Where does SBS Transit Bus Service 168 go, and which interesting places can you visit? Service 168 connects Bedok Bus Interchange with Woodlands Bus Interchange, serving Bedok Reservoir MRT, Tampines West MRT, Tampines town centre and a long expressway corridor before reaching Woodlands. It is useful for a Bedok or Tampines shopping trip, a planned visit to Heartbeat@Bedok, an onward connection to Bedok Reservoir Park, or a visit to Causeway Point at Woodlands. It is not a sightseeing bus that stops at every attraction between the eastern and northern ends of Singapore.

The most important directional detail is IKEA Tampines. In the operator’s current published sequence, 75359 IKEA Tampines/Aft TPE appears on the Woodlands-to-Bedok route, not on the Bedok-to-Woodlands stopping list. In the opposite direction, after the Tampines industrial corridor the bus reaches the TPE and Jalan Kayu without that IKEA-named stop. If IKEA is your purpose, confirm both the direction and the final pedestrian approach instead of saying that ‘Bus 168 stops at IKEA’ in both directions. Source: official reverse-direction Bus 168 route.

Quick route summary: from Bedok 84009 → Heartbeat@Bedok 84659 → Bedok Reservoir MRT 84201 → Tampines West MRT 75051 → Tampines Stn/Int 76141 → TPE 65191 → Jalan Kayu 68119 → long expressway section → Woodlands MRT 46339/46639 → Woodlands Int 46009. The reverse direction passes IKEA Tampines 75359. A short-working 168A also exists and does not travel the full route.

Bus 168: the route at a glance

• Operator: SBS Transit.
• Endpoints: Bedok Interchange (84009) and Woodlands Interchange (46009).
• Published origin first/last: 5.30am to 11.30pm daily from both terminal directions in the checked table; not a guarantee for intermediate bus stops.
• Bedok-to-Woodlands route: approximately 30.8 km; stops in Bedok and Tampines, then a long non-stopping expressway stretch to Woodlands Avenue 2.
• Woodlands-to-Bedok: the published 75359 IKEA Tampines/Aft TPE stop belongs to this direction.
• 168A: short-working service from Woodlands Int to 76149 Opp Tampines Stn/Int, not to Bedok. SBS lists it on selected weekdays and Saturdays; do not assume Sunday operation or an all-day service.
• Relevant train stations: Bedok EW5; Bedok Reservoir DT30; Tampines West DT31; Tampines EW2/DT32; Woodlands NS9/TE2.
• Major negatives: no stop in Punggol MRT/interchange, no direct Mandai Wildlife Reserve or Woodlands Waterfront entrance, no Changi Airport passenger terminal.
• One-stop reality: the bus may pass a place on the expressway without any passenger stop there.

Where to alight: selected official stop codes

These stop references are direction-specific, not promises of a venue entrance or an always-available activity. Check the crossing, actual destination address, current service variant and opposite-side return stop.

Purpose	Published stop and direction	What to do and verify
Bedok MRT / interchange	84009 Bedok Int	Start or finish near EW5 and Bedok retail; check actual bus berth.
Heartbeat@Bedok public facilities	84659 Bef Heartbeat@Bedok Bedok→Woodlands; 84651 Aft Heartbeat@Bedok returning	Library, sports or a booked swim at 11 Bedok North Street 1; each facility has separate hours.
Bedok Reservoir MRT / possible park approach	84201 Bedok Resvr Stn Exit A Bedok→Woodlands; 84209 Exit B returning	Choose park entrance separately; the 41.7-ha reservoir park covers a large area.
Tampines West MRT	75051 Tampines West Stn Exit B Bedok→Woodlands; 75059 Bef Tampines West Stn reverse	Downtown Line connection and everyday shops.
Tampines MRT and town centre	76141 Tampines Stn/Int Bedok→Woodlands; 76149 Opp Tampines Stn/Int returning	Food, retail and train transfer; 168A ends at the reverse-side stop 76149.
Tampines Avenue 10 industrial corridor	75351 Tampines Wafer Fab Pk Bedok→Woodlands	Workplace/industrial road; restricted sites are not public attractions.
IKEA Tampines	75359 IKEA Tampines/Aft TPE Woodlands→Bedok only	Furniture showroom and shopping; safe walking to the door and current store hours.
TPE and Jalan Kayu	65191 Bef Punggol Rd, 68119 Aft Piccadilly Circus/TPE Bedok→Woodlands	Roadside route points, not Punggol MRT, Coney Island or a Seletar tourist stop.
Woodlands Avenue 2 after long expressway stretch	46229 Casablanca Bedok→Woodlands	First Woodlands-area stop after the longer expressway segment.
Woodlands MRT station	46339 Bef W’Lands Stn Exit 7; 46639 W’Lands Stn Exit 4 Bedok→Woodlands	North South/Thomson–East Coast Lines; choose exit near destination.
Woodlands bus interchange / Causeway Point	46009 Woodlands Int	Town centre, Causeway Point retail and onward transport; separate mall entrance.

