Singapore Transportation

Getting there by Air:

East meets west at this bustling Asian Pacific air hub roosting on the eastern fringe of the island. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) (+65 6542 9792 / http://www.changi.airport.com.sg) is comprised of two terminals, with a third in the works due to open in 2006, and host to 60 airlines. The Skytrain monorail connects the terminals and runs about every two minutes. Besides the standard convenience amenities the airport features atypical diversions including a series of stress relieving nature walks through gardens, including a bamboo garden and a rooftop cactus garden. Many of the café/bars have live acoustic music for weary travelers. Families can opt for the arcade or play area. There is even an onsite movie theater and fitness center. Of course, it wouldn't be an airport without tons of retail outlets and restaurants ranging from local sushi joints to the ubiquitous Burger King and Starbucks. ATMs, business lounges and currency exchanges are also aplenty. Major airlines include:

Air Asia (+603 8660 4343 / http://www.airasia.com) Air France (+1 800 237 2747(US) / +65 6737 6355 (Singapore) / http://www.airfrance.com) Air New Zealand (+1 800 262 1234 (US) / +65 6535 8266 (Singapore) / http://www.airnz.com) All Nippon Airways (+1 800 235 9262 (US) / +65 6323 4333 (Singapore) / http://www.fly-ana.com) Bangkok Airways (+1 866 226 4565 (US) / +65 65458481 (Singapore)http://www.bangkokair.com) British Airways (+1 800 247 9297 (US) / +65 6589 7000 (Singapore) / http://www.britishairways.com) Cathy Pacific (+1 800 233 2742 (US) / +65 6533 1333 (Singapore) / http://www.cathaypacific.com) China Airlines (+65 6737 2211 (Singapore) / http://www.china-airlines.com) Continental (+1 800 523 3273 (US) / +65 6538 6860 (Singapore) / www.flycontinental.com) Japan Airlines (+1 800 525 3663 (US) / +65 6221 0522 (Singapore) http://www.japanair.com) KLM (+1 800 447 4747 (US) / +65 6737 7622 (Singapore) / http://www.klm.com) Korean Air (+1 800 438 5000 / +65 6534 2111 (Singapore) / http://www.koreanair.com) Lufthansa (+1 800 645 3880 / +65 6245 5600 (Singapore) / http://cms.lufthansa.com) Malaysia Airlines (+1 800 552 9264 (US) / +65 6336 6777 (Singapore) / http://www.malaysiaairlines.com.my) Qantas (+1 800 227 4500/+65 6589 7000 (Singapore) / http://www.qantas.com) SAS Airlines (+1 800 221 2350 (US) / +65 6235 2488 (Singapore) / http://www.scandinavian.net) Singapore Air (+1 800 742 3333 / +65 6223 8888 (Singapore) / http://www.singaporeair.com) Thai Airways (+1 800 221 2500 (US) / +65 6224 9977 (Singapore) / http://www.thaiair.com) United Airlines (+1 800 241 6522 (US) / +65 6873 3533 (Singapore / http://www.ual.com)

Ground transportation:

Avis (+65 (0)6542 8855 / +1 800 230 4898 (US) / https://www.avis.com) and Hertz (+1 800 654 3131(US) / +1 800 654 3001(Intl) / https://www.hertz.com) are onsite. Before hitting the road you will need to purchase an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) card, which is used on expressways at peak hours and in the central business district from 7a-7p weekdays and 7a-2p Saturdays. Cards are available from the rental companies.

Taxi ranks are perched outside of each arrivals hall. A trip to downtown can get rather hefty (SGD25-SGD50) once all the surcharges (airport and ERP) are tacked on. Limousine taxis and MaxiCabs are also available and booked at counters in the arrivals hall. A flat rate of SD35 will get you downtown.

A frequent (every 15-30 minutes) airport shuttle jaunts to anywhere in the CBD and the majority of city hotels. Book at journey at the desk in the arrivals hall for SGD7.

Buses depart 6a until midnight from the basement of both terminals to most points around the city. SBS bus 36 will take you from the airport to Orchard road in downtown where most of the fancy hotels reside. Fares range from SGD.70 to SGD1.80 depending on whether the bus is air conditioned or not.

