Sentosa and Harbourfront

Sentosa is an island just off the southern coast of Singapore. This district also includes Harbourfront and the Southern Islands.

Understand

Formerly a malarial swamp known by the rather unattractive name of Pulau Belakang Mati ("The Island of Death From Behind" in Malay) and the centrepiece of Britain's spectacularly unsuccessful "Fortress Singapore" strategy in World War II, Sentosa has been renamed after the Malay word for "tranquillity" and remade into one big tourist attraction, popular among Singaporeans as a quick island getaway. The jewel in the crown is Resorts World Sentosa, an enormous complex comprising of the Universal Studios theme park, S.E.A. Aquarium, the Adventure Cove water park, a casino, shopping malls and hotels.

At the eastern tip of the island is Sentosa Cove, Singapore's poshest residential neighborhood, where prices for a modest bungalow start at $10 million and climb into the stratosphere.

The small southern islets of Kusu Island, St. John's Island, the Sisters Islands and Pulau Hantu (literally "Ghost Island") are a little to the southeast of Sentosa. Various plans to develop them have not come to much and they remain off the beaten track, but by no means undiscovered. The first three can be reached by public ferry, while Pulau Hantu can only be reached by chartered boat.

Get in

The island is open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Entry fee for admission into Sentosa via most modes of transport have been reinstated since 1 April 2023; however, walking or biking is free, hotel guests can get their admission waived, and Sentosa Islander "Insider" members get free entry and parking.

By train

Take the North-East (Purple) Line or Circle (Yellow) Line of the MRT to Harbourfront MRT station. Make your way up to Level 3 via Lobby L to take the Sentosa Express monorail into Sentosa.

The fare including Sentosa island entry is $4, payable at the gates by tapping your EZ-Link or credit card. Children under 0.9m tall are free. The train operates from 7AM to midnight, and taking the train back from Sentosa to the mainland is free.

By bus

Bus 123 connects Orchard Road and Tiong Bahru directly to Sentosa, while bus RWS8 connects from Harbourfront/Vivocity. Standard bus fares apply.

For access to Sentosa Cove, there is a private shuttle bus ($2) that operates every 30 min or so from HarbourFront Bus Terminal.

By cable car

Alight at Harbourfront MRT and take Exit B to Harbourfront Centre. Take the cable car from Harbourfront Tower II via the Mount Faber line. The Mount Faber Line covers three stations: Mount Faber Peak, Harbourfront and Sentosa. Located within a 3-5min walk from Sentosa Cable Car Station, the Imbiah Lookout Cable Car Station is part of the Sentosa Line, which covers Merlion (closed), Imbiah Lookout and Siloso Point Cable Car Stations.

By car or taxi

Entry fee for cars and taxis range from $2 (noon-2PM, 5PM-7AM) to $6 (7AM-noon, 2-5PM). Island Admission can be auto deducted via the CashCard inserted in the in-vehicle unit (I.U.) or via cash paid to the counters at the gantry. Parking lots can be found at Beach Station, Imbiah, Tanjong Beach, Palawan Beach and Sentosa Cove Village Parks. Carpark charges are $1.20 per hour (7AM-5PM) and $2.40 per entry (5PM-7AM).

By ferry

To visit the Southern Islands, head to downtown Singapore's Marina South Pier for the ferry to Sisters' Islands, Kusu Island and St John's Island. On weekends and public holidays only, there are also direct ferries from Sentosa Jetty @ Cove to Lazarus Seringat Jetty (roundtrip $20/15 adults/children, or family package for $64). Departure times from Sentosa Jetty @ Cove are 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, and 3PM, while departure times from Lazarus Seringat Jetty are 10:30AM, 12:30PM, 2:30PM, and 5:30PM.

To get to Pulau Hantu, you will need to charter a boat from either West Coast Pier or Marina South Pier.

On foot or bicycle

Admission to the island by foot via the Sentosa Boardwalk or by cycling is free. The boardwalk starts from Vivocity, is mostly shaded and even has a few travellators.

Get around

All transportation around Sentosa (except taxis, private hire and the cable car) is free. This includes taking the Sentosa Express back to the mainland.

Beach Station is the terminus of the Sentosa Express monorail and the primary transport hub for the island, with connections to all other bus services. As the name hints, it's walking distance to both Siloso and Palawan beach, or you can hop on the open-air beach trams that shuttle people between Beach Station and all three beaches every 10 minutes.

For long distances, there are three shuttle buses on the island, coded as Bus A, B, and C. All bus services come every 15 minutes, with Buses A and B operating from 7AM to 12:10AM daily, while Bus C operates from 8AM to 10PM daily.

