Singapore Tourist Pass Hacks: Free Tours + Transport!
- Monster Day Tours
- 2 days ago
- 11 min read
Planning a trip to the Lion City on a shoestring? Meet your new BFF: the Singapore Tourist Pass. This handy-dandy transport pass offers unlimited public transport rides for a fixed cost, making it a cheap transport Singapore option for seeing the city. It’s designed for budget Singapore travel, perfect for backpackers, families, first-timers, or any traveler looking to save money while exploring.
In a nutshell, the Tourist Pass lets you hop on Singapore’s ultra-efficient MRT trains and buses as much as you want without worrying about fares. And the best part? You can pair it with free walking tours to turn your Singapore adventure into a virtually zero-cost exploration spree! Hack your Singapore trip with this one-two combo and you’ll be traveling smarter from the get-go.
FAQs
Where can I buy the Singapore Tourist Pass?
It’s easy to get your hands on a Tourist Pass. If you’re flying in, the Changi Airport MRT Station (Terminal 2 and 3) has ticket counters and automated kiosks that sell the Singapore Tourist Pass, you can grab it as soon as you land.
No more worrying about transport from the airport! The pass is also sold at TransitLink ticket offices in major MRT stations like Orchard, Bugis, City Hall, and HarbourFront. Just look for the SimplyGo or Tourist Pass signs.
Some convenience stores (like selected 7-Eleven or Cheers outlets) and currency exchange counters in the city also carry it.
What should I bring for the free walking tours?
You’ll want to wear comfortable walking shoes, we’ll be on our feet exploring for 2-3 hours. Lightweight clothing is ideal (it’s warm and humid year-round). Don’t forget a water bottle to stay hydrated; many tour spots have water refilling stations, and we’ll make pit stops if needed. It’s also smart to carry an umbrella or poncho, because Singapore’s weather can flip from sunshine to a quick rain shower.
Sun protection is key too, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a cap or hat will help keep you cool when we’re out in open areas. If your tour visits places of worship (like temples or mosques), we recommend having something to cover your shoulders or knees as a sign of respect (a light scarf or shawl comes in handy).
And of course, bring your Singapore Tourist Pass card itself or an EZ-Link card, you might need to take a short MRT or bus hop during or after the tour (plus, it’s your ticket to reach the meeting point). Lastly, bring your curiosity and enthusiasm! Our tours are interactive, so questions and conversations are welcome.
Where do the free tours start?
Each free walking tour has its own meetup point, usually conveniently located near an MRT station or a famous landmark, easy to find with your Tourist Pass in hand. For example, our Kampong Gelam tour meets at Lavender MRT Station, Exit B, right at street level. The Chinatown tour starts at Telok Ayer MRT Station, Exit B. Our Little India tour meets near Little India MRT, and so on.
We choose meeting points that are central and simple to reach by public transport. When you book a tour online, we’ll email you the exact meeting location, time, and how to recognize our guide (look out for the friendly guide in a Monster Day Tours t-shirt or holding a sign!).
Plan to arrive a few minutes early to check in with the guide and meet your fellow tour-goers. If you’re ever unsure, you can find the tour start locations on our website or give us a quick call. Thanks to the Tourist Pass, getting to the starting point is painless and free, just hop on the MRT and you’re there.
One more tip: Since these are walking tours, the endpoint is often different from the start point but also near an MRT or bus stop, so you can easily ride to your next destination after the tour wraps up.
Unlock Singapore’s Hidden Gems for $0
Singapore isn’t just about Marina Bay Sands and Sentosa. With the Singapore Tourist Pass, you can unlock Singapore’s hidden gems for $0 in transport fees. Unlimited rides mean you’re free to venture into charming neighborhoods like Kampong Glam and Tiong Bahru, areas many tourists miss. Kampong Glam, for instance, is a vibrant district of heritage shophouses and street art (think insta-worthy Haji Lane!), easily reached by MRT. Tiong Bahru, a hipster enclave of art deco flats and quaint cafés, is just a bus ride away. These spots are free attractions unto themselves, no expensive tickets, just authentic local vibes.
What makes this even better is the synergy with Monster Day Tours’ free walking tours. You’ve got the pass to get you there, now let local experts bring the place to life. Imagine strolling through Kampong Glam with a guide who shares the legend of how the area got its name (psst... it involves gelam trees) or wandering Tiong Bahru while hearing tales of its wartime past and trendy revival.
Why pay for a guide when our tours reveal secrets even locals forget? With the Tourist Pass covering your transport and Monster’s tours covering the storytelling, you’ll uncover hidden Singapore at absolutely no cost. It’s like having a personal guide and an all-access transit ticket rolled into one, for free!
Why the Singapore Tourist Pass Beats Ride-Hailing Apps
Let’s talk about getting around. Sure, you could rely on Grab or Gojek ride-hailing apps in Singapore, but be ready to watch your budget evaporate. Here’s why the Tourist Pass beats ride-hailing apps for the cost-conscious explorer:
Save big on transport: A couple of Grab rides across town can easily set you back S$20-30 a day. In contrast, a 3-Day Singapore Tourist Pass costs just S$29 (under ~S$10 per day for unlimited rides!). Save $15/day by ditching ride-hailing for the pass! That’s money back in your pocket for that extra bowl of laksa or souvenir shopping. No more nervously calculating fares for every trip, your transport spend is capped and crazy cheap.
