Somerset MRT Station
Somerset MRT station is an underground station on the North South Line, built beneath Somerset Road in the Orchard district of central Singapore. It carries the station code NS23 and is one of three stations that serve Orchard Road, the city’s best known shopping street, placing it close to the middle of that retail stretch.
Somerset on the North South Line map
Somerset MRT station at a glance
| Station codes | NS23 |
|---|---|
| Lines | North South Line |
| Line colour | Red line (North South Line) |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 索美塞 |
| Tamil name | சாமர்செட் |
| Opened | 12 December 1987 (38 years ago) |
| Operator | SMRT Trains |
| Station type | Underground |
| Platforms | 2 (1 island platform) |
| Address | 1 Somerset Road, Singapore 238162 |
| Daily ridership | About 29,381 passengers a day (2024) |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | North South Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:16 AM, last train 11:48 PM Full first and last train guide |
Opening date, operator and ridership figures are LTA data as recorded on Wikipedia.
See Somerset 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 shoppers, diners and cinema goers heading for the malls and entertainment buildings along Orchard Road. The station links to many surrounding developments, including 313@Somerset, Orchard Gateway, Orchard Central, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard and Centrepoint Shopping Centre. Office workers bound for buildings such as Comcentre and the Singapore Power Building also use it, as do hotel guests at Mandarin Orchard and people walking to the shophouses of Emerald Hill and Peranakan Place.
History of Somerset MRT station
The station opened on 12 December 1987, when the first MRT line was extended from Toa Payoh to Outram Park. During planning it was called Killiney, but in November 1982 it took its present name from Somerset Road, which runs directly above the platforms. It originally used the code N2 before NS23 was introduced. In 2014, two further entrances opened together with Orchard Gateway, giving direct access to the new mall.
Inside Somerset MRT station
In 2002 it became one of the first five MRT stations to receive lifts, ramps and toilets for disabled users, as part of a network wide programme to improve wheelchair access. The station was also designed to serve as a bomb shelter, with blast doors and thick reinforced concrete walls. Look out for a wall mural by local artists Leo Hee Tong and Ho Ho Ying, and a second mural from SMRT’s Comic Connect series showing local landmarks such as the Sian Teck Tng temple, Killiney Road and the Youth Park.
For everyday trips, Somerset MRT station puts several useful places within a minute or two on foot. EatAlley offers a quick meal right beside the station, Orchard Gateway and Orchard Central are close by for shopping, and library@Orchard is a convenient stop for borrowing books or finding a quiet place to sit. 313@Somerset is a short walk further.
Visitors interested in heritage can stroll about five minutes to Emerald Hill to see its restored terrace houses, while the Istana Heritage Gallery is roughly an eight minute walk away. With so much close to the platforms, the station suits both a planned shopping trip and a short break between errands in the city centre.
Around Somerset MRT station
Somerset station sits at the heart of the Orchard Road shopping belt, one of Singapore's most well-known retail and leisure corridors. The immediate surroundings are dominated by shopping malls and dining options, with Orchard Central and 313@Somerset among the prominent destinations within easy walking distance. A short stroll from the busy commercial strip, Emerald Hill offers a quieter, heritage-flavoured contrast with its rows of conservation shophouses.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| EatAlley | Food centre | About 30 m (~1 min walk) | Visit EatAlley for a range of local and casual dining options. |
| Orchard Gateway | Shopping mall | About 50 m (~1 min walk) | Head to Orchard Gateway for shopping, dining and entertainment. |
| library@Orchard | Library | About 60 m (~1 min walk) | Use library@Orchard for books, programmes and a quiet read. |
| Orchard Central | Shopping mall | About 80 m (~1 min walk) | Orchard Central offers a broad mix of retail and food choices. |
| 313@Somerset | Shopping mall | About 120 m (~2 min walk) | 313@Somerset is a popular mall for fashion, food and lifestyle shopping. |
| Emerald Hill | Attraction | About 300 m (~5 min walk) | Explore Emerald Hill for heritage architecture and a calmer atmosphere. |
| Istana Heritage Gallery | Museum | About 480 m (~8 min walk) | The Istana Heritage Gallery provides insight into Singapore's presidential history. |
| Battlebox Visitor Centre | Museum | About 920 m (~15 min walk) | Battlebox Visitor Centre features wartime exhibits from the Second World War. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Somerset 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 City Hall (11 stops), then change to the North South Line from City Hall to Somerset (2 stops). About 13 stops with 1 change. |
|---|---|
| From Orchard | Take the North South Line from Orchard to Somerset (1 stop). About 1 stops, no changes. |
| From City Hall | Take the North South Line from City Hall to Somerset (2 stops). About 2 stops, no changes. |
| From Jurong East | Take the East West Line from Jurong East to City Hall (11 stops), then change to the North South Line from City Hall to Somerset (2 stops). About 13 stops with 1 change. |
| From Woodlands | Take the North South Line from Woodlands to Somerset (14 stops). About 14 stops, no changes. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Dhoby Ghaut (4 stops), then change to the North South Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Somerset (1 stop). About 5 stops with 1 change. |
Fares from Somerset MRT station
A trip from Somerset to Changi Airport (about 21 km) costs S$2.30 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Somerset 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$2.30 | S$1.80 | S$2.43 |
| Orchard | about 1 km, 1 stop | 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 19 km, 13 stops | S$2.24 | S$1.74 | S$2.37 |
| Woodlands | about 25 km, 14 stops | S$2.40 | S$1.90 | S$2.53 |
| HarbourFront | about 6 km, 5 stops | S$1.68 | S$1.18 | S$1.81 |
| Marina Bay | about 4 km, 4 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 Somerset MRT station
- EatAlley, Orchard Gateway, library@Orchard and Orchard Central are all within roughly a minute's walk, so plan those visits together to save time.
