Sentosa Island in Singapore – A Day Trip

Sentosa is a small island in Singapore that was formerly a military base. Today, however, it is filled with many attractions, gardens, and beaches and is considered a popular recreational area. Since 1972, the island has been known as Sentosa, a name derived from Malay that roughly means “tranquility” or “peace.”

A Day Trip in Singapore to Sentosa Island

If you’re planning to explore the sights of Singapore for a few days, we highly recommend a trip to Sentosa Island. You can visit the island either with many guided tours or on your own. Below, we’ll show you how to get to Sentosa Island and what you can discover and experience once you’re there.

Accommodation in Singapore – Our Hotel Tip

Accommodation is significantly more expensive in Singapore than in other major cities in Southeast Asia. For a decent hotel with a good location you have to have a little more budget. A good hotel we can recommend is the ibis budget Singapore Clarke Quay. It’s located in the beautiful and popular district of Clarke Quay, just 5 minutes from the MRT station. The rooms are relatively small, but modern and bright. There is also a rooftop swimming pool to cool off after a hot day in Singapore as well as a gym.

If you would like to stay in a place other than Clarke Quay, have a look here for more hotels in Singapore.

How to Get To Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island is located about 10 kilometers south of Singapore but is well connected to public transportation, making it very easy for everyone to reach. The HarbourFront MRT Station with the Vivo City Shopping Mall is the entry point to Sentosa Island. So take an MRT train from the city to this mentioned station.

From there, you have several options to get to Sentosa Island. From HarbourFront MRT Station, you can take bus line 123, which brings you right onto the island in 15 minutes. Or choose the Sentosa Express monorail. Just a few minutes later and for 4 SGD, you’ll arrive on the island.

The third option is the Sentosa Cable Car, which is undoubtedly the most spectacular way. You ride in gondolas 60 meters above ground from Mount Faber over to the island. Along the way, you’ll enjoy amazing views of both Sentosa Island and Singapore. The cost is 35 SGD for a round-trip ticket.

If you have time and want to save money, you can also choose the fourth option: just walk. The Vivo City Shopping Mall is connected to Sentosa Island by a walkway or bridge, and in about 10 minutes you’ll reach the island and begin your visit near the Trick Eye Museum.

1. S.E.A. Aquarium

The S.E.A. Aquarium is part of the Marine Life Park on Sentosa Island, together with the Adventure Cove Waterpark. Until 2014, it was the largest aquarium in the world, and it still ranks among the biggest with more than 100,000 marine creatures.

Through acrylic panels, you can observe a wide variety of fish and marine mammals. These include sharks, manta rays, jellyfish, moray eels, groupers, and many more. In total, 800 different species of animals live in 45 million liters of water.

The S.E.A. Aquarium is open daily from 9.00 AM to 7.00 PM, except on Saturdays when it closes at 6.00 PM. Tickets cost 40 SGD (around €26). For just a few euros more, you can book a ticket including hotel pickup online, which is definitely worth it.

2. Trick Eye Museum

The Trick Eye Museum on Sentosa Island is an optical art museum where you can become part of the artworks and take absolutely fantastic photos. The artworks are brought to life, and you often find yourself right in the middle of them.

What makes it special is that the Trick Eye Museum isn’t just a regular 3D museum but uses its own Augmented Reality (AR) technology. This way, you don’t just see an image but also experience sound, light, and other effects. Tickets start at 25 SGD on-site, and you can save a bit by booking online. Open daily from 10.00 AM to 9.00 PM.

3. Universal Studios

Things get even more exciting at the Universal Studios on Sentosa Island. A highlight for the whole family, provided you have enough time. There are many attractions and roller coasters that lead you through or are inspired by famous movie sets. These include Puss in Boots, Transformers, Jurassic Park, Madagascar, and more.

And that’s not all. There are countless food options, souvenir shops, and shows. The Universal Studios alone can easily fill an entire day and are especially fun for children.

Open daily from 10.00 AM to 8.00 PM. On Fridays, however, it closes at 7.00 PM, while on Saturdays it stays open until 10.00 PM. Day tickets start at 79 SGD for adults and 59 SGD for children. You can save a bit, for example, by combining your ticket with hotel pickup.

4. Madame Tussauds

The Madame Tussauds wax museum originally comes from Amsterdam, and the 7th branch in Asia was opened on Sentosa Island in Singapore. Since 2014, you can meet wax figures of many celebrities here, replicated in life-size to resemble the original.

In addition to various stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton, Tom Cruise, and Jackie Chan, you can also discover other famous personalities like Barack Obama, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela. Additional highlights include a Marvel 4D Experience or the VR Racing Experience, where you can compete in a race alongside Sebastian Vettel.

Tickets start at 32 SGD for adults. Madame Tussauds is open daily from 10.00 AM to 6.30 PM. If you also want to visit the Trick Eye Museum, there are combo tickets available that can save you money.

