A weekend in Katong & Joo Chiat
Conserved shophouses, Peranakan heritage, hawker food and the sea, all in District 15.
Saturday morning: Joo Chiat and Koon Seng Road
The Joo Chiat Conservation Area runs along Joo Chiat Road, parts of East Coast Road and side streets such as Koon Seng Road. URA gave it conservation status on 23 July 1993. Its two-storey shophouses and terrace houses span the Transitional, Late and Art Deco styles. URA describes the pre-war terrace houses on Koon Seng Road as some of the finest examples of Straits Eclectic architecture in the area.
Late morning: Peranakan heritage on East Coast Road
Katong Antique House on East Coast Road (postal 428907) is a small Peranakan heritage house. The area has strong historical links to Peranakan culture, and URA calls Joo Chiat a renowned food paradise.
Lunch: Marine Parade Central
Marine Parade Central Market & Food Centre (postal 440084) and Parkway Parade (postal 449269) sit a short walk from Marine Parade MRT (TE26).
Sunday: East Coast Park
NParks lists East Coast Park at 180 hectares, stretching over 13 km, open 24 hours, with cycling paths, bike rental and a beach. East Coast Lagoon Food Village (postal 468960) is the hawker centre inside the park.
Living here
Katong and Marine Parade mix conserved shophouses and landed homes with condos and HDB estates. The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) now runs along Marine Parade Road, so many streets are within walking distance of a station.
Read the full District 15 guide for every MRT station, school and project Li Lian covers.
MRT stops to the CBD
- TE26Marine Parade → Shenton Way: 7 stops, no change
- TE27Marine Terrace → Shenton Way: 8 stops, no change
- TE25Tanjong Katong → Shenton Way: 6 stops, no change
Stops counted from LTA station codes; no transfer needed. Travel time depends on the train and time of day.
Primary schools within 1 km
- Marine Parade MRT: Tanjong Katong Primary School (~610 m), Tao Nan School (~790 m), CHIJ (Katong) Primary (~810 m)
- Marine Terrace MRT: Ngee Ann Primary School (~290 m), Tao Nan School (~420 m), CHIJ (Katong) Primary (~450 m)
- Tanjong Katong MRT: Tanjong Katong Primary School (~730 m)
Straight-line distance from the station, from OneMap coordinates. MOE's 1 km priority is measured from your home address, so check each address on OneMap.
Projects in District 15
A weekend in Katong & Joo Chiat: questions
Which MRT station is nearest to Katong?
Tanjong Katong (TE25), Marine Parade (TE26) and Marine Terrace (TE27) on the Thomson-East Coast Line serve the Katong and Marine Parade area.
How many stops is Marine Parade MRT from Shenton Way?
Seven stops on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TE26 to TE19), with no change of line.
Is Joo Chiat a conservation area?
Yes. URA gazetted the Joo Chiat Conservation Area on 23 July 1993. Works on conserved buildings need URA Conservation Permission.
Which primary schools are near Marine Parade MRT?
Within 1 km in a straight line: Tanjong Katong Primary (about 610 m), Tao Nan School (about 790 m) and CHIJ (Katong) Primary (about 810 m), measured on OneMap. MOE measures the 1 km rule from your home address, so check each address on OneMap.
Is District 15 good for families?
It has several popular primary schools, East Coast Park and TEL stations near Marine Parade Road. Li Lian can shortlist homes by school distance and budget.
Sources
- URA, Joo Chiat Conservation Area and Secondary Settlements pages (ura.gov.sg)
- URA conservation portal, 19 Koon Seng Road
- NParks, East Coast Park park detail (nparks.gov.sg)
- OneMap (SLA) search for addresses, postal codes and coordinates