Selected Travel Guide:					Adjust Font Size:

Getting There By Air:

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Tel: 6541 2107
Website: www.changiairport.com

Changi is located 20km (12.4 miles) from Singapore center. It usually tops international polls as the world’s best airport and is currently the 25th busiest. More than 35 million passengers passed through in 2006. A total of 80 scheduled airlines operate out of Changi, with over 4,000 scheduled flights weekly to more than 180 cities in 53 countries worldwide, making it the airport with the most air links in the Asia Pacific region. To cater for continuing growth in passenger numbers, Budget Terminal (website: www.btsingapore.com) with low-cost airlines became operational in 2006, in addition to Terminals 1 and 2. Terminal 3 is due for completion in 2008.

Approximate flight times to Singapore: From London is 13 hours; from New York and Los Angeles is now non-stop at 18 hours (the world’s longest flight) from Toronto is 20 hours and from Sydney is 8 hours.

Airport facilities: While Changi’s legendary efficiency means travelers need spend the minimum amount of time in the airport, the facilities on offer mean that days could happily be spent there. In addition to a wealth of top shopping choices, there are showers, gym and sauna, rooftop pool and Jacuzzi (both at the airport’s transit hotel), hairdressing salons, laundry service, karaoke lounge, movie theater, TV lounges, children’s play area, nursery, smoking room, medical center and prayer room. To get back to nature there are even cactus, bamboo, sunflower and orchid gardens, and a Koi pond. There are the usual banks, bureaux de change, ATMs, postal and telecommunications offices, shops, restaurants, car hire (Avis and Hertz), hotel reservation counters, tourist information, wheelchair rental services and baggage storage facilities. Transit and transfer passengers can also take advantage of a selection of free 2-hour themed guided coach tours of Singapore, leaving at 1000, 1300, 1500, 1600 and 1700. At the small, new Budget Terminal (website: www.btsingapore.com) a short shuttle bus ride away, facilities are more basic with a few food kiosks and shops, but all the essentials including ATM, Internet and bureaux de change are there.

Business facilities: The comprehensive range of services includes transit hotels and business-class lounges. The JetQuay luxury business lounge can be used, for a fee, by passengers traveling on any class. Each transit hotel has a business center, for typing and mailing of documents (0700-2300 daily) plus a 24-hour service of photocopying and faxing. (Terminal 1 tel: 6542 5538; Terminal 2 tel: 6542 8122). Free Internet corners are dotted around several locations in the Departure/Transit lounges in Terminals 1 and 2, open 24 hours. Terminals 1 and 2 have Wi-Fi Internet access throughout, and Budget Terminal has free Internet and laptop access.

Transport to the city: The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) has a station at Terminal 2, also accessible via the skytrain from Terminal 1 and shuttle bus from Budget Terminal. This is the quickest and cheapest way of getting into the city center (changing at Tenah Merah station). Trains run 0531-2318, (Mon-Sat); 0559-1118 (Sun, public holidays) every 12 minutes.

Singapore Bus Service (SBS Transit) (tel: 6287 2727 or 1 800 287 2727; website: www.sbstransit.com.sg) operates regular buses into the city, with terminals in the basement of Terminals 1 and 2. Public buses (exact fare only) depart every 6-14 minutes 0600-2400. Bus 36 goes along Orchard Road (journey time - 50 minutes).

Taxis are available 24 hours from the Arrivals Hall, with journey time around 20-30 minutes between the airport and city center. Taxi fares are between S$16-24 to the city, plus toll and luggage fees. The six-seater MaxiCab, the airport shuttle service run by CityCab (tel: 6552 2222 (cash payment) or 6553 8888 (credit/charge card payment); website: www.citycab.com.sg), will go to almost every major hotel in Singapore. Book at the counters in the Arrivals Hall and pay the driver. It leaves from Terminals 1 and 2 24-hours a day. For more than three passengers, it is cheaper by taxi.

Getting There By Water:

Singapore is the world’s busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage and is also considered the cruise hub of the Asia Pacific. At any one time, there are more than 800 ships in port. The Singapore Cruise Center (tel: 6513 2200; website: www.singaporecruise.com), opened to promote Singapore as the cruise gateway to the Asia Pacific, is situated on the seafront side of the Harbour Front Center (formerly known as the World Trade Center) on Telok Blangah Road, and has two terminals. The Harbour Front Center (tel: 6377 6311) has ferries to the Indonesian island of Batam, and further destinations by cruise. Housed inside a shopping center, it has restaurants, a food court and a travel agent for Batam trips. Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (tel: 6513 2100/2108) near Changi, is a smaller terminal, and has ferries to Bintam, Batam, Johor Bahru and destinations on the Malaysian coast.

Operators include Bintan Resort Ferries (tel: 6542 4369; website: www.brf.com.sg), Penguin Boat International (tel: 6377 6335; website: www.penguin.com.sg) and Batam Fast (tel: 6270 0311; website: www.batamfast.com).

