Tanjong Pagar MRT Station
Tanjong Pagar MRT station lies beneath Maxwell Road, between its junctions with Peck Seah Street and Cecil Street, in the Downtown Core district of Singapore. It is an underground station on the East West Line with the code EW15. It sits directly below Guoco Tower, and passengers can walk straight from the station into the building.
Tanjong Pagar on the East West Line map
Tanjong Pagar MRT station at a glance
| Station codes | EW15 |
|---|---|
| Lines | East West Line |
| Line colour | Green line (East West Line) |
| Interchange | No, single line station |
| Chinese name | 丹戎巴葛 |
| Tamil name | தஞ்சோங் பகார் |
| Opened | 12 December 1987 (38 years ago) |
| Operator | SMRT Trains |
| Station type | Underground |
| Platforms | 2 (1 island platform) |
| Address | 120 Maxwell Road Singapore 069119 |
| Daily ridership | About 32,238 passengers a day (2024) |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | East West Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:19 AM, last train 11:23 PM Full first and last train guide |
Opening date, operator and ridership figures are LTA data as recorded on Wikipedia.
See Tanjong Pagar on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
The station serves the southern edge of the city centre. Office buildings such as the AXA Tower, International Plaza, Robinson 77, Maxwell Chambers and the URA Centre are all close by, so many of its passengers are people working in the surrounding towers. Others use it as a convenient way to reach Chinatown and the museums around Maxwell Road. The station takes its name from Tanjong Pagar Road, which runs nearby, and Tanjong Pagar Complex is also within easy reach.
History of Tanjong Pagar MRT station
Tanjong Pagar MRT station opened on 12 December 1987, when the network was extended as far as Outram Park. During planning it was known as Maxwell, but in November 1986 it was renamed to give the system a more local character. The name means “cape of stakes” in Malay and recalls the area’s beginnings as a fishing village on a former headland.
Inside Tanjong Pagar MRT station
Upgrades for disabled access were completed by June 2006. In 2013 the station became one of the first six on the network to be fitted with flood barriers, and a linked retail area called Tanjong Pagar Xchange opened at the end of 2008. Look up to see Tradewind by Anthony Poon, a 560 kg stainless steel work of triangular plates shaped like ship sails, hanging from the ceiling. You can also find Singapore on Canvas, a 67 metre mural by Ng Peng Sing that traces Singapore’s history over the last 200 years.
For most passengers, the station is a practical stop for work, shopping and sightseeing. Guoco Tower is about a minute’s walk away and connects directly to the platforms’ concourse, which makes it handy for a quick meal or errand. The Singapore City Gallery is around five minutes on foot and is a good place to learn how the city has been planned. Chinatown is about seven minutes away, and the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum can be reached in roughly nine minutes, so the station works well as a starting point for an afternoon exploring the older streets to the west of the business district.
Around Tanjong Pagar MRT station
Tanjong Pagar station sits within one of Singapore's major central business districts, surrounded by tall office towers and commercial buildings that draw large crowds of professionals on weekdays. The area also borders the historic Chinatown district, giving it a mix of corporate and cultural character. Nearby landmarks such as Guoco Tower and the Singapore City Gallery reflect this blend of modern commerce and heritage.
| Place | Type | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guoco Tower | Shopping mall | About 50 m (~1 min walk) | Visit Guoco Tower for shopping, dining and office facilities in a large mixed-use development. |
| Icon Village | Shopping mall | About 210 m (~3 min walk) | Head to Icon Village for a range of casual dining and retail options. |
| Singapore City Gallery | Museum | About 330 m (~5 min walk) | Explore the Singapore City Gallery to learn about urban planning and the city's development. |
| Shenton Way Terminal | Bus interchange | About 330 m (~5 min walk) | Use Shenton Way Terminal as a hub for connecting to bus services across the city. |
| OUE Downtown | Shopping mall | About 340 m (~6 min walk) | Visit OUE Downtown for additional retail and food and beverage outlets. |
| Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre | Museum | About 430 m (~7 min walk) | Discover the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre for exhibitions celebrating Chinese culture and heritage. |
| Chinatown | Attraction | About 440 m (~7 min walk) | Walk to Chinatown to experience traditional shophouses, street food and local culture. |
| Buddha Tooth Relic Museum | Museum | About 540 m (~9 min walk) | Visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum to view Buddhist artefacts and cultural displays. |
Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.
How to get to Tanjong Pagar 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 Tanjong Pagar (13 stops). About 13 stops, no changes. |
|---|---|
| From Orchard | Take the Thomson East Coast Line from Orchard to Outram Park (3 stops), then change to the East West Line from Outram Park to Tanjong Pagar (1 stop). About 4 stops with 1 change. |
| From City Hall | Take the East West Line from City Hall to Tanjong Pagar (2 stops). About 2 stops, no changes. |
| From Jurong East | Take the East West Line from Jurong East to Tanjong Pagar (9 stops). About 9 stops, no changes. |
| From Woodlands | Take the Thomson East Coast Line from Woodlands to Outram Park (14 stops), then change to the East West Line from Outram Park to Tanjong Pagar (1 stop). About 15 stops with 1 change. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Outram Park (1 stop), then change to the East West Line from Outram Park to Tanjong Pagar (1 stop). About 2 stops with 1 change. |
Fares from Tanjong Pagar MRT station
A trip from Tanjong Pagar 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 Tanjong Pagar 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 4 km, 4 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
| City Hall | about 2 km, 2 stops | S$1.28 | S$0.78 | S$1.40 |
| Raffles Place | about 1 km, 1 stop | S$1.28 | S$0.78 | S$1.40 |
| Jurong East | about 15 km, 9 stops | S$2.07 | S$1.57 | S$2.20 |
| Woodlands | about 25 km, 15 stops | S$2.40 | S$1.90 | S$2.53 |
| HarbourFront | about 4 km, 2 stops | S$1.38 | S$0.88 | S$1.51 |
| 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 Tanjong Pagar MRT station
- Guoco Tower is the closest destination and is reachable on foot within a minute, making it a convenient first stop after exiting the station.
