Whenever you’re going somewhere it’s highly recommended to get to know with the place before reaching your destination. This includes the sightseeing places, its culture, history, and many more. One quite important thing is to try and visualize the city and find the best and cheapest routes of transportation. Singapore has one of the most convenient public transportation in the world. There are a lot of great ways to travel around the city, getting from one end to another is a bliss with the abundance of transportation in Singapore.
Before we carry ourselves away with the exciting trips in Singapore, one has to know the ways of getting into the country. Whether you are hopping on a plane, taking the bus to Singapore or even driving across the Causeway and Second Link Bridge, you will surely have a pleasant journey without the fear of breaking the bank.
Singapore has been praised in the world as a city with one of the best public transportation systems where you can experience travelling in the city at ease with the availability of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), city buses, taxi, car rental and even trishaw!
Singapore by Train
The Singapore MRT is the best way to get around Singapore. It’s fast and comfortable. The trains start at 5:30 am and end around midnight. At the busiest hours, the trains run every 1 to 3 minutes. All of the information you need can be found on the SMRT website. This includes travel times, the MRT network map, and many more. The MRT goes underground in the inner city, and over-ground in the suburban housing estates. There are five color-coded lines:
• Red Colored is North-South Line
• Purple is North-East Line
• Green is East-West Line
• Yellow is Circle Line
• Blue is Downtown Line
In 2017, the Downtown 3 will be opened as an extension of the Downtown line. You can download Street Directory App or visit their website to search for the right service.
Singapore by Bus
Singapore’s bus routes cover the whole city; they are air-conditioned and spacious. It’s best to get the EZ-link card which is much more convenient, but you can also buy the one-way or return tickets. The thing to remember is that if you’re using coins the buses take exact change. When you’re entering the bus you just tap the card on the sensor and when alighting from the bus you tap it again and the system will return you the remaining money, because the cards take deposits. This is why you should never forget to tap it again. Singapore buses operate at same time as trains; they start at 5:30 am and run until midnight.
Singapore by Taxi
There are a lot of Taxis in Singapore, and they are a comfortable way of transportation. Taxi fares are cheaper when you compare to Continents like U.S.A, Europe, etc. Taxis are reachable at taxi –stands by hailing at one or simply just book via their website and app.
There are a lot of different rates and surcharges. There’s the peak -period surcharge, airport surcharge and ERP charges. Taxi fare is increased by 50 % from midnight till 5:59 am, which makes total sense since there are no buses and trains running during these hours. A 35 % period surcharge is from 7 to 9:30 AM during working days from Monday to Saturday, and from 6 PM to 8 PM from Monday to Saturday, which is the usual returning time of most working people.
Singapore by Trishaw
There are around 250 trishaws in Singapore, and they are together in a system known as Trishaw Uncle. They run on time, but they are a novelty for some people, and it might be fun to try it out. However, do note that such travel method is not meant for long distance travel and you will need to be prepared for the hot weather.
Singapore by Car
It’s expensive to drive a car in Singapore, but if you’re a tourist you must know that Singapore accepts only right-hand drive vehicles. This makes it pretty convenient for British people. Furthermore, if you’re driving license is on English, you don’t need to get a Singapore driving license. You are free to travel.
Conclusion
Singapore is a great place to visit and live in. It has one of the best transportation systems with affordable fares. Furthermore, it is well connected with the world through multiple types of transportation, and you can always use the Singapore Visitor Centre for further information.
