Grab, taxi or MRT? Our guide compares the best ways to get around Singapore, including ride-hailing apps, family tips and insider advice.
One of the questions we’re asked most often is whether visitors should use the MRT, catch taxis or download Grab when travelling around Singapore.
The good news is that getting around Singapore is incredibly easy. The public transport system is clean, safe and efficient, taxis are plentiful, and ride-hailing apps make it simple to get almost anywhere on the island.
The bottom line is, there’s no single “best” option. It all depends on where you’re going, how much luggage you have, whether you’re travelling with children and even the time of day.
In this guide, we’ll compare the MRT, taxis and Singapore’s most popular ride-hailing apps, including Grab, Gojek, TADA and Ryde, to help you decide which is best for your trip.
At a Glance: Which Should You Choose?
| If you want to… | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Save money | 🚆 MRT |
| Avoid traffic | 🚆 MRT |
| Travel with lots of luggage | 🚖 Ride-hailing app or taxi |
| Get from the airport to your hotel | 🚖 Ride-hailing app or taxi |
| Visit several attractions in one day | 🚆 MRT + occasional ride-hailing |
| Hire a driver for a few hours of sightseeing | 🚖 Grab by the Hour |
| Travel with babies or young children | 👨👩👧 See our Travelling with Kids section below |
| Experience Singapore like a local | 🚆 MRT |
| Travelling as a group of 4 or more | 🚖 Ride-hailing app (often surprisingly good value) |
Our Verdict: For most visitors, we recommend using the MRT for sightseeing and a ride-hailing app or taxi when you’re carrying luggage, travelling with children or simply want the convenience of door-to-door transport.
The Best Way to Get Around Singapore
Singapore makes getting around remarkably easy. It has one of the world’s cleanest, safest and most efficient transport systems, and most visitors end up using a combination of the MRT and ride-hailing apps during their trip.
The MRT is usually the quickest and cheapest way to travel between major attractions, while ride-hailing apps and taxis are ideal when you’re carrying luggage, travelling with young children or simply want the convenience of door-to-door transport.
Rather than relying on just one option, think of Singapore’s transport system as a toolkit. Use whichever option makes the most sense for each journey.
If you’re planning your itinerary, our Singapore Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors is a great place to start.
The MRT: The Best Way to Get Around Singapore
The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) forms the backbone of the public transport system in Singapore. For most visitors, it is the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to get around Singapore.
The network is clean, safe, air-conditioned and connects almost all of the city’s major attractions, including Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Orchard Road, Chinatown and Little India.
If you’re sightseeing, the MRT will probably be your main form of transport.
Insider Tip: You don’t need to buy an EZ-Link card. Simply tap your contactless credit or debit card (or your phone or smartwatch) at the ticket gates.
Why We Love the MRT
- The cheapest way to travel around Singapore.
- Fast, reliable and air-conditioned.
- Trains run every few minutes.
- Avoids traffic jams, especially during rush hour.
- Easy to use, with signs and announcements in English.
- Most attractions are within a short walk of an MRT station.
Things to Consider
The MRT isn’t always the best choice.
If you’re travelling with several suitcases, shopping bags or very young children, a ride-hailing app or taxi is often more convenient. Likewise, if your hotel is a long walk from the nearest station, paying a little extra for door-to-door transport can be well worth it.
If you’re travelling during the weekday morning or evening rush hour, expect trains to be busy, particularly in the city centre.
Want to know more? Read our complete guide to How to Use Public Transport in Singapore.
Ride-Hailing Apps: The Most Convenient Option
If convenience is your priority, ride-hailing apps are hard to beat. They’ll pick you up wherever you are and drop you exactly where you want to go, making them ideal when you’re carrying luggage, travelling with children or simply don’t feel like walking to the nearest MRT station.
Most visitors download Grab, but it’s not the only option. Singapore has several ride-hailing apps, including Grab, Gojek, TADA and Ryde, and prices can vary between them.
Insider Tip: We have Grab, Gojek and TADA installed on our phones and compare prices and pickup times before booking. It only takes a few seconds and can sometimes save you both time and money.
Grab
Grab is Singapore’s largest and most popular ride-hailing app, with the biggest network of drivers and generally the shortest waiting times. It also offers useful features such as GrabFamily for travellers with young children and the option to hire a driver by the hour for sightseeing.
Gojek
Gojek is often slightly cheaper than Grab and is well worth checking before you book. Waiting times are generally similar, making it one of the best alternatives.
TADA
TADA has become increasingly popular in Singapore and often offers competitive fares. While there may be fewer drivers than Grab, it’s another app that’s worth comparing before confirming your booking.
