Malacca is known to be rich in culture with plenty of historical background to learn from and explore!
The unique historical buildings and delicious local cuisine are what keeps locals and tourists alike flocking over Malacca town!
In fact, most people tend to visit Malacca more than once because there’s plenty of things to do here!
Check out some of the ways how to go to Malacca from Singapore based on every budget and requirement!
Do take note that all the prices and schedules in the list below are subject to change as it is based on the sole discretion of each respective transport operator.
1. Private Car From Singapore To Malacca
2. Bus From Singapore To Malacca
3. Coach From Singapore To Malacca
4. Driving By Yourself From Singapore To Malacca
5. Train From Singapore To Malacca
1. Private Car/Taxi Hire From Singapore To Malacca
Do you prefer convenience and comfort over anything else? Then, you’ll find taking a private car from Singapore to Malacca and vice versa is the best choice!
A reliable and popular private transport provider would be Nusa Transport! They offer transport services from Singapore to Malacca and can pick you up from any location in Singapore!
Whether you’re heading to Malacca for a holiday, family trip or business trip, they can drive you with ease.
Check out some of Nusa Transport’s customer reviews here.
For an affordable price, you can book a single trip, return trip or multiple trips with ease.
With Nusa Transport, you can choose up to 3 types of MPV: Hyundai Starex, Toyota Alphard and Toyota Innova.
This would be best suited for those travelling in groups or big families.
Why should you hire a private transfer with Nusa Transport?
- Ample privacy while travelling
- Getting down at immigration clearance is not required
- Time-saving without having to hop on the bus
- Easy to load heavy luggage
- Won’t get lost throughout the trip
- Extra fees or surcharges will not be applied
For more information on Nusa Transport private car from Singapore to Malacca services, check the private car service rates here: Rates
Also read: How To Get To Kuala Lumpur From Singapore
2. Bus From Singapore To Malacca
Taking a bus would be a better option to travel to Malacca from Singapore if you are on a small budget or travelling alone.
The pick-up points for the bus service will be at Golden Mile Tower, Queen Street, Park Royal Hotel or your preferred locations.
Some bus operators you can choose from would be Konsortium, Starmart Express, KKL Express, as well as others.
Just remember to not lose your bus ticket as you’ll need it for later!
Some bus companies do offer direct transfers to hotels in Malacca, namely, Casa Del Rio Hotel Malacca, Hatten Hotel and Equatorial Hotel. This definitely helps reduce your cost.
Singapore to Malacca by bus how long?
The bus journey from Singapore to Malacca will be around 3 to 4 hours, but it depends on how bad or good the traffic is at the Singapore-Malaysia border.
- At the Woodlands Checkpoint, you’ll have to get down from the bus for immigration clearance
- Once the bus takes you over the causeway, at Johor Customs, you need to get down from the bus to get your passport stamped
- At the immigration clearance, you’ll have to bring down all of your luggage and belongings
Overall, the process can be time consuming and tiring as it takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour to get all of it done.
Once you’ve gone through immigration clearance, you will need to board the bus again together with your ticket. Hence why it’s important to keep it safe at all times!
Below are some of the bus operators you can book from:
a.) KKKL Express
Departure: Kovan Hub, Tampines MRT Exit B, Bugis MRT Exit D Taxi Stand, Katong V Mall, Jurong East
Time: Range from 7:00am – 8:30am
Arrived: Hatten Hotel Malacca, Malacca Central, Pines Hotel, Casa Del Rio Hotel
Price: From SGD$28/pax
Also read: How To Get To Rawa Island From Singapore
b.) Star Qistna Express
Departure: Boon Lay, Little India, Golden Mile Complex
Time: 12:30am-11:59pm
Arrived: Ayer Keroh Toll, Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, Estadia Hotel Malacca, Hatten Hotel Malacca, Malacca (Mahkota Medical Centre), Malacca Sentral, Swiss Garden Hoteland Residences Malacca
Price: SGD$26/pax
c.) Starmart Express
Departure: Golden Mile Tower, Boon Lay
Time: Range from 8:30am – 8:01pm
Arrived: Malacca Sentral, Malacca (Mahkota Medical Centre)
Price: SGD$25/pax
Book your tickets easily online from easybook or busonlineticket.
3. Coach From Singapore To Malacca
Other than taking the bus, another budget option would be taking a coach to Malacca from Singapore – WTS.
When you take the coach, you’ll have to get down from the coach two times and go through long queues to get your passport stamped at Johor Customs or Woodlands Checkpoints – even more so during public holidays or school holidays.