There is also an internal shuttle service within Sentosa Cove, but it's open to residents with access cards only.

See and do

Long a bit of a joke, Singaporean wags used to quip that "Sentosa" stood for "So Expensive and Nothing to See Actually". Well, it's still expensive, but there are now more than enough attractions to spend a day or two taking it all in, especially in the family-oriented Resorts World Sentosa. In fact the crowd during the weekends and school holidays can be quite daunting, and it's never easy waiting in long sweaty queues under the mid-day sun but Universal Studios Singapore is a standout experience for theme park lovers and for those who haven't been to Orlando or Hollywood. For all attractions below, a "child" is defined as being between three and twelve.

Sentosa heavily promotes their Fun Pass token system, which gives minor discounts (5-8%) on some attractions if you purchase large packages. Most of the big-ticket attractions do not accept these, leftover tokens are useless outside Sentosa and cannot be exchanged back, and all attractions also accept credit cards, so there's little reason to bother with this.

Resorts World Sentosa

Resorts World Sentosa can be reached via the Resorts World station (previously Waterfront station) of the monorail or via the dedicated buses RWS8 from Harbourfront and other points in Singapore (see Get in). If you plan on visiting more than one park, check out the Multi-Park Passes. The most comprehensive, which includes Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, Maritime Experiential Museum and Adventure Cove Waterpark, costs $188/136 for a two-day visit and is curiously more expensive than the individual tickets combined, but allows for switching between attractions as you like.

• 1 Universal Studios Singapore. 11AM–6PM daily. The first Universal Studios theme park in Southeast Asia, but it's quite a bit smaller than the others and can get quite crowded, so expect long lines or pay extra for the Express Pass. There are seven zones: Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away and Madagascar. The star of the park is Battlestar Galactica, the world's tallest "dueling" rollercoaster, with two tracks battling it out simultaneously: "Cylon" suspends you in the air, with plenty of loops and inversions, while "Human" is seated and reaches speeds of up to 90 km/h. Inclement weather can put a damper on plans, although some rides do remain open. Buy the tickets from a trusted local travel agent for a discount price. A one-day pass costs $82 for adults (aged 13 years old and above) and $61 for children (aged 4 to 12 years old). (updated Aug 2023)
• 1 S.E.A. Aquarium. 10AM–5PM daily. One of the world’s largest aquariums that is home to majestic manta rays, enormous goliath grouper, Napoleon wrasse, and other marine animals. S.E.A. Aquarium also has various programmes for up-close animal encounters and learning journeys. The corridors can get a little cramped, especially when everybody else has the exact same idea to avoid the outside heat. A one-day ticket costs $43 for adults (aged 13 years old and above) and $32 for children (aged 4 to 12 years old). (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Adventure Cove Waterpark. 10AM–5PM daily. Singapore's spiffiest water park has rides for all ages, ranging from Southeast Asia’s first hydro-magnetic coaster to a gigantic wave pool. Grab a tube and journey down Adventure River, passing through 14 themed zones including a tropical jungle garden and a sea creature grotto. Snorkel over a colourful coral reef with 20,000 friendly fish or wade amongst dozens of rays. Lockers cost $10 for small ones and $20 for large ones, so try not to bring too many things. Food is not allowed to be brought into the waterpark (bags will be checked) which is doubly problematic since the park's own F&B offerings are pretty dire, so plan to eat before/after or make use of the re-entry facility. Dress code applies, check the waterpark's website for details. Lockers cost $10 for small ones and $20 for large ones. A one-day ticket costs $39 for adults (aged 13 years old and above) and $31 (aged 4 to 12 years old). (updated Sep 2017)

Beaches

Palawan Beach, in the background the southernmost point in continental Asia

Among Singaporeans, a popular reason to go to Sentosa is to hit the beaches: Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong from west to east respectively. All three are artificial, but does it really matter? Unfortunately the water is rather murky due to the never-ending parade of ships across the Straits. Siloso has a nice beach promenade full of clubs and restaurants, some rather noisy, while Palawan claims to be the southernmost point of continental Asia (if you count the bridge connecting Sentosa, and ignore any competing Malaysian claims, and other parts of Singapore or even Sentosa that are further south). Tanjong, the quietest of the three, is the place for beach volleyball.

