Singapore Travel Tips

Singapore Travel Tips (28 July, 2017)


Versi B. Melayu

Singapore Travel Tips is a place information guide to help you discover and enjoy your visit to Singapore. Whether you are reading this guide in preparation of an upcoming trip there, or simply for the purpose of enhancing your knowledge about it, I hope that you will get something of value from this page.

Map of the Planning Areas of Singapore

To help you explore every part of Singapore, I created this interactive map of Singapore's Planning Areas. Click on any of the areas for more details.

Map of the Roads in Singapore

Looking for information on the roads in Singapore? These are the ones I have described, often with list of information on the sights along the way.

Map of Mass Rapid Transit Stations in Singapore

On this map, I describe the MRT stations in Singapore. Click on any of the stations for more details.

Going to Singapore

By Plane
The majority of visitors arrive in Singapore by flight. The Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) is the main gateway. It is about 18 km to Marina Bay in downtown Singapore. As of August 2019, there are 4 terminals. The airport is connected to Singapore's MRT network via the Changi Airport MRT Station (CG2) By Road
There are two links connecting Singapore to Johor in mainland Malaysia. They are the Causeway and the Second Link.

By Rail
You can take the train from Malaysia to JB Sentral in Johor Bahru, and transfer by shuttle train service to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint. This is the southern terminus for the KTM Intercity trains. There are two train services, the Ekspres Selatan service to Pulau Sebang/Tampin at the border of Malacca and Negeri Sembilan, for onward connection to Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth and Padang Besar, and the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran service to Tumpat, Kelantan.

Arriving at the Woodlands Train Checkpoint, you need to take public bus to reach Kranji MRT Station, Marsiling MRT Station and the Woodlands Temporary Bus Terminal, at the Woodlands MRT Station.

Getting around in Singapore

The easiest way to move about in Singapore is by taking the MRT. Over the decades, the number of lines have continued to increase, with new stations opening, offering the public a dense network of mass transit public transport.

To take the MRT, I suggest that you get the EZ-Link card, which you can buy upon arrival at the airport. Head to the customer service counter at the Changi Airport MRT Station. S$20 should be quite enough for a few days' stay in Singapore.

I have written extensively about the Singapore MRT, with everything you need to know over here, along with information on every station.

Taxi
The good news about Singapore is that the taxis use meter and the price is quite reasonable. If you are traveling as a group and sharing out the cost, it can be even cheaper per person than taking the MRT. However, sometimes it may be difficult to get a taxi, especially during rush hour - it isn't uncommon to see long queues at taxi stands at major shopping malls and hotels.

The flag down rate is $3.00 to $3.20 for the first kilometer, and is the same regardless which taxi you take, and increases by 22 cents for every 400 meters thereafter, and 22 cents for every 350 meters after the first 10km. Note that SMRT's black Chrysler taxis charge a different rate of $5 flag down followed by 30 cents for every 385 meters.

During peak hours, there is a 25% surcharge, late night rides incur a 50% surcharge, entering the central business district a $3 surcharge, and trips from airport $3-$5 surcharge during peak hours.

E-Hailing
Rideshare operator Grab is now a popular way to travel in Singapore. Just download the Grab ride-hailing app, key in your destination, and go. It's that easy.

What to eat in Singapore

Places to visit in Singapore

The following are places of interest to visitors and tourists.

Sights in Singapore by category