Singapore Tourist Pass: honest guide (is it actually worth it?)
Is the Singapore Tourist Pass worth buying?
Only if you are making a high volume of MRT and bus trips in a short time. The honest math — a 1-day pass (SGD 17) breaks even at around 7–8 trips. Most tourists doing 2–3 attractions in a day will make 4–6 MRT journeys and spend SGD 8–12, meaning the pass does not save money. For visitors who travel between many areas in a single day (e.g., a day covering Little India, Chinatown, Marina Bay, Orchard, and Sentosa), the pass can produce meaningful savings and unlimited freedom. For relaxed, 2–3 attraction days, EZ-Link or SimplyGo is cheaper.
What the Singapore Tourist Pass actually is
The Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) is a stored-value card providing unlimited rides on Singapore’s public MRT and bus network for a fixed daily rate. It is sold as a convenience product for tourists who want to travel freely without monitoring their balance — and marketed as potential money-saver.
This guide does the actual math so you can decide whether it is right for your trip.
The prices (2026)
| Pass | Price | Deposit included | Net cost if card returned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-day | SGD 17 | SGD 10 | SGD 7 |
| 2-day | SGD 24 | SGD 10 | SGD 14 |
| 3-day | SGD 29 | SGD 10 | SGD 19 |
| 4-day | SGD 34 | SGD 10 | SGD 24 |
| 5-day | SGD 39 | SGD 10 | SGD 29 |
The SGD 10 deposit is refundable when you return the card at a TransitLink Ticket Office within 5 days after the pass expires. Most tourists do not bother returning the card — in which case, your effective cost is the full price.
Tip: If you are visiting Singapore for 3 days and buy a 3-day pass, make a note to return the card at Changi Airport before departing. TransitLink offices are available there. The SGD 10 refund is worth five minutes of effort.
The honest break-even math
Average MRT fare in Singapore: approximately SGD 1.50–2.00 per journey (depending on distance). Average bus fare: SGD 1.00–1.80. If you are mixing MRT and bus, assume an average of SGD 1.50–1.70 per transit interaction.
1-day pass (SGD 17, or SGD 7 net if card returned):
- Without card return: you need 11–12 trips to break even (17 ÷ 1.50 = 11.3)
- With card return: you need 5 trips to break even (7 ÷ 1.50 = 4.7)
Typical tourist day trip count:
- Relaxed day (hotel → Marina Bay → Gardens by the Bay → Clarke Quay → hotel): 6–8 MRT rides
- Standard day (hotel → 3 different attractions with transport between): 6–10 rides
- High-activity day (covering Little India, Chinatown, Marina Bay, Orchard, back to hotel with an evening outing): 10–15 rides
Conclusion on 1-day pass: If you are not returning the card, you need 12 trips per day — this requires a very active, multi-area day. If you are returning the card, 5 trips breaks even, which most tourists easily exceed. The return-the-card discipline makes the 1-day pass worth it more often than it appears.
2-day pass (SGD 24, or SGD 14 net):
- Net cost ÷ average fare = 14 ÷ 1.60 = 9 trips across both days (approx 4–5 per day)
- This is easily achievable for an active tourist — 2 days of normal Singapore sightseeing includes 8–15 transit interactions
Conclusion on 2-day pass: With card return, the 2-day pass is likely worth it for most active visitors. Without card return, 24 ÷ 1.60 = 15 trips needed — more demanding.
3-day pass (SGD 29, or SGD 19 net):
- Net cost ÷ average fare = 19 ÷ 1.60 = 12 trips across 3 days (approx 4 per day)
- Very achievable.
Conclusion on 3-day pass: The 3-day pass at SGD 19 net is likely the best value option among the Tourist Pass range. It covers the typical 3-day Singapore first-timer itinerary, and the break-even is straightforward if you use public transport routinely.
Who the Tourist Pass is genuinely good for
Frequent public transport users: If you commit to using MRT and buses for almost all journeys and supplement minimally with Grab, the Tourist Pass pays off quickly and removes the mental overhead of monitoring your EZ-Link balance.
3-day Singapore visitors: The 3-day pass covers your entire trip at SGD 29, or SGD 19 net — manageable across even moderate trip counts.