5. Adventure Cove Waterpark

Perfect for families or anyone looking to cool off with exciting water slides or get up close to marine life. Snorkeling is available at Adventure Cove Waterpark, as well as relaxing in swimming pools and adrenaline-filled fun on the slides.

Adventure Cove Waterpark is part of the Marine Life Park on Sentosa Island, along with the S.E.A. Aquarium. It’s open daily from 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM with ticket prices of 38 SGD for adults and 30 SGD for children.

6. Mega Adventure

If you’re still looking for more fun and adrenaline after the Adventure Cove Waterpark, don’t miss the Mega Adventure Park. Several activities await you here, like MegaZip. A 75-meter-high, 3-lane, 450-meter-long zipline where you can challenge your friends to a race.

Or try the MegaClimb ropes course, experience a 15-meter simulated free fall with MegaJump, or test the massive trampolines at MegaBounce. Prices for individual activities start at 15 SGD. If you combine multiple “Mega” activities, you can save even more. Tickets are available here. Open daily from 11.00 AM to 7.00 PM.

7. Merlion

The Merlion is the symbol of Singapore and can be found at Marina Bay in front of the city’s skyline. On Sentosa Island, there’s a replica that you can visit. This version is 37 meters tall and even accessible to visitors.

Open from 10.00 AM to 8.00 PM, you can visit the interior of the Merlion for 18 SGD. At the entrance area, you’ll learn about the story of Prince Sang Nila Utama, closely linked to the legend of the Merlion. There’s also a viewing platform in the head of the statue.

Just behind the Merlion on Sentosa Island begins the Merlion Walk, decorated with colorful marine creatures, leading you 120 meters to Siloso Beach.

8. Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom

Located in the middle of a rainforest, the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom has been around since 1987 and is home to many different and especially exotic species of butterflies and insects. A special highlight is the station with cocoons, where you can watch new butterflies emerge into the world.

You might also see parrots or turtles, and various shows are offered as well. A standout is a show every Saturday and Sunday at 3.00 PM where new butterflies are released into the air.

The Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom on Sentosa Island is open daily from 9.30 AM to 7.00 PM. Tickets cost 18 SGD for adults and 12.60 SGD for children.

9. Fort Siloso and Skywalk

The Siloso Skywalk takes you along a 180-meter-long platform, 11 stories above ground, leading to Fort Siloso. There, you can learn about Singapore’s history and the invasion by Japanese troops during World War II.

At Fort Siloso, you’ll still find an old cannon on display, and if you’re interested in learning more about Singapore’s history, the Surrender Chambers Immersive Show is worth a visit. The entire site is free and open daily from 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM.

10. Beaches

Three man-made beaches have been created on Sentosa Island, and you can visit them free of charge. These are Siloso Beach, Palawan Beach, and Tanjong Beach. The sand was imported from Malaysia and Indonesia, and the whole area has been lined with palm trees to create a beautiful urban beach setting.

Siloso Beach features a beach club (Ola Beach Club), kayaking, and the Wave House, where you can surf. Palawan Beach is more family-oriented, offering small splash pools for kids. Tanjong Beach is the quietest stretch, perfect for sunbathers looking to relax. By the way, swimming is allowed at all the beaches mentioned.

Bonus: The Southernmost Point of Asia

From Palawan Beach, a suspension bridge leads to an offshore viewing platform where you can enjoy great views of the beaches of Sentosa Island. This spot is also considered the southernmost point of continental Asia. Not overly spectacular, but if you’re already visiting the viewing platforms, it’s worth a quick stop to take in the ocean view.

11. Sentosa Golf Club

Home of the Barclays Singapore Open. The Sentosa Golf Club features two courses: The Serapong and The New Tanjong. Golfers can enjoy 18 holes on each, and even non-members can try out Asia’s best golf course. A title awarded to The Serapong.

To find out what else awaits you at Sentosa Golf Club, how much the green fees are, and everything else you need to know, it’s best to visit the official website of the Sentosa Golf Club.

Singapore: Tours and Tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Singapore in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Singapore.

How to Get to Singapore

Singapore has not only one of Asia’s largest airports, Changi Airport, but also one of the best in the world! Therefore, Singapore is well connected to the international flight network.

You can fly from many destinations in Europe directly to Singapore and from many destinations in Southeast Asia. More expensive airlines as well as cheap airlines land in Singapore and a good overview of flights with departure times and prices can be found at Skyscanner.

There are also bus and train connections from Thailand or Malaysia, as they can reach Singapore via the mainland. Further information as well as tickets are available at 12go.asia.

Have you visited Sentosa Island in Singapore? Do you have any tips about Sentosa Island? How did you like it? Give us your feedback in the comments.

Photos: Photo 4 (S.E.A. Aquarium)– PUMPZA/shutterstock.com, Photo 6 (Adventure Cove Waterpark) – Travelerpix/shutterstock.com, Photo 8 (Siloso Skywalk) – Miew S/shutterstock.com, Photo 11 (Sentosa Golf Club) – Maxene Huiyu/shutterstock.com