Driving is an especially expensive affair in Singapore, what's with the high COE and oil prices. However, we also have one of the best public transport systems in the world. Our MRT makes getting from one place to another incredibly efficient and easy, but there are some days where time matters less and we just want to chill out with our earphones in. These five scenic bus routes in Singapore will take you on a journey with your favourite music, while imagining that you’re a main character in a movie.
1. 30
Going from Bedok Interchange to Boon Lay Interchange, bus 30 is one of the bus services that go through the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE). If city scenes are your thing, then a ride through the tunnel and emerging to the magnificent port and city skyline is something you must see. Tip: snag that front row seat on the upper deck for the best experience!
2. 117
Along with bus 103, 117 had the internet talking last year after netizens pointed out that its route through Yishun Dam looks almost exactly like the scene in Spirited Away where Chihiro is on a train with No Face. It also passes through the Seletar Aerospace Park, where you can get a glimpse of the aircrafts and jets parked at the hangar.
3. 35
Coastal views, anyone? Hop aboard bus 35 from Bedok Interchange to Changi Coast Road and relax as you take in the oceanside views of Changi. Feel free to hop off the bus to really soak up the views here while watching aeroplanes fly overhead.
4. 172
The scenic Jalan Bahar area and the historical Lim Chu Kang Road was built before the 1900s to serve the gambier, pepper and rubber plantations that used to be here. Now, the tranquil area is lined with many different species of trees such as Angsana, broadleaf mahogany and rubber trees. Nature lovers will no doubt love this scenic bus route.
5. 5
Bus 5’s remind us of a tropical beach getaway, and Bus 5 will transport you straight to California as it whisks through Flora Drive and it’s opulent landed properties and condominiums. Going from Pasir Ris Interchange to Bukit Merah Interchange, you can alight at town for some window shopping and retail therapy, or head on over to Tiong Bahru MRT station for a cafe hopping adventure.