Get to The Rail Mall very fast and without stress using this detailed guide.
Welcome to the step-by-step guide on how to get to The Rail Mall in Singapore.
Regardless of whether you are living in or visiting Singapore, we will outline every step on how to get there using multiple forms of transportation such as
MRT
Public Bus Services
Taxi
Private Vehicle
The Rail Mall is located in Bukit Panjang which is an area of Singapore that is well north of the city centre. Consequently, some planning is required, especially for commuters who are not staying close to Bukit Panjang (for example if you are staying at one of the popular hotels downtown). Line transfers and station information is something we will discuss.
Aside from explaining how to reach The Rail Mall, we will share information about interesting itinerary ideas near the mall and the best places to stay in Singapore. Several parks, shopping malls, food centres, and attractions are located close to it and they are worth visiting during the same day.
Shopping at The Rail Mall in Bukit Panjang, Singapore
The Rail Mall is a unique shopping and dining experience in Singapore. It consists of a single storey of shops, cafes and bars and service centres in Bukit Panjang.
Unlike some of Singapore’s megamalls, The Rail Mall is super easy to navigate and provides a unique alfresco experience. It is a prominent retail strip where you can walk outside from one shop to the next.
Sometimes compared to Holland Village, The Rail Mall is a more compact place to chill with family and friends.
You might be surprised by the variety of shops here.
According to our research, The Rail Mall has several food and beverage outlets (cafes, restaurants and bars) and an enrichment centre.
You will also be able to enjoy several lifestyle services there such as :
Several medical clinics
Dental Clinic
Spa and Make-Up
Salon
Locals also head to The Rail Mall for groceries. The supermarket is a busy place and convenient for residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Getting to The Rail Mall by MRT
Step 1: Plan your route – stations, lines and transfers.
The closest MRT Station to The Rail Mall is Hillview Station (DT3).
Hillview Station is the third station on the northern end of the Downtown MRT Line.
It is represented in dark blue colour on Singapore’s metro map.
Transferring to the Downtown MRT Line
Many commuters simply do not stay near a station along the Downtown Line. Consequently, if you are one of them, you will have to transfer lines on the way to The Rail Mall.
Fortunately, there are several transfer stations available between different lines and the Downtown Line.
We have summarized some of the most popular transfer stations below on your way to The Rail Mall:
Little India (transfer between the North-East and Downtown Line)
Botanic Gardens (transfer between the Circle Line and Downtown Line)
Newton (transfer between the North-South and Downtown Line)
Bugis (transfer between the East-West Line and Downtown Line)
Other popular transfer stations in the Promenade, Bayfront, Marina Bay, and Chinatown Station to transfer to the Downtown Line.
Chinatown, in particular, is known as an affordable place to stay in Singapore. It features tons of budget boutique hotels and hostels.
Step 2: Find the closest MRT station.
If you want to make your trip to The Rail Mall more efficient, stay as close as possible to an MRT station. Avoiding taxi fees, parking fees, and time spent in traffic should be a priority.
As a general rule, try to say within 500 m or less from a station. Singaporeans likely have a station that they use all the time, but for visitors, book a room in a strategic area with direct MRT access.
In the section below, we have shared three places to stay that are within 3 minutes of neighbouring stations. Staying at one ensures fast and worry-free access to the metro system.
High-End
The Fullerton Hotel (5-star, 9.0/10 review score, close to Raffles Place Station)
Moderate
Hotel Bencoolen @ Hong Kong Street (4-star, 8.3/10 review score, very close to Clarke Quay Station)
Read our guide on the best areas to stay in Singapore if you want suggestions about strategic locations for sightseeing and getting around.
Step 3: Purchase an MRT card/ticket to reach Hillview Station and The Rail Mall.
Tourist Passes are one of the most popular forms of public transport tickets for foreign tourists in the city. They are designed for people visiting for a few days.
The main benefit of getting a Tourist Pass is unlimited bus and train rides throughout the city. If you don’t plan on travelling around a lot, then one of the other ticketing options may be more suitable for you.
We used a stored value card while learning about how to get to The Rail Mall in Singapore. All you need to do is buy one, top it up with cash and then tap to enter and exit the metro.
COST-SAVING TIP: Singapore is expensive, but one of the best ways to save money is by getting a multiple-attraction pass. When you buy these online in advance you can save up to 52% on entrance fees. So far, over 200,000 of these have been purchased by Singaporeans and visitors to the city.
You can use these for buses as well.
You can purchase single journey and multiple journey tickets at MRT stations throughout Singapore. Buy one from a ticketing machine on your way to The Rail Mall.
Some important considerations that you should consider before purchasing a ticket include your planned itinerary and how long you are staying in Singapore.
Step 4: Ride the MRT along the Downtown MRT Line to Hillview Station (DT3).
Take the MRT all the way to Hillview Station (DT3), located on the Downtown MRT Line.
Refer to metro maps in stations along the way if you are transferring lines.
The two adjacent stations to Hillview are Cashew (DT2) to the north and Beauty World (DT4) to the south. Get closer to an exit on the train once you stop at either one of these stations.
Step 5: Alight at Hillview Station. (DT3).
Get off the train at Hillview Station which is north of The Rail Mall.
Step 6: Exit Hillview Station.
You will arrive at Basement Level 3 at Hillview Station.
The station consists of 3 levels, B3, B2 and L1.
Travel up to Level 1 of the station which is Street Level.
