Where does SBS Transit Bus Service 116 go, and which interesting places can you visit? Bus 116 is a Hougang Central Interchange loop through Hougang Avenue 4 and 9, the neighbourhood around Hougang 1, Serangoon North Avenue 4, Yio Chu Kang Road, Serangoon Sport Centre, Serangoon MRT and NEX, and back to Hougang. It offers a legitimate indoor reading or shopping outing in Serangoon and can help people reach a confirmed swimming or sport session, with a local meal at Hougang 1 as a shorter alternative.

The two biggest things to know: the bus does not go to the Serangoon Garden Circus or Chomp Chomp merely because it passes a stop named ‘Aft S’goon Gdn Way’ on Yio Chu Kang Road. Also, 116A is a weekday-morning, Serangoon North-to-Serangoon MRT short trip; it does not start at Hougang Interchange and is not the whole loop.

Quick point-form summary: 64009 Hougang Ctrl Int → 64529 Hougang Polyclinic → 64499 Regentville → 66439 Blk 504A CP on Serangoon North Ave 4 → 63369 S’goon Sports Cplx → 66359 S’goon Stn Exit C/Blk 201 → 63361 Opp S’goon Sports Cplx → 64491 Hougang 1 → 64009 Hougang Ctrl Int. For November 2026, ActiveSG shows a 23–27 November daytime closure of Serangoon Stadium and Thursday maintenance for Serangoon Swimming Complex.

Quick route guide and verified facts

• Operator: SBS Transit.
• Route shape: a 13.0 km Hougang Central Int loop via Serangoon North, Yio Chu Kang Road and Serangoon Central.
• Origin: 64009 Hougang Central Interchange; no Punggol MRT or Punggol Coast stop.
• First and last at Hougang Central: 5.45am to 11.30pm every day. Time at any intermediate stop requires a live or stop-specific check.
• Serangoon North morning variant: 116A starts at 66439 Blk 504A CP, ends at 66359 S’goon Stn Exit C/Blk 201, weekdays 7.04am–8.16am at its origin.
• Sports stops: 63369 S’goon Sports Cplx early and 63361 Opp S’goon Sports Cplx returning, near the Serangoon Sport Centre complex.
• Serangoon Swimming Complex: 35 Yio Chu Kang Road; normal Thursday maintenance closure with public holiday exception.
• Serangoon Stadium: 33 Yio Chu Kang Road; planned entire-facility daytime closure 23–27 November 2026, 7am–5pm daily.
• Hougang 1: near 64491 Hougang 1 after the Serangoon portion of the loop, not the same as Hougang Mall or Heartland Mall Kovan.

Which bus stop should you use?

This table uses the SBS Transit five-digit stopping codes in the route’s published sequence. A named stop may be on the opposite side of a road from a destination and is not a free ticket, available appointment, accessible building entrance or current live arrival. Always verify the last walk and return direction.

Place / purpose	Published stop and route position	What to do and verify
Hougang Central MRT and bus interchange	64009 Hougang Ctrl Int start/end	An ordinary NE14 connection and Hougang Mall vicinity; actual mall entrance requires a walk.
Hougang Polyclinic	64529 Hougang Polyclinic near start	For an actual appointment or authorised healthcare visit, not an outing attraction.
Hougang Avenue 9 / Ci Yuan CC area	64479 Blk 665, 64489 Blk 946A	Public community activities around 51 Hougang Ave 9; check the exact entrance and event.
Serangoon North Avenue 4	66439 Blk 504A CP, 66429 Blk 530	Residential connections; 116A starts at 66439 rather than Hougang Interchange.
Yio Chu Kang Road / Serangoon Gardens approach	63189 Aft S’goon Gdn Way	Nearby road junction only; not Chomp Chomp or Serangoon Garden Circus stop 66271.
Serangoon Sport Centre and Swimming Complex	63369 S’goon Sports Cplx early; 63361 Opp S’goon Sports Cplx returning	Confirm actual pool or stadium entrance, admission and maintenance/closure notices.
Serangoon MRT / NEX / Serangoon Public Library	66359 S’goon Stn Exit C/Blk 201 at loop turn	Library at NEX Level 4R, food, shopping or North East/Circle Line transfer.
Serangoon North on return	66421 Blk 537, 66431 Opp Blk 506A	Different opposite-direction shelters than 66439/66429.
Hougang 1 neighbourhood mall	64491 Hougang 1 near return end	A food or household errand; the surrounding shops’ hours may vary.
Return to Hougang Interchange	64559 Blk 830A then 64009 Hougang Ctrl Int	Last part of the loop; not a separate Serangoon-bound service.

