Get to Sembawang Hot Springs super fast and easily with this comprehenisve guide!
You will know exactly how to get to Sembawang Hot Springs in Singapore by the end of this step-by-step guide. Despite its location in northern Singapore, Sembawang Hot Spring Park is accessible using multiple forms of transportation.
You can get there using a combination of MRT and bus, or take a private vehicle to a parking lot within walking distance of the entrance to the Hot Springs.
Since there is no official parking facility on-site, it’s common to get to Sembawang Hot Springs by bus.
We will first share some important information about visiting the Hot Springs and then we will explain how to use the MRT system to get there. The benefit of taking a bus to the Hot Springs is that you don’t have to worry about parking a vehicle, and the extra headaches associated with finding a spot.
Once you are at Sembawang Hot Spring Park, consider branching out and exploring some of the malls, parks and hawkers (food centres) in Sembawang. We will share information about building a day itinerary of the surrounding popular points of interest.
Visiting Sembawang Hot Springs in Singapore
As its name suggests, Sembawang Hot Spring Park is a natural hot spring and a public recreation park in Sembawang, Singapore. It spans an area of 1.1 hectares (11,000 m2) and is known for its rustic, undeveloped feel which provides a pleasant contrast to a bustling city environment.
The National Parks Board took over the ownership of the park for redevelopment and it officially reopened to the public on January 4th, 2020. Ever since Sembawang Hot Spring Park has been welcoming people of all ages.
When you visit Sembawang Hot Springs you will see several types of edible plants and beautiful flowers. There are several unpaved pathways and sitting areas scattered through the park grounds. Informative signs are posted throughout the park to provide historical and geological information about the Hot Springs here.
Some of the most common things to do at Sembawang Hot Springs include:
Eating at Drinking at Sembawang Eating House (family-friendly restaurant)
Soaking in the Foot Bath
Collecting hot spring water with your own bucket
Education Zone for learning about the groundwater cycle at Sembawang Water Spring Park.
Walking Down Floral Walk – a new experience to learn about fruit trees and edible plants.
Self-Guided Historical and Geological Tours around the Park
You will also be happy to hear that no permit is required for visiting Sembawang Hot Springs! But, it does get busy! Try to avoid weekdays from 4-7 pm and weekends/public holidays if possible. You are not permitted to ride a bicycle throughout the Park, but you can park your bicycle in the designated area behind the toilet block.
Getting to Sembawang Hot Springs by MRT
Step 1: Access the closest MRT station.
It’s possible to reach Sembawang Hot Springs using a combination of MRT and public bus services. You can take the MRT all the way to Sembawang and then take a bus close to the entrance of the park.
The first step in getting there via MRT is accessing the closest station to where you are staying in Singapore.
Fortunately, Singapore has several MRT that service most areas. If you already have a place in Singapore, then it should be super easy to find the nearest station. Foreign visitors can benefit from staying close to a station.
Walking directly to an MRT station will make your commutes more efficient, cheaper and less stressful.
Step 2: Plan your route to the Hot Springs (Stations, Lines and Transfers).
The most challenging part of your trip to Sembawang Hot Springs is transferring MRT lines (if needed). A lot of people will have to transfer lines to access the Park.
Let’s first discuss which stations are best for accessing Sembawang Hot Springs and then go over interchange locations.
There are three stations that are quite close to Sembawang Hot Springs:
Yishun Station (NS13)
Canberra Station (NS12)
Sembawang Station (NS11)
All three of these stations are located on the North-South Line.
The North-South Line is shown in Red colour on Singapore’s metro map. It’s also called the Red Line.
Interchange Station Information (North-South Line)
We have researched the best transfer stations for accessing the North-South Line.
Here they are below.
Bishan – transfer between the Circle Line and the North-South Line
Newton – transfer between the Downtown Line and the North-South Line
Dhoby Ghaut – transfer between the North-East, Circle and the North-South Line
City Hall – transfer between the East-West and North-South Line
Raffles Place – transfer between the East-West and North-South Line
Marina Bay – transfer between the Thomson East Coast, Circle and North-South Line
Woodlands – transfer between the Thomson East Coast and North-South Line
Jurong East – transfer between the East-West and North-South Line
You will also find metro maps in each MRT station throughout Singapore. They are typically within 30 m of the entrance gates. Check the map and see which one of the above stations suits your route best.
Step 3: Buy your MRT ticket to reach Yishun, Canberra or Sembawang MRT station.
Buying MRT tickets in Singapore is an easy process. And, that’s because there are several types of tickets to suit all commuters.
Here are the three main types of tickets:
- Tourist Passes
- Stored Value Cards
- Multiple/Single Trip Tickets
Singapore Tourist Passes are designed for tourists spending only a few days in the city.
They are valid for 1-3 days, so they work best with short, fast-paced itineraries.
Stored value cards are another popular option for getting around the city. Singaporeans, permanent residents and visitors can use these. We used one of these while learning how to get to Sembawang Hot Springs by MRT.