No surge pricing or surprises: Singapore weather can be unpredictable (tropical rain, anyone?), and that’s when ride-hail fares surge the most. With a Tourist Pass, rain or shine, your MRT and bus rides remain flat-out free. You won’t get hit by 2x pricing just because it’s rush hour or a Friday night. Peace of mind FTW.
Fast and convenient: During peak hours, zipping around by MRT is often faster than sitting in traffic. The trains are frequent, efficient, and take you door-to-door (or rather, station-to-station) across the city. No need to wait for a car to arrive or worry if your driver can find you, just tap your Tourist Pass and go. The MRT network and bus system cover virtually every corner of Singapore, including the suburbs and heartland areas where real local life happens. Plus, there’s a bit of fun in navigating like a local, it’s all part of the adventure.
Unlimited exploration: Perhaps the biggest perk, you’re encouraged to explore as much as possible. With ride-hailing, you might think twice about that extra trip because of cost. With an unlimited pass, you’ll find yourself saying “why not!” and hopping on the MRT just to see what’s at the next stop. See a cool temple or mural out the window? Jump off and check it out, then catch the next train without spending an extra dime.
In short, the Tourist Pass offers cheap transport in Singapore without the hassle of booking cars or watching the meter. It’s the transport hack savvy travelers swear by. While others are stuck in traffic or paying surge prices, you’ll be breezing through the city, saving money and time.
Free Tours You’d Pay $50 For Elsewhere
Walking tours in many big cities will cost you a pretty penny, easily $30, $40, even $50 for a couple of hours with a guide. But in Singapore, Monster Day Tours runs top-notch free tours you’d pay $50 for elsewhere. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill cursory walks; they are in-depth explorations led by passionate locals who know Singapore like the back of their hand. We’re talking unique angles and storytelling you won’t find in guidebooks.
Ever wandered through colonial Fort Canning Park on your own? It’s beautiful, but join our free tour and suddenly those old walls talk. Guides share riveting wartime history in Fort Canning, like how an underground bunker on this hill witnessed the British surrender in WWII. In Chinatown, instead of just snapping photos of temples, you’ll hear about secret society hangouts and heroic hawkers. On our Little India tour, vibrant murals and spice-scented streets come alive with stories of Tamil immigrants and even quirky local superstitions. These are the kinds of immersive details that traditional tours (the ones with hefty price tags) pride themselves on, except with Monster, you’re getting it gratis.
To put it in perspective: In another city, a guided night walk showing you the best skyline views and hidden bar streets might cost you $50 plus a tip. In Singapore, we take you to a rooftop view of Marina Bay, stroll the waterfront, and share insider stories for free. You’ll probably end up thinking, “How on earth is this not costing me anything?” (That’s the moment you realize you’ve hacked Singapore travel!).
How Backpackers Stretch $10 into 3 Epic Days
You might be wondering: just how far can the Singapore Tourist Pass + free tours combo take you? Let’s put it to the test with a shoestring traveler’s dream: how backpackers stretch $10 into 3 epic days in Singapore. Here’s a sample 3-day itinerary that shows you can see a ton of sights on very little money, with the Tourist Pass and free tours as the backbone of your budget adventure:
Day 1: Cultural Immersion in Little India – Kick off your trip with a deep dive into Singapore’s cultural melting pot. In the morning, join a free walking tour of Little India (yes, Monster Day Tours has one!). As you wander through streets lined with colorful shophouses and flower garland stalls, your guide will share stories of Little India’s history, from the early Tamil settlers to the famous Tekka Market’s culinary treasures. You’ll visit the stunning Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and maybe spot some vibrant street art.
After the tour, use your Tourist Pass to hop on the MRT over to Kampong Glam (another cultural gem nearby) at no extra cost of course. For lunch, grab a bite at a hawker centre (Singapore’s open-air food courts) in Little India you can feast on a fragrant plate of biryani or dosa for under $5. Afternoon, explore Kampong Glam’s Haji Lane boutiques and the majestic Sultan Mosque on your own. By evening, you’ve seen two heritage neighborhoods and spent only a few dollars on food, transport was essentially free and the tours were free. Not a bad start!
Day 2: Gardens by the Bay and City Skyline – Time to enjoy Singapore’s iconic modern attractions (without paying through the nose). In the morning, consider taking an MRT ride (free with your pass) down to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s completely free to enter. Stroll among tropical flora and the beautiful National Orchid Garden (the Orchid section has a small fee, but you can skip it and still enjoy plenty).