Why Service 116 is a local loop, not a direct cross-town bus

SBS Transit’s route page lists Service 116 as a loop from Hougang Central Interchange to the Serangoon station Exit C/Blk 201 area and back. The bus covers local Hougang residential streets, Serangoon North Avenue 4 and Yio Chu Kang Road before reaching Serangoon Central. It does not begin in Punggol, continue to Tampines, or terminate at another interchange.

This is useful because different households need street-level transport. Someone living near Serangoon North Blk 504A might have a convenient bus towards Serangoon MRT, while a person living beside the North East Line might find rail more direct. An everyday bus can matter enormously without serving an airport or a nationally famous attraction.

The key word is ‘loop’. Bus 116 reaches Serangoon station and then continues via different stops back through the sports precinct, Serangoon North and Hougang. A passenger boarding at the wrong part of the loop may make an unnecessarily long journey. Check the actual stop code and next stops rather than relying on the service number alone.

For an outing, decide whether the main purpose is a reading visit at NEX, a sports session, a neighbourhood meal at Hougang 1 or a legitimate appointment. Do not turn the full 13 km circuit into a compulsory tourist tour. One destination and a clear route home are enough.

Hougang and Ci Yuan: practical community services, not invented tourist attractions

From Hougang Central, the bus heads through Hougang Avenue 4 and 9. Its early stop names include 64529 Hougang Polyclinic, 64479 Blk 665 and 64489 Blk 946A. These are useful access points for residents, community activities and healthcare appointments. None should be described as a recreational attraction merely because the stop exists.

The People’s Association locates Ci Yuan Community Club at 51 Hougang Avenue 9 and lists Bus 116 among its services. That provides a legitimate reason to visit when a specific workshop, course or public programme is available. However, one programme may have a registration requirement, a fee or a different schedule from the community club’s counter services.

A family might decide to visit a confirmed public workshop and add a small meal afterwards. If there is no suitable event, do not invent one. The bus still helps people reach the surrounding housing and public services, and an ordinary errand is a valid purpose.

For a healthcare visit at Hougang Polyclinic, follow the clinic’s actual appointment and registration instructions rather than this leisure guide. The patient may need a particular pedestrian entrance or an accessible route from the bus stop, which should be checked independently.

A child learning public transport can practise a simple method: identify the route’s origin, locate the desired stop in the ordered list, then choose the public entrance. An adult should remain responsible for crossing roads and boarding decisions.

Serangoon North: why 116A starts here and does not reach Hougang Interchange

The outbound Bus 116 stops at 66439 Blk 504A CP and 66429 Blk 530 on Serangoon North Avenue 4. These are ordinary neighbourhood stops serving HDB homes and local facilities. They are especially important during school and work commuting times because some passengers need a direct connection to Serangoon MRT.

Service 116A is specifically designed for a part of that demand. The SBS Transit timetable shows a weekday-morning short trip from 66439 Blk 504A CP to 66359 S’goon Stn Exit C/Blk 201, with first and last departures from the short-trip origin at about 7.04am and 8.16am. It does not begin at Hougang Interchange.

If you are at Hougang Central and want to reach Serangoon MRT, the correct route is full 116 or another appropriate connection. Boarding expectations based on the 116A timetable would be misplaced at Hougang; the short trip does not start there.

A student travelling from Serangoon North to Serangoon MRT may find 116A helpful on a weekday morning if its departure and stop suit the journey. But a family planning a Sunday leisure trip should not treat the weekday short-working as an all-day regular service.

The location of the starting point matters too. Serangoon North Avenue 4 has different roadside stop codes in opposite directions, so walking to the wrong pole can produce a route that is not suited to your destination. Check the code before crossing.

