Although Singapore boasts one of the world's best public transport systems, and getting to almost every place of interest in the city is as easy as 1-2-3, Hop on - Hop off bus tours still make a great option for those travellers who want to explore the city in a short time...
This article will show you what the best options are, so you can make the most of your next visit to Singapore, even if it is only for 24 hours.
Like any city that respects itself, Singapore has Hop-on, Hop-off double-decker open-top buses that travel in a loop through the city's major tourist attractions.
HiPPOtours, one of Singapore's most reputable tour operators, is the company behind these Hop-on, Hop-off buses. Their buses run on several different routes that basically cover most of the city's tourist attractions (at least the better known of them...), including Chinatown, Little India, the Singapore River, the Botanic Gardens and so on...
Their basic daily pass is called "City Sightseeing Singapore" and allows you to hop on and off those buses as much as you want, as well as to enjoy some freebies, like guided walking tours in the ethnic quarters, Singapore River cruise and a special kids' tour...
As expected, they also offer "special passes" for one or two full days, which cost more but give you access to other attractions, like a ride on the world's largest Ferris wheel - The Singapore Flyer, and a land-and-water tour aboard the DUCKtours amphibious vehicle.
Singapore Airlines also operates its own air-conditioned Hop-on, Hop-off bus, but unlike the one of HiPPOtours, the "SIA Hop-on" is not topless (neither is it double-decker) and its route covers less places of interest... On the other hand, it operates longer hours and passes through 23 stops throughout the city, the ethnic precincts and Sentosa Island, which means you are going to travel through most of Singapore's must-sees... It also costs less, but the few dollars difference should not be a factor when choosing a package.
If nostalgic clichés are your thing, then you are probably going to like this retro-style sightseeing bus, called "Singapore Trolley", which runs in circles between key attractions around the city, including Orchard Road, Clarke Quay, the Singapore River, Suntec City, Marina Bay, the Esplanade and so on...
Operated by Singapore Explorer, it is basically just a wannabe of an early 20th century tram, but while it lacks some of the charm of the real thing, it makes up for it with an air condition (that seems to be far more practical in Singapore, than an open-windowed tram...).
