Get to Clarke Quay Central as fast as possible using this guide!
Welcome to the complete guide on how to get to Clarke Quay Central by MRT.
Getting around Singapore using MRT is really fast, affordable and convenient.
And getting to Clarke Quay Central via MRT is no exception!
Regardless of where you are beginning your trip in Singapore, you can avoid traffic and parking headaches and costs by staying beside an MRT station and using the MRT to get around.
This article will summarize all the line and station information required to reach Clarke Quay Central. Remember that Singapore has so many MRT lines that it’s often possible to access the city’s top attractions and party areas regardless of where you are starting your trip.
We will first focus on getting to Clarke Quay Central using the closest station and then describe other available options.
Shopping at Clarke Quay Central in Singapore
Clarke Quay Central is a popular multi-use commercial complex that is ideally located directly beside the scenic Singapore River. It is very popular due to its wide range of retail shops, eateries, cafes and access to pubs and nightclubs.
Aside from the 5-storey shopping mall at Clarke Quay Central, there are also several office towers, a sky garden, a community club, and so much more! The shopping mall is loaded with a wide variety of cuisines to suit all guests. Expect to find everything here, from Chinese to Western meals.
Similar to other malls throughout Singapore, Clarke Quay Central has several spas, beauty parlours and textile shops. It is only about 50 meters away from Paradox Singapore Merchant Court at Clarke Quay – one of the most popular hotels in the area.
Clarke Quay Central is integrated with Singapore’s MRT network making it one of the easiest shopping malls to access in Singapore.
Getting to Clarke Quay Central using MRT Services
Step 1: Plan your route to Clarke Quay Central – know the closest station and best MRT line.
If you are planning your trip to Clarke Quay Central, then you shouldn’t have any problem remembering the closest station:
Clarke Quay Station (NE5)
It’s located on the North-East Line, which is shown in purple colour on the metro map.
Step 2: Walk to the closest MRT station.
Getting to Clarke Quay Central using MRT will be much faster if you are staying close to an MRT station.
We highly recommend being 400 meters away or less to minimize transit times and the amount you spend on taxis and ride-hailing services.
Singapore has tons of hotels and hostels right beside stations. It really comes down to your budget and what area you want to stay in.
Here are two popular hotels with direct MRT access:
Marina Bay Sands Hotel – 5-star (Bayfront Station)
Sofitel Singapore City Centre – 5-star (Tanjong Pagar Station)
Some of the cheapest areas in Singapore to stay in include Chinatown, Geylang, Little India, Katong and Kampong Glam.
If you want luxury, head to Marina Bay or Sentosa Island.
Read More: Best Family Hotel Rooms in Singapore
Step 3: Purchase a card to use Singapore’s metro to Clarke Quay Central.
There are two main cards for getting around Singapore, including Clarke Quay Central Mall.
Stored Value Cards
Singapore Tourist Passes are designed for busy foreign tourists who spend a few days in the city. Once you buy one, you can get unlimited public transportation rides throughout the same day.
You could use the Tourist Pass to access Clarke Quay Central and then explore multiple other city areas for a set amount per day.
We highly recommend getting a Multiple-Attraction Pass to use alongside your transportation card in the city. Over 200,000 of these have been sold already because you can save up to 52% when you pre-purchases passes online in advance.
We used a stored-value card while figuring out how to get to Clarke Quay Central by MRT. Once purchased, just top up the card with cash when your balance is getting low.
Step 4: Navigate the MRT network to Clarke Quay Station (NE5).
Ride the MRT to Clarke Quay Station (NE5) when you are set to visit Clarke Quay Central.
Remember that you will have to transfer to the North-West Line on the way to the mall.
Step 5: Get off the train at Clarke Quay Station (NE5).
As you get closer and closer to Clarke Quay Station, you should have some familiarity with the closest neighbouring stations, which are
Chinatown Station (DT19/NE4)
Dhoby Ghaut (CC1/NE6/NS24)
Keep an eye out for these stops along the way.
Once you stop at Clarke Quay Station, alight along with your belongings.
Exit Information at Clarke Quay Station (NE5)
The more you know about Clarke Quay Station, the faster you will be able to exit and access Clarke Quay Central.
Clarke Quay MRT Station (NE5) is built underneath Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road, near the intersection with Merchant Road and North Canal Road.
It consists of three main levels:
L1 – Street Level
B1 – Concourse and Ticketing
B2 – Train Platform A and Train Platform B
Be prepared to arrive at Level B2 on your trip to Clarke Quay Central via MRT.
