Get to the highest natural peak in Singapore (Bukit Timah Hill) fast and easily with this step-by-step guide.
Welcome to the complete guide on how to get to Bukit Timah Hill in Singapore!
This article will outline all the steps you need to take to access Bukit Timah Hill using multiple forms of transportation. You will be able to select the best place to stay, and the best way to get there according to where you are starting your trip, what kind of transportation ticket/card you have, and your budget.
There are several ways to get to Bukit Timah Hill. We will summarize all these modes of transportation for you:
MRT
Public Bus
Taxi
Private Vehicle
People of all ages visit Bukit Timah Hill daily. Some drive directly there and park, whereas others use public transportation to cut down on expenses. You can also consider buying an attraction pass in the city which might include points of interest near it. We will focus on all types of transportation, so you can choose what works best for you.
Hiking up Bukit Timah Hill
Bukit Timah Hill stands at 164 m above sea level, making it the highest natural peak in Singapore. And it comes as no secret that hiking up Bukit Timah Hill is one of Singapore’s best outdoor experiences.
Bukit Timah Hill is located in the middle of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, which is classified as an ASEAN Heritage Park. Although the Reserve is northeast of the city center, it’s surprisingly easy to get here from the downtown core.
Consequently, it’s common to see both locals and tourists making their way here for some fresh air, exercise and exposure to tons of different species of flora and fauna.
As you might expect, Bukit Timah Hills has a tropical rainforest climate and tends to be a bit colder than other parts of Singapore due to its increased altitude.
The trails to Bukit Timah Hill were renovated in 2016, making it easier for people of different ages and athleticism to access the summit. And, not all routes around the summit are the same level of difficulty. You can choose to get a full-on workout or a more relaxed pathway to the top!
Getting to Bukit Timah Hill by MRT
Step 1: Walk to the nearest MRT station in Singapore.
Getting to Bukit Timah by MRT makes a lot more sense if you stay close to an MRT station. Walking to the nearest station will ensure that you don’t have to carry everything too far and will help you to avoid taxi and parking hassles.
Refer to some convenient accommodation suggestions (all under 3 minutes walking distance from their neighbouring station).
Mid-Range
Heritage Collection on Chinatown (4-star, 9.0/10 review score, very close to Chinatown Station)
Luxury
The Fullerton Hotel (5-star, 9.0/10 review score, close to Raffles Place Station)
As locals know, Singapore can get really hot and heavy showers are frequent. Even more of a reason to book a room near a station!
Step 2: Identify interchange stations and lines.
The best station for getting to Bukit Timah Hill is without question Beauty World Station (DT5).
Beauty World Station is on the Downtown Line, shown in dark blue on Singapore’s metro map.
Interchange Stations with the Downtown Line
Knowing where to transfer lines to Beauty World Station (DT5) can save you a lot of time on the way to Bukit Timah Hill.
Refer to the summary below of popular interchange stations that provide access to the Downtown Line. If you don’t need to transfer, then skip down to the next step.
Botanic Gardens – transfer between the Circle and Downtown Line
Newton – transfer between the North-South and Downtown Line
Little India – transfer between the North-East and Downtown Line
Bugis – transfer between the East-West and Downtown Line
If you are staying downtown at popular hotels such as Marina Bay Sands or the Ritz-Carlton Millenia then you can access the Downtown Line at either Bayfront or Promenade MRT station.
Step 3: Buy a metro card or ticket to reach Beauty World Station (DT6).
We used a stored value card when determining how to get to Bukit Timah Hill in Singapore.
Another popular option for tourists is buying a Singapore Tourist Pass. They work for both buses and trains throughout the city.
We highly recommend buying a multi-trip pass while in Singapore. You can save up to 52% on entrance fees to major attractions, and there have already been over 200,000 of these sold!
Step 4: Ride the MRT to Beauty World Station (DT5) on the Downtown Line.
If your final destination is Bukit Timah Hill, then complete any necessary transfers to the Downtown Line.
Travel on the Downtown Line to Beauty World Station (DT5).
King Albert Park and Hillview are the two neighbouring stations next to Beauty World.
Move closer to an exit on the train when you stop at either one of these.
Step 5: Alight at Beauty World Station (DT5).
Get off at Beauty World Station (DT5) and bring all your belongings with you.
Step 6: Exit Beauty World Station (DT5) by following relevant signs.
Beauty World MRT Station is built underneath Upper Bukit Timah Road, near the junction of Jalan Jurong Kechil.
Expect to arrive at Basement Level 2 of the station.
Travel up to Street Level.
There are three exits at Beauty World Station – Exit A, B, and C.
Take Exit A if you plan on going to Bukit Timah Hill.
Step 7: Walk from Beauty World Station to the entrance of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Walking Directions to the Entrance of the Reserve
If you want to hike to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill, you first have to walk to the entrance of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
The summit is located within the Reserve.
Here are the walking directions from the station to the main entrance of the Reserve.
Exit A at Beauty World Station will bring you out onto Upper Bukit Timah Road.
Head northwest on Upper Bukit Timah Road and eventually cross the road to the other side.
Walk across the pedestrian bridge that runs over Upper Bukit Timah Road to Hindhede Road.
Turn right onto Hindhede Road.