The stage for Wings of Time

• Air Combat: A Virtual Reality Experience (Beach Station), ☏ +65 6361 0088. 10AM–10PM daily. Experience eight minutes of aerial combat with a pair of VR goggles through six different movements. $15. (updated Oct 2023)
• Explorers of Sentosa (Palawan Beach), ☏ +65 6361 0088. 10AM–10PM daily. Home to four giant Explorers made from upcycled wood and plastic, it is accompanied by an interactive online map of hidden parts of Palawan Beach. $15. (updated Oct 2023)
• 3 HydroDash, Palawan Beach. M–F 11AM–6PM; Sa and public/school holidays 10AM–7PM; Su 10AM–6PM. Floating just off the beach, this slippery open-water obstacle course lets the whole family test their ninja skills. Great fun for kids and a great workout for adults. Zone 1 is for 5-6 year old kids (must be accompanied by an adult), while Zone 2 is open to 7+. Flotation vests provided. From $13/hr. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Wings of Time (Beach Station). 7:40PM & 8:40PM daily. Nightly show with laser, fire and water effects set to a soundtrack. Each show lasts 20 minutes, ending with a fireworks display. Children under 4 free. Standard seat $19, premium $24. (updated Aug 2023)

Activities

Henderson Waves, crossing the Southern Ridges

• Gogreen Eco Adventure, 51 Siloso Beach Walk, 10:30AM–7:30PM daily. Rent bicycles, kick scooters and other retail items to travel around Sentosa’s beaches.
• 4 iFly Singapore, 43 Siloso Beach Walk, ☏ +65 6571 0000. Daily 9AM –10PM (W 11AM–10PM). A five-story tall wind tunnel for indoor skydiving. (updated Aug 2023)
• 5 Mega Adventure Park, 10A Siloso Beach Walk, ☏ +65 6884 5602. 11AM–6PM daily. Zip wires, aerial obstacle courses, simulated parachute landings and trampolines. (updated Aug 2023)
• 6 Skyline Luge Singapore, 45 Siloso Beach Walk, ☏ +65 6274 0472, sentosa@skylineluge.com. M–Th 11AM–7:30PM, F 11AM–9PM, Sa 10AM–9PM, Su 10AM-7:30PM. Up the hill in a ski lift and down again in a steerable bobsled. Kids safe. Good attraction for younger kids as the incline of the track hinders going very fast. Not very exciting for those over 15. If you are inclined to go, resist temptation to purchase multiple trips until trying it the first time. Luge trail is closed during wet weather. (updated Aug 2023)
• SkyPark Sentosa by AJ Hackett, 30 Siloso Beach Walk, ☏ +65 6911 3070. M–F 12:30–7PM, Sa Su public holidays 11:30AM–7PM. Home to the 50-m-high SkyPark Sentosa Bungy tower, Giant Swing that swings at 120 km/h, and Skybridge, a 40-m walkway with see-through sections. (updated Oct 2023)
• YachtCruiseSG, 11 Cove Drive, ☏ +65 9231 3939. M–F 12:30–7PM, Sa Su public holidays 11:30AM–7PM. End their day with an evening sunset yacht cruise. The City Skyline Cruise ($60) runs for an hour from Th–Su and public holidays 6PM. The Southern Islands Speedboat Tour ($39) runs for an hour at various time slots from daily 9AM, 11AM, 2PM, 4PM, and 6PM. The Yacht and Kusu Island Tour runs for 2 hr 30 min daily 9:15AM. (updated Oct 2023)

Family fun

• 4D AdventureLand, 51B Imbiah Road, ☏ +65 6274 5355. Four tricked-out "4D" movie theaters incorporating effects like fog, rain, wind, and vibrations. The 4-in-1 Combo (one-time admission) ticket costs $48.90 for adults (aged 13 years old and above), and $35.90 for children (aged 3 to 12 years old). (updated Oct 2023)
• 3 Madame Tussauds, near Cable Car Station (Take the Sentosa Express to Imbiah station). 9AM-7PM. The local outpost of the global wax museum emporium. Figures inside are geared towards Asian visitors, with Singaporean, Chinese and Indian celebrities well represented, plus a boat ride experience called “Spirit of Singapore”. $42.50/30 adult/child. (updated Sep 2022)

• Nestopia, 6 Siloso Beach Resort, ☏ +65 6371 1067, W–F 2–6:45PM, Sa–Su, PH and school holidays 10AM–7PM. Open-air space with 17 play sections fitted out with obstacle courses made up of three giant nests situated 7.5 m off the ground with two long slides. A 1 hr Play ticket costs $12.
• Ricochet Sentosa, 1 Larkhill Road, ☏+65 8200 9417, 7AM–10PM daily. Ricochet Padel’s first club in Singapore offering padel equipment and accessories for rent and sale. Court booking prices are $72/hour at off peak hours (noon–4PM) and $84/hour at peak hours (7AM–noon, 4–10PM), while padel racket rental is $10 per racket.
• Trickeye @ Southside, 80 Siloso Road, 11AM–7PM daily. Four different themed zones that use 3D, augmented reality technology and mobile app ‘XR Museum’ to create interactive displays. A standard ticket costs $32 for adults (aged 13 to 59 years old) and $28 for children (aged 4 to 12 years old) and seniors (aged 60 years old and above).

