How to Get From Singapore Airport to Singapore City Centre
Public Bus · Train · Bus · Private
%2Cpin-s-b%2B8B4513(103.8%2C1.3833333)%2F103.8%2C1.3833333%2C7%2F560x280%402x%3Faccess_token%3Dpk.eyJ1IjoiZ2Vja29yb3V0ZXMiLCJhIjoiY2plc2p0NmQ4MHh1cDJ4bXI3aWlraGh3YyJ9.ftb9bE1kUJiddMRbmZblQQ&w=3840&q=75)
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport is one of the busiest airports in Asia and a popular destination in itself. Named the World's Best Airport by Skytrax, it houses 4 terminals and Jewel Changi Airport, a massive indoor garden and retail complex. Completed in 2019, Jewel may be a recent addition but it has since become one of the country's main tourist attractions. If you're arriving or departing from Singapore Airport, make sure to visit Jewel's 40-metre Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall.Public transport via prepaid cards
Prepaid cards are widely used in Singapore for easy public transport payment. To pay your fare, you just have to tap it on the card-reader machine in train stations, buses, and taxis. Singapore has 3 different prepaid cards: EZ-Link, SimplyGo EZ-Link, and NETS FlashPay. These cards are convenient when taking the bus, where you are required to pay an exact fare. Also, it saves you from having to buy a single journey ticket every time you take the train. Fares are cheaper, too, when you pay via a prepaid card! These cards are reloadable and available from most train stations and 7-11 stores. You can also buy NETS FlashPay in advance via Klook. Travelling short-term? The Singapore Tourist Pass is a special version of the EZ-Link card that gives you unlimited public transport rides for 1 to 5 days, a great pick if you plan to move around a lot. Prices start at 17 SGD ($13) for a 1-day pass. For more info, you can check out the EZ-Link website.
What are the 4 ways to travel from Singapore Airport to Singapore City Centre?
There are four ways to travel the 20 km distance from Singapore Airport to Singapore City Centre. You can choose between the public bus, train, bus, and private.
The journey takes between 30m–2h and the quickest way is by bus (30m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by public bus with tickets starting at 2.5 SGD ($2.00).
40m - 2h
2.5 SGD ($2.00)
40 minutes
2.7 SGD ($2.10)
30 minutes
10 SGD ($7.80)
40m - 2h
25 SGD ($20)
Already in Singapore?
Onward from Singapore
Once you're in Singapore, here's where to next — 5 researched onward routes to pick from.
Singapore Airport to Singapore City Centre by Public Bus
The public bus is another cheap option, but they make too many stops and takes around 40m - 2h to reach the city centre.
The ticket price depends on where you’re heading to in downtown Singapore, but it should be no more than 2.5 SGD ($2.00). Note that if you’re paying with cash, you should give an exact amount because they don’t provide change. You can tell the driver your destination so he can let you know how much to pay.
If you're using a prepaid card, you only need to tap it on the card-reader machine near the front door on your way in and again at the machine at the back door on your way out.
Public bus guide from Singapore Airport to the city centre
| Airport Terminal | Bus Stop | Bus No. |
|---|---|---|
| Terminals 1, 2 & 3 | Basement Bus Bay | 24, 27, 34, 36, 53, 110, 858 |
| Terminal 4 | Bus stop next to Car Park 4B | 24, 34, 36, 110 |
Make sure you know which bus stop is closest to your accommodation and which bus number can take you there.
Most public buses are available from 05:30 to 23:30.
Singapore Airport to Singapore City Centre by Train
The train is a cheap option but requires you to make a transfer. If you like travelling with locals and are comfortable with your luggage, taking the train is not a bad idea at all. A train ride from Singapore Airport to the city centre costs only 2.7 SGD ($2.10)!
The airport MRT station is located at the basement of Terminal 2. If you’re coming from Terminal 3, just follow the signs that say “Train to the City.” If you’re coming from Terminal 1 or 4, you’ll have to take the skytrain or shuttle bus, respectively.
