Singapore has one of the best public transport systems in the world. The entire city was designed with this system in mind, so getting around is fast and easy.
Paying by cash is an option, but it’s quite a lot of hassle and costs significantly more. So in order to use public transport in Singapore, you really need either a Singapore Tourist Pass or an EZ Link card.
We will tell you exactly where you can buy a Singapore Tourist Pass, what it will cost you and whether it’s worth it over the EZ Link Card.
What is the Singapore Tourist Pass?
A Singapore Tourist Pass is a card designed to allow tourists to easily use Singapore’s efficient public transport system. The cards come in one, two or three-day versions, which give you unlimited use of the standard buses, MRT Trains and LRT Trains in Singapore for the number of days specified.
This card is very quick and easy, allowing you to not have to worry about topping up or having insufficient funds. Once you have bought it, you are good to go and explore all the best things to do in Singapore.
Just remember, as soon as you step on a bus or enter an MRT platform, tap the card on the panel. Then, as you get off the bus or depart from an MRT platform, tap another panel to leave.
Singapore Tourist Pass Price
The Singapore Tourist Pass price is S$12 for one day, S$19 for two days and S$24 for three days.
You will be required to pay a deposit of S$10 (in addition to the prices above) when you purchase the Singapore Tourist Pass. This deposit will be refunded to you in full, as long as you return the card within five days of purchasing it.
If you choose to keep the card, you will not be refunded the S$10. The card will transition to a standard EZ Link card.
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Where to Buy Singapore Tourist Pass
For most people, the easiest place to purchase and return the Singapore Tourist Pass is Changi International Airport.
You can do this at the TransitLink Ticket Office in Terminal two between the hours of 8am and 9pm. Alternatively, there will be automated kiosks available 24/7 in both Terminal two and three.
If you have already left the airport, you can buy the Singapore Tourist Pass at a TransitLink Ticketing Office located at one of the below MRT Stations.
If you’re staying centrally at one of our favourite hotels, Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Yotel or Hipstercity Hostel, then you’ll probably want to visit the Orchard, Raffles or Bayfront MRT stations.
Ang Mo Kio | Daily: 08:00 am – 09:00 pm |
Bayfront | Sat, Sun & Public holidays: 12pm – 3:45pmSat, Sun & Public holidays: 4.45pm – 6.00pmWeekday: Closed |
Bugis | Daily: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm |
Changi Airport | Daily: 08:00 am – 09:00 pm (Terminal two)Automated STP Kiosks available 24hr daily (Terminal two & three) |
Chinatown | Daily: 08:00 am – 04:00 pmDaily: 05:00 pm – 09:00 pm |
City Hall | Daily: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm |
Farrer Park | Daily: 12:00 pm – 03:45 pmDaily: 04:45 pm – 07:30 pm |
HarbourFront | Daily: 08:00 am – 04:00 pmDaily: 05:00 pm – 09:00 pm |
Jurong East | Daily: 12:00 pm – 03:45 pmDaily: 04:45 pm – 07:30 pm |
Kranji | Weekday & Sat: 12:30 pm – 03:45 pmWeekday & Sat: 04:45 pm – 07:30 pmPublic holidays: Closed |
Lavender | Daily: 12:00 pm – 03:45 pmDaily: 04:45 pm – 07:30 pmPublic holidays: Closed |
Orchard | Daily: 08:00 am – 09:00 pm |
Raffles Place | Weekday: 08:00 am – 09:00 pmSaturday: 08:00 am – 05:00 pmSundays & Public holidays: Closed |
Somerset | (Concession Card Replacement Office)Daily: 10:00 am – 02:00 pmDaily: 03:00 pm – 06:00 pmPublic holidays: Closed |
Tanjong Pagar | Weekday: 12pm – 3:45pm | 4.45pm – 7.30pmSaturday: 12pm – 3:45pm | 4.45pm – 6.00pmSundays & Public holidays: Closed |
Woodlands | Daily: 08:00 am – 09:00 pm |
Singapore Tourist Pass vs EZ Link
If you are visiting Singapore for less than three days and intend to use public transport as your main method of transportation (which is very likely), then the Singapore Tourist Pass is the best option for you.
For trips under three days, this is the most cost-effective and easiest way to use Singapore’s public transport system.
