Bukit Merah, Singapore

The Bukit Merah Planning Area (Simplified Chinese: 红山, Traditional Chinese: 紅山, Pinyin: Hóng Shān, Malay: Bukit Merah, Tamil: புக்கிட் மேரா) is one of the central residential and commercial districts in the southern part of Singapore. Covering about 14.3 square kilometres, it had a population of around 151,500 in 2020¹. This gives it a population density of about 10,600 people per square kilometre. Bukit Merah is in Postal Districts 3 and 4, and it is among the most historic and well-established areas of the city-state.

History of Bukit Merah

The name “Bukit Merah” comes from Malay, where “bukit” means “hill” and “merah” means “red.” The term refers to the area’s red lateritic soil, which gave the landscape a distinctive colour². According to legend, the red hill was created when a king ordered the execution of a boy whose prophecy about swordfish attacks came true, staining the ground red with his blood. In colonial times, Bukit Merah was a hilly and rural district with plantations and kampongs. In the post-independence years, it was transformed into a Housing and Development Board (HDB) estate, becoming one of the earliest new towns in Singapore.

Name and Pronunciation

“Bukit Merah” is pronounced Boo-kit Meh-rah, with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription /ˈbuːkɪt məˈrɑː/. It directly translates to “Red Hill,” a name still commemorated by the neighbourhood Redhill, which remains a subzone of Bukit Merah.

Geography and Boundaries

Bukit Merah is strategically located close to the city centre. It is bordered by Queenstown to the west, Tanglin to the northwest, the Downtown Core to the northeast, Rochor and Kallang across the Singapore River, and Sentosa and the Singapore Strait to the south. Its position gives residents easy access to both central business districts and waterfront areas.

Subzones of Bukit Merah

Transport and Accessibility

Bukit Merah is served by several major roads and expressways, including Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), Central Expressway (CTE), and Jalan Bukit Merah. This road network allows convenient access to other parts of Singapore.

MRT Connectivity

Bukit Merah benefits from a wide coverage of MRT stations:

East West Line (EWL): Redhill and Tiong Bahru stations.
North East Line (NEL): HarbourFront station.
Circle Line (CCL): Labrador Park and Telok Blangah stations.
Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL): Havelock, Outram Park, and Maxwell stations.

The area is also served by the HarbourFront Bus Interchange and the Bukit Merah Bus Interchange, improving accessibility within and beyond the planning area.

Residential Real Estate

Bukit Merah is a mature residential estate with a mix of HDB flats, condominiums, and private apartments. It is highly sought after due to its proximity to the Central Business District and amenities. As of 2024:

A 4-room HDB flat (about 1,000 sq ft / 93 sq m) ranges from SGD 750,000–950,000.
Private condominiums typically cost between SGD 1,800–2,400 per square foot, so a 1,000 sq ft (93 sq m) apartment can fetch SGD 1.8–2.4 million.
Rental for a 3-bedroom HDB flat averages SGD 3,200–3,800 per month, while private condominiums rent from about SGD 4,800–6,000³.

These figures place Bukit Merah among the more expensive heartland areas, reflecting its desirability and central location.

Attractions and Landmarks

Bukit Merah is rich in attractions, blending heritage, culture, and nature. Some highlights include:

Mount Faber Park: A popular spot offering panoramic views of the city and harbour.
Henderson Waves: Singapore’s highest pedestrian bridge, linking Mount Faber to Telok Blangah Hill Park.
HarbourFront Precinct: Home to VivoCity, Singapore’s largest mall, and the gateway to Sentosa Island.
Tiong Bahru: A historic neighbourhood with art deco flats, trendy cafes, and heritage markets.
Alexandra Canal: A linear park offering scenic waterfront walks.

Community and Lifestyle

Bukit Merah is vibrant and diverse, offering residents a variety of food centres such as Redhill Market, Alexandra Village Food Centre, and Tiong Bahru Market. It is also home to schools such as Gan Eng Seng School, Radin Mas Primary, and Crescent Girls’ School. Hospitals including Singapore General Hospital (SGH) are located here, cementing Bukit Merah’s role as a hub for healthcare as well as residential living.

Fun Facts

One fun fact about Bukit Merah is that it houses the Singapore Cable Car station on Mount Faber, which provides an aerial link to Sentosa — making it the only residential planning area in Singapore with such a unique transport feature⁴.

Map of Bukit Merah, Singapore

Apartments and condominiums in Bukit Merah

Alessandrea (GPS: 1.29058, 103.82246)
Alex Residences (GPS: 1.29047, 103.81894)
Cantonment Towers (GPS: 1.27508, 103.84041)
Reflections at Keppel Bay (GPS: 1.26847, 103.81444)

Expressways in Bukit Merah

MRT Stations in Bukit Merah

Cantonment MRT Station (GPS: 1.27278, 103.83663; CC31) under construction
HarbourFront MRT Station (GPS: 1.26596, 103.82077)
Keppel MRT Station (GPS: 1.27035, 103.83064; CC30) under construction
Labrador Park MRT Station (GPS: 1.27233, 103.80273)
Redhill MRT Station (GPS: 1.28973, 103.81648)
Telok Blangah MRT Station (GPS: 1.2707, 103.80972)
Tiong Bahru MRT Station (GPS: 1.2707, 103.80972)

Sights in Bukit Merah

Cantonment Towers (GPS: 1.27508, 103.84041)
HarbourFront Centre (GPS: 1.26451, 103.82027)
Labrador Nature Reserve (GPS: 1.26555, 103.80156)
Singapore Art Museum at Tanjong Pagar Distripark (GPS: 1.27195, 103.83675)
Singapore Cruise Centre (GPS: 1.26336, 103.82023)
St James Power Station (GPS: 1.26476, 103.82487)
VivoCity (GPS: 1.26462, 103.82231)

Streets in Bukit Merah

Quick Facts

Size: 14.3 sq km
Population: ~151,500 (2020)
Population Density: ~10,600 people per sq km
Postal Districts: 3 and 4
Established: Developed as an HDB town in the 1960s
Name Origin: Malay “bukit” = hill; “merah” = red, referring to the soil colour
Pronunciation: Boo-kit Meh-rah (/ˈbuːkɪt məˈrɑː/)
Main MRT Stations: Redhill, Tiong Bahru (EWL); HarbourFront (NEL, CCL); Havelock, Outram Park, Maxwell (TEL)
Main Expressways: Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), Central Expressway (CTE)
Highlights: Mount Faber, Henderson Waves, VivoCity, Tiong Bahru, HarbourFront
Average Housing Prices: HDB 4-room ~SGD 750k–950k; Condominiums ~SGD 1,800–2,400 psf

References

Page Details

This page was created on 7 September 2025. Hi, my name is Timothy and created it from my research, for my own entertainment, knowledge and to satisfy my curiosity. I am providing the information to you in good faith and hope it is useful. I try to get the details as accurate as possible. I also try to update the page whenever I stumble on new details. So this and all my other pages are perpetual work in progress. If you discover any error, please politely inform me, pointing out where the error lies, and I will correct it as soon as possible. Your helpfulness will keep this page accurate, relevant and helpful to those who need the information.

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