The quickest way into town, especially for those light on luggage, is by MRT train (+1800 336 8900 / http://www.smrtcorp.com.sg). The station resides in terminal two and is accessible from terminal one by Skytrain. A trip to downtown's City Hall station takes around 30 minutes. Trains operate from 5:30a until 11:18p.

Getting there by Bus:

Three bus stations handle international travel between Singapore and Malaysia, and Singapore and Thailand: Ban San Terminal at Arab and Queen Streets, Lanender Street Terminal off Kalang Bahru, and the Golden Mile Complex at Beach Road. Traveling by bus between countries is rather inexpensive and more than 25 routes are available including: Singapore-Johar Express (+65 6292 8151), Singapore-Malacca Express (+65 6293 5915), and Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Express (+65 6292 8254).

Getting there by Car:

The traffic ridden Woodlands Causeway extends across the Straits of Johor linking Singapore with Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The aptly named "Second Crossing" spans the straits into Malaysia at the western end of the island. Tolls apply at the crossings and there is the need for a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and ERP card.

Getting there by Rail:

Malaysian Railways (KTMB) (+65 6222 5165 / http://www.ktmb.com.my) railway has three Intercity trains running between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and an overnight train, Express Timuran, chugging between Singapore and Tumpat. Trains arrive and depart from the Singapore Train Station, a classic art deco building on Keppel Road. The station has limited public transport options. Bus #97 exits Keppel road for the Tanjon Pagar MRT station, a 20 minute walk otherwise.

E&O Services operates the famous and exotic opulence-on-rails known as the Orient Express (+65 6392 3500 / http://www.orient-express.com) between Chiang Mai and Singapore via Bangkok. Trains depart once a month and journeys last anywhere from three to six days. The cruise train and its doting luxury does not come cheap though, with prices ranging from USD1540 to USD3110 per person.

Getting there by Water:

Singapore is king when it comes to calling cruise ships in Asia Pacific, with more than ten major lines docking year round. The main passenger port is the Singapore Cruise Center—a massive facility equipped three halls: regional, domestic, international. Ferries also depart from the Cruise Center for ports in Kukup, Tionman and Sebona, Malaysia. Daily ferry service is also available from the terminal at Tanah Merah to the Indonesian resort islands of Bintan and Batam in the Riau Archipelago. Service providers include: Bintan Resort ferries (+65 6542 4369 / http://www.brf.com.sg), Penguin Ferry Service (+65 6271 4866), Widi Express Ferries (+65 6275 2220), and Berlian Ferries (+65 6546 8830).

Getting Around:

Although public transport is less stressful and walking around the city center is quite pleasurable, many tourists choose to rent a car. Traffic on the major expressways (Pan Island, Ayer Rajah, Central) and major roads can be hectic and getting accustomed to the ERP and ALS (same as ERP but for the central busness district) cards and numerous road rules is time consuming, but the system moves efficiently most of the time (minus rush hours), the signs are all in abbreviated English, and parking is usually easy to come by. Beware of the infamous speed camera. They are all seeing and fines are strictly enforced. You need to obtain a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) if you are entering the country from Malaysia.

Singapore's transit system consists of three metro lines (MRT), two LRT (elevated monorails) lines and bus services. A multitude of companies manage the different facets of the system but fares are generally integrated, especially with the EZ-Link card (+1800 767 4333 / http://www.ezlink.com.sg)-a smart card that stores up to SGD10 at a time and can be refilled at General Ticket Machines (GTMs) in any station. Information for all lines is available through Transitlink (+1800 764 333 / http://www.transitlink.com.sg).

Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) (+1800 336 8900 / http://www.smrtcorp.com.sg) operates two of the three MRT lines: East-West (EW) and North-South (NS). The EW line also spurs off to the Changi Airport. The system runs from around 5:30a until 1:30a, but actual times vary from station to station. Standard fares vary depending on distance traveled but the average cast is around SGD1. Singapore Light Rapid Transit (SLRT) (+65 6893 6455 / http://www.slrt.com.sg), a subsidiary of SMRT, manages the Bukit Panging LRT (BP), an elevated electric monorail with 14 stations that basically runs a circular route through Bukit Panjang New Town meshing with the MRT at Choa Chu Kang. Trains leave every 2 to 6 minutes from 5a-1a. Fares start at SGD1.

