Singapore Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

Visiting Singapore aboard a tour bus guarantees you comfort and peace of mind at all times, while getting to know the city at your own pace. It's a vibrant, modern city full of entertainment options, so it's hard to know where to start. These types of experiences are very popular because they take you through colorful neighborhoods, gastronomic offerings and cultural activities. Tickets are easy to activate by either scanning or redeeming the digital ticket and you have 24 or 48-hour options.

The most prominent buses are the Big Bus and the Big Bus at night, whose routes go from the fantasies of Chinatown to the sobriety of the Financial District. However, there are other alternatives such as the FunVee route or the Singapore amphibious vehicle. Undoubtedly, it is an activity to take into account during your vacation because it allows you to tour the city from a unique experience through its rich history and culture.

A sightseeing bus tour of Singapore covers the most outstanding places of interest, in a short time and with a reasonable budget. By day it takes you through the sunny streets and to the best local activities. While, at night it passes near the illuminated skyscrapers and explores the night panorama. In general, the public transportation system is quite complete, but you can also join the best local tours to discover fascinating stops, gastronomic proposals and corners full of ethnicity.

Here are the best options and what each one offers:

Big Bus sightseeing bus

The tickets for the Big Bus tourist bus in Singapore have the following advantages:

• It is a daytime route that runs on an open-top double-decker bus. Generally, its schedule is from 5:30 am to 00:00 am.
• It has two routes to choose from, known as the Yellow City Route and the Red Heritage Route, you can take just one or combine them.
• You have the option of buying a 24 or 48 hour ticket.
• Most of the tour is self-contained, but you will have an audio guide with commentary on board. In addition, you can hop on and off at free stops to get to know the city at your own pace.
• You can take a guided tour at the Chinatown and Little India stops.

Big Bus Night Sightseeing Bus

Tickets for the night tourist bus are very popular as they offer many facilities, among the highlights:

• It is a night route aboard an open-top double-decker bus, ideal if you plan to visit Singapore at night. It usually operates from 23:00 to 2:00, but you may be summoned around 18:00 to start the tour.
• It has a single route that lasts approximately three and a half hours.
• You can use the service only once, if you want to go up another night, you must buy another ticket.
• It is usually a guided tour with a set itinerary, where you can expect commentary from your guide and gastronomic stops or breaks to witness the sound and light show at Supertree Grove in the Bay Gardens.

FunVee Tour Bus

• This is a daytime route that operates from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• It is a hop on hop off model, so you can hop on and off wherever you want.
• It has two routes known as City Sightseeing or the Green Route and Marina Sightseeing or the Yellow Route that cover the best activities in Singapore and the Marina Bay area.
• You can buy a 24 or 48 hour ticket. Note that the two-day ticket usually includes a traditional Singapore breakfast with kaya butter toast, coffee and tea.
• It is a self-guided tour with informative commentary on board.

Amphibious vehicle

• This is a daytime tour from 10:00 to 18:00.
• It has no free stops, the complete tour takes one hour.
• The ticket can only be used once, if you want to go up again you must buy another one.
• It merges the comments of a guide with the information of an audio guide.

The Big Bug's daytime option is the most authentic in the city, offering a complete and flexible itinerary that you can customize and take at your own pace. You will have access to all the attractions you want at more than 30 free stops on 2 different lines. The red one takes you through the local heritage, through the best local museums and ethnic neighborhoods, while the yellow one concentrates on the most popular places.

If you are one of those restless and dynamic people who can't stay in one place, don't worry! This experience will save you from depending on a guide or group, as you are the one who decides where and when to get off or on. On board you will have an audio guide with informative commentary, so you won't feel lost at any time. The tour lasts approximately one hour and you have 24 or 48 hour passes and different route options:

• Classic option: 24-hour access to the red line and yellow line of the bus.
• Premium option: 48 hours of flexible access to the red line and yellow line bus.
• Deluxe option: 48 hours flexible access to red line and yellow line bus, flexible ticket and night tour included.

Some of the stops you can enjoy:

Details of interest

• Price: from 41 euros.
• Duration: approximately one hour and a half.
• Advantages of this option: you can complete the tour at your own pace.
• Disadvantages of this option: babies must be seated on an adult's lap.

When night falls, the Big Bus tour continues but from a different facet, as you have the option to join a night tour for about three and a half hours. This option is quite relaxed and has at least 33 stops, if at any time you feel tired you can leave it halfway, although I do not recommend it because the last stop is very special.

Generally, you can enjoy the company of a local expert guide who will take you through the local history and culture. Not for nothing is this one of the best activities in Singapore at night, as it has a set itinerary that can take you to the Lau Pau Sat market and a scenic stroll along Orchard Road. Along the way you can see the oldest Victorian structures in Southeast Asia, sample traditional food or attend the Garden Rhapsody sound and light show at the SuperTree Grove.