Transport to the city: The Singapore Cruise Center is a 10-minute taxi ride from the city center, opposite Sentosa Island, and a 10-minute walk from Harbour Front MRT station. Taxis leave from the Harbour Front Center or Cable Car Towers in Maritime Square. Tanah Merah is served by regular public buses, operated by Singapore Bus Service (SBS) (tel: 6283 1783), including bus 35 to Bedok interchange (0530-2400). There is a Taxi Order Terminal outside the ferry terminal; however, taxis ordered from here charge a premium.

Getting There By Road:

The road system in Singapore is clear, easy and efficient, but can get very congested at peak times, and especially on weekends and holidays when Singaporeans crowd onto the road causeway to Johor Bahru in Malaysia.

Driving is on the left and the speed limit is 50-70kph (31-43mph) in residential areas and 70-90kph (43-56mph) on expressways - and visitors should note that there are very severe punishments for speeding.

For tourists, a valid driving license from the country of residence is required for driving in Singapore. An International Driving Permit is recommended, especially if the driving license is not in English, as it can help expedite proceedings where police are involved. The Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS; see below for details) has a helpline for information on IDPs, but drivers must apply for their IDP in their own country before arriving in Singapore. Foreign residents, however, must convert their national license (or IDP) into a local license. The Traffic Police (tel: 6547 0000) has information on road conditions and reporting all traffic accidents.

Anyone driving their vehicle into Singapore must leave it at customs, then go to the AAS for endorsement, with their passport, vehicle registration documents and insurance. They must then buy local insurance, even if they have international insurance. They will then be given an International Circulation Permit processed within an hour, which will allow them to collect their vehicle.

Foreign motorists bringing their vehicles from Malaysia are required to use an Autopass Card, a stored-value smart card which deducts Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fees and toll charges when passing land checkpoints at Tuas or Woodlands checkpoints, if their visit is for more than 10 days. All drivers of foreign-registered cars and motocycles can drive in to Singapore for a maximum of 10 days in each calendar year without paying VEP fees. Once they have been used up, fees are chargeable. Toll charges always apply. They must be paid on arrival and departure at Tuas checkpoint, and on departure only at Woodlands checkpoint. The AAS can give all the necessary information on these options.

Minimum third-party insurance is required for driving in Singapore, which can be extended to cover Malaysia. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%.

Further information can be obtained from the Automobile Association of Singapore (tel: 6333 8811; website: www.aas.com.sg).

Emergency breakdown services:
AAS: 6748 9911

Routes to the city: The main route into Singapore is the kilometer-long causeway, linking the northern district of Woodlands with Malaysia’s Johor Bahru. This causeway is usually very busy but, at weekends, the volume of traffic multiplies. The ‘Second Link’, officially the Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing, was built to alleviate the traffic and should be faster at busy periods. This second bridge is located on the western side of Singapore and it links the Tuas checkpoint in Singapore with Tanjung Kupang in Malaysia. The highway then runs up the western part of the Malay peninsular.

The East Coast Parkway (ECP) runs from the airport into the city along the coast; Changi Road and Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) both provide alternative routes.

Approximate driving times to Singapore: From Johor Bahru - from 30 minutes, depending on traffic; Kuala Lumpur - 4-6 hours; Malacca - 3-4 hours. Driving times are much longer at weekends, especially over the border.

Coach services: Operators include Regent Star Travel, Lavender MRT station (tel: 6292 9009) and Malacca-Singapore Express (tel: 6293 5915), which are both located at the bus terminal on the corner of Lavender Street and Kallang Bahru. Coach services go to a number of Malaysian destinations, including Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and usually depart every morning and evening. Tickets between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore can be booked at www.plusliner.com. The SBS bus 170 for Johor Bahru departs from Queen Street via Bukit Timah Road and Woodlands Road, every 15 minutes.

Getting There By Rail:

Malaysian Railway (KTM) (tel: 6222 5165; website: www.ktmb.com.my) operates services from Singapore Railway Station, on Keppel Road, Tanjong Pagar, just south of the Central Business District. The station has two restaurants, book shops and immigration and customs.

Rail services: Trains depart daily for destinations in Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. Air-conditioned express trains to Kuala Lumpur leave three times a day (journey time - 7 hours). The journey to Johor Bahru takes around 50 minutes with six daily departures (four express). Keppel Road is also the departure point for the three-day Eastern & Oriental Express (tel: 6392 3500; website: www.orient-express.com) to Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, Penang, Kwai, and Bangkok.

Transport to the city: The railway station is not served by the MRT, although Tanjong Pagar MRT is a 20-minute walk away. Buses can be infrequent so the best way into the city is to queue for a taxi or telephone for one (see Taxis in Getting Around).

Getting Around:




Public Transport
Public transport in Singapore is efficient, ultra-modern, clean, cheap and mostly air-conditioned. TransitLink Hotline (tel: 1 800 225 5663; website: www.transitlink.com.sg) is a one-stop number set up by all the major transport providers (bus, underground etc) to help co-ordinate people’s transport needs (0800-1800 daily except public holidays).

The train system is operated by Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (tel: 1 800 336 8900; website: www.smrtcorp.com.sg). The MRT system extends north-south and east-west with trains every 3 to 6 minutes 0530-0030 daily.