SBS Transit (+1800 287 2727 / http://www.sbstransit.com.sg) is the largest bus provider in town, but has recently expanded to control the North-East (NE) MTR line, which connects the Harbour Front with the CBD. The Sengkang LRT is also under the company's transit umbrella, with the new Punggoi LRT, due to open in 2004. Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) (+65 6482 3888 / http://www.tibs.com.sg) is the second largest bus company with 53 routes including 98 night buses (NightRiders) primarily focused in the north.

Singapore Explorer (+65 6339 6833 / http://www.singaporeexplorer.com.sg) runs the Singapore Trolley, a hop on/hop off motorized and air-conditioned turn-of-the-20th-century tram that plies the CBD with stops at Orchard Road, Singapore River, Chinatown, Raffles Hotel, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Suntec City between 9.40a and 4.55p daily. Tickets can be purchased directly from the driver. Besides the trolley, the company offers river boat rides up the Singapore River and operates a fleet of "trishaws" or motorized rickshaws.

For the true form of tourist transport you can board a cable car (http://www.cablecar.com.sg) at the Mount Faber station head down the hill and across the harbour to the island of Sestona. Cars run daily from 8:30a-9p. Fares range from SGD8.50 to SGD15.

Taxi services in Singapore are reliable and comfortable, and the fact that there are some 15,000 cars roaming the streets looking for fares, hailing one is relatively hassle free, although during peak hours in certain parts of town they can be scarce. Three main taxi companies—Comfort Transportation (+65 6552 1111), TIBS Taxis (+65 6555 8888) and CityCab (+65 6552 2222)—operate round the clock. Taxi-stands are located outside major buildings and shopping centers. Alternatively, you can book one, by phone or fax, within a half-hour or in advance. Fares are metered and strictly regulated by the government's Land Transport Authority. So, commuters can sit back and enjoy their rides without fear of overcharging. Most of the companies also offer "limo" service, which is more like a town car rather than a jalopy picking you up.

Planning a Trip

The seasoned traveler typically has as many travel nightmares as he has glorious experiences -- the luggage gets sent to Timbuktu, the hotel reservations get lost, and the taxi driver takes the $500 scenic route to nowhere. The good news about traveling to Singapore? This place works. A seamless communications infrastructure means that you can plan your own trip, without a travel agent, and still have everything go as smoothly as if you were on an organized coach tour. Reliable phone lines, fax technology, and Internet presence make advance planning a breeze. Of course, it helps that so many Singaporeans speak English. Additionally, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is a wealthy and well-oiled machine that has anticipated the needs of travelers.

The STB is perhaps one of the most visible government agencies in Singapore, and it's impossible for any tourist to get out of the country without encountering at least one of its many publications or postings or coming face-to-face with one of its innumerable representatives. If you have access to one of its offices before your trip, it's a great source of information.

Getting There

By Plane

Singapore's award-winning Changi International Airport is a major transportation hub for many of the world's largest passenger airlines, so flights from all corners of the globe are convenient.

In my experience, the best deals are offered through Asian carriers. Compare fares at Japan Airlines (www.jal.co.jp), Korean Air (www.koreanair.com), Cathay Pacific Airways (www.cathaypacific.com), Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com), and Thai Airways International (www.thaiair.com). Otherwise, I've listed information for a few major airlines below.

Singapore's national carrier, Singapore Airlines (tel. 800/742-3333 in the U.S. and Canada, tel. 0844/800-2380 in the U.K., tel. 131011 in Australia, tel. 0800/808-909 in New Zealand, or tel. 65/6223-8888 in Singapore; www.singaporeair.com), is arguably one of the finest airlines in the world, with reliable service that is second to none. It's the most luxurious way to fly to Singapore, but sometimes the most expensive as well. It connects major cities in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand to Singapore with daily flights.

From North America, United Airlines (tel. 800/864-8331 in the U.S. or 65/6873-3533 in Singapore; www.ual.com) and Northwest Airlines (tel. 800/225-2525 in the U.S. or 65/6336-3371 in Singapore; www.nwa.com) link all major destinations in the U.S. with Singapore.

