Downtown MRT Station
Downtown MRT station lies beneath Central Boulevard in Singapore’s Downtown Core, between the junctions with Straits View and Marina View. It is station DT17 on the Downtown Line and is operated by SBS Transit. The station is fully underground, with side platforms spread across four levels below the street.
Downtown on the Downtown Line map
Downtown MRT station at a glance
| Station codes | DT17 |
|---|---|
| Lines | Downtown Line |
| Line colour | Blue line (Downtown Line) |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 市中心 |
| Tamil name | டௌன்டவுன் |
| Opened | 22 December 2013 (12 years ago) |
| Operator | SBS Transit |
| Station type | Underground |
| Platforms | 2 (2 side platforms) |
| Address | 15 Central Boulevard, Singapore 018969 |
| Daily ridership | About 15,851 passengers a day (2024) |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | Downtown Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:30 AM, last train 11:40 PM Full first and last train guide |
Opening date, operator and ridership figures are LTA data as recorded on Wikipedia.
See Downtown on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
Most passengers here are heading to work. The station sits at the centre of the Marina Bay Financial Centre, and its six entrances lead directly into or close to buildings such as Asia Square, One Raffles Quay, SGX Centre, Hong Leong Building, Marina Bay Suites and OUE Downtown. It is also within walking distance of Raffles Place and Marina Bay stations on the North South Line, which makes it a practical choice if you are moving between the two lines on foot.
History of Downtown MRT station
The station first appeared on plans in 2005 under the name Landmark, as part of a short extension that was originally meant to branch off the Circle Line. When that extension became the first stage of the Downtown Line, the name was put to a public poll, and Downtown was chosen in 2009. After an open house on 7 December 2013, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officially opened the line here on 21 December, and passenger service began the next day.
Inside Downtown MRT station
On the platform walls you will find Leaves by Jason Lim, an Art-in-Transit mosaic of six large leaf blades based on bamboo, a plant linked with integrity and resilience. From a distance the leaves point you towards the platforms, while up close the pixel-like tiles form patterns of plant cells, meant to suggest how local businesses are connected.
Away from the office towers, Downtown MRT station is a convenient base for food, shopping and a few cultural stops. Within a short walk you can reach:
- Marina Bay Link Mall, the closest shopping option, a few minutes from the station
- Lau Pa Sat, a food centre about five minutes away and a popular lunch spot for people working nearby
- Red Dot Design Museum, roughly a six minute walk
- Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, under ten minutes on foot
For residents, Downtown MRT station is mainly useful for commuting to the financial district and for weekday meals around Marina One and Lau Pa Sat. Visitors can use it as a starting point to walk through the business district towards the heritage museums on the edge of Chinatown.
Around Downtown MRT station
Downtown station sits in the heart of Singapore's central business district, surrounded by office towers, financial institutions and upscale mixed-use developments. Marina Bay Link Mall and Marina One are among the shopping and dining options within a short walk, serving the large working population in the area. The neighbourhood also has cultural and heritage attractions a little further afield, including the Red Dot Design Museum and the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marina Bay Link Mall | Shopping mall | About 190 m (~3 min walk) | Visit for shopping and dining in a central business district setting. |
| Marina One | Shopping mall | About 250 m (~4 min walk) | Visit for restaurants, shops and offices in a large mixed-use development. |
| Lau Pa Sat | Food centre | About 280 m (~5 min walk) | Visit for local hawker food in one of Singapore's well-known food centres. |
| Red Dot Design Museum | Museum | About 390 m (~6 min walk) | Visit to explore design exhibitions and a collection of award-winning products. |
| OUE Downtown | Shopping mall | About 510 m (~8 min walk) | Visit for retail and dining options within a major office and commercial complex. |
| Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre | Museum | About 550 m (~9 min walk) | Visit to learn about Chinese culture, heritage and the arts in Singapore. |
| Nagore Durgha Indian Muslim Heritage Centre | Museum | About 590 m (~10 min walk) | Visit to discover the history and heritage of the Indian Muslim community. |
| Chinatown | Attraction | About 1010 m (~16 min walk) | Visit to explore the streets, temples, shophouses and food of Chinatown. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Downtown 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 Bugis (10 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Bugis to Downtown (3 stops). About 13 stops with 1 change. |
|---|---|
| From Orchard | Take the North South Line from Orchard to Newton (1 stop), then change to the Downtown Line from Newton to Downtown (6 stops). About 7 stops with 1 change. |
| From City Hall | Take the East West Line from City Hall to Bugis (1 stop), then change to the Downtown Line from Bugis to Downtown (3 stops). About 4 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 Chinatown (1 stop), then change to the Downtown Line from Chinatown to Downtown (2 stops). About 11 stops with 2 changes. |
| From Woodlands | Take the Thomson East Coast Line from Woodlands to Stevens (8 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Stevens to Downtown (7 stops). About 15 stops with 1 change. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Chinatown (2 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Chinatown to Downtown (2 stops). About 4 stops with 1 change. |
Fares from Downtown MRT station
A trip from Downtown to Changi Airport (about 21 km) costs S$2.33 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Downtown 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 21 km, 13 stops | S$2.33 | S$1.83 | S$2.46 |
| Orchard | about 7 km, 7 stops | S$1.75 | S$1.25 | S$1.88 |
| City Hall | about 4 km, 4 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
| Raffles Place | about 5 km, 5 stops | S$1.59 | S$1.09 | S$1.72 |
| Jurong East | about 16 km, 11 stops | S$2.11 | S$1.61 | S$2.24 |
| Woodlands | about 25 km, 15 stops | S$2.40 | S$1.90 | S$2.53 |
| HarbourFront | about 5 km, 4 stops | S$1.49 | S$0.99 | S$1.62 |
| Marina Bay | about 2 km, 2 stops | S$1.28 | S$0.78 | S$1.40 |
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 Downtown MRT station
- Marina Bay Link Mall and Marina One are both within a short walk, making them convenient first stops for food or shopping after alighting.
