Holland Village & Dempsey walking tour & city guide

Holland Village

Lorong Mambong is a small pedestrian street of bars and restaurants. The village has shops, a hawker center and a laid-back atmosphere.

Dempsey and the Gardens

Dempsey Hill's former British army barracks are now galleries and restaurants surrounded by greenery. The UNESCO-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens and its National Orchid Garden are close by.

Good to know

Holland Village is reached by the Circle Line MRT, and Dempsey Hill is a short taxi ride or a longer walk away. Both areas are especially popular for weekend brunch and evening drinks.

Nearby, the Southern Ridges trail connects a chain of parks with elevated walkways, including the wave-shaped Henderson Waves bridge, offering views over the city and the sea. The Botanic Gardens open early in the morning, when locals come to jog and practice tai chi under the trees.

A slow afternoon

A good plan is to start with an early walk in the Botanic Gardens, visiting the Orchid Garden and the swan lake before the heat builds, then take a short ride to Holland Village for lunch at the hawker center or one of the cafés along Lorong Liput. In the late afternoon, head to Dempsey Hill, where the old colonial barracks sit among tall trees and the air feels cooler. It is one of the few places in Singapore where you feel surrounded by greenery while still close to the city.