En:Singapore Tourist Guidebook/Taking Public Transport

English

< Back to Home

Public Transport

1. Cash

Adults above 0.9m (2ft 11in) in height must present a valid card for travel on public transport. No sharing of travel card or contactless card is allowed.

Families with kids under 7 years old and up to 0.9m in height are allowed to ride for free on public transport. Otherwise, the child requires to have a travel card for boarding on public transport.

2. Contactless Cards (Credit/Debit Bank cards)

Commuters can also use their foreign-issued MasterCard or VISA bank cards for travel. Please activate your bank card contactless feature first prior to arrival. An administrative charge of SGD $0.60 applied for each charge posting to non-Singapore issued bank card.

• MasterCard: Every 5 days or when SGD $15 travel fare is charged to your card.
• VISA: Every day.

3. EZ-Link Card

You may purchase an EZ-Link card at any SimplyGo ticket office, which can be found at selected MRT stations including Changi Airport station. Alternatively, EZ-Link card can also be purchased through automated machine located at either exits of Changi Airport station. An EZ-Link card cost $10, which include a $5 non-refundable deposit and a $5 top-up for your bus/train ride. A minimum of $3 is required to be stored in the card to use for travel.

4. Singapore Tourist Pass

The Singapore Tourist Pass is a special pass that allows you to have unlimited rides on basic bus services and train services for up to 5 days of usage. More information can be obtained here.

Singapore Tourist Pass Types

Services	Singapore Tourist Pass	SG Tourist Pass	Singapore Tourist Pass Plus
Cost	$17/$24/$29/$37/$45	$29	$48
Refundable Rental Deposit	$10	None
Pass Duration	1 - 5	3
Purchasable From	SimplyGo ticket office / Automated Kiosk at Template:CG2 station	Cheers (Changi Airport) outlets	Changi Recommends
Free Gift from Changi Recommends	✗		✓
MRT/LRT Free Ride	✓
Basic Bus Service Free Ride	✓
Express Bus Service Free Ride	✗
Bus Service RWS8 Free Ride	✗

Notes: Pass duration is based on the number of consecutive day from the day you start using the card.

Comparison on which card to use

If you are unsure on which card to use, follow the steps below.

1. Calculate the estimated travel fare for your stay using the following formula: (2 + [ Number of days in Singapore ] + [ Number of attractions you planned to visit ]) × SGD $2.
2. If the estimated travel fare is more than the Singapore Tourist Pass AND your duration of stay is less than 3 days: Purchase the Singapore Tourist Pass.
3. Otherwise, use Contactless Card / EZ-Link Card.

Taking a Bus

Before boarding

Step 1: Locate the nearest bus stop	Each bus stop in Singapore is given a name and a 5-digit code which can be easily searched through the MyTransport.sg mobile app. All bus stops will have a bus service panel and/or a bus stop pole for reference. Bus Stop Pole Bus Service Panel Legends: Blue - Bus Stop Code Grey - Bus Stop Name Teal - Closest MRT station (within a certain radius) Green - List of bus service calling at the bus stop Legends: Top: Bus Stop Name & Code Bottom: List of Bus Service & its calling stops (in boxes)
Step 2: Checking Bus Service (& Arrival Time)	All public bus services in Singapore are given up to 3-digit numbers, with an optional alphabet suffix behind it. The list of suffix denotation is as follows. Suffix Meaning A/B/C (E.g. 106A) Short-Working Trip This service only stops up to a certain stop along the entire route without the suffix. M/X (E.g. 53M, 170X) Modified (Supplementary) Service This service run a slightly different route for some portion as compared with the one without the suffix. G/W (E.g. 410G) Green/White plate Commonly found in neighbourhood estate where one of it ply in an anti-clockwise direction, and the other ply in an clockwise direction. E/e (E.g. 868E, 97e)* Express Service Capital letter ‘E’ denotes the service does not have a service without suffix, while small letter ‘e’ denotes an express variant (does not call at all stops) of the service without the suffix. Singapore Tourist Pass user are not eligible to board the free ride on this service. Commuters who board Express service had to pay an additional SGD $0.60 for taking such service. T (E.g. 36T) Terminating Trip service Commonly found in neighbourhood estate, and also some late night bus service. Such bus service will call at all stops along the route, up till the first Interchange calling stop. For example, Service 36T will terminate at Changi Airport Terminal 2 and will not continue its journey onwards to Orchard. Notes: '5xx' and '6xx' services are also Express service without the ‘E’ suffix. '7xx' services are Premium service and operate by private bus operators. You may use the MyTransport.sg mobile application to check the bus arrival time at your bus stop.
Step 3: Look out for your bus	Keep a look out for your bus. When you notice your bus arriving, raise your hands outwards (towards the road) to flag the bus to stop.
Step 4: Board the bus	Board the bus only at the front (first) door. If you are on wheelchair, or pushing baby params, ensure you flag the bus early and hint your intention to board at the rear (second) door. Upon boarding, tap your card on the fare reader to pay max fare for the distance to the end-destination (terminus of the service). Note: Do not top-up your card or use your card for any other purpose while onboard bus as this may interfere with the refund process later and max fare will be charged to your card instead. Card Reader

During your ride

Step 1: Observe the rules when travelling	Take note of the following rules (laws) to avoid being told off, or fined by the ticket inspector. Rules Maximum Consequences Eating or Drinking Fine $500 Smoking Cigarettes Fine $1,000 Bringing Flammable objects (Example: Gasoline) Fine $5,000 Bringing Durian Denied Entry Bringing Pets Denied Entry Standing on Upper deck Move to the lower deck Disorderly Conduct (Disturbance to others/Loud volume/obstruction to walkways) Asked to leave the bus and or face police involvement Abusing/Assault on Public Transport Staff Jail 12 months and/or Fine $5,000 Fare Evasion (not tapping in card / using the wrong card) Fine $50 Carrying bulky item exceeding dimension (120 cm by 70 cm by 40 cm) Denied Boarding or Fine $500 Not pressing the bell for alighting Missed your stop
Step 2: Checking your destination	Use an online map services, such as Google Maps or CityMapper to track your journey as not all buses have passenger information display and next stop announcement. Furthermore, the next stop announcement may be turned off by the bus driver. Type of buses Features available No passenger information display & No Next Stop Announcement Only next stop announcement SMB bus-plate only: SMRT-specification Passenger Information Display SMRT-specification Passenger Information Display & Next Stop Announcement Others LTA-specification Passenger Information Display & Next Stop Announcement SMRT-specification PIDS LTA-specification PIDS Legends: TOP (Red): Bus Stop Name of the next/current stop BOTTOM (Green): Someone has pressed the bell for alighting, and bus will stop at the next stop PIDS will oscillate between top and bottom if there is someone who press the bus stop bell. Legends: TOP-LEFT (With Box): Bus Service Number TOP-RIGHT: End Destination BOTTOM-LEFT (Before ">>>"): Bell Status NEXT: Next Stop, without anyone pressing the bell STOP: Next Stop, bell had been pressed ARR: Current bus stop, when the door is opened. BOTTOM-RIGHT (After ">>>"): Bus Stop Name of the next/current stop
Step 3: Alight the bus	Press the red bus stop bell when you intent to alight at the next stop. Proceed to any of the rear door (for 3-door buses) for alighting. Before alighting, tap your card again on the card reader for a refund of any unused travelled journey (distance). Notes: Do not top-up your card or use your card for any other purpose while onboard bus as this may interfere with the refund process and max fare will be charged to your card instead. Do not press the blue bus stop bell unless you require assistance from the Bus Captain to deploy the wheelchair ramp for you. Bus Stop Bells Card Reader