Around noon, head to a nearby hawker centre for lunch, perhaps Newton Food Centre or Maxwell Food Centre, where $5-$8 will get you chicken rice, satay, or other local favorites. In the late afternoon, make your way to Gardens by the Bay (MRT to Bayfront station, covered by your pass). The outdoor gardens and Supertree Grove are free to explore, and they’re absolutely breathtaking. Time it for evening and you can catch the Garden Rhapsody light show at Supertree Grove (a spectacular audio-visual show of the giant tree-like structures), it’s completely free and happens nightly at 7:45pm and 8:45pm.
Before the show, you could also walk over to the nearby Marina Barrage for a panoramic view of the city or relax by the waterfront. By night, wander through Marina Bay waterfront, see the Merlion spouting water against the skyline, and if you’re lucky, catch the Spectra light and water show outside Marina Bay Sands (another free spectacle!). You’ve just had a full day of world-class sights, and apart from meals, you spent virtually nothing. All transfers between these spots were a breeze thanks to unlimited MRT/bus rides.
Day 3: City History and Downtown Delights – On your last day, dive into downtown Singapore’s historical core. Start your morning with a free Chinatown walking tour (another offering by Monster Day Tours). As you explore Chinatown’s bustling markets and tranquil temples, you’ll hear fascinating tales of early Chinese immigrants, clan associations, and even the secret society goings-on of yesteryear.
The tour might lead you through temples like Thian Hock Keng or the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and down the nostalgic streets of Kreta Ayer. After filling up on stories (and maybe sampling a Chinatown snack or two), take a break for lunch at Chinatown Complex hawker centre, try the Michelin-starred soy sauce chicken rice stall there for under $5, or a bowl of noodles.
In the afternoon, use your Tourist Pass to ride up to Fort Canning Park or the Civic District. If you head to Fort Canning, you can wander the leafy park trails for free and even check out the historic Fort Gate or Battlebox exterior (entry into the Battlebox museum costs extra, but walking around the park costs nothing). Alternatively, from Chinatown you might choose to MRT over to the National Museum of Singapore or National Gallery, if it’s a Friday evening, the National Gallery has free admission for locals (small fee for tourists), but even if you skip paid museums, just walking around the Padang area to see the Parliament, old Supreme Court building, and Merlion Park is enriching and free.
Come evening, treat yourself to one last hawker dinner, maybe chili crab at a fraction of restaurant prices at a hawker stall in Old Airport Road Food Centre, and reflect on the epic three days you’ve had. You stretched a $10/day transport pass, enjoyed free tours and attractions, and got a genuine taste of Singaporean life. Total transport cost: $10. Total spent on sights: $0. The experiences: priceless.
Monster Day Tours’ Secret: Local Stories, Zero Cost
So, how can Monster Day Tours offer such awesome tours for free? Monster Day Tours’ secret lies in a simple philosophy: we believe sharing Singapore’s culture and stories shouldn’t come with a price tag. It’s all about local stories, zero cost. Our guides are not just run-of-the-mill tour leaders, they’re passionate locals from all walks of life. We have historians, chefs, artists, and seasoned guides in our crew, each excited to share their Singapore with you. This means on a given tour, you might have a history buff pointing out a tiny detail on a building that even lifelong residents overlook, or a foodie guide who can tell you exactly which hawker stall around the corner has the best roast duck (and why the recipe has a heartfelt backstory).
By infusing each tour with personal anecdotes and expert knowledge, we make sure you feel the real soul of the city. Guests often tell us our tours don’t feel like tours at all, but more like hanging out with a local friend. (And that’s precisely the vibe we aim for!). One delighted traveler exclaimed, “Felt like I had a Singaporean best friend!” – Maria, Spain, after experiencing our walking tour. That genuine connection and warmth you experience? That’s 100% real. We love our city, and we want you to love it too – so we pour our hearts into these free tours.
Now, you might wonder, if it’s free, do you need to sign up or can you just show up? Our free tours are super popular (no surprise there!), so we do recommend reserving your spot online. It’s as easy as a few clicks and doesn’t cost a thing. This way, our team knows to expect you and can keep groups manageable for the best experience. And don’t worry, “free” really means free. You’ll never be pressured to pay a fee. Our guides are happy to accept tips if you insist (maybe that’s how you say thanks for an awesome time), but there’s zero obligation. The biggest reward for us is seeing your smiles, hearing your wows, and knowing you’ve had an unforgettable day out in our city.
Ready for an adventure that won’t break the bank? Book your free walking tours in Singapore today, spots fill fast! Come join the Monster family for a day (or three) of exploring. We’ve got a city full of secrets to share with you, and we can’t wait to show you around.
In a city known for being pricey, you’ve now got the insider scoop to explore Singapore on the cheap without missing a thing. Don’t waste another dollar! Grab your Singapore Tourist Pass, book your free walking tour with us, and experience the city like a pro. From hidden cultural enclaves to must-see icons, you’ll see more, spend less, and gain local friends along the way.
Remember, our tours have limited slots, so act fast – the only thing worse than spending too much is missing out entirely! It’s time to hack your Singapore adventure: ride unlimited, explore unapologetically, and join the Monster Day Tours family for memories that will last a lifetime. Happy travels and see you on the tour!
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