The city-state of Singapore is an adrenaline-pumping destination that will keep you entertained for weeks. From its colonial heartland with its striking architecture to its impressive Chinatown, alongside beautiful temples and a global financial hub with modern skyscrapers, Singapore is a place steeped in history and modernity. A few hours to the northwest, the Malaysian city of Malacca has some similarities to Singapore in Chinatown, temples and interesting colonial architecture, but Malacca is a much quieter city than busy Singapore. Learn how to travel from Singapore to Malacca and discover the night market and antique shops of this UNESCO World Heritage city.
Second Malaysia-Singapore link is one of two bridges linking Malaysia to Singapore © EQRoy / Shutterstock.com
Travel options from Singapore to Malacca
The distance from Singapore to Malacca is 240 kilometers, so it’s not too far apart. There is no flight option from Singapore to Malacca, so transportation options are limited to land travel. Keep in mind that the journey crosses an international border as Malacca is in Malaysia and Singapore is an independent city-state. If you want to travel by road, the options are different. You can also take the train, although it will not take you to the city of Malacca itself.
Train from Singapore to Malacca
JB Sentral Station in Johor, Malaysia © Wan Fahmy Redzuan / Shutterstock.com
Let’s start with the train from Singapore to Malacca. This is a viable option, but as we mentioned earlier, the train does not go to Malacca City. Despite this, some travelers prefer this mode of transport to traveling by car. However, the train has one more disadvantage, because you need to change trains and the journey can be quite long.
If you are still interested in traveling by train from Singapore to Malacca, you will have to follow a few steps. First you need to take a train from Woodlands railway station in Singapore to JB Sentral station in Johor, Malaysia. Once in Johor, you will need to transfer to another train that heads north and passes through Tampin, where you will need to get off at Pulau Sebang station. This part of the journey reportedly takes up to 5.5 hours as sometimes the train runs at very low speed so keep that in mind. Once in Trampin, you still have about 40 kilometers to Malacca and will need to travel by local bus or taxi.
There are currently no combo tickets for traveling by train from Singapore to Malacca, so you will need to make several independent bookings to make the entire trip. Considering this and the total duration of the journey, you’ll probably come to the same conclusion as us: it’s not the most recommended option to travel from one city to another.
Bus from Singapore to Malacca
Traveling by bus from Singapore to Malacca is a much more common option to travel between the two cities, and you only need to look at the number of bus companies that serve this route to find out. With so many options to choose from, it won’t be hard to find one that fits your plans. In addition, traveling by bus from Singapore to Malacca is ideal for those traveling on a budget as the bus is much cheaper than other means of transport.
You will see that you have a choice of four or five of the most famous bus companies, and you can buy tickets for two of these companies via the travel website 12Go.asia. If you book your tickets through 12Go, you’ll have more peace of mind as you can easily buy tickets in advance as well as compare timetables and prices on the same site.
12Go works with StarMart Express and 707, and between the two companies, you’ll have more options than you might need. There are several departure points in Singapore, such as Golden Mile Tower, City Plaza, Queen Street and Boon Bay, so you don’t even have to worry about getting to Central Station.
You can book with 707 if you’re happy with your Express bus journey and don’t need any special onboard amenities. These buses are slightly cheaper than the StarMart Express. This company has VIP 24 buses which have wider and more comfortable seats and have a flight attendant and snack service.
The duration of the journey varies depending on the time of day and the amount of traffic that may be on the roads. The point of departure in Singapore is also important, but scheduled times vary from 3 hours 50 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.
It should be noted that although there are many buses running from Singapore to Malacca, they are usually filled in advance, especially on weekends and public holidays. Malacca is a very popular weekend destination among Singaporeans. Therefore, if you are going to Malacca on Friday or Saturday, we advise you to change your plans or book well in advance.
Taxi from Singapore to Malacca
Singapore taxis in Chinatown © View Apart / Shutterstock.com
The last option you might consider to travel from Singapore to Malacca is a private taxi. The main disadvantage of this mode of transport is the cost, as it will cost much more than a bus or train. However, if you’re traveling with a family or a group, splitting the cost between everyone, the price per person will be more affordable.
The biggest advantage of traveling by taxi from Singapore to Malacca is that it is a flexible and independent form of travel. You may be picked up directly from your hotel in Singapore and transferred to your accommodation in Malacca. You can also arrange a stop along the way in case you are interested in resting or visiting another place. There is a recommended company offering private taxi services from Singapore to Malacca. The company is called SGMYTAXI and you have to book the tour directly with them.
All in all, the bus is generally the cheapest way to get from Singapore to Malacca. It is also a practical option as it has several departure points and it is easy to book tickets through 12Go.