Relaxation and sightseeing

• 4 Fort Siloso, Siloso Road (At the westernmost tip of Sentosa, take bus A or the beach tram to Siloso Point). 10AM-6PM. Formerly the largest British naval base in Fortress Singapore, its guns staring balefully out towards the sea in preparation for enemy attack. The Japanese rode bikes down the peninsula instead; after your visit here, be sure to visit the Battle Box at Fort Canning Hill to find out what happened next. Now turned into a museum, you can follow a tour through the area (complete with lots of wax figures) to find out what the life of a recruit was like. There is a 1 hr 30 min night tour called the Fort Siloso Night Experience ($45), every Friday from 8–9:30PM. Free entry. (updated Nov 2017)
• Scentopia, 36 Siloso Beach Walk, ☏ +65 8031 7081. 11AM–7PM daily. Perfume-making workshop where you can make your personal orchid scent after taking a perfume personality test. There are also 300+ augmented reality displays within the perfumery. The 1 hr 100ml perfume making workshop costs $125 per person, while the 1 hr 50ml perfume making workshops costs $95 per person. (updated Oct 2023)
• Sentosa Nature Discovery, 40 Imbiah Road, 9AM–5PM daily. The nature trail includes eight types of habitats with interactive exhibits, sculptures, and a lookout point. The Geology Gallery displays earth processes and rock formations, geological maps, coastal forests, rock samples and fossils that formed Singapore and Sentosa. Admission is free.
• SkyHelix Sentosa, 41 Imbiah Road, ☏ +65 6361 0088, 10AM–9:30PM daily. An open-air gondola that rotates and ascends to 79 m above sea level with a 360° view. Choose between one standard non-alcoholic drink or a souvenir (included in the ticket). A standard ticket costs $20 for adults (aged 13 years old and above) and $17 for children (aged 4 to 12 years old).

Elsewhere

• 7 Sentosa Golf Club, 27 Bukit Manis Rd, ☏ +65 6275 0022. Home to two famously challenging 18-hole golf courses, the Serapong and the Tanjong. Booking prices for both golf courses are M–F $240 and Sa–Su & holidays $320 per member’s guest (M–F: up to three guests; Sa–Su, holidays: up to one guest) and M–F $370 per pax and Sa–Su, holidays $500 per pax for visitors. (updated Aug 2023)
• Sentosa Cove. Singapore’s oceanfront residences, home to more than 2,000 villas, bungalows, mansions, and condominiums. The area comprises The Residences at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, W Singapore – Sentosa Cove hotel, and Quayside Isle.

On the main island

• 5 Labrador Park and Labrador Secret Tunnels, Labrador Villa Rd (Bus 408 from HarbourFront MRT, runs on weekends/holidays only). 7AM–7PM daily, guided tours every hour. Large park on the foreshore opposite Sentosa, with various World War II bunkers and artillery pieces scattered about. There are occasional guided tours of the tunnels dug into the hills. Park free, Secret Tunnels $8/5 adult/child.  
• 6 Mount Faber Peak, 109 Mount Faber Road. The quintessential Singaporean tourist trap, this mount (really more of a hill) has viewing points of Sentosa and the Singaporean heartlands, a complex of overpriced bars/restaurants, and the starting point of both the cable car across to Sentosa and the rather pleasant (but sweaty) Southern Ridges Walk. (updated Oct 2023)
• 7 Masjid Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim, 30 Telok Blangah Road. A mosque owned by the Sultan of Johor, the graves of numerous ancestors of the Johor royal family are located on its grounds. (updated Oct 2024)

Southern Islands

Beach on Lazarus Island

Access to the Southern Islands requires a ferry; see Get in for details. Once you get there, St. John Island and Lazarus Island are connected by a causeway, and it's a sweaty, largely unshaded 15-min walk from the ferry pier at St. John to Lazarus; rent a bicycle or kick scooter from GoGreen to ease the pain ($25/2 hours). St. John is also a popular spot for fishing.