Hillview MRT station has two exits at ground level (Exit A and Exit B).
Take Exit A at Hillview Station in order to access The Rail Mall.
Step 7: Walk or take the bus from Hillview Station to The Rail Mall.
Walking Directions from Hillview Station to The Rail Mall
Exit A will bring you out onto Upper Bukit Timah Road.
Walk south along Upper Bukit Timah Road. There is a covered walkway (sidewalk) that you can take if it is really hot out or raining.
Continue walking along Upper Bukit Timah Road until you see the mall to your left (east).
Enter Chia Eng Say Road and enter the mall.
How long does it take to walk from Hillview Station to The Rail Mall?
The walk from Hillview MRT Station to The Rail Mall is about 450 metres and this should talk you about 5-6 minutes to get there.
It’s a really easy walk because you just travel south along Upper Bukit Timah Road (no complex navigation skills are required).
Bus Directions from Hillview Station to the Rail Mall
Take Exit A from Hillview Station and walk to Hillview Station A Bus Stop (#43069).
Get on any of the following bus services:
170
178
184
67
961
Travel on the bus south to The Rail Mall Bus Stop (#43059).
Get off the bus and walk directly to The Rail Mall.
How long does it take to take the bus from Hillview Station to The Rail Mall?
The bus ride from Hillview Station to The Rail Mall should only take you 2-3 minutes (including the walk to the mall after you get dropped off).
Getting to The Rail Mall in Singapore using Public Bus Services
Many people get to the Rail Mall in Singapore using bus services as opposed to MRT. Fortunately, there are several bus routes that can drop you off right near the mall entrance, making the walk fast and stress-free.
In the table below, we have summarized all the most convenient bus stops near The Rail Mall along with buses servicing them.
Bus Stop |
Bus Numbers |
| #43059 The Rail Mall
(Most convenient) |
67, 75, 170, 178, 184, 961, 961M |
| #43051 Opp The Rail Mall
(Across the road from the mall) |
67, 75, 170, 170A, 178, 184, 961, 961M, 973 |
| #43069
Hillview Stn Exit A (Near the Hillview MRT Station) |
67, 75, 170, 178, 184, 961, 961M, 973 |
We have listed the stations above from most convenient to least convenient in terms of walking to The Rail Mall. Expect the walk to be only 30 seconds from the bus stop directly in front of the mall along Upper Bukit Timah Road.
Driving or Taking a Taxi to The Rail Mall
A lot of people choose to drive or take a taxi directly to The Rail Mall. There are pros and cons to taking a vehicle there. Obviously, this can be really convenient if you are buying groceries and you don’t need to spend as much time getting there.
Parking is available on-site.
Taxi and parking fees can be avoided by taking public transportation. But, if you are carpooling, the price can be similar per person.
The official address for The Rail Mall in Singapore is:
380 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678040
Upper Bukit Timah Road provides direct access to the Rail Mall, but using expressways such as PIE and BKE will get you to the general area.
Always double-check traffic conditions before heading to The Rail Mall by vehicle. Avoid road congestion by travelling during off-peak hours or by using public transport (MRT/bus services).
Should you stay near The Rail Mall in Singapore?
The direct area around The Rail Mall can be cool to visit, but it isn’t very popular as an accommodation hub. It is considered too far north for tourists and business travellers who would prefer to be closer to downtown.
You might be better off staying downtown near an MRT station, making it possible to follow the Downtown Line north to Hillview Station.
In general, the most popular areas to stay in Singapore include:
Marina Bay
Chinatown
Orchard
Bugis
Little India
Marina Bay Sands (5-star, 9.0/10 review score rating) is one of the best places to stay in Singapore and it is insanely popular. It features an amazing infinity pool that offers panoramic views of the city centre and beyond.
Little India, Chinatown and Geylang are popular with budget travellers. You can find a whole range of hotels and hostels near MRT stations in these areas.
Planning a day out near The Rail Mall
Once you make your way to The Rail Mall in Singapore, try to make a day of it. In other words, plan an itinerary to maximize your experience.
Like most areas in Singapore, you can expect to find a healthy mix of shopping malls, food centres and recreational areas to explore.
Some of the most popular shopping centres in Bukit Panjang are:
Greenridge Shopping Centre
Hillion Mall (Directions)
Fajar Shopping Centre
Bukit Panjang Plaza (Directions)
These are north of The Rail Mall.
The closest shopping centre to The Rail Mall is HillV2. You can access it from Hillview Station.
There are several excellent recreational places near The Rail Mall.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is very popular. But it isn’t the only place. Here are some additional places to get some exercise or some fun outdoor family time:
Singapore Quarry
Dairy Farm Nature Park
Pang Sua Pond
Chestnut Nature Park
Bukit Batok Nature Park
Head to Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre and Market or Kim San Leng Food Centre if you want some traditional hawker food in Bukit Panjang. But, take note that these are not that close to The Rail Mall.
Conclusion
Ideally, this guide will give you all the info you need to get to The Rail Mall in Singapore.
If you are planning on taking the MRT, remember Hillview Station is the best and most convenient place to go. Once you are there you can either walk or take the bus south along Upper Bukit Timah Road and be at The Rail Mall in 5 minutes (or less).
Various bus services are also available to The Rail Mall. The bus stop directly in front of the mall is the most convenient. You can walk from there to the mall in under 1 minute.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions about how to get to The Rail Mall in Singapore. We would be happy to help!