- Battlebox Visitor Centre is approximately 920 metres away and is better reached by a short bus or taxi ride rather than on foot, especially in warm weather.
- The Orchard Road area gets very crowded on weekends and public holidays, so allow extra time when travelling to or from the station during peak periods.
- Somerset is a non-interchange station on the North South Line, so if you need to transfer to another line, travel one stop north to Orchard station or one stop south to Dhoby Ghaut station.
All stations on the North South Line
In order along the line, with Somerset marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| NS1 | Jurong East | EW / NS |
| NS2 | Bukit Batok | None |
| NS3 | Bukit Gombak | None |
| NS4 | Choa Chu Kang | NS / BP |
| NS5 | Yew Tee | None |
| NS7 | Kranji | None |
| NS8 | Marsiling | None |
| NS9 | Woodlands | NS / TE |
| NS10 | Admiralty | None |
| NS11 | Sembawang | None |
| NS12 | Canberra | None |
| NS13 | Yishun | None |
| NS14 | Khatib | None |
| NS15 | Yio Chu Kang | None |
| NS16 | Ang Mo Kio | None |
| NS17 | Bishan | NS / CC |
| NS18 | Braddell | None |
| NS19 | Toa Payoh | None |
| NS20 | Novena | None |
| NS21 | Newton | NS / DT |
| NS22 | Orchard | TE / NS |
| NS23 | Somerset (you are here) | None |
| NS24 | Dhoby Ghaut | NS / NE / CC |
| NS25 | City Hall | EW / NS |
| NS26 | Raffles Place | NS / EW |
| NS27 | Marina Bay | CE / TE / NS |
| NS28 | Marina South Pier | None |
Read the full North South Line guide.
Somerset MRT station: common questions
Which line is Somerset MRT station on?
Somerset is on the North South Line. Its station code is NS23.
Is Somerset an interchange station?
No. Somerset is served by the North South Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.
What time is the first and last train at Somerset?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Somerset a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. North South Line first train 5:16 AM, last train 11:48 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
What is near Somerset MRT station?
Somerset station is surrounded by several shopping malls, including Orchard Central, 313@Somerset and Orchard Gateway, all within roughly 120 metres. Other nearby attractions include library@Orchard, EatAlley, Emerald Hill, the Istana Heritage Gallery and Battlebox Visitor Centre.
Which mall or food centre is closest to Somerset MRT station?
EatAlley is the closest food option at approximately 30 metres, making it roughly a one-minute walk. Among the malls, Orchard Gateway is the nearest at approximately 50 metres away.
How far is Battlebox Visitor Centre from Somerset MRT station?
Battlebox Visitor Centre is approximately 920 metres from Somerset station, which is around a 15-minute walk. You may prefer to take a short bus or taxi ride to cover that distance more comfortably.
How do I get to Somerset from Changi Airport by MRT?
Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to City Hall (11 stops), then change to the North South Line from City Hall to Somerset (2 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 Somerset
- Getting to Sentosa by public transport: MRT, cable car and monorail 6 Nov 2026
- Top 10 MRT attractions you can reach without changing lines 29 Oct 2026
- シンガポール地下鉄（MRT）路線図 2026（日本語ガイド） 4 Oct 2026
- Bus & Train Fares Rise Up to 13 Cents from Dec 26 30 Sep 2026
Plan the rest of the trip
Every station on the North South 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 Somerset station
Somerset has 4 mapped exits (A to D). 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 Somerset Skate Park (about 20 m from the entrance)
- Exit B: closest to 313@Somerset (about 48 m from the entrance)
- Exit C: closest to Somerset Skate Park (about 60 m from the entrance)
- Exit D: closest to library@Orchard (about 13 m from the entrance)
Bus stops within 250 m of Somerset station
| Bus stop | Stop code | Services | From station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset Station | 08121 | 7, 7A, 14, 14A, 14e, 16, 16M, 36, 36A, 36B, 65, 77, 106, 111, 123, 124, 143, 162, 162M, 167, 174, 174e, 175, 190, 972, 972M, NR1, NR2, NR3, NR5, NR8 | 33 m |
| Opposite Somerset Station | 09038 | 1N, 2N, 3N, 4N, 5N, 6N, 7, 7B, 14, 14e, 16, 16M, 65, 106, 111, 123, 175, 502, 502A, NR6 | 146 m |
| Winsland House | 08111 | 7, 7A, 14, 14A, 14e, 16, 16M, 36, 36A, 36B, 65, 77, 106, 111, 123, 124, 143, 162, 162M, 167, 174, 174e, 175, 190, 972, 972M | 206 m |
| Orchard Plaza | 08137 | 123, 143, NR6 | 207 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 Somerset 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.