Get to Geylang Serai Market fast and easy with this detailed guide.
Welcome to the complete guide on how to get to Geylang Serai Market by MRT. We have written this article to provide you with as much information about getting to Geylang Serai Market in a fast and affordable way. After you read this guide, you should buy the appropriate ticket and navigate the correct MRT lines to be within walking distance of the market. We will also share information about the best attractions in this area of Singapore and how to save money visiting them.
As its name suggests, Geylang Serai Market is a bustling market in the Geylang area of the city. Often overlooked by visitors, Geylang Serai is a really cool place to explore regardless of your travel experience. It is one of the busiest and largest wet markets in Singapore.
We will outline how to get to Geylang Serai using two different MRT stations. Ideally, this will make it easier for you to integrate it into your itinerary of Singapore.
Geylang Serai Market – Why should you visit?
Geylang Serai Market is one of the best-wet markets in Singapore. During the 19th century, the current area around the market was popular for the cultivation of lemongrass. Lemongrass translates to ‘serai’ in Malay if you wonder how the name of the market was derived.
Even though Geylang Serai Market is not located in one of Singapore’s most popular sightseeing areas, it is definitely worth checking out! If you love eating, then you will surely enjoy the delicious traditional Malay dishes on the second floor of the wet market.
You can also do some shopping at the market. There are some merchants selling rugs, textiles and souvenirs. But, most people visit the Geylang Serai market for the extensive selection of fresh meat, vegetables and hawker stalls. If you haven’t tried many Malay-inspired dishes, this is the perfect place to walk around and sample some of them. Budget travellers love visiting Geylang Serai Market because the food is delicious, but the prices are really cheap compared to eating out at formal restaurants throughout the city.
Remember to ask whether certain dishes are spicy if you are a first-timer here!
Specific Details – Getting to Geylang Serai Market by MRT
Step 1: Find a place to stay near an MRT Station.
Getting to Geylang Serai Market is a lot easier when you have direct access to an MRT station. The MRT in Singapore is reliable, fast and affordable. It services the most popular areas around the city, including the area around Geylang Serai Market.
Ideally, try to find a place to stay within short walking distance of a station. Then, you can transfer lines to get anywhere you want to go.
Here are three examples below of strategically located hotels that are near stations:
The Fullerton Hotel (5-star) (very close to Raffles Place Station)
Marina Bay Sands (5-star) (very close to Bayfront Station)
Fairmont Singapore (5-star)(very close to Esplanade Station)
Once you are ready to leave your room, walk to the nearest station to begin your journey to Geylang Serai Market.
Step 2: Locate Paya Lebar Station or Eunos Station and buy your ticket.
Technically, Geylang Serai Market is located between two stations on Singapore’s MRT network:
Paya Lebar Station – northwest of the market
Eunos Station – northeast of the market
You can get to the market by alighting at either one of these. Plan out your trip using your phone or one of the MRT maps in the station. Now, it’s time to buy your ticket to Geylang Serai Market.
Should you buy a ticket or multi-use card to reach Geylang Serai Market?
With your trip to Geylang Serai Market planned, now you have to decide which type of transportation card you will use to get there.
You can select from these tickets:
- Stored value cards
- Singapore Tourist Passes
Read this detailed guide for the best information about buying MRT tickets in Singapore.
We used a stored value card to learn how to get to Geylang Serai Market by MRT. These are multi-use cards that you can buy and then top up with cash. You can avoid lines with these, which is convenient.
COST-SAVING TIP $$$: Buy a MULTIPLE ATTRACTION PASS to save up to 52% on Singapore’s top attractions. So far, over 200,000 Singaporeans and visitors to the city have pre-purchased these online to save considerable amounts of money. The key is buying passes in bulk.