The Serangoon Gardens naming trap: Yio Chu Kang Road is not the Garden Circus

Service 116’s published sequence includes 63189 Aft S’goon Gdn Way on Yio Chu Kang Road. The presence of the words Serangoon Garden Way can make a reader think the bus drops off at Chomp Chomp or Serangoon Garden Market. It does not list the actual 66271 Serangoon Garden Circus stop served by other buses.

For a specific food outing at Chomp Chomp, begin with the food centre’s actual address on Kensington Park Road and compare a bus calling at Garden Circus or another closer suitable stop. Do not confuse a junction on Yio Chu Kang Road with a bus driving through the centre of Serangoon Gardens.

This does not make the 116 route uninteresting. The Yio Chu Kang Road stretch has residential streets and publicly visible architecture, and it is useful for real appointments and local commuting. But school gates and private homes are not visitor attractions without permission.

A family’s time and energy are limited. Using the correct Garden Circus service can be more valuable than insisting on Bus 116 simply because a bus stop contains a similar-looking name. The correct destination wins over the route number.

Serangoon Sport Centre: a genuine public facility with a separate schedule

On Yio Chu Kang Link, full Bus 116 serves 63369 S’goon Sports Cplx before it reaches Serangoon station. On the way back, it uses 63361 Opp S’goon Sports Cplx. These are useful reference points for Sport Singapore’s Serangoon Sport Centre and the public swimming and stadium facilities along Yio Chu Kang Road.

ActiveSG locates the Serangoon Swimming Complex at 35 Yio Chu Kang Road and lists Thursday as the usual weekly maintenance closure day, with a public-holiday exception. During normal operations the pool has a published 8am–9.30pm general opening schedule except Thursdays. A bus-stop name does not guarantee a pool is open in a thunderstorm or that an admission pass includes a particular programme.

A parent should confirm the session, activity and entrance before travelling with swimwear or sports equipment. Different sports facilities have distinct booking, age, pricing and access rules. An open sports centre building does not make every court or field freely available at once.

After the activity, choose the correct reverse stop and allow enough time to change, collect belongings and walk. A tired swimmer may find an awkward crossing more inconvenient than an extra bus stop, so choose the legal accessible path rather than rushing to catch a visible bus.

If the pool is closed, a visit to the public library at Serangoon MRT or a different indoor meal can be a sensible alternative—provided it is actually open and suits the group.

Serangoon Stadium’s exact November 2026 closure matters

The stadium is another real venue in the Serangoon Sport Centre area. Sport Singapore lists Serangoon Stadium at 33 Yio Chu Kang Road, with an ordinary public operating schedule and rules for field use. It also currently lists a temporary entire-facility closure from 23 to 27 November 2026, 7am–5pm daily.

This is the kind of fact a guide should surface near the planned visit, not hide inside a general disclaimer. A parent intending to watch or join a weekday daytime sports event during that period should verify the organiser and official facility notice first. The bus can still stop as usual while the sporting activity is unavailable.

The closure does not automatically mean that Serangoon Swimming Complex or every nearby indoor venue has the same status. Those are distinct facilities with separate management notices and operating conditions. Decide which facility the outing actually needs.

For a student interested in sport, a legitimate event can be a good observation opportunity. But public access to a running track or field may depend on a booking or current venue rules. Do not turn the bus stop into a promise of a free organised match or use of reserved space.

If a closure affects the intended activity, shorten the itinerary or choose a confirmed alternative. Avoid creating an exhausting last-minute trip to a completely different sports complex without checking its availability.

Serangoon MRT and NEX: the clearest indoor family outing on 116

Service 116’s furthest station-side point is 66359 S’goon Stn Exit C/Blk 201. NEX Shopping Mall is at 23 Serangoon Central and its official transport guide includes Service 116 among buses reaching the district. The North East and Circle Lines connect here.

For a library-focused family, Serangoon Public Library operates at NEX Level 4R. A visit can be simple: browse one topic, borrow a suitable book if eligible, and have a meal. The library’s opening hours and programme rules are separate from the shopping mall’s, so a confirmed workshop needs its own check.

