If you’re looking for a colourful escape from the busy streets of Cebu City, Sirao Flower Garden might be just the place for you. High in the hills of Cebu City, the gardens offer colourful flowers, mountain views and plenty of photo opportunities.
Cebu is mostly a transit hub between flights, so people don’t consider exploring it a bit.
Getting there turned out to be a part of adventure itself so I decided to take a motorcycle taxi and head up into the hills. Having another popular attraction on my list nearby- Temple of Leah- I had to miss it.
You should know something before you go there- there are two Sirao flower gardens and I visited the original.
These Hollandese Garden instantly brought me back to the wonderful Keukennhof, reminiscenting also the amazing day trips from Amsterdam.
So which one you should visit, how do you get there and is it worth adding to your Cebu itinerary? Let’s take a look.
How to get to Sirao flower garden
I decided to get to Sirao Flower Garden by motorcycle taxi, taking the most budget and easiest option as a solo traveller.
The initial suggestion from my hostel was to take the motorcycle all the way from the hostel, lying near the airport. Starting from JY Square, several drivers offered me rides both to Sirao and Temple of Leah.
Since I wanted to visit both places, I asked about the price of the trip. However, the prices were quite high than what I read should be. Taking advantage of me as a tourist, I tried to find the balance. Since the drivers insisted on the proposed prices, I decided to choose only Sirao garden.
The road to Sirao garden takes you away from the busy city and gradually higher into the hills. The ride itself is part of the experience, with increasingly beautiful views as you leave Cebu City behind.
If I remember well, I ended paying 300 pesos only to Sirao Garden- which is about 4€.
Differences between the two Sirao gardens
One thing that amazed me when planning my visit was that there are two different Sirao gardens.
Located close to each other, one is more touristic while the other is the original Sirao garden.
Both have similar decorations, but the original Sirao Garden is famous by its charming celosia flowers. The Pictorial Sirao Garden lacks celosia flowers.
What makes the original Sirao Garden so attractive plenty of decorations in Hollandese style. Known as the Little Amsterdam of Cebu, every corner bursts with picture-worthy places.
What can you see at Sirao Flower Garden
You can see plenty of decorations in the Holandese style, not resisting to make photos at every stop. From the windmills, clogs, sweet bridges, floral cars and hand-sculpted viewpoints- cuteness overload!
With celosia flowers between the sculptures, you’ll have fantastic tropical vibes. Though I expected fields of celosia, these pink velvety flowers do not miss the charm.
There are plenty of places where you can stop to enjoy the moment and admire the views over the hills, though very simple.
I particularly liked the fact that Sirao feels completely different from Cebu City. After the traffic, noise and heat of the city, being surrounded by greenery feel like a little escape.
Shortly about celosia flowers
One flower that immediately caught my attention in Sirao was celosia. With their unusual, almost flame-like shape and vivid colours, they make the garden look especially colourful and playful. You can find them in shades of red, orange, yellow and pink, creating beautiful flower backdrops for your photos.
Celosia is a flowering plant, known for its unusual, brightly coloured blooms, which look like feathery plumes. It belongs to the amaranth family and is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia.
At Sirao Flower Garden, celosia stands out among the colourful displays. Because of its distinctive shape and vivid colours, you’ll see many visitors stopping to take photos nearby.
Temple of Leah
I originally wanted to combine my visit to Sirao Flower Garden with the Temple of Leah, another popular attraction in Cebu hills. Temple of Leah is very different from Sirao, but has a similar story to Taj Mahal.
The complex is known for its Roman-inspired architecture, statues, columns, and panoramic views over Cebu City.
Unfortunately, the prices I was being offered for the ride were higher than I was willing to pay, so I decided to focus on Sirao.
Add A City Tour of Cebu to Your Visit
If you’re staying in Cebu City, why not spend some time exploring the city? Cebu has plenty of history and interesting places to discover, from historic churches and old streets to lively markets and viewpoints.
The Cathedral of Cebu is very beautiful and it’s the oldest Catholic church in Cebu City. Dating back in 1565, it’s a bit away from the historical center but close to Magellan Cross. Fort San Pedro is a stunning place to explore in the vicinity. I was only in Cebu for 2 days, as the city is mostly a transit point. After visiting the Sirao Garden, it was almost dark but I managed to explore the city a bit.
Discover the Beaches of Cebu
And if you’re staying in Cebu for a few more days, don’t forget to make time for the beach. For a classic tropical escape, consider heading to Bantayan island. Known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and relaxed atmosphere, rather stay overnight.
Mactan island is a much easier option, if you don’t have that much time. It’s just a neighbouring island connected with a bridge, where the airport lies.
Most of the beaches belong to the resorts so I would recommend to get a day pass in Dusit Thani. It’s a luxurious hotel so you’ll get the best of the two worlds.
Final Thoughts
Sirao Flower Garden was a fun and colourful escape from the busy streets of the city. Getting there felt also like the part of the adventure. Having a motorcycle taxi let me see Cebu from above.
The mountain scenery and all the little photo spots make it an easy place to spend a couple of hours. Sirao is worth adding to your itinerary and combine it with the Temple of Leah.
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