Families with children: Multiple people travelling together, all with Tourist Passes, have predictable transport costs for budgeting purposes. Children under 7 travel free on Singapore’s MRT and buses — a Tourist Pass is not needed for them.
Budget travellers: If you have committed to using public transport as your primary mode (MRT, bus), and are specifically avoiding Grab to control costs, the Tourist Pass makes budgeting simple.
Who should use EZ-Link or SimplyGo instead
Visitors planning many Grab rides: If you are supplementing public transport with frequent Grab rides (for Sentosa, late nights, rainy days), your MRT trip count will be lower and the Tourist Pass may not reach break-even.
1-day visitors or layover visitors: Unless your single day is extremely transport-heavy, the EZ-Link or SimplyGo contactless at standard fares will likely cost less.
Visitors who will not return the card: Without the deposit refund, the Tourist Pass economics are less attractive. If you know you will not return the card, the required trip count is significantly higher.
First-timers who might get lost or confused: The Tourist Pass removes fare anxiety — you can experiment with routes without worrying about using up credit. If uncertainty about transit navigation will make you more willing to take the MRT (rather than defaulting to Grab), the Tourist Pass’s psychological benefit has real value even if the math is borderline.
Comparison table: Tourist Pass vs EZ-Link vs SimplyGo
| Scenario | Best option |
|---|---|
| 1-day, relaxed (5–6 MRT trips) | SimplyGo or EZ-Link (~SGD 9) |
| 1-day, intense (10+ trips, return card) | Tourist Pass 1-day (net SGD 7) |
| 2-day, active (8+ trips/day) | Tourist Pass 2-day |
| 3-day, typical tourist | Tourist Pass 3-day (return card) |
| Arriving/departing by MRT included | Tourist Pass (first trip covered) |
| Mainly Grab/taxi supplemented by MRT | EZ-Link or SimplyGo |
See also the dedicated ez-link-vs-simplygo comparison for the EZ-Link versus contactless card decision.
Practical details
Where to buy: TransitLink Ticket Offices at Changi Airport (T2, T3), and at major stations including Orchard, City Hall, Chinatown, and Ang Mo Kio. Not at every station — check the TransitLink website before arriving at a smaller station expecting to buy one.
Validity: The pass activates at midnight on the day of first use and expires at midnight on the final day. A 1-day pass bought at 9 am is valid until midnight of the same day — not 24 hours from purchase. Buy the pass early in the day to maximise its use.
Top-up: The Tourist Pass is not a stored-value card in the top-up sense — it is a fixed-period unlimited pass. You cannot top it up. For journeys not covered (Sentosa Express, Night Owl buses), you would need a separate payment method.
Card return: Within 5 days of pass expiry, return the card to any TransitLink Ticket Office. Show the card and your ID. The SGD 10 deposit is returned in cash.
Frequently asked questions about the Singapore Tourist Pass
Is the Tourist Pass available at Changi Airport?
Yes — TransitLink Ticket Offices at Changi Airport Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 sell the Tourist Pass. This means you can buy and activate the pass immediately on arrival, with your first MRT journey from the airport covered. T4 does not have a TransitLink office — take the shuttle to T2/T3 first.
Does the Tourist Pass cover the Sentosa Express?
No. The Sentosa Express monorail (the connection from VivoCity to Sentosa island) charges a separate SGD 4 admission. Your Tourist Pass covers the MRT to HarbourFront (the nearest MRT to Sentosa) but not the Sentosa Express itself. The Sentosa Boardwalk (pedestrian bridge from VivoCity) is free regardless of pass type.
Can children use the Tourist Pass?
Children under 7 travel free on all Singapore MRT and buses — they do not need any card at all. Children 7 and above pay adult or concessionary fares. The Tourist Pass is an adult-rate product. For children 7–12 paying child fares, the standard EZ-Link or SimplyGo gives the appropriate concession pricing, which the Tourist Pass does not reflect.
Is the Tourist Pass linked to my passport?
No — it is an anonymous card, similar to a transit card bought anywhere in the world. There is no registration, no identity linkage, and no recovery if lost.
Can I share a Tourist Pass between two people?
No — only one person can tap the card at a time, and fare gates require individual tapping. Each traveller needs their own card or payment method.
