The complete guide to reaching the Peranakan Houses in Singapore super fast and affordably.
Welcome to the complete, step-by-step guide on how to get to the Peranakan Houses by MRT and bus in Singapore.
Regardless of where you are starting your journey in Singapore, we will outline every step of the way to rich the beautiful Peranakan Houses. Over the years, it’s become more common for Singaporeans and visitors to the city to be seen snapping photos of the beautiful homes and their colourful facades. This area of Singaporean is becoming increasingly famous for cultural attractions.
One of the first things you need to know about the Peranakan Houses in Singapore is that they are not only located in one location. But, for the purpose of this guide, we will explain how to get to the Peranakan Houses located along Koon Seng Road (right off of Joo Chiat Road).
These Peranakan Houses in Singapore are not directly beside an MRT station but there are several affordable hotels close by. Therefore, you do have some choice in how to access them. For instance, you could take the MRT to a station nearby and then either connect with a bus or walk to them (depending on time and your fitness level).
Alternatively, you could take a bus to the Peranakan Houses or get a taxi.
We will outline all forms of transportation, and then you can get there with whatever means you want.
Visiting the Peranakan Houses in Singapore
Over the years, the Peranakan Houses along Koon Seng Road in Singapore have become a very popular photo-stop for visitors in the Joo Chiat area of the city. It is common to see people taking selfies and group photos while using the Peranakan Houses as a background for their shots.
The term ‘Peranakan’ is often used to describe local-born people of Chinese and Malay Heritage. The two-storey shophouses and terrace houses immediately stand out with their colourful, ornate facades, intricate motifs and beautiful shutters and doors.
Peranakan architecture is scattered throughout the Joo Chiat/Katong area of Singapore. When you visit this area, you will have the opportunity to visit many quaint restaurants, cafes and a healthy selection of bars.
Consequently, Joo Chiat has become a favourite area amongst Singaporeans and foreigners in the city.
One of the densest and most beautiful exhibits of Peranakan Houses is located just 50 meters off of Joo Chiat Road on Koon Seng Road. When you visit the Houses here, you can take awesome photos of both sides of the road.
Consider bringing a wide-angled camera lens to capture the best photos of the Peranakan Houses. The road is not too wide, so you need to take your photos from an angle with a standard lens.
Getting to the Peranakan Houses by MRT and Bus
Currently, the two closest MRT stations to the Peranakan Houses in Singapore are about 20 minutes walking distance. Consequently, most people take the MRT to a nearby station and walk or take a bus to Koon Seng Road to view the Homes.
In the section below, we will explain how to reach the Peranakan Houses based on the most practical mode of transportation from the two closest stations.
Step 1: Access the nearest MRT station.
You will save serious time getting to the Peranakan Houses in Singapore by booking a room close to an MRT station.
Not only will you avoid traffic, but you will also avoid unnecessary taxi fees getting around. You also won’t need to pay for parking (which can get expensive in Singapore).
Singapore has at least 50 hotels within 3 minutes walking distance of MRT stations.
A few of the most popular places to stay include:
The Fullerton Hotel (3 minutes away from Raffles Place Station)
Marina Bay Sands (2 minutes away from Bayfront Station)
Marina Bay Sands is located beside the Gardens by the Bay (Directions) and overlooks Singapore’s fantastic skyline.
Fullerton Hotel is accessible from Raffles Place Station and sits prominently along scenic Boat Quay.
Step 2: Plan your route to the Peranakan Houses – MRT transfers, stations and lines.
Currently, the two most convenient MRT stations for accessing the Peranakan Houses along Koo Seng Road are:
Dakota Station (CC8)
Paya Lebar Station (EW8/CC9)
Dakota Station is located along Singapore’s Circle Line and has the shortcode of CC8 to denote that it’s the eighth one on the line.
The Circle Line is shown in orange colour on Singapore’s route map.
Paya Lebar Station is located along the East Coast and Circle Line. It is an interchange station. The East-West Line is shown in green colour on the map.
When planning your route to the Peranakan Houses in Singapore, you can check the route map online or at the first station of your trip. Expect to find metro maps near the gate area of each station and on each train.
