Guide to Singapore Tourist Pass
Public transportation is one of the most convenient and affordable ways to explore Singapore. To take public transport (i.e. bus and MRT), you’ll need a payment card for the fare.
Currently, there are five main payment methods for public transportation in Singapore: Contactless Bank Cards, EZ-Link, NETS, Singapore Tourist Pass, and Cash.
This article covers everything you need to know about the Singapore Tourist Pass (STP), including how it works and whether it’s worth using. Keep reading to find out if the STP is the right choice for your trip.
What is Singapore Tourist Pass?
The Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) is a transport card that gives you unlimited travel on Singapore’s MRT, LRT and basic bus services.
Types of Singapore Tourist Pass
There are 2 types of Singapore Tourist Pass: Singapore Tourist Pass and Singapore Tourist Pass Plus.
In the past, there was SG Tourist Pass but it is now defunct. (The team tasked with naming the products is incredibly creative, isn’t it?)
Here’s the comparison of the Singapore Tourist Passes:
| Singapore Tourist Pass | Singapore Tourist Pass Plus | SG Tourist Pass (now defunct) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 1-day: S$17 2-day: S$24 3-day: S$29 | 3-day: S$48 | |
| MRT Rides | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| Bus Rides | Unlimited (except special buses) | Unlimited (except special buses) | |
| Additional features | – | Free XPLORE 1 hour walking tour, 1 Postcard Set, $5 credit off Changi Travel Concierge Service | – |
| Perks & Discount | Yes, refer to here | Yes, refer to here |
Singapore Tourist Pass Price
- Singapore Tourist Pass
- 1-day: S$17
2-day: S$24
3-day: S$29
- 1-day: S$17
- Singapore Tourist Pass Plus
- 3-day: S$48
SG Tourist Pass(now defunct)3-day: S$29
All the passes no longer has deposit portion in it. So, there is no need to return the Singapore Tourist Pass for deposit refund.
Where to Buy Singapore Tourist Pass
Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) can be purchased at the following locations:
- Ticketing Counter at selected MRT stations: Ang Mo Kio, Bayfront, Bugis, Changi Airport, Chinatown, City Hall, Farrer Park, Harbourfront, Jurong East, Lavender, Maxwell, Orchard, Raffles Place, Somerset, Woodlands. (Take note of their operating hours)
- 24 hours Automated Kiosks at Changi Airport MRT Station, Orchard MRT Station.
- Cheers at Changi Airport Terminal 1 Departure, Terminal 2 Departure, Terminal 3 Departure, Terminal 3 Arrival, Terminal 4 Arrival, as well as at Orchard MRT Station.
Meanwhile, Singapore Tourist Pass Plus (STP+) can only be purchased from Changi Recommends Counter at all the terminals of Changi Airport (map).
How Does Singapore Tourist Pass Work?
Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) is a travel card that you can use to take unlimited rides on the bus and MRT in Singapore.
Unlimited rides are not applicable for: Sentosa Express monorail, RWS8 bus, Express Services Bus, Fast Forward Bus, Night Owl bus (N bus), NightRider bus (NR bus), Chinatown Direct bus (CT bus) and other premium and niche bus services.
To use Singapore Tourist Pass, simply tap the card on the card reader at MRT station or bus entrance.
The card is not shareable. Each person must have their own card.
Kids below 0.9m height travel for free on trains and buses when accompanied by a fee-paying adult.
If you purchase the multiple-day pass, it must be used on consecutive days.
The pass starts when you use it for the first time. The 1-day pass ends when the last public transport has stopped operation (slightly past midnight). Eg: if you use the card for the first time at 6pm on Monday, the 1-day pass will expire on Monday’s night (when the last train and bus have stopped),
Similarly, the 2-day pass will expire on Tuesday’s night and the 3-day pass will expire on Wednesday’s night.
Once the pass is expired, it will become a regular EZ-Link card without any value. So, if you want to use it as EZ-Link, you need to top up the card.
In the past, the card has a refundable deposit of S$10. However, since 2024, they have reduced the pricing and taken out the deposit portion. That means, the new card no longer has deposit in it. Hence, when the card expires, you don’t need to return it for refund.
