Changi Airport to Clarke Quay MRT: route, fare and journey time

Quick answer: for the Changi Airport to Clarke Quay MRT trip, take the East West Line (Changi Airport branch) to Tanah Merah, change at Tanah Merah to the East West Line (towards Tuas Link) to Outram Park, change at Outram Park to the North East Line (towards Punggol Coast) to Clarke Quay. That is 16 stops with 2 changes, about 50 minutes on the train, and the adult card fare is S$2.38.

Step by step from Changi Airport to Clarke Quay

At Changi Airport board the East West Line (Changi Airport branch) and ride 2 stops to Tanah Merah.
At Tanah Merah change to the East West Line towards Tuas Link and ride 12 stops to Outram Park.
At Outram Park change to the North East Line towards Punggol Coast and ride 2 stops to Clarke Quay.

Follow the overhead signs for the next line at each interchange; the platforms are linked by escalators and lifts and the change takes 2 to 5 minutes on foot. Station codes: Changi Airport is CG2 and Clarke Quay is NE5. See the interactive MRT map to check the route on the network.

Changi Airport to Clarke Quay MRT route: Singapore MRT map with every line and station — The Changi Airport and Clarke Quay stations on the Singapore MRT map. Open the interactive map to zoom in.

Stations on the Changi Airport to Clarke Quay route

The train passes 15 stations between Changi Airport and Clarke Quay. Each name links to that station guide, with its exits, bus stops and places nearby.

East West Line (Changi Airport branch): Changi Airport to Tanah Merah, 2 stops

East West Line (Changi Airport branch) map with all stations, used on the Changi Airport to Clarke Quay route — East West Line (Changi Airport branch) map. More on the East West Line (Changi Airport branch) page.

East West Line: Tanah Merah to Outram Park, 12 stops

North East Line: Outram Park to Clarke Quay, 2 stops

Outram Park (TE17/EW16/NE3): change trains here
Chinatown (DT19/NE4)
Clarke Quay (NE5)

North East Line map with all stations, used on the Changi Airport to Clarke Quay route — North East Line map. More on the North East Line page.

Changi Airport to Clarke Quay MRT fare

Fare type	Adult card fare
Standard adult fare (card, contactless or phone wallet)	S$2.38
Early bird, tapping in before 7.45am on a weekday	S$1.88
From 26 December 2026, after the announced fare rise	S$2.51

The fare is based on the 23.7 km shortest rail distance between the two stations and is the same whichever route you take. Seniors, students and children pay concession fares that are much lower. Pay with a contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, or an EZ-Link card; the gates do not take cash. More in the guide to paying for the MRT and the fare calculator. The fare bands are set by the Public Transport Council.

How long does the Changi Airport to Clarke Quay MRT journey take?

Allow about 50 minutes on the train from Changi Airport to Clarke Quay. That assumes roughly 2 to 3 minutes per stop and about 5 minutes for each change, plus a few minutes waiting for the first train. Trains run every 2 to 3 minutes at peak times and every 5 to 7 minutes off-peak, so the wait is short. Add the walk at either end: most city-centre stations have several exits and the right one can save 5 minutes.

First and last trains

The East West Line (Changi Airport branch) runs from about 5:31 AM until about 11:18 PM at its first station, and the North East Line from about 5:39 AM until about 11:55 PM. Times at Changi Airport itself depend on how far it is from the end of the line, and the last connecting train at an interchange leaves earlier than the last train of the night, so for a trip after 11.30pm check the first and last train times before you set off. Services start about half an hour later on Sundays and public holidays.

Return journey: Clarke Quay to Changi Airport

At Clarke Quay board the North East Line towards HarbourFront and ride 2 stops to Outram Park.
At Outram Park change to the East West Line towards Pasir Ris and ride 12 stops to Tanah Merah.
At Tanah Merah change to the East West Line (Changi Airport branch) and ride 2 stops to Changi Airport.

The return trip takes about 50 minutes and costs the same S$2.38.

Arriving at Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay station sits in a lively riverside entertainment and cultural district along the Singapore River. The area is dominated by dining, nightlife and shopping, with Clarke Quay Central mall just steps away. Several museums and galleries, including the Asian Civilisations Museum and National Gallery Singapore, are within walking distance, giving the neighbourhood a strong arts and heritage character.

Close to the station:

Clarke Quay Central (shopping mall, about 1 min on foot)
Eagle’s Eye Gallery (gallery, about 3 min on foot)
Gallery Thirty Three (gallery, about 3 min on foot)
Speakers' Corner (attraction, about 4 min on foot)
Funan (shopping mall, about 8 min on foot)

Hungry when you arrive? See food near Clarke Quay MRT: hawker centres, food courts and cafes with walking times.

The Clarke Quay station guide lists every exit, the lines it serves and first and last trains; the Changi Airport station guide does the same for the start of the trip.

Places to visit at either end

Frequently asked questions

How many MRT stops from Changi Airport to Clarke Quay?

16 stops, with 2 changes.

How much is the MRT fare from Changi Airport to Clarke Quay?

S$2.38 for an adult paying by card or phone, S$1.88 before 7.45am on weekdays, and S$2.51 from 26 December 2026.

How long is the train ride?

About 50 minutes, not counting the walk to and from the stations.

Do I need to change trains?

Yes, twice, as listed in the steps above. Keep your card or phone in your pocket at the interchange; you only tap at the start and end of the trip, and the fare counts as one journey.

Which platform do I need at Changi Airport?

Follow the signs for the East West Line (Changi Airport branch) platform towards Tanah Merah. The platform screens show the next train and its destination.

More routes from Changi Airport and Clarke Quay

All station pairs are on the MRT routes hub, and the fare calculator covers any pair of stations.