The shape of Bus 168: a local route at the ends, an expressway in the middle

The official Bedok-to-Woodlands route begins with neighbourhood stops on Bedok North Street 1 and Bedok North Avenue 3, enters Tampines West and Tampines town centre, then travels along Tampines Avenue 7, 9 and 10 towards the TPE. After a few road-side points around the TPE and Jalan Kayu, it crosses a substantial distance before the next Woodlands Avenue 2 stop.

SBS Transit’s table measures the distance from 68119 Aft Piccadilly Circus/TPE to 46229 Casablanca at roughly 12.5 km of route distance without an ordinary listed passenger stop in between. This is not an omission to fill with imagined places to visit. A bus that passes an estate or attraction on an expressway cannot be boarded or alighted wherever the passenger chooses.

That makes Service 168 different from routes such as Bus 3, which focus on intermediate Pasir Ris neighbourhoods, or Bus 50, which links Punggol to Bishan through many residential stops. On 168, the main opportunities for leaving the bus are clustered around Bedok/Tampines and Woodlands. The expressway exists to connect these parts of the network.

Someone looking for an IKEA trip, a Bedok pool or a Woodlands meal needs to pick the proper half of the route first. A passenger from Bedok to Woodlands will encounter a different stop sequence from one heading from Woodlands to Bedok. An assumption based on the two end towns alone is not enough.

Heartbeat@Bedok: a library visit and a booked swim are not the same activity

At the beginning of the Bedok-to-Woodlands leg, Bus 168 calls at 84659 Bef Heartbeat@Bedok. The return side includes 84651 Aft Heartbeat@Bedok. The integrated public complex is at 11 Bedok North Street 1 and contains Bedok Public Library, ActiveSG sports facilities and other community services.

A family can make a useful library outing from one short visit to an appropriate collection and a meal. But a library reading session, a court booking and swimming are separate activities with different availability. A building being open does not mean every part admits visitors at the same time.

Sport Singapore specifically publishes a Thursday weekly maintenance closure for the Heartbeat@Bedok swimming complex, except when it operates under its public-holiday exception. It also identifies distinct admission rules for its feature pools. A parent should confirm the actual facility before travelling with swimming gear.

A child can use the visit to practise planning a public transport journey: check the bus stop, write the building address, choose an entrance and note the correct return-side stop. The full route to Woodlands is not necessary for a local Bedok activity.

Do not confuse the nearby MRT or shopping precinct with the specific library or pool entrance. When accessibility is important, check the pedestrian path from the shelter and the working lifts within the building.

Bedok Reservoir: the station is a reference point, not a watersport ticket

The outward route serves 84201 Bedok Resvr Stn Exit A, with 84209 Bedok Resvr Stn Exit B on the reverse direction. Bedok Reservoir MRT is on the Downtown Line, and NParks identifies it as a transport approach to the large Bedok Reservoir Park area.

The park spans roughly 41.7 hectares and has different waterfront paths and activity areas. NParks lists the park’s general access as 24 hours, but individual facilities, watersports and organised programmes have separate operating and safety conditions. A public bus stop does not itself guarantee kayaking, fishing, a rental or access to an event.

