Esplanade MRT Station
Esplanade MRT station is an underground stop on the Circle Line, identified by the station code CC3. It lies in the Downtown Core, beneath the junction where Bras Basah Road, Raffles Boulevard and Nicoll Highway meet, and takes its name from the Esplanade performing arts centre a short distance away.
Esplanade on the Circle Line map
Esplanade MRT station at a glance
| Station codes | CC3 |
|---|---|
| Lines | Circle Line |
| Line colour | Yellow line (Circle Line) |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 滨海中心 |
| Tamil name | எஸ்பிளனேட் |
| Opened | 17 April 2010 (16 years ago) |
| Operator | SMRT Trains |
| Station type | Underground |
| Platforms | 2 (1 island platform) |
| Address | 90 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189562 |
| Daily ridership | About 8,711 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 Esplanade on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
Its passengers include audiences heading to shows at Esplanade Theatres, office workers in the commercial towers around the junction, and shoppers bound for Marina Square, Suntec City Mall and Raffles City. Visitors attending events at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre also use it. If you need the North South or East West lines, you can walk underground through CityLink Mall to City Hall station. The station also has provisions for a future interchange with a line provisionally known as the Art Centre Line.
History of Esplanade MRT station
The station was first announced in November 1999 under the working name Convention Centre, as part of the planned Marina MRT line, which was absorbed into the Circle Line in 2001. In 2004 the Land Transport Authority held a public poll to choose a permanent name. This was the first time it had asked the public to help name a station, and “Esplanade” won 49% of the vote against 41% for “War Memorial”. Esplanade MRT station opened to passengers on 17 April 2010, together with the other stations on Stages 1 and 2 of the Circle Line.
Inside Esplanade MRT station
The station is wheelchair accessible, with wider fare gates for wheelchair users and tactile routes that guide visually impaired passengers from the entrances to the platforms. It has shops in the Esplanade Xchange retail space, which also hosts Hive 2.0, a hub for retail technology start‑ups. Look out for A Piece of Ice-Clear Heart by Lim Mu Hue, a large mural made from his woodblock prints of shadow puppetry and other early Singapore performances. It was the artist’s last and largest commission.
For most people, Esplanade MRT station is a practical base for shopping, culture and the arts in the city centre. CityLink Mall is about three minutes away on foot and leads straight into Raffles City Shopping Centre, roughly a four minute walk from the station. Marina Square is around five minutes away, and the Long Bar is about the same distance. If you want to spend time in a museum, National Gallery Singapore is roughly nine minutes on foot, and the Peranakan Museum can be reached in about twelve. Families with young children may prefer Pororo Park or the Mint Museum of Toys, both around six minutes from the station.
Around Esplanade MRT station
Esplanade station sits in the heart of Singapore's civic and entertainment district, surrounded by shopping malls, museums, and leisure attractions. CityLink Mall and Marina Square are among the retail destinations within easy reach, while the National Gallery Singapore and Peranakan Museum serve the area's strong cultural character. The neighbourhood draws a mix of tourists, office workers, and locals throughout the day.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| CityLink Mall | Shopping mall | About 180 m (~3 min walk) | CityLink Mall: a convenient stop for shopping and dining in the city centre area. |
| Raffles City Shopping Centre | Shopping mall | About 250 m (~4 min walk) | Raffles City Shopping Centre: a large mall with a wide range of retail and dining options. |
| Long Bar | Attraction | About 300 m (~5 min walk) | Long Bar: known as the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail, worth a visit for history lovers. |
| Marina Square | Shopping mall | About 330 m (~5 min walk) | Marina Square: a spacious mall offering retail, dining, and leisure options by the bay. |
| Mint Museum of Toys | Museum | About 340 m (~6 min walk) | Mint Museum of Toys: a museum dedicated to vintage toys and collectibles from around the world. |
| Pororo Park | Theme park | About 360 m (~6 min walk) | Pororo Park: an indoor theme park suitable for young children and families. |
| National Gallery Singapore | Museum | About 570 m (~9 min walk) | National Gallery Singapore: showcases a significant collection of Southeast Asian and Singaporean art. |
| Peranakan Museum | Museum | About 720 m (~12 min walk) | Peranakan Museum: explores the culture and heritage of the Peranakan communities of Southeast Asia. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Esplanade 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 Esplanade (6 stops). About 12 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 Esplanade (2 stops). About 4 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 Esplanade (2 stops). About 3 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 Esplanade (2 stops). About 13 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 Esplanade (2 stops). About 17 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 Esplanade (2 stops). About 6 stops with 1 change. |
Fares from Esplanade MRT station
A trip from Esplanade to Changi Airport (about 19 km) costs S$2.24 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Esplanade 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 19 km, 12 stops | S$2.24 | S$1.74 | S$2.37 |
| Orchard | about 3 km, 4 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
| City Hall | about 3 km, 3 stops | S$1.28 | S$0.78 | S$1.40 |
| Raffles Place | about 4 km, 4 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
| Jurong East | about 18 km, 13 stops | S$2.20 | S$1.70 | S$2.33 |
| Woodlands | about 27 km, 17 stops | S$2.43 | S$1.93 | S$2.56 |
| HarbourFront | about 7 km, 6 stops | S$1.68 | S$1.18 | S$1.81 |
| Marina Bay | about 5 km, 5 stops | S$1.49 | S$0.99 | S$1.62 |
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 Esplanade MRT station
- CityLink Mall and Raffles City Shopping Centre are the closest destinations and are comfortably reachable on foot within a few minutes.
