The Exciting Insider's Guide to Singapore Airport Transfers!

A green Grab taxi is parked outside the entrance of the JW Marriott hotel, with hotel staff assisting a guest at the entrance.

Hi there, welcome to Singapore! In this guide on Singapore airport transfers, I’m going to tell you all about different methods to get from the airport to town!

I have traveled to Singapore so many times and have tried different transport options myself, so a lot of the advice here is from first-hand experience of a fellow traveler!

To get to the point, take a taxi or private transfer for the fastest and most convenient experience or the MRT (train) if you’re looking to save money.

The important part is to book your private transfer (but also all other tickets and accommodation) in Singapore in advance so you secure the best deals! Other than that, you’ll have a pleasant and easy time getting around this incredibly beautiful and safe country!

Quick Picks for Your Stay

Can’t read till the end? Here’s a quick summary of the best Singapore airport transfer options:

Fastest airport transfer: taxi, private transfer
Cheapest airport transfer: metro
Best value for money: private transfer

Book your airport transfer

Overview of Singapore’s airport

A busy airport terminal with travelers pulling luggage. Overhead signs direct to gates and amenities. People are gathered and walking around under the brightly lit ceiling.

Singapore’s main international airport is called Changi, and it’s seriously the coolest airport I’ve ever been to (and I’ve seen a lot of airports worldwide!).

Often called the best airport in the world and currently the 5th most luxurious worldwide, Changi has endless opportunities for dining, shopping, and entertainment. If you have only a short overlay, you might as well just stay at the airport and enjoy your time at the terminal!

There are 4 terminals overall, with the first three being connected directly, while T4 is located in a separate location and is connected with the others by an inter-terminal bus.

NOTE: T4 is the latest addition that mostly serves low cost flights from Cathay Pacific, AirAsia, and Cebu Pacific.

Whether you’re traveling with kids or alone, you’ll find everything you need to spend hours at Changi Airport! Endless indoor playgrounds for the little ones, tons of premium lounges, 24-hour movie theaters, butterfly gardens (the last two are in Terminal 3), a swimming pool (T1), and sooo much more! You can easily pass from T1 to T3 via Skytrain, but there are also shuttles and walkways to speed you up.

PRO TIP: If you’re short on time and you need to clear immigration quickly, you can do so at any of the interconnected terminals (T1 – T3) that has the smallest queue!

Now let’s see what the transport situation from the airport to the city center looks like.

Types of transport from Singapore Airport

Indoor waterfall and train at Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore, surrounded by lush greenery under a glass dome.

For easy reference, the table below will give you a quick overview of the most popular transport options from Changi Airport.

NOTE: I calculated the price and journey time to Downtown Singapore (around Ritz Carlton hotel), so please bear in mind that these numbers may be different for your destination (but not too different).

	Private transfer	Taxi/Grab	Metro	Shuttle	Bus
Price	US$30 – US$45	US$20 – US$30	US$1.53	US$7	US$1.90
Journey time	20 min	20 min	40 min	30-40 min	50 min

Now let’s explore all these transfer options in detail. I sorted them for you nicely according to popularity and convenience!

Private transfer

Large domed building with geometric glass and metal pattern, situated behind a road with cars passing by. Shuttle bus visible on the left. Cloudy sky overhead.

Journey time: around 20 minutes
Frequency: 24/7
Cost: from US$30
Location: Upon agreement, outside the Arrivals hall

If you want to get to the city center quickly, stress-free, and avoid waiting in taxi lines, private transfer is the way to go!

So far I traveled with Welcome Pickups and never had an issue or anything, so I warmly recommend their services!

Although private transfer is slightly more expensive compared to taxis (around $US10 more, so it’s not really that much given all the perks), it’s so worth the money, especially in the following scenarios:

You’re traveling with a big group.
You’re traveling with a baby and don’t have a car seat.
You don’t want to think about anything on your trip and just relax and enjoy the comfort.
You want to minimize the chance of getting canceled, being late, or running around the airport.

I took both private transfers and taxis for my trips to Singapore, and let me tell you that the private transfer was just so much better!

We often travel with a baby, and the private transfer drivers come right in with an appropriate car seat for the little one. Plus, they have the AC, free water, and Wi-Fi inside, and the whole experience is so seamless and comfy every time! Of course, the drivers all speak English too.

Best of all, you have a person out there waiting for you (carrying a sign with your name), so you don’t have to stress about how fast you’ll find transport or wait in line for the taxi during peak hours!

Honestly, once you go with private transfer, you just won’t want to go back to public buses and taxis! I’m really happy I tried Welcome Pickups for this, especially after a super long flight when I’m just in the mood to hit the bed, not roam around the airport looking for taxis!

Book a private transfer

Taxi and Grab

A red taxi drives past Terminal 5 of a modern airport with glass facades and white panels, under a clear blue sky.

