Here we explain exactly how to get from Singapore airport to the city with all forms of transport.
Changi airport is close to the centre of Singapore and so getting into the city shouldn’t take you too long, no matter how you choose to travel.
There are various options for making this journey, depending on your time constraints and budget:
- Taxi
- Rideshare (Grab, Gojek, Tada)
- Private airport transfer
- MRT – aka the subway or underground
- Hotel Shuttle Bus
- Public Bus
Here’s our quick guide on how to get to the city from Singapore airport.
Click here for a comprehensive guide on using public transport in Singapore.
Taxi from Singapore airport to the city
Taking a taxi from Changi airport into the city is quick and convenient and also very reasonably priced compared to many cities around the world.
There are usually plenty of taxis waiting at the airport, so you shouldn’t have to queue for long. Just follow the signs in the Arrivals halls to the taxi stand.
Travel time is usually just a 20-30 minute drive to get from the airport to downtown Singapore, depending on traffic.
Taxis are metered, and the fare should cost in the region of $25 – $45, depending on the time of day (see below for surcharges) and where exactly you are going within Singapore.
Note that the following surcharge applies to all trips originating at the airport:
- $8 Mon-Sun, 5pm-11.59pm.
- $6 All other times
Additionally, the following surcharges apply to taxi fares in Singapore:
- Midnight surcharge: 50% of final metered fare, 12.00am – 5.59am
A peak-hour surcharge of 25% of final metered fare is also added at the following times:
- Mon-Fri 6am-9.29am
- Mon-Sun 6pm-11.59pm
- Sat, Sun and Public Holiday 10:00AM-1:59PM
So you can see that the same journey can cost quite a bit different, depending on the time of day you travel.
Rideshare from Singapore airport to the city
It’s also possible to book a rideshare like Grab from the airport.
There are various rideshare companies operating in Singapore. These are the equivalent of Uber in other parts of the world and we recommend downloading at least one of these apps for use during your Singapore trip.
- Grab
- Gojek
- Tada
- Zig (the main app for booking taxis also)
- Ryde
These rideshare apps also give you the option to book larger cars, executive cards and also family cars with car seats.
Note that rideshare drivers are not allowed to pick up from the Taxi stand or Departures. You will need to meet your driver at the Arrival pick-up point.
Also note that they often charge waiting time on top of your fare so make sure you know where you are going to meet them and how to get there.
The cost for rideshare rides varies depending on the time and day and availability. The cost will be given within the app at the time of booking. You can choose to pay by cash or upload your card details within the app as with Uber. Some rideshare drivers will stipulate cash only.
You will often find it is cheaper to take a taxi. In our experience, Grab is generally the most expensive of the three rideshare apps.
Private airport transfer from Singapore airport to the city
You can also book a private fixed-price airport transfer into the city from the airport. This can either be booked via the Changi airport app, or at one of the counters in the arrivals hall.
This is particularly useful if you need a 7-seater vehicle for a larger group or if you have lots of luggage.
Options for private transfers include:
- 4-seater vehicle for a flat fee of $55 to anywhere in Singapore.
- 7-seater vehicle for a flat fee of $60 to anywhere in Singapore.
Do note that there can often be a long queue for these if you book at the counter on arrival, so you might find it quicker (although more expensive) to book a rideshare.
Hotel Shuttle Bus
A hotel shuttle bus will take you to many of the major hotels in the city.
This costs $10.00 per adult and $7.00 per child (under the age of 12), making it good value if you are travelling alone but not such good value if you are travelling as a family or group.
Buses leave every 30 minutes from 7am to 7pm and every hour from 8pm to 11pm.
Book at the Ground Transportation Desk in the arrivals hall.
MRT from Singapore Airport to the city
Singapore has a very efficient underground system known as the MRT. It is air-conditioned, cheap and clean and is a great way to get around the city.
Taking the MRT from the airport into Singapore takes around an hour and will cost around $2.
The MRT station is located in the basement of Terminals 2 & 3. If you arrive into Terminal 1, you can take the Skytrain to Terminal 3.
Note that you will need to change trains to get into the city from Changi. You have two options to get into the city:
- Take the train to Tanah Merah train station then transfer to the East West Line toward Tuas Link.
- Take the train to Expo station then transfer to the Downtown Line towards Bukit Pajang.
Trains do not run 24 hours, so whether you can take the MRT depends on what time you arrive into Singapore. At the time of writing:
- First train to Tanah Merah from Changi:
- 5.31am Mon-Friday
- 5.59am Sundays & public holidays
- Last train connecting to Tuas Link: 11.18pm.
Payment options for the MRT include stored-value EZ Link cards, contactless Visa/Mastercard/NETS bank or credit cards, or the Singapore Tourist Pass.
Public Bus from Singapore Airport to the city
Taking the bus from Changi airport to the city takes around one hour and will cost around $2.
If you are heading to downtown Singapore, your best bet is bus number 36. This goes into the city and runs from around 6am to midnight. Stops include Raffles Boulevard, Orchard Road and Bras Basah Road.
You will find the bus bays in the basement of Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and you can also pick up the following buses from here: 24, 27, 34, 36, 53, 110 and 858.
Payment options for the bus include stored-value EZ Link cards, contactless Visa/Mastercard/NETS bank cards, or the Singapore Tourist Pass. You can also use cash on the bus, but you need to have the exact amount as no change is given.