Dakota MRT Station
Dakota MRT station is an underground station on the Circle Line, numbered CC8, and runs beneath Old Airport Road in the Geylang area of eastern Singapore. It is operated by SMRT Trains and sits within an established residential district of older public housing, schools and well-known places to eat.
Dakota on the Circle Line map
Dakota MRT station at a glance
| Station codes | CC8 |
|---|---|
| Lines | Circle Line |
| Line colour | Yellow line (Circle Line) |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 达科达 |
| Tamil name | டகோட்டா |
| Opened | 17 April 2010 (16 years ago) |
| Operator | SMRT Trains |
| Station type | Underground |
| Platforms | 2 (1 island platform) |
| Address | 211 Old Airport Road, Singapore 397971 |
| Daily ridership | About 7,870 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 Dakota on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
Most of the people who use the station live or study nearby. It serves the Dakota Crescent housing estate as well as students and staff at Broadrick Secondary School and Kong Hwa School. It also draws a steady stream of visitors heading to the food centre and shops on Old Airport Road. The Mountbatten Neighbourhood Police Post is also close by.
History of Dakota MRT station
The station opened on 17 April 2010, when the Circle Line began running between Dhoby Ghaut and Tai Seng. It was planned under the name Tanjong Katong and only became Dakota in July 2005, after the Land Transport Authority held a public poll on station names. Work on the site was paused following the Nicoll Highway collapse in April 2004, and the partly dug station had to be filled in and rebuilt before construction could carry on.
Inside Dakota MRT station
The station is wheelchair accessible, with wider fare gates for wheelchair users and tactile routes of raised studs leading visually impaired passengers from the entrances to the platforms. Bicycle facilities are also provided. On display is Little Things, Little Stories by the art group A Dose of Light, part of the Art-in-Transit programme. It brings together about 70 photographs of everyday objects from the Dakota neighbourhood, such as kueh moulds and kopitiam plastic chairs, and its creators intended it as a visual time capsule of the area.
For most visitors, the main reason to get off here is food. Old Airport Road Food Centre & Shopping Mall is around a five minute walk from Dakota MRT station, and several smaller spots are even closer, including Lau Par Sat Taiwan Porridge, Roast Paradise and 3rd Culture Brewing Co. Residents use the station to reach Mountbatten Community Club, a few minutes away on foot, and Kallang Estate Fresh Market and Food Centre for daily marketing. If you want more shopping, Grandlink Square and City Plaza are both within a walk of under 15 minutes.
Around Dakota MRT station
Dakota MRT station sits within a largely residential neighbourhood with a strong food culture, anchored by the well-known Old Airport Road Food Centre and Shopping Mall roughly 5 minutes on foot. The surrounding streets are filled with housing estates and community facilities, including the nearby Mountbatten Community Club. A handful of independent food businesses and hawker options make this area a popular destination for those seeking local Singapore dining.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountbatten Community Club | Community club | About 230 m (~4 min walk) | Visit for community programmes, sports facilities, and local resident activities. |
| Lau Par Sat Taiwan Porridge | Food centre | About 240 m (~4 min walk) | Visit for Taiwanese-style porridge and related Taiwanese food options. |
| 3rd Culture Brewing Co. | Food centre | About 260 m (~4 min walk) | Visit for craft beer and casual dining in an independent brewery setting. |
| Roast Paradise 烧味天堂 | Food centre | About 270 m (~4 min walk) | Visit for roasted meats and classic Cantonese barbecue dishes. |
| Old Airport Road Food Centre & Shopping Mall | Shopping mall | About 310 m (~5 min walk) | Visit for a wide range of hawker stalls, local produce, and everyday shopping. |
| Kallang Estate Fresh Market and Food Centre | Market / hawker centre | About 530 m (~9 min walk) | Visit for fresh market produce and a broad selection of cooked food stalls. |
| Grandlink Square | Shopping mall | About 730 m (~12 min walk) | Visit for a mix of retail shops and commercial businesses. |
| City Plaza | Shopping mall | About 890 m (~14 min walk) | Visit for retail shopping and a variety of commercial services. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Dakota 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 Dakota (1 stop). About 7 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 Dakota (7 stops). About 9 stops with 1 change. |