Singapore Tourist Passes are popular with foreign guests in the city who have busy itineraries. If you want to go all over the city from one place to the next, these are awesome. They allow holders to use the bus and MRT unlimited times for a set period of time (usually 1-3 days). If you are a busy traveller, then this is the cheapest choice. Visitors with active plans for three days or less will benefit from a Tourist Pass.
Read More: How to buy Singapore Tourist Passes – The Complete Guide
Step 3: Travel to either Paya Lebar Station or Eunos Station.
It’s possible to get to Geylang Serai Market using either Paya Lebar Station or Eunos Station.
The one you use really depends on your point of origin.
Since Paya Lebar Station is west of the market, you will reach this station first if you are staying in the downtown area (around Marina Bay). It is located on the East-West (green) Line and the Circle (orange) Line.
Eunos Station is only one stop east of Paya Lebar on the East-West Line. If you are travelling from Changi Airport, then it makes more sense to get off at Eunos Station.
Step 4: Alight at Paya Lebar or Eunos.
When you arrive at Paya Lebar or Eunos Station, alight and bring all of your personal belongings with you.
Step 5: Exit Paya Lebar or Eunos Station and walk south to Geylang Serai Market.
Walking directions from Paya Lebar Station:
Paya Lebar Station has five different ground-level exits. Take Exit D onto Sims Avenue. Walk east along Sims Road until you reach Geylang Serai Road. Turn right (south) and walk along Geylang Serai Road until you see the market on your left.
The walk from Paya Lebar Station to Geylang Serai Market is 850 meters, and this should take you about 8-10 minutes.
Walking directions from Eunos Station:
Eunos Station has three different exits. Take Exit A and walk south of the station. Walk west along Sims Avenue until you reach Jalan Ubi. Turn left (south) and walk down Jalan Ubi. Turn right (west) onto Changi Road). Then walk along Changi Road until you reach the entrance of Geylang Serai Market.
The walk from Eunos Station to Geylang Serai Market is 750 meters, and this should take you about 7-9 minutes.
Should you stay at a hotel near Geylang Serai Market?
Geylang is known as a budget-friendly area of Singapore. Therefore, staying close to Geylang Serai Market is a good idea if you want access to cheap food choices and a range of affordable accommodation. You can also find a fair share of nightlife here.
The most concentrated place for hotels and hostels in Geylang is south of Aljunied Station. But there are also around ten places to stay directly south of Geylang Serai Market along Joo Chiat Road.
Joo Chiat Road is quite famous for its traditional and beautiful architecture. The Peranakan Houses here are a must-see. Most of the properties south of Geylang Serai Market are boutique 2-3 star properties.
A few of the most highly rated properties include:
Hotel Classic by Venue (3-star, 8.3/10 review score with 2,000+ reviews)
Champion Hotel (3-star, 7.8/10 review score with 850+ reviews)
ibis Budget Singapore Joo Chiat (3-star, 8.0/10 review score with 600+ reviews)
The walk from these properties to the nearest MRT stations can take a bit of time, so it’s good to know bus routes if you plan on staying here.
Read More: Singapore Accommodation Guide – Find the Best Places to Stay, Now…
Conclusion – Getting to Geylang Serai Market
We hope that this step-by-step guide on how to get to Geylang Serai Market by MRT is detailed enough for you. Remember, our goal is to make it a stress-free and affordable connection.
Also, keep in mind that there are other cool points of interest to explore when you arrive in this area. For example, Haig Road Market and Food Centre is a popular place for foodies. It is just a few minutes west of Geylang Serai Market.
A walk south from Geylang Serai Market to Joo Chiat Complex and the Peranakan Houses (Directions) is a must. Bring along a good camera because the facades are beautiful and well preserved. The area around Geylang Serai Market is affordable with a clear focus on cheap eateries. We suggest that you visit with an empty stomach.
Please feel free to send us an email or comment below if you need more information about getting to Geylang Serai Market by MRT. Our goal is to make this trip as easy as possible so that you can focus on enjoying your shopping and leisure activities.