Get to United Square in Singapore super fast and easily with these specific steps!
Welcome to the complete guide on how to get to United Square Shopping Mall by MRT in Singapore. You will be delighted to know that it’s really straightforward getting to this popular mall in Novena without stepping foot in a taxi or car the entire way!
Getting around Singapore is super easy using the public transportation system because it consists of many lines, and transferring from one line to the next is fast. The MRT is also very affordable relative to other costs in Singapore and offers direct access to the city’s top attractions.
As you read through this comprehensive guide, we will focus on the following guiding questions:
What is the most convenient station for walking directly to United Square?
What types of tickets are available for your trip?
Which are the best transfer stations and lines getting to United Square?
What else is worth checking out while you are in the Novena area and where are the best places to stay?
You can make a full-day itinerary of the Novena area. We will share some suggestions for you to don’t forget to visit the best spots around United Square.
Shopping at United Square Shopping Mall in Singapore
United Square Shopping Mall in Singapore is located along Thompson Road, minutes from Novena’s popular commercial district. It is considered to be a ‘niche’ mall, tailored towards children and families. It attracts tons of families because of the high-quality kid’s edutainment offered here and shopper incentive programmes.
If you visit United Square Shopping Mall with your kids, chances are that they will learn a lot while playing. The Mall management has even coined the term: “The Kids Learning Mall” to symbolize their goal of being a children-friendly environment. There is on basement shopping level, plus four additional floors of the mall.
Aside from lots of recreational facilities for children, you will also find these services at United Square:
Baby Nursery Room
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
ATM Machines
U-POPP Gift Card Counter
AXS Machine
NETS Cashcard Top Up Machines
Complimentary Wifi
One of the clear benefits of shopping at United Square Shopping Mall is that it’s super close to other shopping malls, health facilities and food centres in Novena. Most malls are north of United Square and within either walking distance or a short ride away.
You will find hotels to stay near United Square Shopping Mall:
Hotel Royal (4-star, 7/10 review score, 830+ reviews).
Oasia Hotel Novena (4-star, 8.3/10 review score, 1324+ reviews)
Staying at any of these properties ensures convenient access to United Square Shopping Mall and Novena Health City. This area is becoming more and more popular as a destination for medical tourism services.
Getting to United Square Shopping Mall via MRT:
Step 1: Go to the nearest MRT station from your hotel or residence.
Using Singapore’s MRT network to get to United Square Shopping Mall is super easy, assuming that you can get to a station close to where you are staying.
Singaporeans and permanent residents likely already have an MRT station that they are accustomed to taking. However, tourists with children visiting the city for only a few days will have to get to a station near their hotel or hostel.
We strongly recommend booking a room in Singapore that is within walking distance of an MRT station. Not only will this make your trip to United Square Shopping Mall much more efficient, but you will also be able to see other points of interest throughout the city without wasting time in traffic. You will also avoid unnecessary fees associated with booking a taxi and parking a vehicle every time you go somewhere.
To help get you started, we have researched various online booking sites and have summarized two properties that are within 3 minutes or less of their station:
Luxury
Marina Bay Sands (5-star, 9.0/10 review score, close to Bayfront Station)
Mid Range
Hotel Bencoolen @ Hong Kong Street (4-star, 8.3/10 review score, very close to Clarke Quay Station)
Once your accommodation is taken care of, it’s time to head to United Square Shopping Mall!
Step 2: Map out your trip to United Square Shopping Mall (Lines, Stations and Transfers).
United Square Shopping Mall is easy to reach via MRT, but you have to make sure that you know which lines to use and whether you need to transfer along the way.
The section below summarizes the recommended station for walking directly to United Square Shopping Mall and line and transfer information. Keep in mind that there are metro maps available in each MRT station in Singapore.
Take a look before you get on the first train, so you know exactly where to transfer!
Stations, Lines and Transfers – United Square Shopping Mall
Novena MRT Station (NS-20) is the closest and most convenient station for United Square Shopping Mall. It is located along Singapore’s North-South MRT Line, also known as Singapore’s Red Line.
The North-South connects people staying in the Marina Bay area in the south with Jurong East and vice versa.
You should be familiar with the two neighbouring stations beside Novena Station:
Toa Payoh Station (north)
Newton Station (south)
Popular lines that connect with the North-South Line include the Downtown, East-West, and Circle Lines.
Depending on where you begin your trip in Singapore, you may have to complete at least one transfer to the North-South Line.
The three transfer stations below are popular with commuters heading to United Square Shopping Mall:
Newton – transfer between North-South and Downtown Lines
Dhoby Ghaut – transfer between North-South, North East, and Circle Lines
Bishan – transfer between North-South and Circle Lines.
Remember to check the station map and plan out your road before getting on your first train. Time is money, so don’t waste your time on the way to United Square Shopping Mall.
