City Hall to Toa Payoh by MRT

Quick answer: Take the North South Line (towards Jurong East) to Toa Payoh. That is 6 stops with no change of train, about 20 minutes on the train, and the adult card fare is S$1.68.

Step by step from City Hall to Toa Payoh

At City Hall board the North South Line towards Jurong East and ride 6 stops to Toa Payoh.

This is a direct ride on one line, so once you are on the train you can stay seated until Toa Payoh. Station codes: City Hall is EW13/NS25 and Toa Payoh is NS19. See the interactive MRT map to check the route on the network.

Fare from City Hall to Toa Payoh

Fare type	Adult card fare
Standard adult fare (card, contactless or phone wallet)	S$1.68
Early bird, tapping in before 7.45am on a weekday	S$1.18
From 26 December 2026, after the announced fare rise	S$1.81

The fare is based on the 7.1 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 20 minutes on the train from City Hall to Toa Payoh. That assumes roughly 2 to 3 minutes per stop, 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 North South Line runs from about 5:16 AM until about 11:48 PM at its first station. Times at City Hall 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: Toa Payoh to City Hall

At Toa Payoh board the North South Line towards Marina South Pier and ride 6 stops to City Hall.

The return trip takes about 20 minutes and costs the same S$1.68.

Arriving at Toa Payoh

Toa Payoh is a long-established residential town in central Singapore, with a dense concentration of HDB flats and neighbourhood amenities surrounding the station. The area serves as a local commercial hub, with HDB Hub acting as the main shopping mall and several food centres such as Koufu and Gourmet Paradise catering to the resident population. Cultural and civic institutions, including Toa Payoh Public Library and the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum, add further depth to the neighbourhood.

Close to the station:

Koufu 口福 (food centre, about 1 min on foot)
Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (bus interchange, about 1 min on foot)
Gourmet Paradise 新食尚 (food centre, about 2 min on foot)
Food Alley 小食巷 (food centre, about 2 min on foot)
HDB Hub (shopping mall, about 3 min on foot)

The Toa Payoh station guide lists every exit, the lines it serves and first and last trains; the City Hall 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 City Hall to Toa Payoh?

6 stops on the North South Line with no change.

How much is the MRT fare from City Hall to Toa Payoh?

S$1.68 for an adult paying by card or phone, S$1.18 before 7.45am on weekdays, and S$1.81 from 26 December 2026.

How long is the train ride?

About 20 minutes, not counting the walk to and from the stations.

Do I need to change trains?

No. Stay on the North South Line all the way.

Which platform do I need at City Hall?

Follow the signs for the North South Line platform towards Jurong East. The platform screens show the next train and its destination.

More routes from City Hall and Toa Payoh

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