Bras Basah MRT Station
Bras Basah MRT station is an underground station on the Circle Line, carrying the code CC2. It sits beneath Bras Basah Road, where the road meets Waterloo Street and Queen Street, in the Museum planning area of central Singapore. The station lies right beside the Singapore Management University campus, with the Singapore Art Museum on its other side.
Bras Basah on the Circle Line map
Bras Basah MRT station at a glance
| Station codes | CC2 |
|---|---|
| Lines | Circle Line |
| Line colour | Yellow line (Circle Line) |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 百胜 |
| Tamil name | பிராஸ் பாசா |
| Opened | 17 April 2010 (16 years ago) |
| Operator | SMRT Trains |
| Station type | Underground |
| Platforms | 2 (1 island platform) |
| Address | 65 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189561 |
| Daily ridership | About 3,978 passengers a day (2024) |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | Circle Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:37 AM, last train 11:56 PM Full first and last train guide |
Opening date, operator and ridership figures are LTA data as recorded on Wikipedia.
See Bras Basah on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
Most passengers are students and staff heading to SMU, along with visitors to the museums, schools and heritage buildings that cluster around this part of the city. An unpaid link joins the station to Bencoolen station on the Downtown Line, so you can walk between the two lines without staying inside the fare gates.
History of Bras Basah MRT station
The station began life on paper in November 1999 as Art Museum station, part of the planned Marina line, and was later known by the working name Museum once that line was folded into the Circle Line. Its present name was chosen through a public poll in 2005 and comes from the Malay for “wet rice”. Bras Basah MRT station opened to passengers on 17 April 2010, together with the rest of Circle Line Stages 1 and 2. Its design by the architecture firm WOHA went on to be named “Best Transport Building” at the 2009 World Architecture Festival.
Inside Bras Basah MRT station
At 35 metres below the surface, the platforms are among the deepest on the network, and the escalator from the ticket concourse is the longest in the MRT system at 41 metres, taking about a minute to ride. A shallow reflecting pool forms the station roof, letting daylight reach the levels below and cutting the need for electric lighting during the day. In the evenings, the video artwork The Amazing Neverending Underwater Adventures! by Tan Kai Syng is projected onto the wall beneath the pool.
For most people, Bras Basah MRT station is the stop for culture, study and a little shopping. Singapore Management University is about a minute’s walk away, and the National Museum of Singapore is roughly five minutes on foot. The Peranakan Museum and the Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film are both around six minutes away, making it easy to visit more than one gallery in an afternoon.
If you want books, stationery or a meal, Bras Basah Complex is about five minutes away, while Raffles City Shopping Centre and The Cathay are each about seven minutes’ walk. Residents and office workers in the area also use the link to Bencoolen as a convenient way to reach the Downtown Line.
Around Bras Basah MRT station
Bras Basah station sits in a cultural and educational precinct in central Singapore. The area is home to Singapore Management University and several well-regarded museums, making it a popular destination for students and visitors alike. Shopping options such as Bras Basah Complex and Raffles City Shopping Centre are also within easy walking distance.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Management University | University | About 90 m (~1 min walk) | Visit for university campus facilities and student life in the city centre. |
| Singapore Management University Campus | University | About 90 m (~1 min walk) | Explore the main SMU campus buildings and open spaces. |
| National Museum of Singapore | Museum | About 280 m (~5 min walk) | Browse exhibitions covering Singapore's history and heritage. |
| Bras Basah Complex | Shopping mall | About 300 m (~5 min walk) | Find books, art supplies and stationery across numerous specialist shops. |
| Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film | Museum | About 350 m (~6 min walk) | Attend photography and film exhibitions or workshops. |
| Peranakan Museum | Museum | About 350 m (~6 min walk) | Discover Peranakan culture through artefacts and interactive displays. |
| Raffles City Shopping Centre | Shopping mall | About 430 m (~7 min walk) | Shop, dine or catch a film at this large city-centre mall. |
| The Cathay | Shopping mall | About 460 m (~7 min walk) | Visit for shopping, dining and cinema options in the Dhoby Ghaut area. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Bras Basah 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 Bras Basah (7 stops). About 13 stops with 1 change. |
|---|---|
| From Orchard | Take the North South Line from Orchard to Dhoby Ghaut (2 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Bras Basah (1 stop). About 3 stops with 1 change. |
| From City Hall | Take the North South Line from City Hall to Dhoby Ghaut (1 stop), then change to the Circle Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Bras Basah (1 stop). About 2 stops with 1 change. |
| From Jurong East | Take the East West Line from Jurong East to Outram Park (8 stops), then change to the North East Line from Outram Park to Dhoby Ghaut (3 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Bras Basah (1 stop). About 12 stops with 2 changes. |
| From Woodlands | Take the North South Line from Woodlands to Dhoby Ghaut (15 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Bras Basah (1 stop). About 16 stops with 1 change. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Dhoby Ghaut (4 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Bras Basah (1 stop). About 5 stops with 1 change. |
Fares from Bras Basah MRT station
A trip from Bras Basah to Changi Airport (about 20 km) costs S$2.27 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Bras Basah to the main hubs, the early bird fare for journeys that start before 7.45am on weekdays, and the fare that applies from 26 December 2026.
