How Far Is The Serra Residences From Novena MRT and the City Centre?

Published 27 September 2026 · The Serra Residences Insights

The Serra Residences is about eight minutes’ walk from Novena MRT station (NS20) on the North-South Line, or three minutes by car, according to the developer’s fact sheet. From Novena, Newton is one stop south, Orchard two, and the City Hall and Raffles Place interchanges a short ride beyond; by car, Orchard Road is about eight minutes away.

This article sets out the rail and road routes from Bassein Road to the places residents are most likely to go.

On Foot to Novena MRT

The walk from Bassein Road to Novena station passes Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Exit A of the station serves the hospital directly, and underground links connect the station to Velocity @ Novena Square and Square 2, so the last part of the journey can be made under cover. For many residents, that makes the train the default way into town.

Along the North-South Line

Heading south, the line reaches Newton, where it meets the Downtown Line, then Orchard, Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut, and on to City Hall, Raffles Place and Marina Bay. The Central Business District is therefore reachable without a change of line. Heading north, the line runs through Toa Payoh and Bishan towards Ang Mo Kio, Yishun and Woodlands.

Other Lines Nearby

Mount Pleasant station on the Thomson-East Coast Line is about six minutes by car, opening a second line towards Orchard Boulevard, Marina Bay and the east coast. Toa Payoh, with its bus interchange, is about nine minutes’ drive.

By Road

The Central Expressway and the Pan-Island Expressway are close to Novena, so drives across the island start quickly. Orchard Road is about eight minutes by car, Little India six, and Emerald Hill nine. The Land Transport Authority’s North-South Corridor adds dedicated bus lanes and a cycling route from Bugis to Novena, improving journeys along the spine of the island.

Novena for Work

Novena is also a working district in its own right. Royal Square at Novena is about six minutes’ walk, and HealthCity Novena, with its hospitals, national specialist centres and medical school, about eight. Goldhill Plaza and United Square are about four minutes by car. For professionals whose work is in Novena itself, The Serra Residences removes the commute almost entirely.

Getting to the Airport and Beyond

For longer journeys, the Pan-Island Expressway and the Central Expressway connect to the East Coast Parkway and on to Changi Airport, and the Thomson-East Coast Line at Mount Pleasant links to the east of the island. For daily errands, however, many residents will find that they walk more than they drive: Shaw Plaza, Square 2, Zhongshan Mall and Novena Square are all within about ten minutes on foot.

Travel Times at a Glance

All the walking and driving times in this article are the developer’s estimates, based on OneMap, and actual times vary with route, traffic and timetable. The amenities page lists the full set, and the elevation chart shows which homes face the city to the south.

Walking Versus Driving From Bassein Road

The developer’s fact sheet gives both walking and driving times for most places nearby, and the comparison is telling. Novena MRT is eight minutes on foot and three by car; Shaw Plaza eight on foot and two by car; Square 2 nine on foot and three by car. For trips of this kind, walking is often as quick once parking is counted, and the quiet residential streets around Bassein Road make it pleasant. For trips further afield, such as Orchard Road at about eight minutes or Emerald Hill at nine, the car or the train takes over.

Cycling and the Park Connectors

For cyclists, the Whampoa Park Connector is about two minutes by car, linking into the island-wide network, and the North-South Corridor adds a dedicated cycling route between Bugis and Novena. The development itself has 23 bicycle lots, and bicycle parking is shown on the level 2 plan.

Taken together, the rail line, the expressways and the walking routes give The Serra Residences an unusually complete set of options for a quiet residential street: the train for the city, the car for the island, and the pavement for everything in Novena.

What the Access Means Day to Day

For a professional working in the CBD, the commute is a short walk and a single train ride. For a medical professional on the HealthCity Novena campus, work is across the road. For weekends, Orchard is two stops away and the malls of Novena are a few minutes on foot. The Novena MRT and connectivity guide and The Serra Residences location page cover the routes in more detail, and the Newton and Orchard guide covers the city side.