The Definitive Singapore Neighbourhood Guide: Is Tampines the Best Neighbourhood to Settle Down in?

To help you find the best place to live in, we decided to create this Definitive Singapore Neighbourhood Guide series.

Where we lay out the facts of the neighbourhood and evaluate it as objectively as possible.

This guide will be particularly useful to you if you’re:

• a prospective homeowner
• a homeowner looking for a change of environment
• an expatriate looking to settle down in Singapore

The first instalments took us to Punggol, Tanjong Pagar, and Tiong Bahru.

This week, we’ll head to Tampines to see if east side is REALLY the best side.

Note: this will be particularly useful to prospective homeowners looking at the Tampines May 2020 BTO launch.

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TL;DR: The Definitive Guide to the Tampines Neighbourhood

• Personality: 4/5
• Affordability: 3/5
• Accessibility: 3/5
• Schools in the area: 5/5
• Shopping: 5/5
• Recreational: 4/5
• Food: 3/5

Final Score for the Tampines neighbourhood: 27 | A-rank 

*Click on each individual category to jump straight to it.

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Our Comparision Methodology

Each neighbourhood will be evaluated based on a list of 7 criteria with equal weightage.

Each criterion will be given a score from 1 – 5.

The total score will then determine the neighbourhood’s rank, which ranges from S Rank to D Rank:

• S-Rank: 28 – 35 Points
• A-Rank: 22 – 27 Points
• B-Rank: 15 – 21 Points
• C-Rank: 8 – 14 Points
• D-Rank: 1 – 7 Points

Disclaimer: As objective as I strive to be, there’ll inevitably be some bias present in my evaluation. So… All opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Is Tampines the Best Neighbourhood?

For this guide, the focus will be on the Tampines neighbourhood/planning area as demarcated by the boundaries in red.

The area spans over 20.89 square kilometres and consists of:

• Tampines North
• Tampines East
• Tampines Changkat
• Tampines Central
• Tampines West
• Simei

History of Tampines

Back when Singapore was a mere fishing village, Tampines was filled with swamps, sand quarries, forests, rubber plantations and an abundance of tempinis (Malay: ironwood trees).

The neighbourhood was named after a river, Sungei Tampines, as marked out in the Plan of the Town of Singapore map created by Franklin and Jackson back in 1828.

No prizes for guessing, but the river was given this name as it was said that many ironwood trees grew beside it.

The Tampines neighbourhood used to house military training facilities up till about 1987.

Another fun fact: Tampines was awarded the Word Habitat Award by the United Nations (UN) on 5 October 1992, due to its outstanding contribution towards human settlement and development.

1) Personality and Charm of Tampines (4/5)

Tampines is actually the regional centre for the East region, the third-largest new town in Singapore by land area and is also the third most populated.

Tampines is one of four regional centres that spread Singapore’s commercial activity outside the Central Business District. These regional centres are important as they relive the congestion around the city’s centre.

Although Tampines may not be as lively or busy as the city, it is exactly that laidback charm which is loved by both visitors and residents.

The neighbourhood itself can be described as a self SUFFICIENT town with houses, employment, shopping, education, recreation, culture — everything which marks the independent, satisfying town.

While most heartland neighbourhoods have just one mall to serve their residents, Tampines has FOUR! Tampines 1, Tampines Mall, Century Square and Eastpoint Mall.

Tampines is also home to the sprawling Tampines Retail Park, where warehouse retailers Courts, Ikea and Giant are located.

Not to mention Our Tampines Hub, Singapore’s first-ever integrated community hub, which boasts sporting and lifestyle facilities for endless hours of fun.

With its laidback charm, UN prize and no lack of modern amenities, Tampines is deserving of a 4/5 score.

2) Affordability: Tampines Median Resale Flats Price (3/5)

We’ll be using the median price of HDB resale flats during the fourth quarter of 2019 as a benchmark.

We have chosen this statistic as a measure of affordability as the median resale flat price provides a good indicator of the average price of housing in the area.

Although Tampines is a mature housing estate with excellent amenities, houses there are surprisingly still relatively affordable.

The main estate which includes Tampines North and Simei consists of 152,000 HDB flats and is home to over 237,800 residents.

Tampines Resale Flats Median Price 2019 Q4

We have included data from the most expensive areas and most affordable neighbourhoods.

