DEHUROEN

Plizio Visual Lab

Toa Payoh

Plizio editorial teamData Sources
City
—°10
Toa Payoh (Singapore)
ℹ️

Practical info — Toa Payoh

▾

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • Visit the HDB Hub to see exhibits on Singapore's public housing history and urban planning.
  • Don't miss the iconic Dragon Playground, one of the few remaining heritage playgrounds from the 70s.
  • The town center is designed with a radial layout, making it easy to navigate back to the MRT station.
  • Check out the food centers at Blk 127 and Blk 75 for some of the best affordable local hawker food.
  • The Toa Payoh Town Park has a scenic bridge and pond, great for a quiet morning stroll.

🍽 Food

🍽
Rojak

A sweet and savory fruit and vegetable salad with peanut sauce, famously found near the Blk 127 market.

🍽
Hainanese Chicken Rice

A staple dish available at multiple highly-rated stalls in the Toa Payoh Central area.

🍽
Traditional Biscuits

Look for old-school confectioneries near the public library for a taste of local heritage.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Toa Payoh Central

A bustling pedestrian mall with many budget-friendly shops, clinics, and local boutiques.

🛍
HDB Hub Shopping Wing

Air-conditioned retail space featuring popular brands and supermarkets directly integrated with the MRT.

🧘
Toa Payoh Town Park

A serene park featuring willow trees and stone bridges, popular for wedding photos and quiet walks.

🧘
Toa Payoh Sensory Park

A smaller, modern green space designed to engage the senses in a peaceful setting.

Toa Payoh, which translates to 'Big Swamp' in Hokkien and Malay, is a historic and pioneering residential town located in the Central Region of Singapore. It holds the distinction of being the first satellite town designed and developed entirely by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), serving as a blueprint for all subsequent public housing towns across the island. Toa Payoh is deeply embedded in Singapore's modern history, having hosted significant events like the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games in 1973. The town is famous for its blend of nostalgic charm and modern rejuvenation, with the iconic dragon playground in Toa Payoh Lorong 6 serving as a beloved symbol of Singapore’s urban heritage. At its heart lies the Toa Payoh Hub, an integrated commercial and transport facility that also houses the national headquarters of the HDB. As a mature estate, Toa Payoh has a wealth of established hawker centers and lush green spaces like the Toa Payoh Town Park. Its central location continues to make it one of the most animated neighborhoods.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Feb, Mar, Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C262627282828272727272726
Rain mm235102168193199164174173167210283300

Geography

Population
120,650 (2024)
Coordinates
1.33400, 103.84900

Facts

  • First town fully developed by the HDB, starting in 1964.
  • Name means 'Big Swamp' (Toa Payoh) in Hokkien and Malay.
  • Hosted the first SEAP Games in Singapore in 1973.
  • Home to the HDB Hub, the national headquarters of public housing.
  • Features the iconic Dragon Playground in Toa Payoh Lorong 6.
  • Visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1972 and 2006.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

BishanBishan<1 km · WExplore →
Fort Canning ParkFort Canning Park1 km · EExplore →
MacRitchie Reservoir ParkMacRitchie Reservoir Park2 km · SExplore →
KallangKallang2 km · NExplore →
Bowyer Block (SGH)Bowyer Block (SGH)2 km · SEExplore →
YishunYishun3 km · SWExplore →
St. John's IslandSt. John's Island3 km · EExplore →
Singapore CitySingapore City3 km · SExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Toa Payoh (10)

Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum🏛 museum

Established in a historic villa from 1901, this museum in toa-payoh-cities-v2 chronicles the revolutionary activities of Sun Yat Sen.

🕒 Tu-Su,PH 10:00-17:00💶

Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple⛪ religious

A notable place of worship in toa-payoh-cities-v2 that features traditional Sri Lankan Buddhist architectural elements.

🕒 Mo-Su 06:00-23:00

Sri Sivadurga Temple⛪ religious

This prominent place of worship in toa-payoh-cities-v2 is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deities Shiva and Durga.

Masjid Hajjah Rahimabi Kebun Limau⛪ religious

Situated in the Kebun Limau area, this place of worship serves the local Muslim community in toa-payoh-cities-v2.

♿

Former Malay Film Productions📍 landmark

This historical attraction in toa-payoh-cities-v2 marks the former studio grounds of the golden age of Malay cinema.

Sim Kwong Ho shophouses📍 landmark

An architectural attraction in toa-payoh-cities-v2 featuring a continuous row of beautifully preserved heritage shophouses.