Singapore Tourist Pass Plus (STP+) works exactly the same way as the Singapore Tourist Pass (STP). The only difference is that STP+ gives additional bonuses as follow (subjected to change without prior notice):
- Complimentary 1-hour walking tour
- Limited Edition Postcard Set
- $5 credit off for Changi Travel Concierge Service
Perks & Discounts
Singapore Tourist Pass cardholders can enjoy discounts at various attractions and shops. Refer to this list for the latest offers.
Some of the activities require you to show the STP card on site, before purchasing the ticket. That means, you won’t be able to book in advance. Meanwhile, there are also other activities that you can book online by entering promo code for discounts.
At the time of writing, there are tons of discounted attraction tickets sold by GoSingapore website/app. To be honest, I have never used GoSingapore, because I have never heard of it. I would be wary to buy tickets from unheard vendors. So, do your own due diligence.
Singapore Tourist Pass vs EZ-Link
One of the most commonly asked questions by my readers is, “Should I get Singapore Tourist Pass or EZ-Link?”
In case you’re not familiar with EZ-Link, it’s a prepaid card that you can use for bus, MRT, taxi as well as shops or restaurants which accept EZ-Link. You need to top up the card before you can use it.
With EZ-Link, you only pay for public transport per use. You do not have to worry about how to maximise your itinerary to make sure you’re getting the bang for your bucks with STP. But, you do have to keep monitoring the value in your EZ-Link. If the value is running low, you need to top it up. Otherwise, you won’t be able to board the bus or MRT if your card value falls below S$3.
To answer whether you should get Singapore Tourist Pass or EZ-Link, it really depends on how much you’re going to travel on public transportation when visiting Singapore. Let’s do the math.
Assuming each trip costs S$2, here’s the number of trips you need to make to break even with Singapore Tourist Pass.
| Pass | Price | Daily Price | No of Trips to Break Even Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| STP 1-day | S$17 | S$17 | 9 |
| STP 2-day | S$24 | S$12 | 6 |
| STP 3-day | S$29 | S$9.70 | 5 |
When I say number of trips, I mean the entire journey from your starting point to your destination, regardless of the number of rides.
For example, if you stay near Bugis and you want to visit the Zoo, you’ll be taking a bus from your hotel to Bugis MRT, then MRT from Bugis to Ang Mo Kio, then bus from Ang Mo Kio to Zoo. There are 3 rides, but you consider it as 1 trip.
Based on your itinerary, you can estimate the number of trips you’ll be doing each day and decide whether it’s worth getting the Singapore Tourist Pass.
Remember, for multi-day passes, the card must be used on the consecutive days. So, do plan your itinerary such that on the days you’re using STP, you’re making the most out of the unlimited rides.
If you’re planning to spend a whole day at Universal Studios Singapore or Singapore Zoo, you’ll probably be making only 2 or 3 trips a day, so you won’t need STP for these days.
If you’re not doing enough trips to break even the price of STP, then I’d recommend that you use either contactless bank card or EZ-Link.
Is the Singapore Tourist Pass Worth It?
As someone who lives in Singapore, it’s possible to spend about $10 a day for public transport if I have a full day out from morning until night. That’s about 5 trips in a day.
So, if you have a jam-packed itinerary, I feel that the 2-day and 3-day passes are worth it. But, if you’re a slow traveler, I definitely recommend using contactless bank card or EZ-Link.
However, the 1-day pass is totally NOT worth it. If you’re making 9 trips in a day, it’s likely that you’ll be running around from one place to another and you’ll be spending less than 1 hour at each place. I doubt it’s something that anyone would enjoy, well, unless they’re the over-achiever type of travelers.
As for the Singapore Tourist Pass Plus (STP+), you need to ask yourself whether the additional features (walking tour, post card, $5 voucher) is worth the extra S$19.
If you have time for walking tour and you love walking tour, the STP+ is probably worth it. But, if you’re pressed for time and you’re unable to join the tour, it’s probably best to skip STP+.