- Chinatown and the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum involve a longer walk of around seven to nine minutes, so allow extra time, particularly in hot or wet weather.
- The station is heavily used by office workers on weekday mornings and evenings, so expect crowded platforms during peak hours and allow a little extra time for your journey.
- Shenton Way Terminal is roughly a five-minute walk away and offers bus connections if you prefer not to walk to destinations further afield.
All stations on the East West Line
In order along the line, with Tanjong Pagar marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| EW1 | Pasir Ris | None |
| EW2 | Tampines | EW / DT |
| EW3 | Simei | None |
| EW4 | Tanah Merah | None |
| EW5 | Bedok | None |
| EW6 | Kembangan | None |
| EW7 | Eunos | None |
| EW8 | Paya Lebar | CC / EW |
| EW9 | Aljunied | None |
| EW10 | Kallang | None |
| EW11 | Lavender | None |
| EW12 | Bugis | DT / EW |
| EW13 | City Hall | EW / NS |
| EW14 | Raffles Place | NS / EW |
| EW15 | Tanjong Pagar (you are here) | None |
| EW16 | Outram Park | TE / EW / NE |
| EW17 | Tiong Bahru | None |
| EW18 | Redhill | None |
| EW19 | Queenstown | None |
| EW20 | Commonwealth | None |
| EW21 | Buona Vista | EW / CC |
| EW22 | Dover | None |
| EW23 | Clementi | None |
| EW24 | Jurong East | EW / NS |
| EW25 | Chinese Garden | None |
| EW26 | Lakeside | None |
| EW27 | Boon Lay | None |
| EW28 | Pioneer | None |
| EW29 | Joo Koon | None |
| EW30 | Gul Circle | None |
| EW31 | Tuas Crescent | None |
| EW32 | Tuas West Road | None |
| EW33 | Tuas Link | None |
Read the full East West Line guide.
Tanjong Pagar MRT station: common questions
Which line is Tanjong Pagar MRT station on?
Tanjong Pagar is on the East West Line. Its station code is EW15.
Is Tanjong Pagar an interchange station?
No. Tanjong Pagar is served by the East West Line only. The nearest interchange is shown in the next stations row above.
What time is the first and last train at Tanjong Pagar?
Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Tanjong Pagar a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. East West Line first train 5:19 AM, last train 11:23 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
What is near Tanjong Pagar MRT station?
The station is close to a mix of commercial and cultural destinations, including Guoco Tower just approximately 50 metres away, Icon Village at roughly 210 metres, and the historic Chinatown district at about 440 metres.
Which shopping mall is closest to Tanjong Pagar station?
Guoco Tower is the closest shopping mall, approximately 50 metres from the station, making it roughly a one-minute walk.
How far is the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum from Tanjong Pagar station?
The Buddha Tooth Relic Museum is approximately 540 metres from the station in a straight line, which is roughly a nine-minute walk.
How do I get to Tanjong Pagar from Changi Airport by MRT?
Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Tanjong Pagar (13 stops). About 13 stops, no changes.
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 Tanjong Pagar
- Outram Park MRT Faeces Incident: What Riders Should Do 6 Nov 2026
- シンガポール地下鉄（MRT）路線図 2026（日本語ガイド） 4 Oct 2026
- MRT Station Art: Stories Behind Hougang, Newton & More 28 Aug 2026
- Singapore MRT Art in Transit Programme Explained 13 Aug 2026
Plan the rest of the trip
Every station on the East West 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 Tanjong Pagar station
Tanjong Pagar has 9 mapped exits (A to K). 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 Guoco Tower (about 68 m from the entrance)
- Exit B: closest to Jewel 7 (about 68 m from the entrance)
- Exit C: closest to Jewel 7 (about 33 m from the entrance)
- Exit D: closest to Jewel 7 (about 79 m from the entrance)
- Exit F: closest to Telok Ayer Park (about 106 m from the entrance)
- Exit G: closest to Telok Ayer Park (about 49 m from the entrance)
- Exit H: closest to Jewel 7 (about 80 m from the entrance)
- Exit J: closest to Tanjong Pagar Park (about 25 m from the entrance)
- Exit K: closest to Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (about 43 m from the entrance)
Bus stops within 250 m of Tanjong Pagar station
| Bus stop | Stop code | Services | From station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanjong Pagar Station Exit C | 03223 | 57, 131, 167, 186, 400, 970 | 108 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 Tanjong Pagar 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.
MRT routes from Tanjong Pagar
Routes to Tanjong Pagar: Bugis to Tanjong Pagar | Changi Airport to Tanjong Pagar | Orchard to Tanjong Pagar.
More on the MRT routes hub.
Hungry? See food near Tanjong Pagar MRT: hawker centres, food courts and cafes with walking times.