More traditional tickets, such as single and multiple trips, can be purchased at digital kiosks near the entrance gates to the MRT system.
Step 4: Transfer (if needed to the North-South Line) and ride the MRT to Yishun, Canberra or Sembawang Station.
As mentioned before, it’s possible to reach Sembawang Hot Springs using Yishun, Canberra or Sembawang MRT station. The one you use depends on your trip and personal preference.
For example, you might want to get off at the first one you stop at, as opposed to staying on the MRT longer.
Step 5: Alight at your station of choice.
Alight at one of the following stations on your way to Sembawang Hot Springs:
Yishun Station (NS13)
Canberra Station (NS12)
Sembawang Station (NS11)
Collect your personal belongings before getting off the train.
Step 6: Walk from the train platforms to the station exits.
Once you alight from the train, you will have to walk to the exits in order to either walk or take bus services to Sembawang Hot Springs.
Singapore MRT stations have three main ways to access the exits:
- Stairs
- Escalators
- Elevators
Accessing the Exits at Yishun Station
Yishun Station consists of three main levels
Level 2 (train platforms)/Level 1 (concourse and street-level exits)/Level B2 (basement underpass)
Travel down to Level 1 to access relevant bus stops.
Accessing the Exits at Canberra Station
Canberra Station has three main levels:
L2 – where the train platforms are and the Link bridge
M – Access to Canberra Plaza
L1 – Concourse and additional exits
You will arrive at Level 2 of Canberra Station. Follow the signs to the level needed to exit the station.
Accessing the Exits at Sembawang Station
Sembawang MRT Station (NS11) consists of two main levels:
Level 1 and Level 2
You will arrive at the train platforms on Level 2 of Sembawang Station.
Walk or take the escalator/elevator down to Level 1.
The exits are located on the ground level.
Step 7: Exit your preferred station and travel to Sembawang Hot Springs (walk or take a bus).
In the section below, we will outline how to get to Sembawang Hot Springs in Singapore from each of the closest MRT stations.
Getting from Yishun Station to Sembawang Hot Springs
You can either walk or take the bus from Yishun Station to the Hot Springs.
Bus Directions
Head to the bus stop directly in front of Yishun Station called
Yishun Stn – Stop ID: 59079
Wait there and get on Bus 965. Travel north along Yishun Avenue 2 and wait on the bus for 4 stops.
Get off the bus at the following stop:
Blk 118 – Stop ID: 59271
Then, walk along Yishun Avenue 7 until it converts to Gambas Avenue.
Enter Sembawang Hot Springs from there.
Approximate Bus Ride Length (including walking): 16 minutes
Bus Pick-up Frequency: Approximately every 10 minutes
Walking Directions
Head northwest from the station and take the stairs.
Turn left onto Yishun Ave 5 and take a slight right.
Turn left toward Sembawang Road and then right onto Sembawang Road
Walk north along Sembawang Road until you reach Gambas Avenue.
Turn left (west) onto Gambas Avenue and then enter Sembawang Hot Springs.
Distance: 1.8 km
Approximate Walking Time: Approximately 18-23 minutes
Getting from Canberra Station to Sembawang Hot Springs
Due to the bus routes at Canberra Station, it makes the most sense to walk from there to Sembawang Hot Springs. If you take the bus, expect to still walk a fair distance before waiting for a bus.
Walking Directions
Take Exit E at Canberra Station which will bring you out onto Canberra Link.
Walk southeast on Canberra Link until you reach the southern pathway heading towards Canberra Drive.
Head southeast towards Canberra Drive and then turn left onto Canberra Drive.
Walk southeast along Canberra Drive to reach Yishun Avenue 7
Walk southwest along Yishun Avenue 7 until it converts to Gambas Avenue.
Cross Gambas Avenue to enter Sembawang Hot Springs.
Distance: 1.6 km
Approximate Walking Time: Approximately 15-21 minutes
Getting from Sembawang Station to Sembawang Hot Springs
Similar to Yishun Station, you can get to Sembawang Hot Springs by walking or taking the bus from Sembawang Station.
Bus Directions
Take Exit C at Sembawang Station, and this will bring you out onto Sembawang Way.
Walk across Sembawang Way to the other side of the road. Wait at the following bus stop across from the station:
Opp Sembawang Station – 58219
Get on Bus 858.
Stay on the bus for 5 stops and then alight when you reach Blk 114 (Bus stop ID #57129) on Sembawang Road.
Walk north along Sembawang Road until you reach Gambas Avenue.
Turn left onto Gambas Avenue. Cross the road and enter Sembawang Hot Spring Park.
Approximate Bus Ride Length (including walking): 10-14 minutes
Bus Pick-up Frequency: Approximately every 8 minutes
Walking Directions
The walk from Sembawang Station to Sembawang Hot Spring Park takes longer than the bus, but it’s an easy walk if you want to burn some extra calories.
You will have four ground-level exits to choose from at Sembawang Station: A, B, C and D.
Follow the station signs from the platforms to ground level.