| To | Distance | Adult card | Before 7.45am | From 26 Dec 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Changi Airport | about 20 km, 13 stops | S$2.27 | S$1.77 | S$2.40 |
| Orchard | about 3 km, 3 stops | S$1.28 | S$0.78 | S$1.40 |
| City Hall | about 2 km, 2 stops | S$1.28 | S$0.78 | S$1.40 |
| Raffles Place | about 3 km, 3 stops | S$1.28 | S$0.78 | S$1.40 |
| Jurong East | about 17 km, 12 stops | S$2.20 | S$1.70 | S$2.33 |
| Woodlands | about 26 km, 16 stops | S$2.43 | S$1.93 | S$2.56 |
| HarbourFront | about 6 km, 5 stops | S$1.68 | S$1.18 | S$1.81 |
| Marina Bay | about 4 km, 4 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
Estimated from the route distance between stations and the Public Transport Council fare table in force from 27 December 2025. The exact fare can differ by one band. Cash fares are higher. Use the fare calculator for any other journey, or check your fare on the SimplyGo app.
Tips for using Bras Basah MRT station
- Singapore Management University and Bras Basah Complex are the closest destinations and are easily reached on foot in just a few minutes.
- Raffles City Shopping Centre and The Cathay are further away and may feel like a longer walk, especially in hot or wet weather, so allow extra time.
- During weekday peak hours, the surrounding streets near the university can be busy with students and office workers, so plan accordingly.
- Bras Basah is on the Circle Line only, so if you need to transfer to another line, alight at a nearby interchange station such as Dhoby Ghaut or City Hall.
All stations on the Circle Line
In order along the line, with Bras Basah marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| CC1 | Dhoby Ghaut | NS / NE / CC |
| CC2 | Bras Basah (you are here) | None |
| CC3 | Esplanade | None |
| CC4 | Promenade | CC / DT |
| CC5 | Nicoll Highway | None |
| CC6 | Stadium | None |
| CC7 | Mountbatten | None |
| CC8 | Dakota | None |
| CC9 | Paya Lebar | CC / EW |
| CC10 | MacPherson | CC / DT |
| CC11 | Tai Seng | None |
| CC12 | Bartley | None |
| CC13 | Serangoon | CC / NE |
| CC14 | Lorong Chuan | None |
| CC15 | Bishan | NS / CC |
| CC16 | Marymount | None |
| CC17 | Caldecott | CC / TE |
| CC19 | Botanic Gardens | DT / CC |
| CC20 | Farrer Road | None |
| CC21 | Holland Village | None |
| CC22 | Buona Vista | EW / CC |
| CC23 | one-north | None |
| CC24 | Kent Ridge | None |
| CC25 | Haw Par Villa | None |
| CC26 | Pasir Panjang | None |
| CC27 | Labrador Park | None |
| CC28 | Telok Blangah | None |
| CC29 | HarbourFront | CC / NE |
| CC30 | Keppel | None |
| CC31 | Cantonment | None |
| CC32 | Prince Edward Road | None |
Read the full Circle Line guide.