Step 3: Purchase a ticket or card for the ride.
Fortunately, there are several tickets/cards available to get to United Square Shopping Mall:
1) Stored Value Cards
2) Singapore Tourist Passes
We used a stored value card while learning how to get to United Square Shopping Mall by MRT. Once you buy one, make sure you top it up with cash and then just tap and go on buses and trains. Since these are usable on buses and trains, long-term guests, Singaporeans and permanent residents like stored value cards.
Tourist Passes are ideal for busy foreign tourists in Singapore. You can get unlimited train and bus rides using these passes, but you have to use them a lot. If you have a busy itinerary, these can save you a pile of money. But, if you want to just travel to a few places, stick with a traditional single or multiple journey ticket.
COST SAVING TIP: If you want to save some money in Singapore, book a Multiple Attraction Pass. With up to 52% in discounts available, these passes are an excellent way to save money while seeing the top attractions. At the time of writing, over 200,000 passes have been bought already.
Step 4: Take the North-South Line to Novena MRT Station.
Access Novena Station using the North-South MRT Line (Red). Remember to transfer lines if necessary along the way!
Step 5: Alight at Novena Station (NS-20).
Alight at Novena Station, and bring along all of your items.
Step 6: Exit Novena Station.
Novena Station only has two main exits that eventually branch off into linkways to various destinations in the Novena area:
Exit A
Exit B
Take Exit B at Novena Station to reach United Square Shopping Mall.
Step 7: Walk or take a bus from Novena Station to United Square Shopping Mall.
The walk is super fast from Novena Station to United Square Shopping Mall. It is directly northwest of the station.
Walking Directions from Novena Station to United Square
United Square is southeast of Novena Station across Thompson Road. There recently has been construction along Thompson Road, but under normal circumstances, your main goal here is just getting across Thompson Road from the station.
Once you use Exit B, turn south and walk along Thompson Road. Cross Thompson Road and walk to the entrance of United Square Shopping Mall.
The walk is about 800 meters and should take you about 8-10 minutes.
Taking a Bus from Novena Station to United Square Shopping Mall
It is also possible to take a bus from Novena Station to United Square Shopping Mall.
Take Exit B from Novena Station.
Walk 50 m north along Thompson Road. There is a bus stop at Novena Station (Station ID # – 50038).
Get on bus 131, 166, 56 or 57 and travel along Thompson Road to the stop opposite United Square (Station ID # – 50029).
Get off the bus and walk across Thompson Road to the entrance of United Square.
The bus ride from Novena Station to United Square Shopping Mall should take you about 5-9 minutes (depending on traffic).
Should you stay in this area of Singapore?
Staying in the vicinity of United Square Shopping Mall is not a bad idea. There are numerous shopping malls in the Novena area of Singapore. Also, the area northwest of United Square Shopping Mall has become a tourism hub for health care services.
Some of Singapore’s most famous hospitals are close by.
Suppose you have the choice to try to stay right near Novena Station. Then you can walk to most of the malls and health facilities.
One of the best properties right near Novena Station is:
Oasia Hotel Novena (4-star, 8.3/10 review score, 1324+ reviews)
If you don’t want to stay in Novena, we summarize all city areas in this comprehensive accommodation guide. Overall, hotels are good value for money in this area of Singapore.
If you want more 2-3 star properties, then head north along Balestier Road.
Conclusion
We genuinely hope that this article on how to get to United Square Shopping Mall by MRT has been helpful! We want you to save time, money and the environment along the way!!
Once you get to United Square Shopping Mall, don’t forget to explore other points of interest in this area. There are multiple shopping centers close to United Square and a broad range of medical services in Novena Health City.
We have created a list below of other places to explore. All times and distances below are in relation to Novena Station:
Novena Square – 1 minute (100 m) (MRT directions)
Velocity – 1 minute (100 m)
Royal Square Novena – 1 minute (100 m)
Novena 2 – 2 minutes (200 m)
Balestier Point – 17 minutes (1.3 km)
Balestier Plaza – 15 minutes (1.2 km)
Zhongshan Shopping Mall – 10 minutes (750 m)
If you want to try out some of Singapore’s traditional ‘hawker’ dishes, check out the following food centres:
Whampoa Food Centre – 19 minutes (1.5 km)
Balestier Market – 12 minutes (1 km)
Expect very competitive prices here!
Two of the most popular facilities in Novena’s Health City include:
Tan Tock Seng Hospital – 8 minutes (650 m)
Thompson Medical Centre – 9 minutes (700 m)
Goldhill Shopping Mall and Goldhill Plaza Mall are directly west of United Square Shopping Mall. You can easily walk over to them by crossing Goldhill Plaza Road.
Make the most of your day at United Square Shopping Mall. Remember to bring your kids along for an action-packed day of playing, learning and eating!