This downgrades their affordability rating to a middle of the road 3/5.

With the upcoming developments in Tampines North, closeness to commercial and industrial hubs, position as a regional hub, it is very likely that property prices in Tampines will be going up both in the medium and long term.

3) Accessibility: How Accessible is Tampines by Public Transport and Private Transport (3/5)

In terms of transportation, Tampines’ far east location and distance from the city centre makes it one of the less convenient places in Singapore (read: ulu).

However, the neighbourhood is still rather well connected to the majority of Singapore’s transport networks by MRT, bus or by private transport.

MRT Stations Near Tampines

Currently, there are two lines that pass through Tampines: the Downtown line and East-West line.

In this sprawling neighbourhood, there are a total of five MRT stations:

1. Tampines (EW2/DT32)
2. Tampines West (DT31)
3. Tampines East (DT32)
4. Simei (EW3)
5. Expo (CG1/DT35)

Tampines MRT is about 30 minutes away from Raffles Place MRT station (EW14/NS26) which grants easy access to the North-South Line.

You can also get to areas like Bencoolen MRT Station (DT21) Marina Bay via Downtown MRT Station (DT17) via the Downtown Line in about 30 minutes.

Expo MRT is also just an MRT stop away from Changi Airport MRT Station (CG2).

Bus Services Tampines

Tampines is also served by two bus interchanges; Tampines Bus Interchange and Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange.

Built in 1987, the Tampines bus interchange is linked to Our Tampines Hub and caters to about 25 bus routes.

Tampines Concourse Bus interchange opened in 2016 and is a stone throw away from Tampines bus interchange, serving four bus routes.

Tampines Bus Interchange Buses

Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange Buses

Tampines Public Transport Commute to Work Areas

Here is an estimation of how long it will take to get to the main work areas in Singapore from Tampines by public transport:

CBD:
35 – 40 minutes

Changi Business Park:
30 – 35 minutes

One North Buona Vista:
60 – 70 minutes

Jurong International Business Park:
75 – 80 minutes

Tuas:
135 minutes

Unfortunately, getting around Singapore from Tampines will take awhile on public transport. Even Changi Business Park which is relatively near is still about half and hour away.

Tampines Accessibility by Private Transport

Motorists can get around Singapore well from Tampines.

They can head onto the:

• Pan Island Expressway (PIE) to head to town and further West.
• Tampines Expressway (TPE) to head North-East
• East Coast Parkway (ECP) to head to the airport. The ECP also connects and to the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) and Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE)

Here is an estimation of how long it will take to get to the main work areas in Singapore from Tampines by car accounting for traffic:

CBD:
20 – 40 minutes

Changi Business Park:
10 – 20 minutes

One North Buona Vista:
25 – 45 minutes

Jurong International Business Park:
30 – 45 minutes

Tuas:
45 – 75 minutes

Overall Accessibility in Tampines

In terms of convenience by public transport or private transport, Tampines’ connectivity is rather average for Singapore.

This is one of the downsides of its laidback charm.

I would give Tampines’ accessibility a 3/5 score because of this.

4) Schools in Tampines (5/5)

There are 12 primary schools, 9 secondary schools, 2 international schools, and 3 tertiary institutions in Tampines.

Primary Schools in Tampines

• Angsana Primary School
• Changkat Primary School
• Changkat Changi Primary School
• Chongzheng Primary School
• East Spring Primary School
• Gongshang Primary School
• Junyuan Primary School
• Poi Ching School
• Saint Hilda’s Primary School
• Tampines North Primary School
• Tampines Primary School
• Yumin Primary School

Secondary Schools in Tampines

• Changkat Changi Secondary School
• Dunman Secondary School
• East Spring Secondary School
• Junyuan Secondary School
• Ngee Ann Secondary School
• Pasir Ris Secondary School
• Springfield Secondary School
• Saint Hilda’s Secondary School
• Tampines Secondary School

Tertiary Institutions in Tampines

• Temasek Polytechnic
• ITE College East
• Singapore University of Technology and Design

International Schools in Tampines

• Middleton International School
• United World College of South East Asia (East Campus)

Basically, you or your child can complete his or her entire education journey without having to leave Tampines.

FYI: there are also plans to add new schools in Tampines due to increasing demand.

With a new Pathlight campus set for Jan 2023, Tampines will become even more inclusive.

