Changi Airport to Orchard by MRT

Quick answer: Take the East West Line (Changi Airport branch) to Tanah Merah, change at Tanah Merah to the East West Line (towards Tuas Link) to City Hall, change at City Hall to the North South Line (towards Jurong East) to Orchard. That is 14 stops with 2 changes, about 50 minutes on the train, and the adult card fare is S$2.33.

Step by step from Changi Airport to Orchard

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 9 stops to City Hall.
At City Hall change to the North South Line towards Jurong East and ride 3 stops to Orchard.

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 Orchard is TE14/NS22. See the interactive MRT map to check the route on the network.

Fare from Changi Airport to Orchard

Fare type	Adult card fare
Standard adult fare (card, contactless or phone wallet)	S$2.33
Early bird, tapping in before 7.45am on a weekday	S$1.83
From 26 December 2026, after the announced fare rise	S$2.46

The fare is based on the 22.1 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.

How long does it take?

Allow about 50 minutes on the train from Changi Airport to Orchard. 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 South Line from about 5:16 AM until about 11:48 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: Orchard to Changi Airport

At Orchard board the North South Line towards Marina South Pier and ride 3 stops to City Hall.
At City Hall change to the East West Line towards Pasir Ris and ride 9 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$2.33.

Arriving at Orchard

Orchard station sits at the heart of Singapore's main retail and leisure strip, surrounded almost entirely by shopping malls, galleries and hospitality venues. ION Orchard and Wisma Atria are among the major malls in the immediate vicinity, drawing steady crowds throughout the day. The area also has a quieter residential and heritage edge further along, with Emerald Hill offering a contrast to the commercial surroundings.

Close to the station:

ION Orchard (shopping mall, about 2 min on foot)
Opera Gallery (gallery, about 2 min on foot)
Food Opera (food centre, about 2 min on foot)
Wheelock Place (shopping mall, about 3 min on foot)
Wisma Atria (shopping mall, about 3 min on foot)

The Orchard 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 Orchard?

14 stops, with 2 changes.

How much is the MRT fare from Changi Airport to Orchard?

S$2.33 for an adult paying by card or phone, S$1.83 before 7.45am on weekdays, and S$2.46 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 Orchard

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