To get to Chinatown from Clarke Quay, take the North East Line from Clarke Quay MRT station, NE5, to Chinatown MRT station, NE4. Chinatown is also reachable on foot or by bus, so your best option depends on where you want to start and finish.
- MRT: Clarke Quay is on the North East Line; Chinatown station is served by the North East and Downtown lines.
- From the hotel: Clarke Quay station is about a four-minute walk from this hotel near Clarke Quay MRT.
- Other Chinatown station: Outram Park is another MRT station serving Chinatown.
- Payment: Adult riders can use contactless bank cards, mobile wallets and other accepted transit cards.
Clarke Quay station and nearby connections
Clarke Quay MRT station, NE5, is on Singapore’s North East Line, making it a direct starting point for a rail journey to Chinatown.
Chinatown MRT station is DT19/NE4, where the Downtown and North East lines meet. Outram Park, EW16/NE3, is another station serving Chinatown. For the Singapore River area, Raffles Place and Clarke Quay are nearby MRT stations.
If you are planning a Chinatown visit, this guide to Chinatown Singapore from Clarke Quay covers the neighbourhood as a destination.
How do you get from Clarke Quay to Chinatown?
The MRT offers a simple rail connection from Clarke Quay to Chinatown, while walking lets you make the journey at street level. Hotel Conforto is about a nine-minute walk from Chinatown station, or about three minutes by car.
For a day that links the two neighbourhoods on foot, a Clarke Quay-to-Chinatown walking route can help you plan the sequence. Hong Lim Park is about a four-minute walk from Hotel Conforto. The Civic District landmarks include Raffles’ Landing Site, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, the Asian Civilisations Museum and National Gallery Singapore.
Using Singapore’s MRT and buses
LTA’s MyTransport app provides train operating times, station exits, bus services and bus arrival times. Its journey planner can help you find routes, fares and travel times.
Trains generally run from 5:30 am to around midnight daily, with typical intervals of two to three minutes during the 7 am to 9 am peak and about five to seven minutes off-peak. Operating hours are usually extended during festive periods.
For Chinatown, nearby bus services include routes 2, 12, 33, 51, 54, 61, 63, 80, 124, 143, 145, 147, 166, 174, 190, 195, 197, 851 and 961, among others. Service 961# operates on Sundays and public holidays only.
Practical fares and travel checks
You can pay adult bus and train fares with an accepted contactless bank card or mobile wallet, or with supported transit cards.
LTA names American Express, Mastercard and Visa contactless bank cards, mobile wallets and NETS Tap contactless bank cards as options. A foreign-issued Visa or Mastercard used for transit fares incurs an administrative fee of S$0.60 per day of use.
Non-cash journeys use integrated distance fares. If a trip meets the transfer conditions, up to five transfers can be made without additional boarding charges.
The conditions include a maximum of two hours between the first and last boarding, 45 minutes for transfers between a train station and a bus service or between bus services, and 15 minutes between train stations. LTA’s Fare Calculator can calculate fares for journeys that combine buses and MRT or LRT.
Cash bus fares are charged per ride and cost more than fares paid by travel card, bank card or mobile payment. The Singapore Tourist Pass offers unlimited travel on basic bus services and trains for its valid duration, with prices starting at S$17 per day.
Public buses and trains are wheelchair accessible, and train stations and bus interchanges have barrier-free access routes. LTA says 98% of bus stops are barrier-free accessible; check the wheelchair logo at a stop or use the MyTransport app to confirm access.
Service hours, payment options and fares can change, so check the official site before you go. LTA’s journey planner and SimplyGo’s fare information are useful checks before setting out.
FAQs
Which MRT line goes from Clarke Quay to Chinatown?
Clarke Quay station is NE5 on the North East Line, and Chinatown station is NE4 on the same line. Chinatown is also served by the Downtown Line.
Is Outram Park another station for Chinatown?
Yes. Outram Park station, EW16/NE3, is another MRT station serving Chinatown.
Can you pay for Singapore buses and trains with a bank card?
Yes. Adult riders can use supported contactless bank cards or mobile wallets on trains and buses. A daily administrative fee applies when you use a foreign-issued Visa or Mastercard contactless card.
Are Singapore’s trains wheelchair accessible?
Yes. LTA says trains and public buses are wheelchair accessible, and train stations and bus interchanges have barrier-free access routes.