I am rating the school situation in Tampines 5/5 due to an abundance of Primary schools, Secondary schools, tertiary institutions and International schools.

5) Shopping and Lifestyle Amenities in Tampines (5/5)

Tampines is home to three major malls; Tampines Mall, Century Square and Tampines 1. There are also East Point and Our Tampines Hub. Although Our Tampines Hub is not a mall, there are quite a few shopping options there too.

A) Shopping Malls in Tampines

Tampines Mall: For the Young

Located just next to Tampines MRT, Tampines Mall is a favourite spot of the young and young at heart

This established heartland mal houses Singapore’s first Starbucks boutique concept, a beautiful two-storey building with cozy armchairs and an interactive bar. The boutique is also more atas (fancy) than regular starbucks outlets with unique features not found in a regular Starbucks.

Tampines Mall’s shopping, dining, and entertainment scene are no slouch either with favourites such as H&M, Courts Megastore, Din Tai Fung, Decathalon, Golden Village Tampines, Genki Sushi and more. The roof level is also an education hub with many enrichment centres and a playground as well.

There is also a FairPrice Tampines Mall for all your grocery needs.

Century Square: For a Weekend Hangout

Right next to Tampines Mall is century square which is linked up via a sheltered walkway.

After undergoing a revamp in 2018, the mall received a fresh new look and an expansion with 50 per cent more stores to explore.

Century Square is a great spot to chill over the weekend for your family. Shops like Foot Locker are great for sneakerheads while Puma caters to the active ones. Popular food such as Hai Di Lao, Mediumrare by Saveur, Nakhon are a must-try when you’re there.

After your meal, you can catch a movie at Filmgarde Century Square or let loose at the Virtualand arcade.

You can also grab your groceries at speciality Japanese grocery store J-mart.

Tampines 1: For Food and Fashion

Tampines 1 rounds up the trio of malls next to Tampines MRT.

Tampines 1 is known for its vast array of popular international fashion brands like AW Lab, Benjamin Barker, Sephora, Triumph and Uniqlo, complimented by local stores like The Closet Lover, The Editor’s Market and The Tinsel Rack.

Hungry shoppers can rejoice at the wide range of popular dining options available, such as 4Fingers Crispy Chicken, Blackball Desserts, Châteraisé, iSteaks, Kuriya Japanese Market Yokocho, Sushi Tei and more.

You can also find Cold Storage and Shine Korea for all your grocery needs.

Our Tampines Hub: For Families with Kids

The crown jewel of Tampines is arguably Our Tampines Hub a huge complex that encompasses a stadium, a sports hall, a swimming complex, a library, a mall, and several government agencies all in one.

With these many activities and amenities available in one location, there really is no better place to keep the whole family entertained.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, indulge at the mall with tasty treats from Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert, Commons, Qiji Express, Toasties and more…

There is also an NTUC Fairprice located there.

You can get there by exiting from the Tampines MRT exit.

Eastpoint Mall

Last but not least, there is Eastpoint a heartland mall that serves the Simei Estate.

The Mall has over 100 shops spanning six stories and is located right next to Simei MRT and easily accessible by other forms of public transport.

You can find favourites such as Daiso, a 24-hour FairPrice and over 30 F&B outlets.

Tampines Retail Park

Living in Tampines brings you closer to Tampines Retail Park with its trio of IKEA, Giant and Courts Megastores.

There is free parking, convenient shuttle buses from Tampines Mall and provides a great shopping experience!

B) Supermarkets and Wet Markets in Tampines

Tampines Supermarkets

• Cold Storage Tampines
• FairPrice Eastpoint
• FairPrice Tampines Hub
• FarePrice Tampines Mall
• FairPrice Xtra Changi Business Park
• Prime Supermarket (Tampines Street 81)
• Sheng Shiong Tampines Central

Tampines Wet Markets

• Tampines Mart Wet Market
• Tampines Round Market & Food Centre
• Kar Mui Market Produce Shop

C) Hospitals And Clinics in Tampines With CHAS

For healthcare, there is the SingHealth Tampines polyclinic and numerous private clinics in the area.

There are also Changi General Hospital and St. Andrews Community Hospital in Tampines for more serious ailments.

Do remember to check your Integrated Shield Plans to see what kind of coverage you are entitled to.

