Changi Airport is the only airport in Singapore designed for international and domestic flights. It connects to different transportation modes that will take you around town when you first visit the city. 

One of the most popular and cheapest ways to get around is through Metro Rail Transit (MRT), which is available all over Singapore. You can find an MRT leading to almost every district of the city, which makes it easier to travel. 

Find out more about how you can travel from Changi Airport to the city using MRT below.   

How to Get from Changi Airport to the City by MRT

To go to the city from Changi Airport, go to the airport MRT situated in terminal 2. Buy an EZ-Link card to use to pay your fair. 

Board the train and alight at Tanah Merah. Then, board another train on the East-West Line. 

Before going to the airport MRT, make sure that you know where you are first. If you are in terminal 3, you can simply walk to the station. 

But if you are in Terminal 1 or 4, you need to take a sky train or shuttle bus to Terminal 2 of Changi Airport. 

Alternative Routes

The two alternative routes to get to the city from the airport are via Bukit Panjang MRT (BP6/DT1) and Pasir Ris MRT (EW1). 

If you want to take the Bukit Panjang MRT to the downtown side of the city starting from Changi Airport, you need to first board the train in Changi Airport MRT to the Expo MRT Station. 

After you alight from the Expo MRT Station, you can transfer to the downtown line at the Bukit Panjang MRT station. 

This route is perfect if your destination is towards Raffles Place, Marina Centre, Maxwell, Anson, Cecil, Phillip, Clifford Pier, and Tanjong Pagar. 

If your destination is towards Pasir Ris, you can board the train at Changi Airport to Tanah Merah MRT Station. Once there, you can take the East-West line to your destination. 

MRT Map of Singapore

The only lines directly connected to the airport are the blue or downtown line and the green or East-West line. 

So if you are going to the city along the East-West side of Singapore, you only need to take the green line starting from the airport. 

For other destinations along the red, orange, brown, and violet lines, you need to board a train on either the blue or green line at the airport and interchange in the station leading to your destination. 

To make it easier for you to find your way in the MRT, each station is assigned a name and a code that is based on the line where it is located, as well as its order on the map. 

The interchange codes on the map also make it easier for you to find the station where you can transfer and switch to another train that will take you to your destination.  

MRT Lines in Singapore

The MRT lines follow the major train tracks in Singapore. The six major lines are the East-West line, North-South line, North-East line, Circle, Downtown line, and the Thomson East Coast line. 

Check out the codes, colors, and stations for the MRT lines below:  

MRT Schedule in Singapore

The operating hours for the whole MRT system of Singapore start at 5:30 am and remain operative until 12:00 am every day.  

There might be a difference in the frequency of the trains in the stations during peak hours. From 7:00 am to 9:00 am, trains will arrive consistently at the stations with brief intervals of 2 to 3 minutes and approximately 5 to 7 minutes during off-peak hours. 

You may also notice some differences in stations like the Woodland North that close much earlier than the other stations. This station closes at 9:00 pm while others remain open until midnight. 

The MRT system of Singapore is split between two public transport operators, known as SMRT and SBS Transit. Each may also have unique operating schedules.

SMRT Schedule

Check out the table below for a breakdown of the schedule for the first and last train in SMRT: 

SBS Transit Schedule

Check out the tables below for a breakdown of the schedule for the first and last train in SBS Transit.

Downtown Line First and Last Train Schedule:

North East Line First and Last Train Schedule:

How much is the train fare from Changi Airport to the city? 

If you travel from Changi Airport to the city, the standard adult fare for a single trip on the MRT ranges from SGD 2.70 to SGD 2.90.

But if you use an EZ-Link card, the fare is slightly lower, usually starting at around SGD 1.93 for adults.

Please note that these fares are subject to change.

I recommend checking the latest fare information on the official website of Singapore’s public transportation authority or at the airport for the most up-to-date pricing.

Which terminal is the MRT at Changi Airport? 

The MRT station is located in the basement of terminals 2 and 3 at Changi Airport. 

If you are from terminal 4, we recommend taking the free shuttle bus that will take you to terminal 3. For those coming from terminal 1, you can ride the sky train to terminal 2. 

How do I pay for MRT in Singapore? 

The most popular and efficient method to pay for an MRT ride is by using an EZ-Link card or a Single Journey Token from the MRT stations or Customer Service Office. 

If you don’t have access to either of these options, you can pay using your contactless bank card, like a credit card.

This provides an additional convenient and cashless option for travelers in Singapore.

You must ensure that your card has the contactless payment feature enabled, and then simply tap it on the card readers to pay for your MRT journey.