- Marina Square, Mint Museum of Toys, and Pororo Park are all within roughly five to six minutes on foot and can easily be grouped into one outing.
- The National Gallery Singapore and Peranakan Museum are the furthest destinations at approximately nine to twelve minutes on foot, so allow extra time if you plan to visit them.
- This station is on the Circle Line only, so if you are travelling from a station on another line, plan your interchange in advance to avoid unnecessary doubling back.
All stations on the Circle Line
In order along the line, with Esplanade marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| CC1 | Dhoby Ghaut | NS / NE / CC |
| CC2 | Bras Basah | None |
| CC3 | Esplanade (you are here) | 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.
Esplanade MRT station: common questions
Which line is Esplanade MRT station on?
Esplanade is on the Circle Line. Its station code is CC3.
Is Esplanade an interchange station?
No. Esplanade 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 Esplanade?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Esplanade 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 Esplanade MRT station?
Esplanade station is surrounded by a variety of attractions and malls, including CityLink Mall, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Marina Square, Long Bar, Mint Museum of Toys, Pororo Park, National Gallery Singapore, and the Peranakan Museum, all within approximately twelve minutes on foot.
Which mall is closest to Esplanade MRT station?
CityLink Mall is the closest mall at approximately 180 metres, roughly a three-minute walk, followed by Raffles City Shopping Centre at approximately 250 metres.
How far is the National Gallery Singapore from Esplanade MRT station?
The National Gallery Singapore is approximately 570 metres from Esplanade station, which is roughly a nine-minute walk.
How do I get to Esplanade 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 Esplanade (6 stops). About 12 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 Esplanade
- 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
- Most Instagram-Worthy MRT Stations in Singapore 28 Sep 2026
- Singapore Grand Prix 2026: Road Closures, MRT & Bus Hours 9 Sep 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 Esplanade station
Esplanade has 7 mapped exits (A 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 A
- Exit B
- Exit C: closest to Esplanade Xchange (about 102 m from the entrance)
- Exit D: closest to Esplanade Xchange (about 104 m from the entrance)
- Exit E: closest to Esplanade Xchange (about 66 m from the entrance)
- Exit F
- Exit G: closest to War Memorial Park (about 117 m from the entrance)
Bus stops within 250 m of Esplanade station
| Bus stop | Stop code | Services | From station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esplanade Station Exit F | 01619 | 56, 57, 100, 107, 107M, 961, 961M | 109 m |
| Opposite War Memorial Park | 02119 | 10, 10e, 57, 70, 162, 196, 196A, 196e, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 951E | 173 m |
| After Raffles Hotel | 01611 | 56, 57, 100, 107, 961, 961M | 204 m |
| Raffles Hotel | 02049 | 14, 14e, 16, 16M, 36, 36B, 77, 106, 111, 130, 131, 131A, 133, 162, 162M, 167, 502, 502A, 518, 518A, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 857, 857B, 951E, 960, 960e | 211 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 Esplanade 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 Esplanade MRT: hawker centres, food courts and cafes with walking times.