A family can choose a short walk near the water, observe wildlife without disturbing it and return before the group becomes tired. If the purpose is a watersport, verify the official operator, admission, supervision and weather requirements first rather than assuming that all activities operate at all hours.

The ‘Reservoir’ in the station name may encourage visitors to expect the entire park immediately at the exit. The useful question is which side and exact entrance serve the activity you intend to enjoy. A large park may be reachable from several different roads, and the correct approach can save substantial walking.

On the return, use the Woodlands-to-Bedok side of the road with its own stop code. A correct plan for arrival without a safe return crossing is incomplete.

Tampines West and Tampines town centre: useful intermediate stops

Service 168 goes through 75051 Tampines West Stn Exit B before reaching 76141 Tampines Stn/Int in the Bedok-to-Woodlands direction. These serve different stations. Tampines West is on the Downtown Line; central Tampines connects the East–West and Downtown Lines and contains busy retail and public amenities.

An outing can be a meal, a household errand, shopping or an onward train connection. Check the exact business or appointment address rather than assuming that all of Tampines town centre is beside a single station exit.

After the MRT area, the bus passes residential Tampines streets and then stops on Tampines Avenue 10 beside industrial and wafer-fabrication districts. These are important workplaces but not general tourist sites. Visitors need an authorised appointment and safe access route. Do not try to enter a restricted industrial building simply because its name is on a bus stop.

For a trip between Bedok and Tampines, compare the bus with a suitable train or another local bus. A route that ultimately goes to Woodlands can still be used for a short trip, but its cross-town function does not guarantee it is the best choice for a neighbour-to-neighbour journey.

Before returning, check the opposite-side central Tampines stop code 76149 Opp Tampines Stn/Int. This is also relevant to the short-working Service 168A, which has different end points.

IKEA Tampines: the direction-sensitive stop that readers must know

One of the clearest visitor-friendly destinations associated with Service 168 is IKEA Tampines. The official Woodlands-to-Bedok stop list includes 75359 IKEA Tampines/Aft TPE. The Bedok-to-Woodlands list does not include 75359; after its last Tampines Avenue 10 industrial stop it travels towards the TPE and Jalan Kayu.

That difference changes the itinerary. A person starting from Woodlands may find the IKEA-named stop on the return-to-Bedok direction useful. A person boarding in Bedok and heading towards Woodlands should not wait for the same stop to appear or assume the bus will reverse direction at the next junction. For an IKEA visit from Bedok, check an appropriate different route or the store’s official public transport information.

IKEA publishes current visitor directions, shopping hours and a separate shuttle schedule. Those details can change. A public bus stop is not the entrance to the showroom, and multiple large retail buildings in the area are separated by driveways and access roads. Follow signed pedestrian crossings instead of cutting through vehicle-only areas.

A good shopping trip has a practical purpose: decide what you intend to examine, bring measurements if purchasing furniture, check whether an item is in stock and choose a method of bringing it home. A bus journey may be appropriate for small purchases but not necessarily for moving a large piece of furniture.

Do not assume a free store shuttle has the same timetable as Service 168, or that its stops are interchangeable with public bus stops. They are different services with different rules. A visit remains useful if it is simply to examine furniture or have a meal, without committing to a purchase.

Service 168A: why a bus with the correct first three digits can still be wrong

SBS Transit publishes 168A as a short trip from 46009 Woodlands Int to 76149 Opp Tampines Stn/Int. It uses the Woodlands-to-Tampines portion of the route and does not continue to Bedok Interchange.

This can suit a person travelling from Woodlands to IKEA Tampines or the Tampines area when the short service is actually operating and reaches the intended stop. But it is not a replacement for full 168 if the passenger wants Bedok Reservoir or Heartbeat@Bedok.

The operator lists limited weekday and Saturday arrangements for 168A and does not display a Sunday/public-holiday timetable in the same way as the main service. Do not assume it is a frequent all-day or every-day alternative. Check the actual bus destination and live service information before planning around a particular departure.

If a bus labelled 168A arrives at Woodlands, a traveller going to Bedok should read the front display and wait for full Service 168 unless an appropriate transfer is deliberately planned. That one letter is more important than seeing a favourable arrival time on a sign.

