Serangoon New Town travel guide

Serangoon New Town, Singapore

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Serangoon New Town

Introduction

Serangoon is a planning area and residential town in the North-East Region of Singapore. It is a lived-in part of the city rather than a sightseeing district, so come expecting everyday neighbourhood life.

Getting around

Serangoon works well as a base because its transport hub is genuinely integrated: the bus interchange, the MRT station and the Nex shopping mall all sit in one complex at Serangoon Central, so switching between bus and train means walking indoors rather than finding a separate terminal. Serangoon station is an interchange between the North East Line and the Circle Line, which lets you change between two major lines without leaving the station. Bartley and Lorong Chuan, both on the Circle Line, also serve the area. Serangoon North and Tavistock stations are under construction on the Cross Island Line and are not yet open, so don't plan around them for a current trip; Serangoon is not an LRT town, so your rail travel here means the MRT.

Pay for both bus and rail with the same tap-in, tap-out stored-value card or contactless bank card, so you don't need separate tickets for each mode. The air-conditioned bus interchange serves Serangoon, Kovan and Serangoon Gardens and sends services across the island, including routes toward Ghim Moh, Buangkok Crescent, Yishun, Jurong East, Changi Village, Rhu Cross, Serangoon North Avenue 5 and Berwick Drive, plus an express service to Jurong East. Some routes are short-trip variants that terminate partway, so check the destination display before boarding, and note that berth assignments are changing in phases during upgrading works — check the on-site signage rather than trusting a printed guide. For fare-card top-ups or route questions, use the Passenger Service Office. Taxis and ride-hailing cars pick up and drop off at the mall and interchange complex, reached via the junction with Serangoon Avenue 2. On foot, the interchange, station and mall are physically connected, with pedestrian exits to Serangoon Avenue 2 and into the Nex retail areas, but the town's subzones — Serangoon Central, Lorong Chuan, Upper Paya Lebar, Serangoon Garden, Serangoon North, Seletar Hills and Serangoon North Industrial Estate — are spread out enough that walking between them isn't practical; use the rail network for the wider area and walk only around the hub. From Changi Airport, ride the MRT into the network and transfer to the North East Line or Circle Line to alight at Serangoon, or take a taxi or ride-hailing car directly if you have heavy luggage or arrive at an awkward hour.

Three days in Serangoon New Town

Day one: Start by getting your bearings in Serangoon, a town in Singapore's North East Region. It is well connected by MRT, with Serangoon station served by both the North East Line and the Circle Line, and nearby Bartley and Lorong Chuan stations on the Circle Line. Use the MRT to reach Serangoon Central, where Nex gives you a base for shopping and meals. If you arrive from Changi Airport, taxis are available, and a Passenger Service Office can help with transport questions.

Day two: Head north within the town to Serangoon North and Serangoon North Avenue, and take in the character of the Serangoon North Industrial Estate. The area will also be served by the future Cross Island Line, and LRT and feeder services help you get around. In the evening, make your way to Kovan for a change of pace.

Day three: Spend your last day around Serangoon Gardens and Serangoon Garden, with their relaxed neighbourhood feel, and continue to Tavistock and Berwick Drive if you want a longer walk. Upper Paya Lebar and Serangoon Avenue are useful reference points as you move between areas, and Seletar Hills lies within reach. From Changi Airport, taxis and the MRT make the return straightforward.

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