Walk northeast along Hindhede Road.
You will walk past the main parking area and the Visitor’s Centre to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Enter the Reserve.
Step 8: Hike from the entrance of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill.
Once you have successfully made it to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, it’s now time to complete the final leg of the trip to Bukit Timah Hill.
Walking trails begin at the Visitor Centre, but remember that not all of them will lead you to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill.
The main trail (route) is the most direct way to the summit.
Follow the main path and relevant signs.
There are a few steep sections of the pathway that most moderately fit individuals should have no problem with.
Once you reach the summit of Bukit Timah Hill, take a break, relax, hydrate, and return to the Visitors Centre if you plan on using the MRT to get back.
How long does it take to walk from the MRT to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill?
The initial walk from Beauty World Station to the entrance of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve should take you about 10-12 minutes at a moderate pace. The walking distance is about 850 m, or just short of 1 km.
Then, you can expect the walking/hiking time from the Visitor Centre to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill to take anywhere from 20 minutes to 50 minutes (depending on your speed and level of fitness).
The hike to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill from the Visitor Centre is about 1 km, and remember that it is at an altitude of 164 m.
Therefore, to summarize, the overall walking time from Beauty World Station to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill should take a minimum of 30 minutes for fit and fast-paced hikers.
Most people will take 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the summit from Beauty World Station.
Does walking or taking the bus from Beauty World Station to Bukit Timah Hill make more sense?
For most visitors, it will make more sense to walk or cycle from the station to the entrance of the Reserve. The closest bus stops to the Reserve are also very close to the station, so you don’t really benefit much from taking a bus from Beauty World Station.
The walk is only about 10-12 minutes to the entrance of the Reserve. Waiting for a bus that doesn’t directly bring you to the entrance of the Nature Reserve isn’t too practical.
Once you are in the Nature Reserve, continue walking to the summit of Bukit Timah.
Getting to Bukit Timah Hill using Public Bus Services
It’s also possible to take a bus directly to a bus stop near the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve entrance. And from the entrance, you can walk directly to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill by following relevant signs.
Several bus services can drop you off at a stop a few minutes from the main entrance of the Reserve. Expect to walk around 5-7 minutes once getting dropped off from the bus in most cases. The hike to the summit of Bukit Timah will then take 20-45 minutes (depending on your level of fitness) from the Visitor Centre.
In the table below, we have summarized the closest bus stops relative to the main entrance of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (where the Visitor Centre is located).
Bus Stop |
Bus Numbers |
Approximate Walking Time from the Bus Stop to Entrance of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve |
| Opp Beauty World Ctr
#42109 |
184, 852, 961, 961M | 5-6 minutes (500 m) |
| Beauty World Stn
Exit B #42091 |
67, 75, 170, 170A, 173, 184, 852, 961, 961M | 5-6 minutes (500 m) |
| Beauty World Stn
Exit A #42099 |
67, 75, 170, 173 | 7-9 minutes (650 m) |
| Woh Hup Bldg
#42111 |
67, 75, 170, 170A, 173, 184, 852, 961, 961M | 6 minutes (500 m) |
Don’t waste too much time worrying about which of these bus stops to get off at.
They only differ by 1-2 minutes in terms of walking time to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. All times and distances are in relation to the main entrance by the Visitor Centre.
From there, add 20-45 minutes to reach the summit of Bukit Timah Hill.
Driving or Taking a Taxi to Bukit Timah Hill
Driving a vehicle is a popular way for visitors to access the trails to Bukit Timah Hill.
Parking is available near the main entrance.
There are some clear advantages to driving there.
First of all, it’s likely to be the fastest way. Secondly, you probably will bring snacks and refreshments, so it’s easier to bring bags in a car than on the metro (MRT).
The main parking lot can get packed, especially on weekends and public holidays.
Parking is typically available from 7 am – 7 pm on a daily basis.
Taking a taxi to Bukit Timah Nature Hill is also a solid option and removes the stress associated with changing MRT lines and figuring out which buses to take.
Remember, ask your taxi to drop you off near the Visitor Centre of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. From there, you can hike to the summit.
Here is the Visitor Centre address:
177 Hindhede Dr, Singapore 589333
Some of the main roads servicing this area of Singapore are
Upper Bukit Timah Road
PIE
Bukit Timah Road
Clementi Road
BKE
Always double-check traffic conditions on your cell phone app before heading to Bukit Timah Hill.
Avoiding congestion is the key to getting there fast. If traffic is heavy, opt for the MRT instead!
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now know how to get to Bukit Timah Hill in Singapore using a variety of transportation options!
Beauty World MRT Station is less than 10 minutes south of the main entrance to the Reserve, making the metro a convenient option to access the trails.
Bus services are available around Beauty World Station, but it’s more practical to walk to the Reserve entrance when you consider waiting times for the bus.
Walking to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill is a very popular recreational activity in Singapore. Hiking up on a weekend or public holiday might not be the best idea if you want a quiet laidback environment with nature. Heading to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill during the week when most people are working is a more relaxing experience. Bring along lots of water, snacks, bug repellent and sunscreen for your trip. There are several shopping malls near Beauty World Station. Head there if you want to grab a delicious meal after your time hiking Bukit Timah Hill.