- Lau Pa Sat is approximately a five-minute walk and is a popular lunch spot, so expect larger crowds during weekday midday hours.
- For places such as the Nagore Durgha Indian Muslim Heritage Centre and Chinatown, allow extra time as the walk is considerably longer, and you may prefer to take the train to a nearer station instead.
- The Downtown Line runs frequently, so if you are connecting to other parts of Singapore after visiting the area, check which nearby station on another line best suits your onward journey.
All stations on the Downtown Line
In order along the line, with Downtown marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| DT1 | Bukit Panjang | DT / BP |
| DT2 | Cashew | None |
| DT3 | Hillview | None |
| DT4 | Hume | None |
| DT5 | Beauty World | None |
| DT6 | King Albert Park | None |
| DT7 | Sixth Avenue | None |
| DT8 | Tan Kah Kee | None |
| DT9 | Botanic Gardens | DT / CC |
| DT10 | Stevens | DT / TE |
| DT11 | Newton | NS / DT |
| DT12 | Little India | DT / NE |
| DT13 | Rochor | None |
| DT14 | Bugis | DT / EW |
| DT15 | Promenade | CC / DT |
| DT16 | Bayfront | CE / DT |
| DT17 | Downtown (you are here) | None |
| DT18 | Telok Ayer | None |
| DT19 | Chinatown | DT / NE |
| DT20 | Fort Canning | None |
| DT21 | Bencoolen | None |
| DT22 | Jalan Besar | None |
| DT23 | Bendemeer | None |
| DT24 | Geylang Bahru | None |
| DT25 | Mattar | None |
| DT26 | MacPherson | CC / DT |
| DT27 | Ubi | None |
| DT28 | Kaki Bukit | None |
| DT29 | Bedok North | None |
| DT30 | Bedok Reservoir | None |
| DT31 | Tampines West | None |
| DT32 | Tampines | EW / DT |
| DT33 | Tampines East | None |
| DT34 | Upper Changi | None |
| DT35 | Expo | DT / CG |
Read the full Downtown Line guide.
Downtown MRT station: common questions
Which line is Downtown MRT station on?
Downtown is on the Downtown Line. Its station code is DT17.
Is Downtown an interchange station?
No. Downtown is served by the Downtown Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.
What time is the first and last train at Downtown?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Downtown a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. Downtown Line first train 5:30 AM, last train 11:40 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
What is near Downtown MRT station?
The area around Downtown station includes Marina Bay Link Mall, Marina One, Lau Pa Sat, the Red Dot Design Museum, OUE Downtown, the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, and the Nagore Durgha Indian Muslim Heritage Centre, all within approximately ten minutes on foot. Chinatown is also reachable on foot, though it is roughly sixteen minutes away.
Which shopping mall or food centre is closest to Downtown MRT station?
Marina Bay Link Mall is the closest shopping option, at approximately 190 metres, which is roughly a three-minute walk. For hawker food, Lau Pa Sat is approximately 280 metres away, or about a five-minute walk.
How far is Lau Pa Sat from Downtown MRT station?
Lau Pa Sat is approximately 280 metres from Downtown station in a straight line, which works out to roughly a five-minute walk. Please note that actual walking distance may be slightly longer depending on the route taken.
How do I get to Downtown from Changi Airport by MRT?
Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Bugis (10 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Bugis to Downtown (3 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 Downtown
- Tampines bus contract: why Go-Ahead won despite higher bid 6 Nov 2026
- Sketching on the MRT: What If Someone Draws Your Child? 6 Nov 2026
- Getting to Sentosa by public transport: MRT, cable car and monorail 6 Nov 2026
- Vomit on MRT: What to Do When Your Cabin Is Soiled 6 Nov 2026
Plan the rest of the trip
Every station on the Downtown 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 Downtown station
Downtown has 11 mapped exits (1 to G). 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 1: closest to Central Linear Park (about 75 m from the entrance)
- Exit 2
- Exit 4: closest to Central Linear Park (about 102 m from the entrance)
- Exit 5: closest to Central Linear Park (about 109 m from the entrance)
- Exit A: closest to The Lawn@Marina Bay (about 83 m from the entrance)
- Exit B: closest to The Lawn@Marina Bay (about 69 m from the entrance)
- Exit C: closest to The Lawn@Marina Bay (about 82 m from the entrance)
- Exit D
- Exit E
- Exit F: closest to The Lawn@Marina Bay (about 101 m from the entrance)
- Exit G
Bus stops within 250 m of Downtown station
| Bus stop | Stop code | Services | From station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Station Exit E | 03529 | 97, 97e, 106, 133, 400, 502, 502A, 513, 651, 653, 654, 655, 657, 661, 666, 667, 668, 670, 671, 672, 982E | 12 m |
| Before Marina Way | NoServices | 181 m | |
| One Raffles Quay | 03059 | 10, 10e, 57, 70, 75, 100, 107, 130, 131, 131A, 162, 167, 186, 196, 196A, 196e, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 951E, 970 | 242 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 Downtown 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.