A child can learn the distinction between a public interchange, an MRT platform and a shopping centre entrance. These facilities may be close together but they are not one universal location. A family meeting point should be a specific public entrance or unit, not a vague instruction to ‘meet at Serangoon’.

After serving Serangoon station, Bus 116 heads along Boundary Road and Yio Chu Kang Link back towards Hougang. This is important for return planning: the route is one continuous loop rather than a completely separate bus beginning at the station.

The route could provide a direct ride home for some Hougang households, while others already at Serangoon MRT may prefer the North East Line. Compare the actual remaining bus stops and safe walking rather than automatically boarding the same service for the whole return.

Hougang 1: a useful stop near the end, not Hougang Mall

On the later returning part of Service 116, the operator lists 64491 Hougang 1 on Hougang Avenue 9, followed by neighbourhood stops before returning to Hougang Interchange. Hougang 1 is a separate shopping destination from Hougang Mall at 90 Hougang Avenue 10 or Heartland Mall Kovan at Hougang Street 21.

A short outing might involve a meal, grocery errand or picking up an item that is actually available at a current tenant. Do not promise a specific restaurant, shop or event based only on the existence of the mall. Retail listings and hours can change.

Because the stop appears after the Serangoon MRT turn, a passenger boarding at Hougang Central on the first leg may be riding much longer than expected to reach Hougang 1. The best route depends on where the person starts. Compare another bus or a more direct local connection if the sole purpose is visiting that mall.

If the family wants both NEX and Hougang 1, choose whether a two-stop day is comfortable before departing; there is no need to turn a simple outing into a forced itinerary. An older relative or child may prefer a shorter single-purpose visit.

Read the actual next stops on the way home. A stop at Hougang 1 on the return leg is not the same as boarding from Hougang Central at the beginning. The direction of the loop determines whether you are heading towards the interchange or back towards Serangoon.

Comparing Bus 116 with 101, 112 and 136 for an honest itinerary

Service 116 is distinct because it directly serves Serangoon North’s Avenue 4, the Serangoon Sport Centre precinct and Serangoon MRT/NEX from Hougang. 101 travels between Serangoon, Kovan, Hougang Green and Buangkok Square. 112 is a Hougang circuit through Kovan, the Hougang Avenue 7 riverfront and Street 92. 136 connects Punggol to Ang Mo Kio and serves Serangoon Garden Circus.

The distinction can prevent a wrong choice. Someone visiting Serangoon Stadium may find 116 useful. Someone visiting Chomp Chomp should compare 136 or a more direct Garden Circus service. Someone trying to reach Kovan Heartland Mall should not assume Bus 116 stops there merely because both Serangoon and Kovan are on the North East Line.

A transport guide needs to explain which route is best for a specific place, not promote one bus number for every family. The correct journey also depends on actual starting address, mobility needs, live arrivals and road traffic.

Fares vary by trip and eligibility. Published service headways are typical patterns, not an exact arrival guarantee at every intermediate shelter. For a timed sports booking or medical appointment, allow a buffer and know a suitable alternative.

After choosing the destination, write the bus stop code, exact venue entrance and return-side location together. This simple habit makes even a long neighbourhood loop easier to understand.

Three practical outings from this route

Serangoon library and food

From Hougang Central, board full 116, alight at 66359 S’goon Stn Exit C/Blk 201, follow public wayfinding to NEX and Serangoon Public Library, then have a meal at an open outlet. Choose the bus or MRT home based on the actual route; do not mistake the stop for Serangoon Gardens.

A confirmed Serangoon sports activity

Check whether the intended swimming complex or stadium is open and accepts the planned visit. Use 63369 S’goon Sports Cplx on the first leg or 63361 opposite on the return as appropriate, then walk to the actual sport venue. Remember Thursday pool closure and 23–27 November stadium daytime closure.

Hougang 1 and Ci Yuan community errand

Select one legitimate neighbourhood purpose near Hougang Avenue 9—food shopping at Hougang 1 or a registered Ci Yuan CC activity. Verify the business or programme, the correct stop and the road crossing. Use full 116 rather than assuming weekday-morning 116A starts at Hougang Central.