Journey time: around 20 minutes
Frequency: 24/7
Cost: around US$25
Taxi location: outside every terminal’s Arrivals area
Grab location: T1 (Door 3, Basement 1 Pick up), T2 (Door 6, L1 Pick up), T3 (Door 2, B1 Pick up), T4 (Door 2, L1 Pick up)

Taxis and Grab are the most popular airport transfer method in Singapore because they’re fast and relatively affordable. Plus, together with private transfer, they’re available at night when the public transport doesn’t run anymore.

And let me tell you right away, there are strict regulations about these services here, so they are super safe and reliable, too!

Taxis

You can hail a taxi outside every terminal in the taxi line or book your ride in advance at the 24-hour Ground Transport Desk (this one is in the Arrivals hall). Either way, you’ll likely have to wait a bit in the taxi line if there are crowds.

NOTE: The taxi waiting queue is outside each of the 4 terminals’ Arrivals area (Arrivals are on Level 1 for all terminals; just follow the “Arrivals” or “Ground transfer” signs, and you’ll get there).

The taxi rides in Singapore are metered, so the price will depend on distance traveled. But the most important issue to be aware of here is choosing the right vehicle.

Blue taxis lined up on a road near a futuristic airport control tower and modern buildings, with cranes in the background.

Watch out not to get a limo or premium taxi (especially if you’re traveling as a couple or by yourself). The price will be higher! Just tell the attendant at the taxi stand you want a normal taxi.

PRO TIP: At the same time, if you’re traveling with 4 people and everyone has luggage, ask for AT LEAST a 6-seater. In Singapore, there is a special seat in the taxi that counts as a luggage seat, so if you have a lot of luggage, chances are you won’t even fit a 6-seater.

Don’t make the same mistake I did – we booked a 6-seater for 4 people plus a baby and couldn’t fit because we didn’t know about the luggage thing! And some taxi drivers even canceled on us because we had no baby seat (regulations are strict about this when traveling from the airport). This is the exact reason why I prefer to book private transfer, you never have to worry about these things (more on private transfer below).

P.S. We used Uber to get around town later and I noticed they weren’t as strict about having a baby seat, as I could have my baby on my lap all the time.

Here’s a short overview to help you pick the right vehicle for the ride from the airport to the city:

4 people and up to 2 luggage pieces – 4-seater
4 people and up to 3 luggage – 6-seater
4 people and 4 luggage – premium 6-seater

NOTE: Taxis in Singapore have various surcharges for different situations. Some surcharges include late night departures (50% of the metered fare), peak hour (25%, from 6 AM to 9:30 AM and 6 PM to midnight), and airport surcharge (from US$5 from 5 PM to midnight, US$3 at all other hours; price may vary slightly due to currency fluctuations).

Grab

Singapore has a variety of private ride hailing apps, but, from my experience, Grab is the most popular. You can schedule your ride easily from the app and handle the payments there as well!

There are pickup points at all 4 terminals, and you can find handy instructions with pictures on Grab’s official website (scroll down to “Pick up points” section).

PRO TIP: Even though Wi-Fi is widely available at Changi airport, you can get Airalo’s flexible eSIM plans for Singapore (starting from US$4.50) for secure browsing and scheduling your ride to the city!

A bonus for using ride-hailing services is that you get an upfront fee right away (as opposed to having a metered ride), and you can track your ride through the app the entire time! You can also choose the vehicle that best fits your needs pretty much like for the taxi.

NOTE: Although Uber operates in the city, you can’t schedule a ride from the airport with it (but you can use it later to get around town).

MRT – Singapore metro/train

A person walks along an empty subway platform with a train stopped at the station. A few passengers are seated inside the train, and signage indicates it is bound for Changi Airport.

Journey time: from 35 to 40 minutes
Frequency: every 10 or so minutes, from 5:31 AM to 11:18 PM
Cost: S$2 (US$1.53)
Location: underneath Airport Boulevard, between Terminals 2 & 3

MRT is a relatively fast, but mostly cheap way to get from the airport to the city center. I usually recommend the train because you don’t risk getting stuck in traffic and you pay way less. But if you’re traveling with a baby or have a lot of luggage, then the MRT can be super stressful.

To get from the airport to the city center, you’ll have to take 2 trains: first one from the Changi Airport station to Tanah Merah Station. Then, at Tanah Merah, transfer to the East West Line (direction Tuas Link Station).

Another option is to hop on a train at the airport and descend to Expo MRT Station, and then take the Downtown Line (direction Bukit Panjang Station).

The trains run daily from 5:31 AM (on weekdays) and 5:59 AM (Sunday, holidays) to 11:18 PM. You can see the departures or calculate your fare for the exact location where you need to descend here.

NOTE: If you want to take a train from Terminal 4, take a free shuttle bus to Terminal 2 first since there’s no MRT station at T4.

PRO TIP: Pay for your train ride with the Singapore Tourist Pass to save some money on your trip!

You can also pay with a credit card (although there’s an extra fee if your credit card is issued outside of Singapore), your mobile wallet, or use the rechargeable SimplyGo EZ-Link card for public transport.

Shuttles

A bus marked "Terminal 4" is parked at a designated area under a shelter. It appears to be at an airport or transportation hub on a clear day.