Now the good part, there are quite a few private clinics in Tampines.

Family Medicine

You’ll be glad to know that there are the Singapore Post – Tampines Central Branch and numerous POPStations for all your mailing needs:

• POPStation@ Our Tampines Hub
• POPStation@Tampines 1
• POPStation@Tampines Junction
• POPStation@Tampines Mart
• POPStation@Shell Tampines

In terms of shopping and lifestyle amenities, Tampines has everything you need.

I am giving Tampines a 5/5 score for its close to perfect range of shopping and lifestyle amenities for all your needs.

6) Recreational Amenities in Tampines (4/5)

The opening of Tampines Hub opened up a whole range of things to do in Tampines.

There is a mixture of sports, cultural and leisure activities for both young and old here.

Sports & Fitness

Our Tampines Hub has a swimming pool, badminton courts and a football field for all your recreational needs.

There are also several gyms in Tampines Central for those who want to live the #fitspo life.

First and foremost, there is the Tampines Active SG gym which is one of the biggest ActiveSG gyms in Singapore.

There is also True Fitness at NTUC Income Building, which has up to state-of-the-art gym equipment, an aerobics and hot yoga studio and locker room facilities that come with dedicated steam rooms.

Fitness First at the CPF building offers group exercise classes for yoga and cycling, with over 60 cardio and resistance machines, and highly-qualified personal trainers.

Female gym-goers who would be more comfortable in a women-only gym can head down to Amore at Tampines 1.

Aside from the standard gym facilities and workout classes, there are also steam bath facilities and a boutique spa for you to treat yoself.

Parks And Nature

Those looking to get away from the city can head to the various parks in Tampines, such as Tampines Quarry, Sun Plaza Park, Tampines Eco Green and more.

In the past, Tampines Quarry used to be a Sand Quarry.

However, since it was no longer used for that purpose, it was left to collect rainwater and become this beautiful hidden nature spot buried within the heart of Tampines.

The quarry is great for biking, hiking and getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Did you know? you can view Sakura in Singapore? Around March/April and August/September, the trumpet trees in Sun Plaza Park become painted with a beautiful shade of pink when the trumpet flowers bloom.

Tampines Eco Green is located near Tampines MRT station.

The wheelchair-accessible park is popular with nature lovers due to its includes open grasslands, freshwater wetlands and a secondary rainforest. Tampines Eco Green also has hiking trails and is a great spot to go bird watching,

Cultural and Entertainment

You can also head to HomeTeamNS Tampines located at 1 Tampines Walk.

Besides playing laser tag, you can start your climbing adventure at Clip ‘n Climb- a rock-climbing arena. With over 20 climbing challenges of varying difficulty, there is something for beginners and even seasoned pros.

Again Our Tampines Hub features with its lively Festive Plaza.

Here you get to catch free live movie screenings and enjoy live music from local musicians in the evening.

There is also a full-sized football stadium where you can catch football or rugby games. Even if you are not a fan of these sports, the stadium itself is a sight to behold.

For music lovers, Club Jamming Paradise Studio is conveniently located near Tampines MRT. Here you can live out your dreams of becoming a musician or just jam with your friends.

For its whole range of sports, cultural and leisure activities for both young and old. Not to mention Our Tampines Hub, I will give Tampines a 4/5 for its recreational amenities, docking a point as there is nothing too spectacular.

7) Tampines Food (3/5)

Tampines has quite a decent amount of food options that will make you want to travel to the far east for.

Tampines Hawker Centres – Tampines Round Market

Cheap and good food can be found at the numerous hawker centres and Kopitiams spread all around Tampines.

You can find great eats at Tampines Round Market.

The hawker centre and wet market is home to a good number of acclaimed stalls including:

• Xing Ji Wanton Mee
• Yummy Sarawak Kolo Mee
• Song Han Carrot Cake
• 137 Lor Mee Prawn Mee
• Rajarani Thosai
• Chai Chee Pork Porridge
• Pigs’ Viscera Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle
• and more…

Tampines Street 21 is no slouch either with Mui Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice, Fu Yuan Teochew Bak Chor Mee and Saffron’s Cafeteria at Tampines.

There are also other gems like Tampines 802 Carrot Cake, Al-Azhar Eating Restaurant (Tampines), Al Mahboob Rojak Restaurant located around Tampines

Tampines Cafes