Getting around Singapore is one of the first things you figure out as a visitor or expat. Taxis, metro lines, buses and the unwritten rules locals follow shape your daily routine more than any guidebook.
In Singapore, getting around comes down to a few things: mrt is world-class, taxis and grab, and walking between neighborhoods.
Clean, efficient, affordable, and covers the entire island. Use an EZ-Link card or contactless bank card. Trains run 5:30am to midnight. You'll rarely need anything else.
Tip: No eating, drinking, or durian fruit on the MRT. Fines start at $500. They enforce it.
Grab is ubiquitous. Taxis are metered and honest. But during peak hours, CBD surcharges, and midnight surcharges add up. The MRT is almost always faster anyway.
Singapore is small — neighborhoods are close together. Chinatown to Little India is 30 minutes on foot. The covered walkways (five-foot ways) make it comfortable even in rain.