Journey time: 30-40 minutes
Frequency: hourly, from 07 AM to 11 PM
Cost: US$7.65
Location: Arrival hall of all terminals

You can also take shuttles to get from the Singapore airport to your destination. The airport has its own shuttle service (City Shuttle), but so do some hotels (like Dusit Thani Laguna which offers a free shuttle).

The City Shuttle operates daily from 07 AM to 23 PM from the Singapore Airport and can take you to most hotels in the city center. The price is S$10 (US$7.65) per person. For children younger than 12, the rate is S$7 (US$5.30).

You can find the information desk (look for The Ground Transport Concierge, GTC) at the Arrival section of all 4 terminals and schedule your ride there or book on the official website. You can pay with cash on-site.

There’s also the shuttle to the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal if you’re headed further to Indonesia, it costs S$4 (US$3) per person and runs from Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 daily from 12 PM to 7:30 PM. To book the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal shuttle, see the staff at the GTC info desk.

PRO TIP: If you still haven’t booked your hotel in Singapore, check out my guide with the top-rated options across the city for all budgets! A lot of the options offer airport shuttles for a small fee!

Public buses

A public transit bus with number 131 on its display is driving on a city street. Several pedestrians are visible in the background.

Journey time: around 50 minutes
Frequency: from 05:10 AM to 11:50 PM, every 20 or so minutes
Cost: from S$2.50 (US$1.90)
Location: for T1-T3 basement bus bay; for T4 next to Car Park 4B

A wide network of buses departs from Singapore Airport to various destinations in town, including the city center (line 36 is best for this).

There are also multiple bus stops at the airport. For Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, you can catch most buses at the bus bay in the basement. Lines 24, 27, 34, 36, 110, and 858 depart from here.

As for T4, bus lines 24, 34, 36, and 110 depart from the bus stop just adjacent to Car Park 4B. The remaining buses (27, 53, and 858) depart from the SATS Inflight Catering Center 1.

Just like for train travel, you can pay using your mobile wallet, credit card (same thing with foreign cards – extra fee), or Singapore transport cards (either the tourist or EZ-link). Cash is also an option, but prepare the exact sum beforehand since you won’t be able to receive change inside the bus.

Although the bus is affordable, it’s still slower than the metro, making it my least favorite option to travel from Singapore airport to Downtown. But at least you won’t have to change stations if going directly to the city center.

TIP: You can use the MyTransport app to plan your journey, find the right bus stop, see operating hours, etc, although I’ve read reports that the app doesn’t work for some users. Worked for me!

Tips for Organizing Transport from Singapore Airport

A woman with luggage walks towards the sign for Taxi Stand 4B inside an airport. There is also a sign for a Priority Queue for people with disabilities or young children.

Before I let you go, I grouped here the most important tips and takeaways from the article:

Book your ride in advance, especially if you need private transfer and have special requests (baby car seats, traveling with elderly, etc.)
Choose the right transport method for your needs, otherwise you can easily overspend. If you’re just 2 with one or 2 luggage pieces, book a taxi. If you’re a small group looking to save money, use the metro (bus is the last resort). If you’re a big group with a baby, get a private transfer minivan right away.
Use Grab to schedule a regular ride and book Welcome Pickups for private transfers, especially if traveling with large suitcases and babies.
Calculate how much your trip from the airport to your specific destination on public transport will cost here.

Private transfer

BONUS: Free city tours from Singapore Airport

A woman is seated at a "Free Singapore Tour" booth inside an airport. The "Fully Booked" sign is displayed, and there's a "Queue Starts Here" sign to the right.

Now I told you already that Changi airport is really cool and that you could spend hours there having fun. The fun part doesn’t end at the airport though!

If you have a layover longer than 5.5 hours (and up to 24 hours), you can actually book a free city tour right from the airport! Yes, it’s true!

The bus tour lasts for 2.5 hours and takes you to Singapore’s highlights (plus 2 photo stops at iconic landmarks!)

IMPORTANT: Don’t pass the immigration if you want to join the tour! Their booths are situated in the transit section (for T2 near Gate F50, and for T3 near Gate A1-A8).

TIP: If you want to join the tour but have bulky luggage, you can leave it at the baggage storage for a small fee!

Find all the details and book your free tour on the official website right here!

Final thoughts on Singapore airport transfer

A child is sitting in a stroller at an airport terminal. A boy in yellow and blue clothing is walking in the background near a row of luggage trolleys.

That’s it, my fellow traveler! This is about everything you need to know when it comes to airport transfer from Changi, Singapore. Hopefully, I helped you understand the transfer options and which one is best for you!

Just a small reminder to book your private ride in advance and to make sure you’re choosing the right vehicle type to avoid spending more than you need!

If you have any questions about your upcoming trip, just drop me a comment below! I’ll be glad to help!

Fly safe,

Yulia

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Top: Passengers with luggage inside an airport terminal. Bottom: Bus parked at airport curb labeled "Terminal 4." Text: "Singapore Airport Transfer: Detailed Guide with Prices. www.misstourist.com.