Details of interest

• Price: from 42 euros.
• Duration: about three and a half hours.
• Advantages of this option: usually offers a gastronomic stop and access to the Garden Rhapsody sound and light show at the SuperTree Grove.
• Disadvantages of this option: does not include meals and drinks.

If you want to enjoy the sights of the skyline, you should definitely hop on the FunVee Hopper bus. It is a customizable route along the Singapore River and Marina Bay, which also takes you to discover places of interest such asSingapore Flyer, Esplanade Theatre, Merlion Park, Chinatown, Clarke Quay, among others. It has about 37 free stops and two routes (orange and green), which can be visited in 24 or 48 hours. If you choose to spend 2 days in Singapore, the 48-hour pass will probably provide you with a traditional Singaporean breakfast.

Without a doubt, it is a timeless journey through the city, where you can't miss the opportunity to take some of the best pictures of the trip.

Details of interest

• Price: from 30 euros.
• Duration: between one hour and one day, depending on the package chosen.
• Advantages of this option: children under 2 years old get in for free.
• Disadvantages of this option: not usually available during F1 races.

Nothing compares to the diversity of the amphibious vehicle, which has a water and land route. Specifically, you can make a complete tour without free stops aboard a former military vehicle that was used in World War II. You will be able to appreciate the Singapore Ferris wheel, the Fortress of Wealth and the Marine Bay. It covers about 30 points of interest that you can see along the route, the best part is that it usually offers pick-up from selected hotels to the starting point of the experience.

On board you can discover fascinating stories revealed by your guide and supported by an audio guide system. Your tour is so interesting, it is even rated as one of the best tours in Singapore.

Details of interest

• Price: from 30 euros.
• Duration: approximately one hour, it is a unique tour without free stops.
• Advantages of this option: includes land and Singapore River tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: not suitable for wheelchair users.

Singapore is a very large city with a hot climate most of the year, so it is convenient to find a way to know it without sweltering. It is ideal for those who have little time and want a quick look at the landmarks, or for those visiting the city for the first time.

Not in vain is one of the best activities in Singapore with multiple advantages, among which are:

• Comfort: avoid drifting around the city and relax aboard a bus with everything you need to enjoy Singapore. Generally, they are convertible double-decker buses, where you can ride on the upper deck enjoying the gentle breeze or stay on the air-conditioned lower deck when it is too hot.
• Flexibility: you can hop on and off wherever you want, so you can get to know the city at your own pace.
• Wide coverage: Singapore tour buses cover the most important areas you can't miss on your trip, you have different useful options with professionally planned routes.
• Recorded commentary: you don't always need to rely on a guide to discover the city's most fascinating stories; buses usually include audio guides with helpful information.

Each tour is unique, but ideally you should spend at least three hours to absorb panoramic views of the city. In addition, there are 24-hour and 48-hour passes, ideal if you plan to spend at least 2 days in Singapore. Remember that most are self-guided experiences, so you can combine the route with other of Singapore's best activities.

It will all depend on the option you choose, but in general you can delight in the panoramic views of the city. For example, you might soak up the ethnic diversity of Little India or Chinatown, the beauty of Marina Bay and explore quirky landmarks such as the Merlion Statue. Each route has something special and alternates between iconic sites and lesser-known locations that will take your breath away.

Most buses have their own schedule, you will usually find them in the city from very early in the morning and the first one usually comes out at 5:30 am, while the last one operates until 2:00 am. If you are looking for things to do in Singapore at night, you can take advantage of routes from 18:00 onwards.

This may vary according to operator conditions, season or holidays, so it is important to check before your trip. Here are the approximate schedules of each one:

• Big Bus: every day from 5:30 to 00:00.
• Big Bus at night: from 23:00 to 2:00.
• FunVee: daily from 9:00 to 16:00.
• Amphibious vehicle: daily from 10:00 to 18:00.

The sightseeing bus experience in Singapore is very varied, as there are self-guided alternatives and professionally guided tours. You can also choose from daytime routes that usually have different itinerary options, and usually offer 24 or 48 hour passes so that you can have enough time to cover all the stops. Night bus tours, on the other hand, usually have a full itinerary with no free stops.

Most are automatically activated when you show them upon boarding and you can use your digital ticket, however there are companies that will have you exchange the reservation for a physical ticket. Some of these tours are included in Singapore's best tourist cards, which saves you money. Here is how to activate the ticket for each type of bus:

• Big Bus: digital tickets are accepted and the ticket is activated from the first use, from then on the time starts to run and you will have 24 or 48 hours, depending on the chosen ticket.
• Big Bus at night: you have to exchange your digital ticket for a physical ticket to activate it, then you will have 3 and a half hours to enjoy the experience. You can get off early, but I recommend staying until the final stop, which is usually Clarke Quay, where there is usually a gastronomic tasting.
• FunVee: it has different modes according to the number of days, it is automatically activated when you get on.
• Amphibious vehicle: you have to exchange the digital reservation for a physical ticket.