Get to CHIJMES in Singapore super fast and easily with this step-by-step guide!
Welcome to the best guide on how to get to CHIJMES by MRT in Singapore.
By the end of this detailed article, you should have no problem getting to CHIJMES using public transportation. Actually, taking the MRT to CHIJMES is one of the best ways to get there.
There are several MRT stations within walking distance of it, providing commuters with many choices. You can use several different MRT lines and still be within comfortable walking distance.
Also, remember that when you book a room near an MRT station, the MRT network ensures that you will bypass traffic and fees associated with taxis, ride-hailing services and parking. Parking in Singapore can get pricy, so it’s faster and cheaper to avoid it altogether.
We will summarize all the closest stations to CHIJMES, and explain how to book the cheapest entrance tickets to the closest attractions so you can pick your best options.
Visiting CHIJMES in Singapore
CHIJMES is a very popular entertainment, lifestyle, food and beverage venue located in the middle of Singapore’s cultural district. It is located between Victoria Street and North Bridge Road.
When you visit CHIJMES, you will immediately appreciate the spectacular architecture and authentic alfresco dining experience. It features bars, cafes and delicious restaurants meters from some of Singapore’s oldest and well-recognized historic buildings, such as Caldwell House and CHIJMES Hall.
CHIJMES is a popular event venue as well.
It has several event spaces that are available for lease. Consequently, weddings and other memorable events are common here.
Once you visit CHIJMES, you can easily walk to other points of interest in downtown Singapore. Several shopping malls and cultural attractions are only minutes away.
Getting to CHIJMES via MRT
Step 1: Plan your trip to CHIJMES – What are the best lines and stations?
Due to its central location, three MRT stations are almost identical in distance and walking time from CHIJMES:
Bras Basah Station (CC2)
City Hall Station (EW13/NS25)
Esplanade Station (CC3)
Therefore, according to the station codes above, both Bras Basah and Esplanade Station are on the Circle (Yellow) Line.
City Hall Station, on the other hand, is on the East-West and North-South Lines.
Step 2: Access the closest MRT station.
Singapore has several MRT and LRT lines which service most city areas. Therefore, regardless of where you start your trip, you should have no problem getting to CHIJMES via MRT.
It’s beneficial staying close to a station to save time and money getting around.
Here are a few strategically located hotels that are popular with visitors (if you plan on using the MRT to get around):
Marina Bay Sands Hotel – 5-star (Bayfront Station)
Sofitel Singapore City Centre – 5-star (Tanjong Pagar Station)
Head to areas such as Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam for more budget-friendly hotels and hostels within walking distance of stations.
Read More: Top Luxury Hotels near Marina Bay
Step 3: Purchase a Tourist Pass or Stored-Value Card to travel to CHIJMES.
You can choose from two primary cards for getting around Singapore, and getting to CHIJMES is no exception to this.
Stored Value Cards
We used a stored-value card while figuring out how to get to CHIJMES by MRT.
It was an easy process.
All you need to do is buy a card and top it up with enough money. Then simply tap to enter and exit trains and buses throughout Singapore.
As you might expect, stored value cards are popular with locals.
Singapore Tourist Passes, on the other hand, are designed for foreign visitors to Singapore.
Typically, they are valid for 1-3 days and offer holders unlimited bus and train rides for a certain number of days. If you buy one, plan a busy itinerary for the days your card is valid to save some cash.
Don’t buy a Singapore Tourist Pass unless you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing in several areas of Singapore. Otherwise, you might not save any money.
We highly recommend buying a Multiple Attraction Pass to use with your stored value card or Tourist Pass, however. With over 200,000 passes already sold, it’s a popular way to enter Singapore’s top attractions with a discount up to 52%.
Step 4: Take the MRT to Bras Basah, City Hall, or Esplanade Station.
Ride the MRT all the way to Bras Basah, City Hall, or Esplanade Station to reach CHIJMES.
Listen for verbal announcements on the train to ensure you move closer to an exit at the right time.
Step 5: Alight at your station of choice.
Alight upon arrival at Bras Basah, City Hall, or Esplanade Station on your way to CHIJMES.
Once you’re off the train, it’s important that you can navigate your way quickly to the best station exit.
Doing so will ensure an efficient walk to CHIJMES.
Here is the exit information at Bras Basah, City Hall, and Esplanade Station. Just scroll down to the station that is relevant for your trip.
Exiting Bras Basah Station
Bras Basah Station is built underneath Bras Basah Road, bordering Waterloo Street and Queen Street.
It consists of 4 main levels:
L1 – Street Level
L2 – Ticketing
B4 – Transfer Hall
B5 – Train Platforms A and B
You will arrive at level B5 of Bras Basah Station, and that’s where the Circle Line train platforms are located.
Travel from the platform up to L1 – Street Level using the stairs, escalator or elevator.
Bras Basah MRT station has three exits leading to ground level: A, D and E.
Take Exit A if you want to walk from Bras Basah Station to CHIJMES.
