EZ LINK card, Singapore

Having stayed there for 3 months, the EZLink card proved to be very convenient. The price is ok and it allows you travel without any problems. Load up can be done in train stations and even grocer stores.

Can be used for buses and trains.....I heard they also plan to use this later on with taxis so by this time, it may have happened already.

Its much cheaper if you purchase an EZ link Card at any MRT station or seven Eleven stores. It will cost you 15SGD and its reloadable from 5SGD to 100SGD. If you use EZlink on the bus it cost 0.67SGD compare to 0.90SGD if you paid it in cash, aside from that be sure that you have exact amount because the driver do not issue change.

Taxis are cheaper than most (or all) Western European or North American cities. Still, there are surcharges that you might be able to avoid. For example between 0730 and 0930, and 1700-2000, there is a $1 surcharge (except Sundays). There's also a 50% surcharge after midnight.

Taxis tend to disappear just before midnight but they don't disappear just before 7:30 a.m.

I found that taxi drivers in Singapore are generally nice and don't seem to cheat. Most (or at least many) people don't tip. It's a bit more expensive if you pay by credit card, but not much. Many, but not all, taxis accept credit cards.

Close to but not quite the octopus card of HKG. This is your multipass. It allows you to access the bus, the MRT and also I am told but did not find out that you can use it in fast food places. Basically it is just a smart card with prepaid value for travel. They do charge you SG$7 for the card plus what value you add to it. But its just tap and go from there.

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If you are here for just 3 days and below, just purchase the single trip tickets.
Select your destination and pay your fares. The machine only accept $2 or $5 notes. You may approach the staff at the station control for change. At the end of your trip, insert the card back into the machine to retrieve your $1 deposit.

The initial purchase of a store value card is $15.
It has a $7 stored value, $3 refundable value.
Do remeber that there is a $5 non-refundable value.

To top up your value, approach the Ticket Sales Counter and pay by cash.
Minimum Top Up Value is $10. you can also DIY at the machines located at all MRT Stations.

You may use the ezlink card on both the buses or the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT).

first thing in Singapore is to buy the Ez-link card from any MRT station (5 S$) and top up with any currency you feel. you can board any bus or MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) by exposing it to the censors near entrance and exit. Ez-link card will solve your money change problem.

SMRT map

Hi there,

the link to the SMRT map has changed as compared to the information given by 'imstress'

The map can be found at:
http://www.smrt.com.sg/trains/routemap/routemap.pdf

And yes, all of your comments are right: MRT is great! Its a modern and very convenient travel system.

Greez from Germany
LarsiDA

1st thing you gotta do when you plan on using the MRT / LRT is to get the EZ Link card. I think it cost about 15s$ and you can use it as many times using any train until the money is up. You can constantly top up your card as you go along and when you return the card when you no longer have use for it you get a 3s$ refund.

You can get this card at any MRT Station.

If you buy an E-Z Link card, available at MRT stations and probably other places, it will make travelling much easier. You will not miss a train because you are trying to buy a ticket, you won't have to carry so many coins, and you don't have to calculate how many zones you will be travelling (it's possible to travel 10-20 zones, even over 30 so it's not just 2-3 zones that you have to become familiar with).

Using the card will save you 17 cents per trip (34 cents if you take a bus and MRT). $5 of the $15 cost of the card is a non-refundable charge to cover the cost of manufacturing the card so you may not recoup the cost of the card if you stay less than 3-4 days.

Another advantage of the E-Z Link card is when you transfer between a bus/MRT or MRT/bus, the connecting journey is discounted an additional 25 cents. If you pay cash and make a transfer, you do not get a discount and have to pay 2 fares.

To use the card, you just tap the card to the reader upon entering and when exiting the bus or MRT fare gates. Some people keep it in their wallets because the reader is quite a peeping Tom and can see through leather or clothes.

MRT is the fastest and easiest way to go around in Singapore. What you need to ride the MRT is an EZ-Link Card which you can purchase at every station. The card costs you 15S$, whereof 3S$ is a deposit, which you will get back when returning the card, 5 S$ is the fee for the card and the remaining 7S$ can be used for the tickets. As soon as you have the card, simply hold it over the card reader whenever you enter or leave the station. You'll see the remaining balance on the screen and you can recharge the card at the machines or at the counter.

Very good and convenient system!