From Changi Airport MRT Station, take the Changi Line to Tanah Merah Station. This train journey takes about 8 minutes.
At Tanah Merah, transfer to the East West Line (green line), which is connected to most of the popular tourist areas in downtown Singapore. This takes another 30 minutes. Make sure you know which MRT station is closest to your hotel!
You can buy your tickets at the train station or just use a prepaid transport card.
The train from Changi Airport Station operates from 05:31 to 23:18 (Monday to Saturday) and 05:59 to 23:18 (Sundays and public holidays). If you’re arriving outside of these times, you’ll have to use another mode of transportation.
Singapore Airport to Singapore City Centre by City Shuttle
We recommend taking an airport shuttle when travelling between Singapore Airport and the city centre. This shared ride provides drop-off/pick-up to most hotels in downtown Singapore at a relatively cheap rate (compared to a taxi).
To find a city shuttle, just head to the 24-hour Ground Transport Concierges (GTC) at the airport’s arrivals hall. You can expect a departure every hour from 07:00 to 23:00.
Book your shuttle in advance via Klook*
*The last time we checked (January 2026), online booking for the airport shuttle was not available. Click the link provided to see if anything has changed.
Do you prefer to book your ride beforehand? Whether you’re travelling from the airport to downtown Singapore or the other way around, you can easily book a ride with Klook. This way, you can skip the usually long queue at the airport.
A city shuttle ticket costs 10 SGD ($7.80) whether you book at the airport or online. Travel time is 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the number of stops for drop-offs/pick-ups.
You can check out this hotel list from Singapore Airport to see if your accommodation is included in the drop-off/pick-up points.
Singapore Airport to Singapore City Centre by Taxi
Travelling in a group? Taking a taxi from Singapore Airport to the city centre is not that expensive when you split the cost.
All taxi fares from Singapore Airport are metered, so you won’t have to worry about haggling for the best rates. A ride costs 25 SGD ($20) to 45 SGD ($35) depending on your destination. The journey takes around 40m - 2h.
You will find taxis just outside the arrival halls of the main terminal buildings. You can also hail one via Grab, but remember to request for a family car if you're travelling with kids and need a car seat.
We prefer to book our ride in advance through Klook or BookAway. Prices are slightly more expensive, starting at 42 SGD ($33), but the car will be waiting for you when you arrive. And you can expect a professional driver.
Note that either way, you’ll have to pay an airport surcharge any time of the day, plus a midnight surcharge when travelling to and from Singapore Airport between 00:00 and 06:00.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Singapore to Singapore. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Singapore to Singapore is 20 km.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Why Visit Singapore?
For a small island city-state, Singapore is a huge tourist hub in Southeast Asia. In 2024, the number of tourists visiting Singapore was nearly 3x its population!
This is for good reason. Head to downtown Singapore and you'll find a number of tourist attractions, all connected by efficient and high-quality transportation.
To revisit your childhood, there's Universal Studios and the resort island of Sentosa. For shopping, head to Orchard Road. For art, visit the Kampong Glam area. For an amazing night and light show, you have to visit Marina Bay Sands.
How We Research
Every route on Gecko Routes is independently researched and regularly verified.
500+
ROUTES RESEARCHED
Every route is personally travelled and documented by our team, covering Southeast Asia's most popular and off-the-beaten-path connections.
Monthly
UPDATES
Routes are reviewed on a regular cycle to catch schedule changes, new operators, and price updates. Every guide shows when it was last verified.
Verified
BY TRAVELLERS
Tips and corrections from our community of travellers help keep routes accurate between team visits. Your experience makes this guide better for everyone.
About the Authors
Senior Travel Writer
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Travel Writer & Digital Nomad
Kate is a travel content creator, writer and founder of Stay Wild Travel, a tour company running group trips for women beyond your typical destinations. Her full-time travels have taken her to almost 60 countries, and she doesn't intend to stop anytime soon.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Gecko Routes free and up to date.
Reader Comments
No comments yet — be the first to share your experience!
Leave a Comment