How do we get out of Singapore for the weekend, and back, without overpaying? The Escape is WahLiao’s desk for weekend getaways from Singapore, Johor Bahru in the era of the RTS Link, Bintan and Batam, Kuala Lumpur by every means, flights and miles, cruises and Changi itself. Every trip is costed door to door, dated, and judged on one question: was it worth the weekend, and what would we do instead?
Ten ways out, priced
The desk’s standing answer: ten escapes from Singapore that work any week of the year, each with a checked price and a verdict. These are researched, not first-hand reviews.
- Johor Bahru by the Shuttle Tebrau train: S$5 one way, RM5 back. Five minutes from Woodlands Train Checkpoint to JB Sentral. Verdict: the fastest way across on foot; book ahead, because weekend seats sell out.
- Johor Bahru by public bus: under S$2 to the checkpoint. Buses 950, 170, 170X and others from Woodlands and Kranji, then any bus across the Causeway. Verdict: the cheapest way, if you can face the queues.
- The RTS Link: not open yet, fares expected around S$5 to S$7. A five-minute shuttle from Woodlands North to Bukit Chagar, targeted for December 2026 or January 2027. Verdict: wait for the official opening date and fares; until then, take the Shuttle Tebrau.
- Batam for the day: S$28 one way or S$56 return with Sindo Ferry, plus fees; S$76 return all-in with Batam Fast. About an hour from HarbourFront or Tanah Merah. Sindo’s fares exclude the S$10 Singapore departure fee and Batam’s terminal fee of Rp100,000 or S$10. Verdict: the cheapest sea escape; go for spas and seafood, not beaches.
- Bintan: S$43 one way or S$86 return to Tanjung Pinang with Sindo Ferry, plus fees. For the resorts in the north of the island, Bintan Resort Ferries sails from Tanah Merah to Bandar Bentan Telani in about 70 minutes; check its fares when you book. Verdict: the closest real beach weekend; the resort, not the ferry, sets the bill.
- Desaru Coast by ferry: S$108 return with Batam Fast. A beach-resort weekend on Johor’s east coast, without the drive. Verdict: the easy way to Desaru if you don’t want to cross the Second Link by car.
- Kuala Lumpur by coach: S$15 to S$35 one way. Four to six hours from Golden Mile or Lavender, and seven or eight at peak times. Verdict: the cheapest way to KL, but not on a Friday evening.
- Kuala Lumpur by air: S$30 to S$120 one way on budget airlines. About an hour in the air, plus airport transfers at both ends. Verdict: worth it on long-weekend eves, when the Causeway jams.
- Kuala Lumpur by train: S$5 to JB Sentral, then about RM62 to RM109 on the ETS. About four and a half hours from JB Sentral to KL Sentral, with fares that rise at busy times. Verdict: a reserved seat and no Causeway jam; book early.
- Melaka by train: S$5 to JB Sentral, then about RM42 to RM62 on the ETS to Tampin. About two and a half hours to Tampin, then around 40 minutes by taxi into Melaka. Verdict: a heritage weekend without the coach queue.
Prices checked 28 September 2026 from: Sindo Ferry, ticket fares; onePA, Batam Fast Ferry usual prices; Wise on the Shuttle Tebrau, checked 17 August 2026; TheSmartLocal on public buses to JB; LTA via Malay Mail on the RTS Link; YouTrip on expected RTS Link fares; ShopBack on Singapore to KL by coach and air; Train36 on ETS fares to KL and to Tampin. Fares change; check with the operator before you travel.
Find your next step
Start with the journey, border requirements and total cost. Visitors arriving in Singapore have a separate guide.
Visiting Singapore: arrival and visitor guides · Singapore layover guide
Explore WahLiao · Home · The Diary · The Table · The Ledger · The Big Buy · The Address · The Escape · The Eye · The Memory
Start here
- Weekend Getaways From Singapore, Costed Door to Door (Wave 1)
- Johor Bahru Guide 2026: Where to Go and What It Costs, Written for the RTS Link Era (Wave 1)
- How Changi Airport Turned Duty-Free Shopping and Jewel Into a Destination, from The Memory
How does leaving Singapore work?
- Renewing Your Singapore Passport: Fees, Timing and the Six-Month Rule
- UK ETA, US ESTA and Europe’s ETIAS: The Travel Authorisations Singaporeans Now Need
- SG Arrival Card and Malaysia’s MDAC: The Border Forms Explained
- Travelling With Medication: The Three-Month Rule and What Needs Approval
- Trouble Overseas: MFA’s eRegister and the 24-Hour Consular Line
- Crossing the Causeway: Bus, KTM Shuttle, Taxi and the RTS Link
- Driving Into Malaysia: VEP, Touch ‘n Go and the Tank Rule
- Driving Overseas: The International Driving Permit and When You Need One
- Changi Airport Departures: How Early to Arrive
- Power Banks on Flights: Changi and Airline Battery Rules
- What’s in a Singapore Air Fare: Airport Charges and the SAF Levy
- Paying Overseas: Card Foreign Currency Fees and Why You Should Never Pay in SGD
- Travel Insurance in Singapore: What It Covers and What It Doesn’t
- Flight Delayed or Cancelled From Singapore: What Airlines Owe You
- Duty-Free and GST Allowances When You Come Back to Singapore
Coming soon on this desk
- Bintan and Batam: The Honest Weekend Guide
- Singapore to Kuala Lumpur: Bus, Train, Car and Plane Compared
- The Best Time to Book Flights From Singapore, With the Data · KrisFlyer Miles: A Guide for People Who Do Not Want a Hobby
- Cruises From Singapore and What the Fine Print Costs
- The Changi Airport Layover Guide, Hour by Hour
The money underneath
Travel is where the convenience trap and the 7-day rule meet. The 7-Day Rule and Why Waiting Saves Money and The Art of More for Less are the pages to read before you book.
How this desk judges
Travel explainers use dated official or operator information. A first-hand trip review must identify who travelled, when, what was paid and which costs were included; a byline alone does not establish those facts. Any affiliate booking link must be disclosed beside the recommendation. Read how WahLiao judges.
Getting out of Singapore: FAQ
What is the cheapest way to get to Johor Bahru?
The public bus: under S$2 to the checkpoint, then any bus across the Causeway. The Shuttle Tebrau train costs S$5 one way and skips the road jam. Crossing the Causeway compares every option.
When does the RTS Link open?
It is targeted for December 2026 or January 2027. Fares have not been announced; reports suggest around S$5 to S$7 one way.
Bintan or Batam?
Batam for a cheap day of spas and seafood, from S$28 one way plus fees. Bintan for a resort and a beach; the ferry to Tanjung Pinang is S$43 one way plus fees, and resort ferries run to Bandar Bentan Telani.
Bus, train or plane to Kuala Lumpur?
The coach is cheapest at S$15 to S$35 one way. The train via JB Sentral gives you a reserved seat. Fly when the Causeway is likely to jam, such as on long-weekend eves.
What forms do I need to enter Malaysia?
Read SG Arrival Card and Malaysia’s MDAC for which border forms you need, and when.
Standing answer and FAQ added 28 September 2026.
Everything on this desk: The Escape archive. What to do if you stay home is on The Diary.
Last updated 26 September 2026.
