetts, is to New York City. Singapore is always hot. It’s often sunny. Even if the sky is clear, it could rain at any moment. Wet or dry, the air will hold so much humidity you’d swear the atmosphere is slightly gelatinous, like Jello that’s just set.
November, December, and January are rainy months, but December through March carries strong monsoon rains. And Singapore rain is not gentle rain. Singapore rain demands to be acknowledged, and it is happy to sting a little in order to do so.
When in Singapore, you always keep severe weather in mind. People don’t let the weather stop them, but they adapt to changing conditions.
When out and about, no matter how much you’re strolling or rolling around, hats, sunscreen, and hydration options are always a good idea. It’s not uncommon to see locals going about their day with an umbrella in hand or strapped to a bag, either.
Even if you’re at least somewhat used to hot and humid conditions, energy and attitudes can flag quickly in the heat and humidity. Check in regularly with one another, and especially with kids. Build in time to take breaks and get indoors.
Singapore’s weather can be intense, but it’s just part of being there. You’ll manage just fine, and can add a few details about braving heat and rainstorms to the stories you tell when you get home.
Taxis
Taxis technically exist in Singapore, but we avoid taxis as much as possible, and haven’t used one in Singapore ourselves. Singapore taxis are there when you need them, and multiple companies are available, including:
To be fair, our understanding is that Singapore taxis run a meter and are fair. English and Mandarin Chinese are widely spoken throughout Singapore too, so odds are you can figure things out pretty well with your driver.
You can arrange a ride via the Dial-A-Cab hotline at +65 6342 5222, or by texting “BOOKsix-digit postal code” to 71222. If you were at the Raffles Hotel Singapore, the hotel’s postal code is 189673. To arrange a taxi from here, you’d text “BOOK189673” to 71222.
According to the Singapore Tourism Board, taxi fares start at 3SGD/2USD.
If we needed a taxi, Singapore, like Japan, is one of the few places we wouldn’t mind. Odds are it’ll be fair, pricing will be transparent, and we’ll know exactly where we’re going.
Rideshares
If we aren’t walking or taking public transportation around Singapore, a taxi wouldn’t be our first option. We’d pull up the Grab app instead.
Like Uber, Lyft, or Bolt, Grab is a rideshare app that you download to your phone. It’s commonly used throughout Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.
In Singapore, the Grab app connects you to private vehicle drivers, but you can arrange taxis through it too. They’ll take you door to door, you’ll know the exact price up front (paid via the app through a card you’ve connected to Grab as a payment method), and you can monitor the ride to make sure you’re going where you expect.
We especially like Grab as a family. We’ve used the app every time we’ve visited countries in Southeast Asia and have had overall excellent experiences. Drivers are kind and reliable, prices are fair, and we love the transparency for the route and driver. Especially for us as parents and for Jodie as a person with a disability, Grab gives a lot of peace of mind when figuring out how to get around Singapore.
Plus, Grab isn’t just for rides. You can also arrange food and grocery deliveries—a big time saver.
Buses and trains
Singapore’s extensive bus and train network costs about SGD$1.40/USD$1 for a single trip. (For trains alone, 6 MRT lines serve over 160 stations.) Daily train services typically run from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. Bus service hours are similar, with most routes starting the day around 5:30 a.m. and finishing around midnight or 12:30 a.m.
Buses accept correct change for cash fares. Trains only accept cashless payments at the gates, but if you want to buy train trips with cash, stations have ticket vending machines that accept Singapore bills and coins.
Personally, we find it much easier to pay with a tap/contactless credit card or with the mobile wallet on our phones (plus, if you’re using a rewards credit card, your fares go toward your points and miles for future redemptions).
One thing to keep in mind is that each person in your family will need to have their own ticket or payment method, and that includes kids taller than 0.9m (3 ft) and older than 7 years old. If you’re wondering why, keep in mind that in Singapore, it’s common for school-age children to commute on their own, so they can take care of their own fares and payments.
Younger and shorter kids automatically travel for free when they’re with a fare-paying rider, such as a parent.
Speaking of fares, Singapore has a few more options for adults and kids alike.
Adults and kids can get transit passes for public transportation
Especially if you’re in Singapore for more than a couple of nights, it’s worth looking at options for transit passes, especially when traveling with kids.
Visitors can get an EZ-link card that works for both MRT and buses. Child cards offer reduced fares, so it’s a nice way for families to trim expenses in a costly destination.
Another option to consider is the Singapore Tourist Pass. For one price, this pass gives the holder unlimited use of public transportation, plus discounts on select attractions, food, and beverages. Passes are available for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days. Passes are available online, or you can get them when you arrive in Singapore, at the Ticketing Service Centre in Changi Airport MRT Station Terminal 2.
Singapore Tourist Pass
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During our own Singapore travels, we purchased EZ-link cards for the kids, and we adults used our mobile wallets on our phones. Paying for fares was smooth and easy each time. Plus, the kids practiced being responsible for their transit cards and for tapping in and out on their own.
Another plus? If you know you’ll be visiting Singapore regularly, you can keep your EZ-link cards and top them up when needed during future trips.
What about renting a car?
If you’re accustomed to driving a private vehicle at home or when traveling, it’s natural to consider it for Singapore too. Roads are excellent, but parking can be tricky (and spendy). If you’re not used to driving on the left, you’ll be training up quickly.
Personally, we’d suggest skipping a car rental. It’s unnecessary.
Singapore has such good walkability, plus such extensive and affordable public transportation. You’ll get far more out of your travel day if you skip the car, plus you won’t have to worry about parking.
If you really need a ride and the trains or buses won’t suit, a Grab rideshare is far more affordable, and the driver can be at your door in minutes, and you won’t have to worry about traffic or parking.
Getting around Singapore is affordable and easy
Singapore is a dynamic, modern country that brings together cultures from all over the world. Whether its distinctive buildings, intriguing neighborhoods, delicious hawker center food stalls, or family-friendly attractions, there is so much to see and do here, especially with kids. Fortunately, a focus on walkability and safe, reliable, affordable public transportation gives you and your family excellent options for how to get around Singapore.
Save with a Singapore Tourist Pass
Unlimited use of public transportation, plus discounts on select attractions, food, and beverages