Ryde
Ryde is another Singapore-based ride-hailing app that can sometimes offer lower fares than its competitors. Although availability isn’t always as good as Grab, it’s worth keeping installed if you’re looking for the best price.
Our Verdict
For most visitors, we’d recommend downloading at least Grab and Gojek before arriving in Singapore. Adding TADA as well gives you another option for comparing prices, especially during busy periods.
Which Ride-Hailing App Is Cheapest?
There’s no simple answer. Fares vary depending on demand, traffic, the time of day and driver availability, so it’s worth checking a couple of apps before confirming your booking.
As a general guide, this is what we’ve found:
- Grab usually has the largest number of drivers and the shortest waiting times, but isn’t always the cheapest.
- Gojek is often competitively priced and is well worth checking before you book.
- TADA regularly offers attractive fares and promotions.
- Ryde can sometimes be the cheapest option, although there may be fewer drivers available.
Insider Tip: We usually compare Grab, Gojek and TADA before booking. It only takes a few seconds and can sometimes save several dollars, especially during busy periods.
Hire a Driver by the Hour
One feature that many visitors don’t realise exists is Grab by the Hour, which allows you to hire a driver for a set number of hours rather than booking individual journeys.
If you’re planning a busy sightseeing day, this can be a surprisingly convenient option. Instead of booking multiple rides, your driver simply takes you from one attraction to the next and waits while you explore.
It’s particularly useful if you’re:
- Visiting several attractions in one day, such as Gardens by the Bay, the Botanic Gardens and Chinatown.
- Travelling with young children or older relatives.
- Carrying a stroller or lots of shopping.
- Short on time and want to maximise your sightseeing.
Insider Tip: If you’re travelling as a family or group, hiring a driver for a few hours can work out to be surprisingly good value, especially when the cost is shared between four people.
Taxis: A Reliable Choice
Although ride-hailing apps have become increasingly popular, we still have a real soft spot for Singapore’s taxis.
If there’s one waiting at a taxi rank, we’ll often hop straight in rather than booking a ride. Quite often, it’s quicker, and we’ve had some great conversations with drivers over the years.
Unlike in some other Asian cities, you generally don’t need to worry about scams or drivers refusing to use the meter. Singapore’s taxis are well regulated, making them a stress-free option for visitors.
Insider Tip: Download the CDG Zig app to make booking taxis easy.
Why Choose a Taxi?
- Easy to find outside hotels, shopping malls and major attractions.
- Also easy to book using an online app.
- A great option if you spot one waiting at a taxi rank.
- Option to use a pre-agreed price or go by the meter.
- Well-regulated, with very little risk of scams or overcharging.
Taking a Taxi from Changi Airport
We often take taxis into the city when arriving at Changi Airport, particularly if we’ve just landed after a long flight. Simply follow the signs to the official taxi rank outside your terminal.
The queues are well organised, move quickly and there are usually plenty of taxis waiting, even during busy periods. For many visitors, it’s the simplest and most hassle-free way to get from the airport to their hotel after a long flight.
Read more about getting from Changi Airport to the City.
Things to Know
Taxi fares are metered and may include surcharges during peak hours, late at night and for journeys from Changi Airport.
Most taxis accept contactless card payments, although it’s always worth carrying a small amount of cash just in case.
Insider Tip: If you’re struggling to find a taxi in the late afternoon, it may be because many drivers are changing shifts. Between around 3.30pm and 5pm you’ll often see “Change Shift” displayed on the roof light, meaning they’ll only pick up passengers travelling in their direction of travel.
Travelling Around Singapore with Kids
Singapore is one of the easiest cities in Asia to explore with children. The MRT is clean, safe and stroller-friendly, while taxis and ride-hailing apps make it easy to get around when little legs get tired.
The best option will depend on the age of your children and how you’re planning to explore the city.
Babies and Toddlers
If you’re travelling with babies or toddlers, a ride-hailing app or taxi is often the easiest option, especially when you’re carrying a stroller, nappy bag and everything else that comes with little ones.
If you’re booking a private-hire vehicle, remember that children under 1.35 metres must travel in an appropriate child restraint.
- GrabFamily offers cars with child seats or booster seats.
- Gojek GoCar Kids provides booster seats for older children.
- Ryde also offers the option to request a child or baby seat when booking.
Availability isn’t guaranteed, so allow a little extra time if you need one of these services. Be aware that some private-hire drivers may refuse journeys if an appropriate child seat isn’t available. This restriction doesn’t apply to licensed taxis.
What About Taxis?