Below is the coach operator:
Coach Operator: WTS
Departure: Our Tampines Hub, Yishun, Jurong East (Venture Ave No:5 Bus Bay)
Time: Range from 6:30am – 7:30am
Arrived: The Straits Hoteland Suites, Hatten Hotel Malacca, Malacca (Noble Resort Hotel Melaka), Estadia Hotel Malacca
Price: SGD$37/pax
4. Driving By Yourself From Singapore To Malacca
When you have your own car, you’ll prefer to go on a smooth, long drive to Malacca while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
The shortest way to Malacca from Singapore would be North-South Expressway (NSE) and will take about 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours.
This doesn’t include the time taken at the Singapore – Malaysia immigration clearance.
But going through NSE doesn’t offer many features and is more of a formal trip rather than a fun one. Despite that, you can consider going through the way that’s longer – which is through Buddhist House, Batu Pahat and Penghulu’s House.
The various ancient tombstones and mosques as well as the hot springs may be tempting to visit, but you’ll have to force yourself to focus on the journey!
However, most of the places are isolated and deserted, so it’ll be difficult for you to get to the destinations.
Hence why you should just save your time and continue your journey toward Malacca!
11 Helpful Tips To Know Before Driving From Singapore To Malacca
- Before departing from Singapore, ensure your petrol tank is atleast three-quarters full. Head to any petrol station in Singapore to fill up your tank. Just a little away from Tuas Checkpoint, you can find a petrol station there as well.
- Ensure there’s credit in your CEPAS card issued by EZ-link, Transitlink or NETS. This is because, at Tuas Checkpoint or Woodlands Checkpoint, you’ll have to pay a few dollars.
- Try to avoid travelling during peak hours to Johor Bahru. The daily peak hours in the morning start from 7:00am to 9:00am heading to Singapore and after 6:00pm onwards in the evenings heading to Johor Bahru city.
- You don’t have to get down from the car for the passport stamp.
- At the first toll-booth, you can purchase the highway toll card with a credit of RM30 to swipe at Touch’n’Go automatic lanes. That amount should be enough for your entire trip to Malacca. However, you’ll have to top-up the card when you return.
- On the highway, there’s speed limit is 110km/hr.
- It takes about 3 hours to travel from Johor Bahru to Malacca.
- Try to exchange some Malaysia currency to spend during your trip in Malacca or if you travel to other parts of Malaysia.
- As the streets of Malacca can get a little confusing so it’s best to prepare a map or navigation system such as Waze or Google Maps.
- For less heavy traffic conditions, you should take Tuas Checkpoint
- At the toll, exit via Plaza Tol Ayer Keroh.
5. Train From Singapore To Malacca
Step 1: Taking A Train from Woodlands to Johor Bahru (JB)
If you’re looking for a direct train to Malacca from Singapore, unfortunately, there’s none. Despite that, you might enjoy the train ride by following the steps below!
Woodlands Train Station in Singapore is where you’ll begin your journey which stops at JB Sentral Station in Johor. From Singapore, there is only one shuttle train named Tebrau Shuttle.
Step 2: Taking A Train from JB Sentral to Malacca
Once you arrive, you’ll have to take a train ride from JB Sentral to Malacca. Pulau Sebang station (Tampin) is where you’ll have to get down.
Since the train moves slowly, the entire journey might take around 5 hours and 30 minutes.
Bear in mind, that from JB Sentral to Tampin station, you can only choose between two trains on a daily basis.
So, you’ll have to seek another mode of transportation to get to Malacca if you missed the train ride.
Train schedule from JB Sentral to Malacca
Depart from JB Sentral: 8:45am, 2:15pm, 10:40pm
Arrived at Tampin, Malacca: 5:00am, 2:50pm, 9:00pm (5 hours 30 minutes journey)
Tickets: MYR25 (adult), MYR17 (child)
Book your seats beforehand to avoid any potential mishaps.
Step 3: Taking A Bus from Pulau Sebang/Tampin to Malacca City
The railway station isn’t that near to the main town – about 40km away.
So you’ll be required to walk along the main road to flag down any of the Tampin-bound buses or walk directly to the bus station but it’s not safe and may be a tiring journey.
Once you arrive Tampin, get on the bus No.26 as it goes directly to Malacca Central. The journey takes around 45 minutes.
If you’re lucky, you may hitch a ride from any local that’s heading in the same direction.
But do be safe and take necessary precautions to ensure you’re trip to Malacca will be a memorable one!
Step 4: Taking A Taxi from Pulau Sebang/Tampin to Malacca City (Optional)
Alternatively, if you’re carrying multiple luggage, you can grab a taxi. At the railway stations, there are taxis you can engage with, but it can be costly.
We recommend trying to negotiate the price before the taxi to avoid a price hike.