Singapore is dotted with pockets of greenery, with many nature reserves and recreational parks attributing to its nickname, Garden City. In fact, there are more than 350 parks scattered around the country, so open spaces to take a quick breather are aplenty.
HortPark might just be the most whimsical of the lot, with pavilions, manicured lawns and surreal silvery trees. Resembling a fairytale garden, this enclave along the Southern Ridges is a great place to spend a day at, if you’d like a tinge of nature to spice up your weekend.
View of the Silver Garden
Image credit: @aliyns2cats
Home to 10 themed gardens, the park has plenty of enthralling things to see and do at every turn.
One of the first you’d see when you enter HortPark is Silver Garden, a photogenic area with trees speckled with snow-white, silver and grey leaves. Relax on the wooden platform nearby to enjoy the tranquillity of the open space, or head on closer to grab a couple of surreal pastel-hued shots with the almost-colourless shrubs.
Image credit: @lyricalight
The entire park is wheelchair-friendly but if you’re bringing your grandparents, spend more time in the Therapeutic Garden, centred around an airy, whimsical gazebo.
Image credit: NParks
Wind chimes, colourful flowers and scented plants fill the garden, and there are plenty of shaded areas and seats for older folks to rest their tired legs.
In the vicinity, you’ll also find the Butterfly Garden, Balinese Garden and Edible Garden to spend the morning or evenings wandering around.
While folks like us appreciate the pretty landscape, young un’s also have plenty to do in the nature playgarden which is home to lots of interactive elements for them to fiddle around with.
Image credit: @vicffie
Try hands on activities with your kiddo at The Stream, where kids can control the flow of water, and watch it trickle from log to log, into the ground.
Image credit: NParks
After which, let their imaginations run wild with fun-sized adventures at the Log Valley, filled with tiny wooden bridges that they can clamber over, and wispy bamboo groves to enjoy some shade on a sunny afternoon.
Snap a pic of the kids exploring – is this even Singapore?
Image credit: @sal_tan
Decorative wind chimes of our homes are taken to the next level at The Singing Seeds where kids can go ham creating all sorts of tunes with the hollow bamboo poles.
Image credit: @raising_happytot
Each has a different pitch, so challenge your little one to play a song!
Sandpits with teepee huts
Image credit: @vicffie
Bring along some spades and buckets too, as there’s a sandpit where kids can have a ball of a time, building sandcastles under wooden teepee huts, shielded from the sun.
Image credit: @zachorquia2001
For a little more adrenaline, a vibrant children’s playground also lies in the area, where kids can zip down slides and challenge themselves to low-lying mini-rope courses.
You may have sensed by now that the place is larger than expected. Opening up the space amidst our bustling city are the 2 large lawns within HortPark: Hort Lawn and Even Lawn, which can hold 600 and 900 people respectively*.
Image credit: @doredoo
Bring along a picnic mat and some snacks to enjoy a day soaking up some vitamin D and good vibes with your family or S/O.
Image credit: @invitedsg
Else, if you decide that this is the perfect spot for you to say “I Do”, you can hold a garden-themed wedding here as well. Rates begin at $428/4 hours – find out more about it on HortPark’s venture rental page.
*Phase 2 measures apply.
Some days, we might prefer to immerse ourselves completely in nature, hiking lesser-known trails and exploring the wilder side of Singapore. But other days, a relaxing stroll around an aesthetic garden like HortPark hits the sweet spot.
We’d recommend hitting up the area in the mornings or evenings, and then exploring Kent Ridge Park, Labrador Nature Reserve or Telok Blangah Hill Park, which are all within a short walking distance.
Getting to HortPark: From Labrador Park MRT, walk 5 minutes to After PSA Building bus stop. Take bus 51, 61, 97, 100, 120 or 166 for 2 stops and alight outside HortPark.
Address: 33 Hyderabad Road, Singapore 119578
Opening hours: 6AM-11PM, Daily
For more outdoor activity ideas, check out:
Cover image adapted from: @lyricalight, @nn196965
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