If you plan to visit Singapore for longer than three days and intend to use public transport to get around, then you should choose the EZ Link card. It is also very cheap, plus you do not need to worry about returning the card before leaving.
If you only plan to use public transport only a few times during your stay, then don’t purchase either the Singapore Tourist Pass or the EZ Link card. It will be cheaper to just pay by cash.
Singapore Tourist Pass Refund
You will be eligible for a refund of your S$10 rental deposit when you return the Singapore Tourist Pass to a TransitLink Ticket Office or SMRT Passenger Service Centre within five days of purchase.
Note, the value of the Singapore Tourist Pass is non-refundable. If you do not use it, or you are unhappy with it for any reason, you will not be able to receive a refund beyond the S$10 rental deposit.
You also must ensure you return the card within five days of purchase or you will not receive your S$10 refund.
Other Conditions of the Singapore Tourist Pass
One day usage of the Singapore Tourist Pass covers a 24 hour period from midnight on the day of use until 11.59pm the same day.
This means if you arrive and use your card at 10 pm, you will only get a couple of hours usage until the day ticks over. Try to start its use in the morning for maximum value.
The second and third day must be consecutive. Even if you do not use your card on the second or third day, it still counts as a day.
Some transport services are excluded: Night Rider, Sentosa Express, RWS8, Fast Forward and Nite Owl Buses.
Singapore Tourist Pass Plus
The Singapore Tourist Pass Plus is an extended version of the standard Singapore Tourist Pass sold exclusively by Changi Recommends. It offers some additional perks for tourists, beyond unlimited use of MRT and bus service.
Currently, the Singapore tourist Pass Plus costs $38 for a three-day pass. We feel that for the majority of people this pass won’t offer any benefit above what you already get from the cheaper, standard Singapore Tourist Pass.
What you do get is a complimentary Xplore half-day tour and a complimentary $10 Hooters Dining Voucher. In addition to this, you will receive 5% off merchandise at Resort World Sentosa.
We would recommend that you stick to the standard Singapore Tourist Pass unless you have intentions of using the Xplore half-day tour and dining at Hooters.
For us, the perks really aren’t relevant, and as a result, we’ve never chosen to purchase this card. If you’re unsure, it’s safe for you to save your cash and skip the Singapore Tourist Pass Plus.
Where to Stay in Singapore With an STP
For most tourists, we’d recommend staying as close to the city center as possible as it makes getting to all the major attractions as easy as possible. You’ll have plenty of spots to pick up an STP as well as a bunch of stations to choose from when catching the MRT.
We’d recommend staying anywhere between Marina Bay, Chinatown, Clarke Quay and Orchard. These suburbs are all next to eachother in central Singapore making access to anywhere on the island easy.
To experience Singapore a bit more like a local would, we’d recommend also checking out suburbs like Toa Payoh, Ang Mo Kio or Bishan, however, accommodation here would be scarce. We stayed with family in these suburbs and it was awesome. All of these suburbs have bus stops and MRT stations so even if you’re not in the city center you can still get around. Google Maps is reliable all around the country, just make sure you’ve picked up a Singapore tourist sim card first so you don’t get lost!
Hotel Recommendations:
Marina Bay: Marina Bay Sands Hotel (the best of the best)
Orchard: Yotel (modern and affordable by Singapore standards)
Clarke Quay: Hipstercity Hostel (best hostel in Singapore, centrally located but still not cheap)
Very helpful. Thanks.
Don’t buy a ‘Plus’ card – absolutely no benefit. We just arrived at Singapore yesterday and went to a ‘Changi Recommends’ counter at the airport. The attendant told us we should buy a STPP card because of how good it was. We did so paying SG$38 ea and discovered we would have been far better off getting an EZ-Link card due to how cheap most trips cost using public transport.
However, the really annoying thing we’ve discovered is there’s absolutely *no* additional benefit of getting a STPP card over the STP one. The STP is $20 with $10 deposit on the card. The STPP is $38 outright. There are no discounts specifically for STPP. Not the most costly of scams but a scam none the less.
100% agree! Since writing this article I’m not sure what the latest ‘perks’ of the STPP are, but it’s never really been worth the extra cost. The normal STP is good value, but an EZ-Link card is useful for longer trips or if you plan to return to Singapore. This is what we use.
Do we’ve to buy one STP per person??
Yes.