Problems and fixes: save yourself a wasted trip

• 116A starts in Serangoon North: its origin is 66439 Blk 504A CP and it ends at 66359; it does not leave from Hougang Central.
• Wrong Garden Circus: 63189 Aft S’goon Gdn Way is on Yio Chu Kang Road, not the 66271 Serangoon Garden Circus stop for Chomp Chomp.
• Swimming maintenance: Serangoon Swimming Complex normally closes Thursdays except public-holiday exceptions.
• Stadium temporary closure: ActiveSG lists 23–27 November 2026, 7am–5pm, entire stadium facility closure.
• Wrong shopping centre: Hougang 1, Hougang Mall, NEX and Heartland Mall are distinct buildings.
• School or private building entry: stop names do not authorise access to educational institutions or homes.
• Wrong loop direction: 63369 sports complex first leg and 63361 return; 64491 Hougang 1 is near the later portion.
• Missing last bus: 11.30pm is an origin-terminal departure, not the time at each neighbourhood stop.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Bus 116 go?

It loops from Hougang Central via Hougang Avenue 9, Serangoon North, Yio Chu Kang Road, Serangoon Sport Centre and Serangoon MRT, then returns to Hougang.

Does 116 go to Serangoon MRT?

Yes. Its loop calls at 66359 S’goon Stn Exit C/Blk 201.

Does Bus 116 go to NEX?

It serves the Serangoon MRT precinct, and NEX includes 116 in its public bus access list.

Can Bus 116 take me to Serangoon Sport Centre?

Yes, it has 63369 S’goon Sports Cplx and 63361 Opp S’goon Sports Cplx, with a separately checked venue entrance.

Is Serangoon Swimming Complex open on Thursdays?

Normally no: ActiveSG lists weekly Thursday maintenance, with a public-holiday exception.

Is Serangoon Stadium open 23–27 November 2026 in the daytime?

ActiveSG lists an entire-facility temporary closure during 7am–5pm daily on those dates.

Does Bus 116 go to Serangoon Garden Circus and Chomp Chomp?

No named Garden Circus stop appears in its route; it passes a Yio Chu Kang Road junction near Serangoon Garden Way.

What is 116A?

A weekday-morning short trip from Serangoon North Avenue 4 Blk 504A CP to Serangoon MRT, not a full Hougang loop.

Does 116A start at Hougang Interchange?

No; its published start is 66439 Blk 504A CP.

Does Bus 116 go to Hougang 1?

Yes. The later loop includes 64491 Hougang 1 on Hougang Avenue 9.

Does 116 directly stop at Kovan MRT?

No Kovan station stop appears in its 13-km loop; use a Kovan-serving route if that is your destination.

Can Bus 116 take me to Ci Yuan CC?

PA lists Bus 116 for the CC precinct. Choose the suitable Hougang Avenue 9 stop and map the walk to 51 Hougang Avenue 9.

Is Bus 116 a Punggol bus?

No, it begins and ends at Hougang Central Interchange 64009.

How can I avoid the wrong side on return?

Check the displayed destination and actual stop order; the loop serves different sides of Serangoon North and the sports precinct.

Official sources and other bus guides

• SBS Transit current full Service 116 route and first/last times
• SBS Transit 116A weekday-morning short trip
• ActiveSG Serangoon Sport Centre and facility details
• ActiveSG Serangoon Swimming Complex, Thursday closure
• ActiveSG Serangoon Stadium, late-November 2026 closure
• NEX Serangoon directions, including Bus 116
• NLB Serangoon Public Library at NEX
• People’s Association Ci Yuan CC at 51 Hougang Avenue 9

Bus 101: Serangoon, Kovan, Hougang Green and Buangkok Square; Bus 112: Hougang riverfront, Kovan and Street 92; Bus 119: Punggol, Sengkang, Punggol Park and Kovan. Different numbered buses have different origins, stop codes and loop orders.

Editorial check (1 November 2026): This independent bus guide uses the operator and official park, retail, library, sport or food-centre sources linked here. It is not a live-arrival predictor or venue booking. Routes, stop access, centre cleaning, shop schedules, event availability and pedestrian diversions can change; check your destination and actual boarding stop before travel.