Exiting City Hall Station
City Hall MRT Station is built underground in the Downtown Core near Stamford Road and the junctions with North Bridge Road and Saint Andrew’s Road.
It consists of 4 main levels:
L1 – Street Level
B1 – Ticketing
B2 – Train Platforms A and B
B3 – Train Platforms C and D
You will arrive at either Level B2 or Level B3 at City Hall Station, depending on which direction you are travelling on, the North-South or East-West Lines.
Travel from the platform up to L1 – Street Level using the stairs, escalator or elevator.
City Hall station has two exits at ground level (A and B) and another two exits at Basement 1, C and D.
Take Exit A at City Hall Station to access CHIJMES.
Exiting Esplanade Station
Esplanade MRT Station is built underground, below the junction of Bras Basah Road, Raffles Boulevard and Nicoll Highway.
It has several levels due to its connectivity to malls and other buildings in the area:
L1 – Street Level
B – Raffles Link
B1M – South Beach Link
B1 – Transfers to Suntec City and Marina Square
B2 – Ticketing Concourse
B3 – Train Platforms A and B
You will arrive at level B3 at Esplanade Station.
Travel from Level B3 all the way up to L1 using the stairs, escalator or elevator.
Esplanade MRT station has four exits leading to ground level (A, C, E and F). Exits B, D and G provide underground access to other buildings.
Take Exit F or Exit G to access CHIJMES from Esplanade Station.
Step 6: Walk from your selected station to CHIJMES.
Here are specific walking directions from Bras Basah, City Hall, or Esplanade Station to CHIJMES.
Walking from Bras Basah Station
Exit A will bring you out onto Queen Street.
From there, walk to Bras Basah Road.
Walk south along Bras Basah Road.
Cross Victoria Street and then enter CHIJMES using the northeastern entrance.
Walking from City Hall Station
Exit A will bring you out to Raffles City.
From there, you only need to walk along North Bridge Road until you reach CHIJMES.
Cross North Bridge Road to the other side and enter from the southwestern side of CHIJMES.
Walking from Esplanade Station
From Esplanade Station, simply walk north along Bras Basah Road until you cross North Bridge Road.
Cross over to the other side of Bras Basah Road and enter CHIJMES.
How long is the walk from these MRT stations to CHIJMES?
The walk from Bras Basah, City Hall and Esplanade Station to CHIJMES is short and convenient.
In the table below, we summarize all the walking distances and times for your convenience:
Station Name |
Walking Distance to CHIJMES |
Walking Time to CHIJMES |
| City Hall (EW13/NS25) | 210 m | 2 minutes |
| Bras Basah (CC2) | 270 m | 4 minutes |
| Esplanade Station (CC3) | 270 m | 4 minutes |
As you can see, all three stations are close to CHIJMES.
Don’t even consider waiting for bus connections from these stations. Instead, follow the walking directions in the previous section. Chances are you will already be at CHIJMES before a connecting bus arrives at one of these stations.
Other Points of Interest to Visit
CHIJMES is in a convenient location for shopping and general sightseeing in Singapore.
Once you take the MRT here, you can easily walk from one shopping centre to the next without much effort.
The closest shopping centre to CHIJMES is Raffles City Shopping Mall. It’s literally located just across the street. Capitol Singapore and Bras Basah Complex (Directions) are two other malls that you can explore near CHIJMES.
The MINT Museum of Toys, National Museum of Singapore (Directions), Peranakan Museum and War Memorial Park are additional points of interest within minutes of CHIJMES.
Further exploration north will lead you to some of Bugis’ best malls, such as Bugis Junction (Directions) and Bugis+ (Directions).
After exploring these malls, you can also walk over to Bugis Street Market (Directions).
Best Places to Stay?
Conveniently, CHIJMES is surrounded by some of Singapore’s best hotels.
Actually, it’s challenging to find a point in the city that has so many top-quality places to stay within only 1-2 minutes’ walking distance.
Arguably the top hotel in all of Singapore, Raffles Hotel, is only a few minutes south of CHIJMES. You can walk there in 2 minutes.
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore is another luxurious place to stay near CHIJMES. Cross Stamford Road to access it.
Hotel Fairmont Singapore and Carlton Hotel are two additional options. They are excellent properties.
You might want to compare the prices at all four of these properties before selecting one to stay at.
You can also find more budget-friendly boutique hotels further east in Bugis or south in the Boat Quay/Clarke Quay area.
Conclusion
We genuinely hope that this guide has fully explained how to get to CHIJMES by MRT in Singapore.
Due to its central location, you have several stations and lines that you can use to get there.
The three closest stations to CHIJMES are
Bras Basah
City Hall
Esplanade Station
Regardless of which station you use to reach CHIJMES, the walking time is less than 5 minutes.
The distance between these stations and CHIJMES is so close that there is no need for bus connections or taxi/ride-hailing services. Don’t bother worrying about parking or road traffic on the way. Singapore’s MRT network will get you there fast and affordably.