From there, you will have the choice of which station you want to use.
There are six exits to choose from at Clarke Quay Station (A, B, C, E, F and G).
You can take Exit E, F or G to reach Clark Quay Central Mall.
Step 6: Walk from Clarke Quay Station (NE5) to Clarke Quay Central.
With Exit E, F, and G all leading from the station directly to Clarke Quay Central, you do have some flexibility on how to get there.
Remember to take Exit F if you want to access the basement level of Clarke Quay Central. The basement has a range of restaurants and a grocery store that is quite popular.
How long is the walk from Clarke Quay Station (NE5) to Clarke Quay Central?
With Clarke Quay Central connected to the station via several exits, expect a very short walk to the mall.
Expect it to take less than 1 minute to walk from Clarke Quay Station to Clarke Quay Central.
Alternative Stations within Walking Distance of Clarke Quay Central?
It’s commonly known in Singapore that Clarke Quay Central is directly above Clarke Quay Station. Head to Clarke Quay Station if you are already on the North-East (Purple) Line.
In some cases, you might be travelling on another MRT line downtown, and it might not make sense to transfer lines. The time you would spend transferring lines wouldn’t be worth the headaches involved.
Refer to the table below for alternative stations for accessing Clarke Quay Central.
Station Name |
Walking Distance toClarke Quay Central |
Walking Time toClarke Quay Central |
| Clarke Quay (NE5 | 100 m | 1 minute |
| Chinatown (DT19/NE4) | 600 m | 8 minutes |
| Fort Canning (DT20) | 650 m | 8 minutes |
| Raffles Place (EW14/NS26) | 1 km | 13 minutes |
| City Hall (EW13/NS25) | 1 km | 13 minutes |
As you can see, the walking times are all under 15 minutes which isn’t bad unless it’s raining or super hot outside.
Singapore also has an extensive public bus network that services most (if not all) MRT stations. You could take a bus from one of these to Clarke Quay Central if the weather is not cooperating.
Other Places to Visit near Clarke Quay Central
Clarke Quay Central is in a beautiful location along the Singapore River. Tons of tourists and locals hang out along the waterfront to capture scenic views.
Directly across the river from Clarke Quay Central is arguably Singapore’s wildest party venue, with tons of bars and clubs clustered together in one area.
You will pass Boat Quay (Directions) if you walk towards Marina Bay. It is fantastic for dinner and drinks and is well-known for sit-down restaurants and seafood venues.
If you continue walking southeast, you will reach Marina Bay.
Marina Bay is one of the most iconic places in all of Southeast Asia. It features the world-famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the Merlion (Directions) and Singapore’s iconic skyline.
Consider heading to Sands SkyPark (Directions) for unobstructed views.
We recommend visiting Marina Bay in the morning and at night to capture the true experience.
Head in the opposite direction from Clarke Quay Central to reach Roberston Quay.
Robertson Walk (Directions) is a popular dining venue with several high-end alfredo restaurants to enjoy.
One of the best outdoor spaces not far from Clarke Quay Central is Fort Canning Park (Directions). It’s popular for recreational activities, with tons of vegetation and open areas for picnics.
Best Places to Stay in Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay is known for scenic riverside views and nightlife.
Consequently, there are several hotels located along the waterfront that are worth checking out.
You can also access the MRT right here and walk through Boat Quay to Marina Bay.
Some of the best options within direct walking distance of Clarke Quay Central are
Paradox Singapore Merchant Court at Clarke Quay – superb location!
Jayleen Clarke Quay Hotel – affordable and near the MRT
Park Regis Singapore – a more luxurious option
Most of the hotels along the river are in the 4-5 star range.
Walking from Clarke Quay Central towards North Bridge Road, you will discover several budget-friendly hotels and hostels. We have stayed along North Bridge Road several times and like this area. You can walk either to Clarke Quay or Boat Quay in minutes from here.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this step-by-step guide fully explains how to get to Clarke Quay Central by MRT.
The key to getting there efficiently is travelling on the North-East Line.
That’s the only line that will get you right to Clarke Quay Station, which is less than 1 minute’s walking distance from the station.
There are also several other lines that you can take downtown. They won’t bring you right to Clarke Quay but are close enough to other stations within walking distance of the mall. Chinatown, Fort Canning, Raffles Place and City Hall are other stations worth considering.
They are all well under 15 minutes from Clarke Quay Central.
Once you are done shopping and dining at Clarke Quay Central, take a stroll along the Singapore River to Boat Quay, Robertson Quay or the world-famous Marina Bay to maximize the experience.