Haw Par Villa is one of the strangest places in Singapore, and that is exactly why people love it. This hillside park is filled with more than a thousand statues and dioramas showing scenes from Chinese legends, folklore and moral tales, some charming, some funny and some quite gruesome. It was built in 1937 by Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, the brothers behind the Tiger Balm ointment, and Haw Par Villa is now a heritage park with free entry to the grounds.
What is Haw Par Villa?
The brothers built the park around a villa for Aw Boon Par, and used it to teach traditional Chinese values through storytelling in concrete. The villa itself no longer stands, but the gardens remain, packed with painted figures. You will walk past scenes from the Journey to the West, the Eight Immortals and countless parables about loyalty, family and the punishment of greed and dishonesty.
The style is bold and a bit kitsch, and the condition of the statues varies, which only adds to the atmosphere. Many locals remember visiting as children and being scared by the scenes of the underworld.
How to get to Haw Par Villa by MRT
This is one of the easiest attractions in Singapore to reach by train. Haw Par Villa station on the Circle Line is named after the park and sits right by the entrance on Pasir Panjang Road. Follow the exit signs for Haw Par Villa and you are at the gates within a couple of minutes.
From the city centre, the Circle Line runs here directly from stations such as Dhoby Ghaut, Bayfront and HarbourFront, so it combines easily with a day in the south of the island.
Haw Par Villa entry and opening hours
Entry to the park grounds is free. Inside the park, the Hell's Museum is a separately ticketed attraction that includes the famous Ten Courts of Hell dioramas along with exhibits about how different cultures think about death and the afterlife. Guided tours of the park are also offered at times for a fee.
Opening hours and ticket arrangements have changed in recent years, so check the official Haw Par Villa website before you go. The Ten Courts of Hell scenes are graphic, and parents may want to look at photos first before bringing young children.
Best time to visit
The park is mostly outdoors with limited shade, so go early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the worst of the heat. Weekday mornings are usually very quiet. Bring water, sunscreen and an umbrella, which works for both sun and the sudden showers that are common in the afternoon.
Allow one to two hours to walk the grounds, plus around an hour if you want to see the Hell's Museum properly.
Highlights
The Ten Courts of Hell
The best known part of the park shows the trials a soul passes through after death in Chinese folk belief, with punishments matched to each sin. It is now part of the Hell's Museum.
Journey to the West
Look for the Monkey King, Pigsy and their companions from the classic novel, along with the spider spirits who try to trap the monk.
The Tiger Balm connection
Tigers appear around the park, along with a statue of the brothers' mother and nods to the ointment that paid for it all.
The hillside views
Climb to the higher paths for views over the gardens and towards the port and southern islands.
Tips for visiting Haw Par Villa
Wear good walking shoes, as the paths climb up and down the hill and some steps are steep. There is little in the way of food inside the park, so eat before you come or bring snacks, and carry plenty of water. Each diorama has a small sign explaining the story behind it, and reading a few of these makes the scenes far more interesting than simply walking past. Photography is fine in the open park, but check the rules inside the Hell's Museum. Mosquitoes can be a nuisance in the greener corners, so a little repellent helps.
Nearby on the Circle Line
- Kent Ridge Park: a green hilltop park with walking trails, part of the Southern Ridges network.
- HortPark: a gardening park linked to the Southern Ridges walks, a short ride or longer walk away.
- Labrador Nature Reserve: coastal trails and old military relics, reached from Labrador Park station a couple of stops south.
- HarbourFront and VivoCity: a few stops along the line, for food and the onward link to Sentosa.
Check the map on our Haw Par Villa page, and see more places along the line on the Singapore metro guide.