Never ask a short-trip bus to continue beyond the printed endpoint or expect it to stop outside authorised shelters. If the wrong service has been boarded, replan from a legal stop rather than chasing another bus across a road.

The expressway, Punggol Road and Jalan Kayu: places this bus does not serve like a local feeder

The published outward route includes 65191 Bef Punggol Rd on the TPE and 68119 Aft Piccadilly Circus/TPE on Jalan Kayu before the long expressway section towards Woodlands. These are genuine passenger stopping points, but the term Punggol Road does not mean that Service 168 enters Punggol MRT or Punggol Bus Interchange.

A rider might see an expressway line passing near Seletar, Punggol or a recreational destination and assume the bus provides access. It only provides access where an actual listed stop exists, with a safe pedestrian route onwards. An expressway is not a walkway or a route where the bus may pull over on request.

Jalan Kayu is known for food and heritage shophouses, but the Bus 168 stop near Piccadilly Circus/TPE is not automatically the best stop for a particular shophouse restaurant. If the visit is specifically about Jalan Kayu food, compare a route with a bus stop nearer the actual outlet and a clear return path.

The bus also does not stop at Changi Airport, Coney Island, Mandai Wildlife Reserve or Woodlands Waterfront Park by virtue of passing between east and north Singapore. Each attraction has its own real transport approach. This section matters because removing false alternatives saves readers effort.

For older travellers or small children, a long expressway segment also means fewer opportunities to change plans. Use the bathroom or have a rest before boarding if needed and check the correct direction before the bus leaves the town-centre stops.

Woodlands MRT and Causeway Point: the clear northern endpoint

After the expressway, full Service 168 reaches 46229 Casablanca on Woodlands Avenue 2, then 46339 Bef W’Lands Stn Exit 7 and 46639 W’Lands Stn Exit 4 before ending at 46009 Woodlands Int. The station is an interchange between the North South and Thomson–East Coast Lines.

Woodlands Bus Interchange is connected with the Causeway Point retail precinct. Frasers Property places the mall at 1 Woodlands Square. This gives the long journey a straightforward possible purpose: food, shopping, meeting someone or changing to another bus or railway service.

If a mall visit is planned, choose the actual shop or meeting point and follow the appropriate pedestrian signs. A regional shopping centre can contain many distinct shops with different hours. The bus terminus is not the entrance to every shop, even when the precinct is integrated.

Woodlands Regional Library and sports facilities are also in the wider town, but their addresses and opening conditions differ from Causeway Point. Do not claim that every named Woodlands attraction can be reached without an onward walk or bus.

Finally, Bus 168 is not a cross-border service and does not enter Woodlands Checkpoint. A traveller going to Johor Bahru or Mandai Wildlife Reserve needs a separate, appropriate transport route and any necessary tickets or immigration conditions.

Choosing the right return route without guessing travel times

Start by writing down the exact destination and which side of the route it appears on. If it is IKEA Tampines, remember the Woodlands-to-Bedok direction. If it is Heartbeat@Bedok, the Bedok neighbourhood section is the relevant area. If it is Woodlands, save the correct northbound terminus and the station exit you need.

Next confirm the corresponding return-side stop. In many cases the reverse stopping point carries a different name or code. Bedok Reservoir Exit A becomes Exit B on return, Tampines central 76141 becomes 76149, and Woodlands MRT exits differ. Check the route rather than assuming the shelter opposite is always the correct choice.

Then consider actual mobility, weather and travel purpose. A direct bus with no transfers may be convenient for one passenger, whereas another traveller might prefer a train with a shorter ride but more walking. Avoid one-size-fits-all claims of the ‘fastest’ journey.

Use current SBS Transit arrival information for a departure that matters. A published first/last bus from an interchange is not a guaranteed time at IKEA, Tampines West or another intermediate shelter. Traffic and operating changes can affect arrivals.

Lastly, keep the outing small enough to enjoy. A family does not have to travel from Bedok to Woodlands and back to say it has explored Bus 168. One suitable place, a clear return and a useful new understanding of the route are enough.