Take Exit A and head south. Turn left toward Sembawang Vista.
Turn left onto Sembawang Vista and then turn right onto Canberra Rd
Take a slight right onto Sembawang Road and walk south along Sembawang Road.
Continue south on Sembawang Road until you reach Gambas Avenue.
Turn right onto Gambas Avenue and cross it to access Sembawang Hot Springs.
Distance: 2.0 km
Approximate Walking Time: Approximately 18-24 minutes
Getting to Sembawang Hot Springs by Public Bus
With no parking on-site and several bus stops not too far from Sembawang Hot Springs in Singapore, taking a public bus there is a very practical option. You can get dropped off at one of the nearby stops and then complete a short walk to enter the Park.
In the table below, we have summarized the closest bus stops to Sembawang Hot Spring Park and the buses servicing them. Refer to the walking time from each one to the Hot Springs.
Bus Stop |
Bus Numbers |
Approximate Walking Time from the Bus Stop to the entrance of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital |
| Blk 114
Stop ID: 57129 |
167, 800, 811, 811A, 811T, 856, 858, 858A, 859, 859T, 883M, 969, 980 | Less than 5 minutes (350 m) |
| Opp Blk 115b
Stop ID: 57121 |
167, 856, 858, 859, 969, 980 | 6 minutes (450 m) |
| Blk 118
Stop ID: 59271 |
800, 811, 811A, 811T, 883M, 965 | 7 minutes (500 m) |
As you can see above, all of these bus stops are quite close to Sembawang Hot Springs. There are other bus stops to consider, but they are farther away.
Driving or Taking a Taxi to Sembawang Hot Springs
Driving your own vehicle to Sembawang Hot Springs is a good idea if you are comfortable parking it elsewhere and then walking to the Park. In this case, you should park at the nearest carpark at 114 Yishun Ring Road and walk 450m (8 minutes).
It is located along Gambas Avenue with the following coordinates:
Gambas Ave, Singapore 756952, 1.4344°N 103.8224°E
Some of the main roads servicing this area of Singapore are
Sembawang Road
Woodlands Avenue 12
Gambas Avenue
Taking a taxi to Sembawang Hot Springs is an even better option than driving there. You will avoid any headaches with parking and get dropped off right near the entrance to the Park.
Things to See and Do near Sembawang Hot Springs
Sembawang Hot Spring Park is located in northern Singapore. Consequently, it’s quite far from popular tourist areas such as Marina Bay, Chinatown and Sentosa Island.
But there are still a lot of things to check out while in Sembawang!
We suggest mixing up some outdoor experiences with some shopping and eating out!
Another outdoor park you might want to check out is Sembawang Park (north of the mall along the waterfront).
If you want to shop, there are other great malls in the area. Here they are:
Sembawang Shopping Centre (Directions)
Canberra Plaza (Directions)
Sun Plaza (Directions)
Northpoint City (Directions)
Junction 9 (Directions)
Wisteria Mall (Directions)
Yishun Mall
Khatib Central
Sembawang Shopping Centre is the closest mall to the Park in case you are wondering.
If you are looking for some affordable, delicious hawker food centres, you have a few options such as:
Chong Pang Market (How to get there using MRT)
Broadway Food Centre
Yishun Park Hawker Centre (How to get there via MRT)
Expect delicious food at affordable prices at all three of these places. Chong Pang Market is the closest to Sembawang Hot Springs.
Where to stay near Sembawang Hot Springs in Singapore?
Accommodation is very limited in Sembawang, with only 1 solid option within 10 minutes of driving distance.
You will notice that areas such as Marina Bay and Orchard are more popular amongst visitors to the city.
Consider staying at Orchid Country Club (4-star, 8.2/10 review score based on 356 reviews) in northern Singapore.
Orchid Country Club is in a nice location – directly north of Lower Seletar Reservoir and south of most malls and parks in this area. With an excellent golf course on-site and lots of room for walking around, it’s an excellent place for people of all ages.
Travel to Khatib MRT Station (NS14) to access Orchid Country Club.
Alternative popular areas with guests include Sentosa Island, Chinatown, Bugis, and Little India. Chinatown and Little India are known for cheap options. Sentosa tends to be pricier.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now know how to get to Sembawang Hot Springs in Singapore using multiple forms of transportation.
Again, it’s important to emphasize that there is no parking lot right at the Park. Consequently, if you want to drive your vehicle to the Hot Springs you will have to park elsewhere and then walk about 5-10 minutes to the entrance.
A popular option for getting to Sembawang Hot Springs is using a combination of MRT and bus. It’s affordable and eliminates the need to worry about parking. You can either walk or take the bus from Yishun, Sembawang or Canberra Station to the Park.
The most challenging thing about taking the MRT to the Hot Springs is figuring out where to transfer lines. If you are lucky enough to start your journey along the North-South Line, then you will have nothing to worry about!
There are several malls, parks and hawker centres not far from Sembawang Hot Springs, so be sure to plan ahead and make the most of your day in this area of Singapore.