| From City Hall | Take the East West Line from City Hall to Paya Lebar (5 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Paya Lebar to Dakota (1 stop). About 6 stops with 1 change. |
| 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 Dakota (13 stops). About 16 stops with 1 change. |
| From Woodlands | Take the North South Line from Woodlands to Bishan (8 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Bishan to Dakota (7 stops). About 15 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 Dakota (7 stops). About 11 stops with 1 change. |
Fares from Dakota MRT station
A trip from Dakota to Changi Airport (about 14 km) costs S$2.07 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Dakota 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 14 km, 7 stops | S$2.07 | S$1.57 | S$2.20 |
| Orchard | about 8 km, 9 stops | S$1.75 | S$1.25 | S$1.88 |
| City Hall | about 7 km, 6 stops | S$1.75 | S$1.25 | S$1.88 |
| Raffles Place | about 8 km, 7 stops | S$1.82 | S$1.32 | S$1.95 |
| Jurong East | about 25 km, 16 stops | S$2.42 | S$1.92 | S$2.55 |
| Woodlands | about 26 km, 15 stops | S$2.43 | S$1.93 | S$2.56 |
| HarbourFront | about 12 km, 11 stops | S$1.94 | S$1.44 | S$2.07 |
| Marina Bay | about 6 km, 6 stops | S$1.68 | S$1.18 | S$1.81 |
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 Dakota MRT station
- Old Airport Road Food Centre and Shopping Mall is within a comfortable 5-minute walk and is a good first stop for a meal after arriving at the station.
- Kallang Estate Fresh Market and Food Centre is approximately 9 minutes on foot, so consider whether you prefer to walk or take a short bus ride depending on your energy and time.
- Grandlink Square and City Plaza are both over 700 metres away, making them more practical to reach by bus than on foot, especially in Singapore's heat.
- The area can be busier around lunchtime and weekend mornings, particularly near the food centres, so allow a little extra time if you are visiting during peak hours.
All stations on the Circle Line
In order along the line, with Dakota marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| CC1 | Dhoby Ghaut | NS / NE / CC |
| CC2 | Bras Basah | None |
| CC3 | Esplanade | None |
| CC4 | Promenade | CC / DT |
| CC5 | Nicoll Highway | None |
| CC6 | Stadium | None |
| CC7 | Mountbatten | None |
| CC8 | Dakota (you are here) | 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.
Dakota MRT station: common questions
Which line is Dakota MRT station on?
Dakota is on the Circle Line. Its station code is CC8.
Is Dakota an interchange station?
No. Dakota 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 Dakota?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Dakota 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 Dakota MRT station?
The area around Dakota station has several food options including Old Airport Road Food Centre and Shopping Mall at roughly 5 minutes' walk, as well as Mountbatten Community Club and a number of smaller food businesses all within approximately 4 to 5 minutes on foot.
Which food centre is closest to Dakota MRT station?
Lau Par Sat Taiwan Porridge, 3rd Culture Brewing Co., and Roast Paradise are all approximately 240 to 270 metres from the station, making them among the nearest food options. Old Airport Road Food Centre and Shopping Mall is slightly further at around 310 metres, roughly a 5-minute walk.
How far is Old Airport Road Food Centre from Dakota MRT station?
Old Airport Road Food Centre and Shopping Mall is approximately 310 metres from Dakota MRT station, which works out to roughly a 5-minute walk. This distance is approximate and may vary depending on your route.
How do I get to Dakota 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 Dakota (1 stop). About 7 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 Dakota
- 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
- Circle Line Map 11 Aug 2023
- Tamil 11 Aug 2023
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 Dakota station
Dakota has 2 mapped exits (A to B). 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
- Exit B
Bus stops within 250 m of Dakota station
| Bus stop | Stop code | Services | From station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Station Exit A/Blk 99 | 81181 | 10, 16, 16M, 30, 30e, 31, 32, 33 | 17 m |
| Dakota Station Exit B/Blk 60 | 81189 | 10, 16, 16M, 30, 30e, 31, 32, 33, 33B, 401 | 23 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 Dakota station
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.