Want to Learn How to Get Around the Lion City Like a Local? Here’s How

If you’re a tourist in Singapore and you want to explore the Lion City like a local would, you’ll be glad to know that you can do just that from the moment of your arrival. This is because the city-state has a modern, well-designed, and highly-efficient transportation system that makes use of buses, trains, and cars. Using these transportation options, one can explore the Lion City’s many modern and natural attractions without breaking a sweat.

Once you drop off your luggage at your hotel, feel free to explore the city like it’s a second home to you. Whether you’re planning to visit the city’s historical sites, try delectable meals at hawker centres or Changi Airport restaurants, or go on a shopping spree in one of the local markets, here’s how you can get around Singapore like the locals do:

Know the Traffic Rules and Follow Them

Part of the reason why many aspects of everyday life in Singapore run like a well-oiled machine is that most of the locals follow the country’s many rules. This goes for their traffic rules, too. Given this, it would do you well if you get to know these rules yourself, especially if you’re planning to drive during your stay. Doing so will ensure not only your safety and comfort, but also that of the people with whom you share the road.

If you’re sticking to using public transportation or touring the city on foot, you’ll be happy to know that the city is very walkable and its roads are bicycle-friendly. Still, there are a few things you need to remember so you can do as the Singaporeans do and avoid steep fines. For example, you should make use of pedestrian crossings and footpaths as much as possible, and always stay on the sidewalk instead of walking along the road itself.

Purchase and Top Up Your EZ-Link Card

Are you stressed out about the idea of handling a lot of loose change and bills while commuting? Don’t worry, because it’s fairly easy to go cashless in Singapore—even for commuters.

You can do this by purchasing an EZ-Link card, which can be used in public buses, the MRT, the LRT, and even taxis. This contactless card can be purchased from and reloaded at a lot of convenience stores across the country, and there are also machines that can dispense and top it up at bus interchanges and train stations. There are even passes that you can use as many times as you want within a given number of hours or days, which can be a practical option if you want to see as much of the country as you can during a short stay.

Remember the Bus or Train Schedule