It’s more practical to take the bus from Dakota Station, whereas walking from Paya Lebar Station to the Peranakan Houses is a scenic and practical route.
Step 3: Purchase your ticket to either Dakota Station (CC8) or Paya Lebar Station (EW8/CC9).
You can buy several types of tickets/cards in Singapore.
Here is a summary of the two main categories:
- Tourist Passes
- Stored Value Cards
Singapore Tourist Passes are an awesome choice for people visiting from abroad with busy itineraries. You can buy them for a set period of time ranging from 1 day to 3 days.
Stored value cards are popular amongst Singaporeans and long-term guests. We used an EZ link card while discovering how to get to the Peranakan Houses by MRT and bus.
Simply tap and go with these cards, and they work on both buses and trains throughout Singapore.
MONEY-SAVING TIP: If you plan on visiting attractions in Singapore, then try to buy a MULTI-ATTRACTION PASS. These are designed to save you up to 52% in discounts because you can pre-purchase passes in bulk. Already, over 200,000 of these have been purchased by Singaporeans and visitors to the city.
Step 4: Complete any necessary line transfers and ride the MRT to either Dakota Station or Paya Lebar Station.
Keep your eye open for maps along the way. Complete any transfers needed to reach Dakota Station or Paya Lebar Station.
You will hear verbal announcements on the trains for upcoming stops. Don’t forget anything on the train.
Step 5: Alight at Dakota or Paya Lebar Station.
Alight upon arrival at Dakota Station (CC8) or Paya Lebar Station (EW8/CC9).
It’s a wise decision to move closer to the exit on the train if it’s rush hour.
Step 6: Travel from the train platforms to the correct station exit.
Exiting Dakota Station
Dakota Station is built under Old Airport Road, at the junction of Jalan Dua near Geylang River.
It consists of three levels:
Level 1 – Street Level
B1 – Concourse
B2 – Train platforms
You will arrive at Level B2, where the train platforms are located.
Travel up to Level 1 to access the station exits.
Dakota Station has two exits to choose from at street level, Exits A and B.
Take Exit A to connect to bus services to the Peranakan Houses.
Exiting Paya Lebar Station
Paya Lebar Station is located along Paya Lebar Road, near the junction with Sims Avenue.
It has four levels because two lines connect here:
Level 2 – Train Platforms for the East-West Line
Level 1 – Street Level, and East-West Line Concourse
B1 – Circle Line Concourse
B2 – Circle Line Train Platforms
Paya Lebar MRT station has six exits to choose from at Level 1, Exit A, B, C, D, E and F.
Exit A and E are part of the East-West Line station, whereas Exits B, C, D and F are part of the Circle Line station.
Take Exit E to walk to the Peranakan Houses.
Step 7: Take the bus from the station to the Peranakan Houses along Koon Seng Road.
Once you arrive at Dakota Station, expect an effortless connection to public bus services.
Bus Directions from Dakota Station (CC8) to the Peranakan Houses
Exit A at Dakota Station will bring you to Old Airport Road, which is directly north of the station.
Cross to the other side of Old Airport Road.
Walk west until you reach the following bus stop:
Dakota Stn Exit A/Blk 99 – Stop ID: 81181
Wait at the bus stop and then get on Bus 16, 16M or 33.
Stay on Bus 16/16M/33 for a few stops and then alight at either one of these bus stops
Opp Maranatha Hall – Stop ID: 82131
Aft Koon Seng Road – Stop ID: 82141
Then walk from either one of these to the Peranakan Houses should be approximately 3 minutes.
Approximate Bus Ride Length (including walking): 10 minutes
Bus Pick-up Frequency: Approximately every 10 minutes
Walking Directions from Paya Lebar Station (EW8/CC9) to the Peranakan Houses
The walk from Paya Lebar Station to the Peranakan Houses is very popular and very pleasant. You will pass numerous restaurants, cafes, shophouses and bars as you travel south along Joo Chiat Road.
Exit E will bring you out onto Sims Avenue.
Walk east along Sims Avenue until you reach Geylang Serai.
Turn right (south) onto Geylang Serai.
Continue walking south along Geylang Serai until it converts into Joo Chiat Road.