Bras Basah MRT station: common questions
Which line is Bras Basah MRT station on?
Bras Basah is on the Circle Line. Its station code is CC2.
Is Bras Basah an interchange station?
No. Bras Basah is served by the Circle Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.
What time is the first and last train at Bras Basah?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Bras Basah a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. Circle Line first train 5:37 AM, last train 11:56 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
What is near Bras Basah MRT station?
The station is close to Singapore Management University, the National Museum of Singapore, Bras Basah Complex, the Peranakan Museum, and Raffles City Shopping Centre, among other cultural and shopping destinations.
Which shopping mall is closest to Bras Basah station?
Bras Basah Complex is the closest shopping mall, approximately 300 metres away, which is roughly a 5-minute walk.
How far is the National Museum of Singapore from Bras Basah station?
The National Museum of Singapore is approximately 280 metres from the station, which is roughly a 5-minute walk.
How do I get to Bras Basah 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 Bras Basah (7 stops). About 13 stops with 1 change.
Sources: station codes, line colours and interchanges from the LTA rail system map; operating hours from SMRT and SBS Transit. Last reviewed October 2026.
News and guides mentioning Bras Basah
- シンガポール地下鉄（MRT）路線図 2026（日本語ガイド） 4 Oct 2026
- Singapore MRT Network: Lines, Fares & How It All Works 29 Sep 2026
- MRT Station Art: Stories Behind Hougang, Newton & More 28 Aug 2026
- Tanjong Pagar Distripark & SAM: Singapore Arts Guide 24 Jul 2026
Plan the rest of the trip
Every station on the Circle 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.
Exits and buses at Bras Basah station
Bras Basah has 5 mapped exits (A to E). The letters match the signs inside the station; the landmark beside each one is the closest mapped place to that entrance, so pick the exit that comes up nearest to where you are going.
- Exit A: closest to Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (about 78 m from the entrance)
- Exit B: closest to Singapore Management University (about 14 m from the entrance)
- Exit C: closest to Koufu (about 68 m from the entrance)
- Exit D: closest to Food Dynasty (about 53 m from the entrance)
- Exit E: closest to Jews of Singapore Museum (about 70 m from the entrance)
Bus stops within 250 m of Bras Basah station
| Bus stop | Stop code | Services | From station |
|---|---|---|---|
| After Bras Basah Station Exit A | 04179 | 7, 14, 14e, 16, 16M, 36, 36B, 77, 106, 111, 131, 131A, 162, 162M, 167, 175, 502, 502A, 518, 518A, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 857, 857B, 951E | 78 m |
| Singapore Management University | 04121 | 7, 7A, 14, 14A, 14e, 16, 16M, 36, 36A, 36B, 77, 106, 111, 124, 131, 147, 162, 162M, 166, 167, 174, 174e, 175, 190, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 857, 951E | 164 m |
| Cathedral Of The Good Shepherd | 04151 | 130, 133, 145, 197, 851, 851e, 960, 960e | 173 m |
| Hotel Grand Pacific | 01012 | 2, 2A, 7, 12, 12e, 32, 33, 51, 61, 63, 80, 175 | 183 m |
| Opposite Bencoolen Station Exit B | 04019 | 131, 131A, 147, 147A, 166, 857, 857B | 190 m |
| After CHIJMES | 04159 | 2, 12, 12e, 33, 147, 147A, 190 | 222 m |
Exits and bus services come from OpenStreetMap and can change when roads or routes are revised; check the board at the stop or the operator app before relying on a service late at night. For the nearest station to where you are now, use the MRT near me finder.
Places to visit from Bras Basah station
Step-by-step guides with the exit to use, the walk and the fare:
See every guide on how to get to Singapore's attractions, hospitals and malls by MRT, with routes and fares from Changi Airport, Orchard and the city.
Hungry? See food near Bras Basah MRT: hawker centres, food courts and cafes with walking times.