Bencoolen MRT Station
Bencoolen MRT station is a station on the Downtown Line, carrying the station code DT21. It sits in the central area of Singapore, serving a mixed neighbourhood that combines older residential streets with schools, small businesses, and cultural institutions close to the city centre.
Bencoolen on the Downtown Line map
Bencoolen station at a glance
| Station codes | DT21 |
|---|---|
| Lines | Downtown Line |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 明古连 |
| Tamil name | பென்கூலன் |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | Downtown Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:30 AM, last train 11:35 PM Full first and last train guide |
See Bencoolen on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
The station is not an interchange, but the Downtown Line connects it efficiently to the wider network. Its neighbouring stations are Fort Canning to the west and Jalan Besar to the east. From those stations, passengers can travel onward to interchange points across the island, reaching lines such as the North South Line, East West Line, and Circle Line with only a few stops.
The area around Bencoolen station is close to the Singapore Management University campus, which occupies a substantial stretch of the district. The neighbourhood also borders the Bras Basah area, a well known part of central Singapore associated with arts centres, bookshops, and educational institutions. On foot, visitors can reach this cluster of civic and cultural buildings within a short walk of the station exits.
Around Bencoolen station
Bencoolen station sits in the Bras Basah and Bugis district, a cultural and educational zone home to universities, museums and shopping options. The area is well known for institutions such as Singapore Management University and the National Museum of Singapore. It is a lively mixed-use neighbourhood drawing students, tourists and shoppers alike.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Management University | University | About 70 m (~1 min walk) | Visit for university campus facilities and the surrounding student atmosphere. |
| Objectifs - Centre for Photography and Film | Museum | About 210 m (~3 min walk) | Visit for photography and film exhibitions in a specialist arts centre. |
| The Cathay | Shopping mall | About 300 m (~5 min walk) | Visit for cinema, dining and retail in a mid-sized city mall. |
| Singapore Management University Campus | University | About 310 m (~5 min walk) | Visit for the broader SMU campus grounds and academic facilities. |
| National Museum of Singapore | Museum | About 350 m (~6 min walk) | Visit for permanent and touring collections covering Singapore's history and culture. |
| Bugis Plus | Shopping mall | About 430 m (~7 min walk) | Visit for a range of retail shops and food outlets in a modern mall. |
| Bras Basah Complex | Shopping mall | About 440 m (~7 min walk) | Visit for second-hand books, art supplies and specialist retailers. |
| Peranakan Museum | Museum | About 540 m (~9 min walk) | Visit for exhibitions exploring Peranakan heritage and culture. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Bencoolen by MRT
Worked out from the network map. Stop counts are station to station and do not include walking or waiting time.
| From Changi Airport | Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Paya Lebar (6 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Paya Lebar to MacPherson (1 stop), then change to the Downtown Line from MacPherson to Bencoolen (5 stops). About 12 stops with 2 changes. |
|---|---|
| From Orchard | Take the North South Line from Orchard to Dhoby Ghaut (2 stops), then change to the North East Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Chinatown (2 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Chinatown to Bencoolen (2 stops). About 6 stops with 2 changes. |
| From City Hall | Take the North South Line from City Hall to Dhoby Ghaut (1 stop), then change to the North East Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Chinatown (2 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Chinatown to Bencoolen (2 stops). About 5 stops with 2 changes. |
| From Jurong East | Take the East West Line from Jurong East to Buona Vista (3 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Buona Vista to HarbourFront (7 stops), then change to the North East Line from HarbourFront to Chinatown (1 stop), then change to the Downtown Line from Chinatown to Bencoolen (2 stops). About 13 stops with 3 changes. |
| From Woodlands | Take the Thomson East Coast Line from Woodlands to Stevens (8 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Stevens to Bencoolen (11 stops). About 19 stops with 1 change. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Chinatown (1 stop), then change to the Downtown Line from Chinatown to Bencoolen (2 stops). About 3 stops with 1 change. |
Tips for using Bencoolen station
- Singapore Management University is the closest destination and is reachable in about a minute on foot from the station.
- The National Museum of Singapore, Peranakan Museum and Bras Basah Complex are all within walking distance, so consider grouping visits to save time.
- During morning and evening peak hours, the Downtown Line can be busy, so allow a little extra time for your journey.
- Bugis Plus and Bras Basah Complex are roughly a seven-minute walk away, making them easy to reach on foot without needing to change transport.
All stations on the Downtown Line
In order along the line, with Bencoolen marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| DT1 | Bukit Panjang | DT / BP |
| DT2 | Cashew | – |
| DT3 | Hillview | – |
| DT5 | Beauty World | – |
| DT6 | King Albert Park | – |
| DT7 | Sixth Avenue | – |
| DT8 | Tan Kah Kee | – |
| DT9 | Botanic Gardens | DT / CC |
| DT10 | Stevens | DT / TE |
| DT11 | Newton | NS / DT |
| DT12 | Little India | DT / NE |
| DT13 | Rochor | – |
| DT14 | Bugis | DT / EW |
| DT15 | Promenade | CC / DT |
| DT16 | Bayfront | CE / DT |
| DT17 | Downtown | – |
| DT18 | Telok Ayer | – |
| DT19 | Chinatown | DT / NE |
| DT20 | Fort Canning | – |
| DT21 | Bencoolen (you are here) | – |
| DT22 | Jalan Besar | – |
| DT23 | Bendemeer | – |
| DT24 | Geylang Bahru | – |
| DT25 | Mattar | – |
| DT26 | MacPherson | CC / DT |
| DT27 | Ubi | – |
| DT28 | Kaki Bukit | – |
| DT29 | Bedok North | – |
| DT30 | Bedok Reservoir | – |
| DT31 | Tampines West | – |
| DT32 | Tampines | EW / DT |
| DT33 | Tampines East | – |
| DT34 | Upper Changi | – |
| DT35 | Expo | DT / CG |
Read the full Downtown Line guide.
Bencoolen station: common questions
Which line is Bencoolen MRT station on?
Bencoolen is on the Downtown Line. Its station code is DT21.
Is Bencoolen an interchange station?
No. Bencoolen is served by the Downtown Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.
What time is the first and last train at Bencoolen?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Bencoolen a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. Downtown Line first train 5:30 AM, last train 11:35 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
What is near Bencoolen MRT station?
The station is surrounded by a mix of cultural and educational landmarks, including Singapore Management University at approximately 70 metres, the National Museum of Singapore at approximately 350 metres and Bras Basah Complex at approximately 440 metres, among others.
Which shopping mall is closest to Bencoolen station?
The Cathay is the closest shopping mall at approximately 300 metres, which is roughly a five-minute walk from the station.
How far is the National Museum of Singapore from Bencoolen station?
The National Museum of Singapore is approximately 350 metres from Bencoolen station, which is roughly a six-minute walk.
How do I get to Bencoolen from Changi Airport by MRT?
Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Paya Lebar (6 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Paya Lebar to MacPherson (1 stop), then change to the Downtown Line from MacPherson to Bencoolen (5 stops). About 12 stops with 2 changes.
Sources: station codes, line colours and interchanges from the LTA rail system map; operating hours from SMRT and SBS Transit. Last reviewed September 2026.
News and guides mentioning Bencoolen
- Singapore MRT Art in Transit Programme Explained 13 Aug 2026
Plan the rest of the trip
Every station on the Downtown Line is listed on its line guide, with the full route and interchanges. For times, see the first and last train guide, and for the whole network in one view use the interactive Singapore MRT map or the PDF map.