Just continue walking south along Joo Chiat Road until you see the corner of Dunman
Road and Koon Seng Road.
Turn left onto Koon Seng Road.
Walk about 50 meters along Koon Seng Road, and you be at the Peranakan Houses.
Approximate Walking Distance: 20 minutes (1.7 km)
Getting to the Peranakan Shophouses by Public Bus
The Peranakan Houses are not directly beside an MRT station. Therefore, if you are staying near a bus service that goes close to the Peranakan Houses, it might make more sense to bypass the MRT altogether.
You might save both time and money by going straight there on the bus.
In the table below, we have summarized the closest bus stops to the Peranakan Houses along Koon Seng Road and the buses servicing them.
Bus Stop |
Bus Numbers |
Approximate Walking Time from the Bus Stop to the Houses |
| Aft Koon Seng Rd
Stop ID: 82141 |
33 | Less than 1 minute (120 m) |
| Opp Maranatha Hall
Stop ID: 82131 |
16, 16M, 33 | 3 minutes (260 m) |
| Bef Koon Seng Rd
Stop ID: 82149 |
33, 33B | 2 minutes (190 m) |
When you are planning your trip to the Peranakan Houses, just remember that 33 and 16 are the best buses to get there. As you can see, the stops are close to the Houses and will only take you a few minutes of walking time.
Driving or Taking a Taxi to the Peranakan Houses near Joo Chiat Road
You can also take a taxi directly to the Peranakan Houses in Singapore.
Since the Houses are not right beside an MRT station, you will find that this is the most convenient and likely the fastest option. If you carpool to the Joo Chiat area, the taxi ride might be quite affordable.
Taking a taxi solo in Singapore will likely be a lot more than MRT and bus options.
The official address for the Peranakan Houses is
287 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427540
And the GPS coordinates are
1.3103505326885136, 103.90244725467403
Since the Peranakan Houses are technically either small shops or houses, we don’t recommend parking near them. People like taking unobstructed photos here and respecting the owners is important.
East Coast Road and Still Road are two of the larger roads servicing this corner of the city. Always be sure to check traffic before heading to the Peranakan Houses.
What to see and do in Katong?
There are several shopping centres within walking distance of the Peranakan Houses in the Joo Chiat area.
Some of the most convenient malls include
Parkway Parade (Directions)
I12 Katong (Directions)
Katong V (Directions)
Katong Square (Directions)
Roxy Square 1
Katong Plaza
Flow @ East Coast
Katong Shopping Centre (Directions)
A very beautiful temple that is definitely worth visiting is Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple.
If you stop at Paya Lebar Station, you can stop at Geylang Serai Market (Directions) and Joo Chiat Complex (Directions) on your way south towards the Peranakan Houses. These places are known for competitive prices, and they are located across from each other.
If you continue further south along Joo Chiat Road (past the Peranakan Houses), you will eventually reach East Coast Park. It is extremely popular for cycling, running and getting fresh coastal air.
Best Places to Stay near the Houses
Katong and the area around the Peranakan Houses might be under the radar compared to areas such as Marina Bay and Sentosa Island.
But, there is a healthy selection of 3-4 star boutique hotels near the Peranakan Houses that are good value for the money. You can use these directions on how to get to the Peranakan Houses by MRT and bus and then stay right in this area.
Check out the properties below and see which one suits you best:
Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy (top choice)
Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong
Be sure to shop around and consider whether breakfast is included in your room price when you are booking a room in Singapore.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a complete step-by-step guide on how to get to the Peranakan Houses by MRT and bus.
You do have some choices when heading to the Peranakan Houses.
The two closest MRT stations, Dakota and Paya Lebar are about 20 minutes walking distance from the Houses. Therefore, you can either walk or take the bus.
Taking the bus from Dakota Station is really easy using Exit A from the station. But, the bus ride from Paya Lebar is a bit less direct. Walking from Paya Lebar is a wise decision because you will naturally travel along one of Singapore’s best streets – Joo Chiat Road.
It is known for awesome restaurants, cafes and bars and you will even notice some Peranakan facades before you reach Koon Seng Road.
Bypassing the MRT altogether is not a bad option if you are near bus 33 or 16. Both of these stop near the Peranakan Houses.