From the U.K. and Australia, British Airways and Qantas collaborate to provide flights to Asia Pacific from major cities in the U.K. and Australia. (British Airways: tel. 0844/493-0787 in the U.K., tel. 1300/767-177 in Australia, or tel. 65/6622-1747 in Singapore; www.britishairways.com. Qantas: tel. 0845/774-7767 in the U.K., tel. 131313 in Australia, or tel. 65/6415-7373 in Singapore; www.qantas.com.)

From New Zealand, Air New Zealand has discontinued direct flights to Singapore. Contact Singapore Airlines (tel. 0800/808-909 in New Zealand, or tel. 65/6223-8888 in Singapore; www.singaporeair.com) for daily flights from Auckland and Christchurch.

Getting into Town from the Airport -- Most visitors to Singapore will land at Changi International Airport, which is located toward the far eastern corner of the island. Compared to other international airports, Changi is a dream come true, providing clean and very efficient facilities. Expect to find in-transit accommodations, restaurants, duty-free shops, moneychangers, ATMs, car-rental desks, accommodations assistance, and tourist information all marked in English with clear signs. Three terminals are connected by a Skytrain system. When you arrive, keep your eyes peeled for the many Singapore Tourism Board brochures that are so handily displayed throughout each terminal.

The city is easily accessible by public transportation. A taxi trip to the city center will cost around S$22 to S$25 (US$15-US$17/£9.90-£11), which is the metered fare plus an airport surcharge, usually S$3 to S$5 (US$2-US$3.35/£1.35-£2.25), depending on the time of pickup. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the city. You'll traverse the wide Airport Boulevard to the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) or the East Coast Parkway (ECP), past public housing estates and other residential neighborhoods in the eastern part of the island, over causeways, and into the city center.

If you've got a lot of people and luggage, CityCab offers a six-seater maxicab to anywhere in the city for a flat rate of S$35 (US$23/£16). You can inquire at the taxi queue or call tel. 65/6542-8297.

There's an airport shuttle, a coach that traverses between the airport and all major hotels. Booking counters at all three terminals are open daily from 6am to midnight. When you book your trip into town, you can also make an advance reservation for your departure. Pay S$9 (US$6.05/£4.05) for adults or S$6 (US$4/£2.70) for children at Terminal 1, tel. 65/6543-1985; Terminal 2, tel. 65/6546-1646; or Terminal 3, tel. 65/6241-3818.

The MRT, Singapore's subway system, operates to the airport, linking you with the city and areas beyond. STB will tell you the trip takes 30 minutes, but really, give yourself at least an hour, because you'll need time to wait for the train to arrive, then you'll have to transfer trains at Tanah Merah station, and if you're arriving in Terminal 1, you'll need to hop on yet another train -- a shuttle between terminals. After you get to your station in town, you'll still have to find your way, with your luggage, to your hotel. Personally, I think it's a pain in the neck, but hey, it costs only about S$2.70 (US$1.80/£1.20) to town. Trains operate roughly from 6am to midnight daily.

A couple of buses run from the airport into the city as well. SBS bus no. 36 is the best, with an express route to the Historic District and along Orchard Road. Pick up the bus in the basement of any terminal. The trip will take over an hour, and you'll need to get exact change before you board. A trip to town will be roughly S$2 (US$1.35/90p).

For arrival and departure information, you can call Changi International Airport at tel. 65/6542-4422.

By Train

While most visitors to Singapore will arrive by air, some will come via train from Malaysia. The Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) operates a rail system that connects Singapore all the way up the Malay peninsula, with stops in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and even connections to service in Thailand to Bangkok. Train passengers will stop for immigration at the checkpoint at Woodlands, just across the strait from Malaysia, but will not alight until they reach the Singapore Railway Station on Keppel Road (tel. 65/6222-5165), not far from Singapore's Shenton Way downtown financial district. Taxis to most major hotels will cost under S$10 (US$6.70/£4.50).

For train information from Kuala Lumpur, call KL Sentral railway station at tel. 603/2267-1200. In Bangkok, call the Hua Lamphong Railway Station at tel. 622/223-7010.

By Bus

Buses from Malaysia will drop off passengers at any number of points around the city, depending on the bus operator -- there is no proper inbound bus station. For bus service from major Malaysian cities, refer to bus listings in each section. Operators will be able to tell you where you will be dropped off.