Balestier Art Deco shophouses📍 landmark

These striking shophouses form a notable attraction in toa-payoh-cities-v2 with their distinct geometric Art Deco facades.

Kim Keat Palm Market🎭 culture

A bustling marketplace in Toa Payoh known for its numerous food stalls and local hawker specialties.

Lorong 4 Blk 93 Market and Hawker Centre🎭 culture

This bustling hawker centre in Toa Payoh gives a wide array of authentic local street food dishes at its stalls.

Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market🎭 culture

A traditional local marketplace that provides Toa Payoh residents with fresh produce and cooked meals.

Frequently asked questions

What is typical for Toa Payoh?
A classic, historical district.
How much time to plan?
A few hours to explore.
Highlight?
Authentic hawker centers.
How accessible?
Via North South Line.
Best time?
In the morning.
Toa Payoh: where is it located?
Toa Payoh is located in Singapore.
Toa Payoh: what is there to see?
Highlights include Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Museum, Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple, Sri Sivadurga Temple.
Toa Payoh: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Feb, Mar, Sep.
Toa Payoh: why is it worth visiting?
Toa Payoh, which translates to 'Big Swamp' in Hokkien and Malay, is a historic and pioneering residential town located in the Central Region of Singapore.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
Asia
Explore with Plizio Discover more places in Asia
More places in Singapore →

Nearby cities

Downtown Core — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Downtown Core
The economic heart of Singapore, encompassing the Central Business District and Marina Bay area.
Bukit Merah — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Bukit Merah
A mature residential estate with a mix of public and private housing, parks, and commercial buildings.
Kallang — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Kallang
A sports and entertainment hub, home to the Singapore Sports Hub and located by the Kallang River.
Bishan — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Bishan
A centrally located residential town known for its well-designed public housing and the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.
Bukit Timah — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Bukit Timah
A prime residential district known for its lush greenery, prestigious schools, and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Chinatown — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Chinatown
A historic district showcasing a mix of old temples, traditional shophouses, and modern bars and restaurants.
Little India — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Little India
A vibrant ethnic district offering a blast of sights, sounds, and smells of Indian culture.
Singapore City — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Singapore City
The heart of the city-state, a global financial hub with a tropical climate and multicultural population.
Kampong Glam — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Kampong Glam
Singapore's historic Malay enclave, known for its trendy boutiques, hip cafes, and the Sultan Mosque.
Orchard Road — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Orchard Road
Singapore's premier shopping belt, lined with luxury malls, department stores, and upscale hotels.

History & landmarks

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
A waterfront performing arts center nicknamed 'The Durian' for its unique spiky roof design resembling the durian fruit.
Merlion Park — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Merlion Park
Merlion Park is a famous Singapore landmark and home to the Merlion statue, a mythical creature with a lion's head and the body of a fish.
ArtScience Museum — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
ArtScience Museum
A museum that explores the intersection of art, science, culture, and technology.
Helix Bridge — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Helix Bridge
A pedestrian bridge known for its design inspired by the DNA structure, linking Marina Centre with Marina South.
Marina Bay Sands — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Marina Bay Sands
An integrated resort famous for its unique architecture, featuring three hotel towers topped by a massive rooftop SkyPark.
Singapore Flyer — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Singapore Flyer
A giant observation wheel that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city's skyline and beyond.

Nature

Singapore River — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Singapore River
The historic river that flows through the heart of Singapore, playing a vital role in its history.

More places

National Museum of Singapore — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
National Museum of Singapore
The oldest museum in Singapore, showcasing the history and culture of the country through immersive and interactive exhibits.
Fort Canning Park — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Fort Canning Park
An iconic hilltop park in central Singapore, rich with history and artifacts dating back to the 14th century.
Tomb of Tan Tock Seng — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Tomb of Tan Tock Seng
The burial site of Tan Tock Seng, a leading 19th-century philanthropist who founded Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Clarke Quay — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Clarke Quay
A historical riverside quay that has been transformed into a vibrant nightlife and entertainment hub with restaurants, bars, and clubs.
Raffles Hotel — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Raffles Hotel
An iconic colonial-style hotel known for its luxurious service, historical significance, and as the birthplace of the Singapore Sling coc…
Old Parliament House — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Old Parliament House
The oldest surviving government building in Singapore, now serving as The Arts House, a performing arts centre.
Civilian War Memorial — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Civilian War Memorial
A memorial dedicated to the civilians who died during the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II.
Tan Si Chong Su Temple — Toa Payoh (Singapore)
Tan Si Chong Su Temple
An important ancestral temple for the Tan clan association in Singapore, built in 1876.