MRT also operate the Light Rapid Transit System (tel: 1 800 336 8900 Mon-Fri 0730-1830; website: www.smrtcorp.com). There are currently 14 LRT stations - the system runs from Bukit Panjang New Town to Choa Chu Kang and Fajar in the suburbs. Trains run every 3 to 5 minutes.

The bus system is operated by the Singapore Bus Service (SBS) (tel: 1 800 225 5663; website: www.sbstransit.com.sg) and SMRT Buses (tel: 1 800 336 8900; website: www.smrtbuses.com.sg). SBS buses run 0600-2400. They also run the BusPlus service (tel: 6481 0166; website: www.busplus.com.sg), which operates during peak hours to shuttle passengers between residential areas and MRT stations or the Central Business District. NightRider night buses, operated by SMRT Buses, run on limited routes between the city center and residential suburbs until around 0400.

Electronic Smart Cards, known as ez-link Cards (website: www.ezlink.com.sg), may be used on any MRT, LRT or bus journey, and can be purchased and topped up from general ticketing machines at all MRT, LRT,  bus stations and also online. They may be topped up to any value. A small deposit is required, which may be returned once the card is returned. These cards may be kept in a wallet or bag and placed near the card reader at ticket gates on trains or on entering a bus.

Taxis
Over 15,000 cheap, metered, safe and air-conditioned taxis ply the city, but their convenience and affordability means they are hard to find during peak hours, especially in the Central Business District (CBD) - and during a downpour. Taxis can be hailed 24 hours a day on the street, as well as at well-marked stands outside most shopping centers and hotels. Fares vary slightly between companies, and are subject to a number of surcharges such as advance booking fees, toll fees, during peak hours or a pick up in the CBD. There is a 50% surcharge 0000-0600 daily, and a S$5 surcharge 1700-2400 Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and surcharges for driving along certain highways at certain times.

It is not customary to tip taxi drivers. Drivers changing shifts will only take passengers heading in their direction - the red board on the dashboard or windscreen indicates the destination. Although there is no longer a bell that rings if the taxi breaks the speed limit, most drivers adhere strictly to the 80kph (50mph) limit. Major taxi firms include CityCab (tel: 6552 2222 (cash payment) or 6553 8888 (credit/charge card payment); website: www.citycab.com.sg), Comfort (tel: 6552 1111; website: www.comfort-transportation.com.sg) and SMRT Taxis (tel: 6369 0111; website: www.smrttaxis.com.sg/website/1/ct_aboutus.html).

Driving in the City
Singapore’s highways are all designated by acronyms - AYE, ECP, CTE, AMK, PIE, ORR and CBD. Various tolls are levied in morning and evening peak hours to relieve congestion on expressways and busy roads, using the Electronic Road Pricing Scheme (ERP), which automatically deducts tolls from the In-Vehicle Unit or IU. This is fitted in all Singaporean vehicles and drivers purchase a rechargeable Cashcard and insert it in the IU. Vehicles that are not fitted with the IU drivers may pay a fixed ERP fee, where S$5 is deducted per day on passing an ERP gantry. This is paid together with the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and toll charges via the Auto Pass card when departing Singapore. To help traffic flow in the Central Business District, all vehicles entering between 0730 and 1900 are also expected to pay a toll, which varies depending on the time. More information on the ERP is available from the Land Transport Authority (tel: 1 800 225 5582; website: www.lta.gov.sg).

The highways are easy to negotiate and traffic generally moves smoothly thanks to the ERP. Wearing seat belts in the front and back is mandatory and it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. Offences are treated seriously, with tough fines and even jail sentences. Singaporean drivers have a habit of lane drifting but otherwise traffic flows with very few abuses of etiquette.

Parking is cheap and easily available all over the city, especially in hotel basement car parks. Rates vary depending on location, management and timing but public car parks cost around S$0.50 per half hour, double that inside the Central Business District. Some require parking coupons; others will take cash.

Car Hire
A valid national driving license is required, although an International Driving Permit (IDP) is preferred and is mandatory where the driver’s national license is not in English. Drivers also require a passport and credit card to hire a car. Minimum third-party insurance is compulsory and can be extended to cover Malaysia. The minimum age limit for hiring a car is 25 years.

Major providers include Avis (tel: 6737 1668; website: www.avisworld.com) and Hertz (tel: 6734 4646; website: www.hertz.com).

Bicycle Hire
Cycling in Singapore tends to be restricted to public parks, with East Coast Park a popular venue for cyclists and rollerbladers. Bicycle hire is available at several outlets in the park, from about S$1.50 per hour. Bicycles can also be hired at Sentosa, Pasir Ris and Bishan parks. The island of Pulau Ubin (see Excursions) has mountain bike facilities, with many hire shops near the jetty.

Related Singapore Content

Singapore Airport Guides: Singapore Changi	Singapore City Guides: Singapore City City Guide
Singapore Attraction Guides:
Raffles Hotel	Sentosa
Singapore Community:
Singapore Reviews Search Travel Reviews Write a Travel Review	Singapore Pictures Search Travel Pictures Post your Travel Pictures
Join the iExplore Community