Unlike private-hire vehicles, licensed taxis are exempt from Singapore’s child restraint requirements. This means you don’t need to request a special vehicle if you’re travelling by taxi.
Is the MRT Good for Families?
Absolutely. All MRT stations have lifts, making them easy to navigate with a stroller, and trains are clean, air-conditioned and reliable.
We’d only suggest avoiding weekday rush hour if possible, when trains can become very busy.
Insider tip: Children up to 0.9m in height and accompanied by a fare-paying adult travel for free on trains and buses.
Our Recommendation
For most families, we’d recommend using a combination of the MRT and ride-hailing apps. Take the MRT between the major attractions, then switch to a taxi or GrabFamily when everyone’s tired or you’re carrying shopping, a stroller or lots of luggage.
Planning a family trip? Don’t miss our guides to Singapore with Kids, Singapore with Toddlers, Things to do in Singapore with Kids and Is Singapore Good for Kids?
Our Recommendations
Still not sure which option to choose? Here’s what we’d recommend for the most common situations.
- Arriving at Changi Airport: Take a taxi or ride-hailing app. After a long flight, the convenience of door-to-door transport is well worth it, especially if you’re travelling with luggage.
- Sightseeing Around the City: Use the MRT. Most of Singapore’s major attractions are close to an MRT station, making it the quickest and most affordable way to get around.
- Shopping on Orchard Road: Take the MRT to Orchard Road, then grab a taxi or ride-hailing app back to your hotel if you’ve accumulated too many shopping bags.
- Heading Home After Dinner: A ride-hailing app or taxi is usually the easiest option after a long day of sightseeing.
- Travelling with Kids: Use a combination of the MRT and GrabFamily or taxis. The MRT is excellent for longer journeys, while door-to-door transport is a welcome convenience when little legs get tired.
- Visiting Lots of Attractions in One Day: Consider Grab by the Hour. It can be a surprisingly convenient option if you’re travelling as a family or group and want to maximise your sightseeing time.
Our Verdict: For most visitors, we recommend using the MRT for sightseeing and a ride-hailing app or taxi when you’re carrying luggage, travelling with children or simply want the convenience of door-to-door transport.
Want to know more about using Singapore’s trains and buses? Read our complete guide to Public Transport in Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grab cheaper than a taxi in Singapore?
Not always. Grab, Gojek, TADA and Ryde use dynamic pricing, so fares can increase during busy periods. Taxis use metered fares with surcharges at certain times of the day. Sometimes a taxi will be cheaper, other times a ride-hailing app will offer the better price. We recommend comparing a couple of apps if you’re not in a hurry.
Should I download Grab before I arrive in Singapore?
Yes. We’d recommend downloading Grab before you travel, but don’t stop there. Gojek and TADA are also worth installing, as comparing prices only takes a few seconds and can sometimes save you money.
Is Uber available in Singapore?
No. Uber no longer operates in Singapore. Instead, most locals and visitors use Grab, Gojek, TADA or Ryde.
Can I hail a taxi in Singapore?
Yes. You can hail a taxi from the street if its roof light indicates it’s available, or simply join a taxi rank outside hotels, shopping malls, attractions and MRT stations. Note that taxis are not allowed to stop on roads where there are bus lanes.
Can I use my credit card on the MRT?
Yes. There’s no need to buy an EZ-Link card unless you want to. Simply tap your contactless credit or debit card, phone or smartwatch at the ticket gates.
Can I pay with Cash?
Yes. Taxis accept cash, although most visitors find it easier to pay by contactless card. Ride-hailing apps are usually linked to a payment card, although some also support cash payments (and some drivers actually prefer cash payment).
Is the MRT easy for tourists to use?
Absolutely. The MRT is clean, safe, inexpensive and has English signage throughout. It’s one of the easiest metro systems in the world for first-time visitors to navigate.
Is it worth renting a car in Singapore?
For most visitors, no. Singapore’s excellent public transport system and affordable taxis and ride-hailing apps mean hiring a car is usually unnecessary. Parking can also be expensive, and many hotels charge additional parking fees.
Are taxis safe in Singapore?
Yes. Singapore’s taxis are well regulated, and drivers are required to use the meter. Unlike in some other destinations, scams and overcharging are uncommon, making taxis a stress-free choice for visitors.
Which is the best way to get around Singapore?
For most visitors, we recommend using a combination of the MRT and ride-hailing apps. Use the MRT for sightseeing between major attractions, then switch to a taxi or ride-hailing app when you’re carrying luggage, travelling with young children or simply want the convenience of door-to-door transport.