Three realistic outings

An IKEA Tampines shopping trip in the correct direction

Starting from Woodlands, take full 168 or an operating 168A towards Tampines, alight at 75359 IKEA Tampines/Aft TPE, follow pedestrian signs and do one planned shopping or dining task. Check the store’s current hours and choose an appropriate return or onward connection. Do not assume this stop appears on the opposite bus direction.

Bedok Reservoir and a short nature walk

From Bedok Int, use 84201 Bedok Resvr Stn Exit A as a transport reference, then map the desired Bedok Reservoir Park entrance using NParks information. Take a manageable path and keep all water activities subject to current safety and booking rules. Return from the correct reverse-side stop.

A Woodlands town-centre family outing

Ride full 168 towards Woodlands Int 46009, follow the public connection to Causeway Point or Woodlands MRT, choose a meal or errand, and check the current return departure. If the plan also includes a library, pool or park, treat that as a separate address and access check.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Bus 168 run?

Between Bedok Interchange and Woodlands Interchange through Bedok Reservoir, Tampines and a long expressway section.

Does Bus 168 go to IKEA Tampines?

The Woodlands-to-Bedok direction lists stop 75359 IKEA Tampines/Aft TPE. That stop is not in the opposite direction’s published sequence.

Does 168A go all the way to Bedok?

No. 168A is a short trip from Woodlands to Opp Tampines Stn/Int at 76149.

Does Bus 168 go to Punggol MRT?

No. TPE stops near Punggol Road are not Punggol MRT or Punggol Bus Interchange.

Can I use 168 for Bedok Reservoir Park?

It serves Bedok Reservoir MRT; map the exact entrance to the park and any activity requirements.

Does Bus 168 reach Heartbeat@Bedok?

It has a stop before or after Heartbeat@Bedok on the Bedok North Street 1 section, but library and sport facility access are separate.

Is the Heartbeat@Bedok pool open on Thursdays?

ActiveSG lists Thursday weekly maintenance, with public holiday exceptions. Check the current notice before travelling.

Does Service 168 go to Tampines MRT?

Yes. Its Bedok-to-Woodlands direction includes 76141 Tampines Stn/Int.

Does 168 go to Woodlands MRT?

Yes. It serves station-side Woodlands Avenue 2 stops before ending at Woodlands Interchange.

Can Bus 168 take me to Causeway Point?

It terminates at Woodlands Interchange, connected to the Causeway Point precinct. Follow the actual mall entrance signs.

Does 168 go to Mandai Wildlife Reserve?

It has no stop at Mandai Wildlife Reserve in the published route; use the attraction’s separately verified transport directions.

Is 168 a bus to Changi Airport?

No. Neither the Bedok-to-Woodlands nor reverse route serves Changi Airport passenger terminals.

Can I take 168 across the border to Malaysia?

No. Woodlands Interchange is not the Woodlands Checkpoint, and Service 168 is not a cross-border bus.

How long is the expressway section?

The operator shows a substantial gap between the last TPE/Jalan Kayu stop and the first Woodlands Avenue 2 stop. Actual journey time depends on traffic; do not guess it from the kilometre figure.

Is the full route faster than MRT from Bedok to Woodlands?

Not necessarily. Compare actual door-to-door routes, walking and transfers for the origin and destination.

Official sources

• SBS Transit Service 168 Bedok-to-Woodlands stop sequence
• SBS Transit Service 168 Woodlands-to-Bedok, including IKEA Tampines stop
• SBS Transit 168A short-trip route to Tampines station
• IKEA Tampines: official store hours and public transport directions
• Sport Singapore: Heartbeat@Bedok swimming and Thursday maintenance
• NParks: Bedok Reservoir Park, official access and recreational facilities
• Causeway Point: Frasers Property official location

Compare related but different services: Bus 161 from Hougang/Sengkang to Woodlands, Bus 87 from Sengkang to Bedok, and Bus 118 from Punggol to IKEA-side Tampines and EXPO.

Checked 1 November 2026. This independent guide is not a live route-tracker or destination booking service. Operator stops, short-trip operation, retail and attraction access, road conditions and walking accessibility can change. Verify the actual destination display, live arrival, pedestrian approach and facility rules on travel day.