Looking for how to get from the airport to Singapore city center? Check out this guide on how to get from Changi Airport to Singapore city center and back.
Changi Airport in Singapore is one of the busiest airports in the world and has even been named the best airport in the world by several rounds!
The airport consists of four terminals, three of which are for international flights. The various terminals are named T1, T2, T3, and T4 and are connected by shuttle buses and a sky train that easily transports travelers from one terminal to another.
If you have planned your trip to Singapore yourself, then you definitely know the problem. One of the most important questions on any trip is always how to get from the airport into the city and back again. However, my biggest dilemma always lies in how to get back to the airport and reach the plane on time when I don’t want to pay a lot of money for transportation.
There isn’t room for any delays or misunderstandings when catching a plane. It can be nerve-wracking if something goes wrong, but it’s just about preparing well in advance. And that’s why I’ve made this guide on how to get from Changi Airport to Singapore city center and back again.
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Taxi from Changi Airport to Singapore city center
The easiest but most expensive way to get from Changi Airport to Singapore city center is by taxi. It is the most comfortable mode of transportation and you’ll be dropped off right in front of your hotel. It’s especially an advantage to take a taxi if you’re traveling with a larger group or have a lot of luggage.
The taxis are parked in front of the arrival hall at each terminal and run around the clock. And don’t worry, the taxi drivers in Singapore are reliable and must drive with taximeters by law. They’re extremely strict with their laws and regulations in Singapore and some of them are very strange.
The price of a taxi from the airport to Singapore city center usually costs between S $ 20-S $ 40. The large variation in the price is because it’s a very complicated system with several charges. For example, you must pay extra during peak hours and at night, but you also must pay an airport fee.
Expect it to take about 25 minutes to get from Changi Airport to Singapore city center by taxi. But note that the travel time depends on whether you hit the peak time, and also the traffic conditions at the current time.
MRT from Changi Airport to Singapore city center
The subway in Singapore is called MRT and is both the fastest and cheapest way to get into the city. The airport’s MRT station is in the basement of terminal 2 and can be found by following the signs saying, “Train to the City”.
It takes about 30 minutes to get from Changi Airport to Singapore city center by MRT. But note that there’s no direct route into the city and you’ll need to transfer the metro at least once.
In the beginning, you’ll drive by the green line from Changi Airport, but afterward, there are two choices. You can either choose to get off at the Expo station and transfer to another metro via the blue line. But you can also choose to get off at Tanah Merah Station and afterward continue via the green line to the city. Which line to choose depends on the area of your hotel.
It may sound confusing, but you’ll be surprised. Luckily, there are lots of signs and it’s super easy to take the subway in Singapore. The price for a standard ticket is around S $ 2.00, but the price depends on where you’re going.
If you find the metro system confusing, then using this MRT calculator for the Singapore Metro is a great help. You just enter where you’re going and from where, and then it calculates the price, travel time, and itinerary for you. It’s super easy and smart!
Bus from Changi Airport to Singapore city center
Besides the metro, another cheap option to get from Changi airport to Singapore city center is by bus. A bus ticket costs around S $ 2.50 and the trip takes a little more than an hour. The bus driver doesn’t give change, so remember some low banknotes or coins.
Bus 36 and bus 36A stops at many of the most popular tourist areas in Singapore, but there are other buses as well. At the airport, you’ll find the bus stops in the basements at terminals 1, 2, and 3.
An advantage of the buses is that they often get closer to your hotel than the metro does, as there are naturally more bus stations than metro stations. But it must also be said that it’s much more confusing and time-consuming to take the bus. So, if you have the opportunity, you should always take the subway rather than the buses in Singapore.
Airport Shuttle from Changi Airport to Singapore city center
Changi Airport Shuttle is a service with small buses that brings you to your hotel in a comfortable and still cheap way. The shuttle buses stop at most hotels in central Singapore, but you can check if your hotel is listed right here. If the bus doesn’t stop at your hotel, it may stop at a nearby hotel.
Expect it to take about 25 minutes to get from Changi Airport to Singapore city center by airport shuttle under normal traffic conditions. But it can easily take longer because the bus also stops at the other passengers’ hotels.
You can either pre-book a seat in an Airport shuttle bus online or in the arrival hall at the counter that says, “Ground Transport Desk”. The ticket price for Airport Shuttle is S $ 9 for adults and S $ 6 for children under 12 years.
How to get from Singapore city center and back to Changi Airport
When you need to return to Changi Airport, you can use the same mentioned means of transportation.
However, since you’re probably limited in time on the way back to Changi Airport, it may be a good idea to avoid the normal buses. There isn’t much time for delays, and it can be difficult to find your way around the bus routes and stops. Misunderstandings can easily arise in connection with the buses and it would be a shame to miss your flight.
Most people prefer to take a taxi from Singapore and back to Changi Airport, but misunderstandings and traffic delays can still easily occur. So, if you take a taxi you must leave for the airport well in advance.
I usually prefer to take the metro back to the airport as they’re relatively reliable and arrive at the stations regularly. The metros arrive fairly on time and if you don’t make it to the first, then you just wait a little 10 minutes for the next one. The best thing about the metro is that it goes fast. Oh, and you don’t risk getting stuck in the traffic on the way to the airport – a huge plus!
Get a Singapore Tourist Pass
If you’re planning to use public transportation in Singapore, you should consider buying a Singapore Tourist Pass. The card gives you access to unlimited use of both subways and buses in Singapore, including those running to Changi Airport.
You can buy a Singapore Tourist Pass in the shops called TransitLink Ticket Offices. They’re located at the major metro stations in the city and Changi Airport. You must choose whether the card should be valid for 1, 2, or 3 days. In addition, you must also pay a deposit of S $ 10 regardless of the number of days. However, please note that the deposit will be refunded when you return the card.
However, you should be aware that the number of days isn’t calculated from hours. If you buy a card for three days and activate it at 11:00 p.m., it still counts as a whole day. This means that you suddenly only have 49 hours to use the card instead of 72 hours.
If you need to use the card for the first time late at night, it may be a better idea to buy a ticket and wait to use the card until the next morning. Now I hope I didn’t break some of Singapore’s strange laws and rules by revealing this, haha. You never know with Singapore, do you? But still, Singapore is a beautiful city that you should look forward to visiting!
So that was all from this guide on how to get from Changi Airport to Singapore city center, and back again. Do you have any good advice or experience getting from Changi Airport to Singapore city center? Feel free to leave a comment so other travelers can get even more help before their trip to Singapore!
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