• 8 Lazarus Island Beach, Lazarus Island. Generally reckoned to be the best beach in Singapore, which is admittedly not a high bar. You can paddle about in the shallow lagoon, although the water here is as murky as in Sentosa. Bring insect repellent and a day-use tent or tarp, as there is very little shelter from the sun or rain. 

Da Bogong Temple on Kusu Island

There are a few sights of minor interest on Kusu Island. The name means "Turtle Island" and there are indeed lots of the reptiles scampering about, but don't expect an unspoiled tropical paradise: the island was thoroughly reworked with land reclamation in 1975 and looks similar to Sentosa. Kusu island can be reached by ferry from Marina South Pier.

• 9 Da Bogong (Tua Pekong) Temple (Kusu Island). An unassuming little Taoist temple dedicated to the Merchant God. This is the focal point of the yearly Kusu Festival (Oct-Nov), when pilgrims come to the island to pray for prosperity. 
• 10 Keramat Kusu, Kusu Island. An unusual Muslim shrine (not a mosque) atop a small hill, dedicated to the saint Syed Abdul Rahman and his family, who lived here in the 19th century. The shrine is painted bright yellow and is visited in particular by childless couples. 

Facilities on all three islands are limited to toilets. There are no regularly open places to buy food or drink, not even vending machines, and the tap water is not potable, so bring everything you'll need with you including water. On busy weekends or (for Kusu) during the festival season enterprising hawkers may set up shop to sell basic drinks or snacks out of a cooler, but you can't count on this.

Buy

Every corner of Sentosa is inundated with gift shops filled with all the plush Merlion toys you will ever need (and then some).

• 1 Quayside Isle, 31 Ocean Way (Bus B from Beach Station), ☏ +65 6887 3502. 10AM–10PM daily. Sentosa's only shopping mall caters primarily to the wealthy residents of Sentosa Cove. However, there are plenty of dining choices as well as the only full-fledged supermarket on the island (NTUC Fairprice). (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, ☏ +65 6377 6870. 10AM­­–10PM daily. This giant complex on the mainland just next to the Sentosa bridge is Singapore's largest shopping mall, featuring anchor tenants like the enormous Fairprice Xtra hypermarket, Golden Village cineplx, two food courts and creative landscaping. The Sentosa Express monorail station is integrated into the mall, the ticketing station can be found on the 3rd floor beside the Food Republic retro theme food court. Next door, Harbourfront Ferry Terminal is connected to VivoCity via a bridge. (updated Aug 2023)

Eat

As you might expect from a giant amusement park, food on Sentosa is (by Singaporean standards) rather pricey and mediocre. Local chains have some outlets, though. Since the opening of the casinos, good (though still pricey) fine dining options are available at Resorts World Sentosa. For cheaper food options, grab a bite at either VivoCity or HarbourFront Centre.

Budget

• 1 Seah Im Food Centre, Seah Im Rd (across from Vivocity). Popular with locals, this small hawker centre (non-air conditioned) has a range of Indian Muslim food stalls and a variety of local cuisine. $4~6. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Food Republic VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, #03-01. Retro themed like a collection of 1960s hawkers, only with air-conditioning (and hygiene). Slightly expensive for a food court, but the selection is good and it's usually packed. $5-7. (updated Aug 2023)
• 3 Malaysian Food Street, Resorts World Sentosa. M Tu Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 9AM-10PM, closed on Wednesday. Notable for its retro 1970s depiction of Malaysia, with food hawkers selling Penang laksa and KL hokkien mee. Fits in with the theme park facade, but any good foodie would rather head across the causeway for the real thing. $6-9. (updated Aug 2023)

Mid-range

• 4 Arbora Hilltop Garden & Bistro, 109 Mount Faber Rd, Faber Peak, ☏ +65 6361 0088. M–F noon–10:30PM, Sa Su public holidays 8:30AM–10:30PM. Accessible via the cable car or an uphill walk from Harbourfront MRT. Western classics and Asian delights $18-26. (updated Aug 2023)
• CHIFA!, Resorts World Sentosa, ☏ +65 6577 6558, M Tu Th F noon–3PM, 6–11PM; Sa Su noon–11PM (closed on W). Peruvian-Chinese cuisine food $18-24.
• Gin Khao Bistro, #01-12 Quayside Isle, 31 Ocean Way, ☏ +65 6570 2208, M–Th noon–3PM, 5:30–10PM; F Sa noon–10:30PM; Su noon–10PM. Thai cuisine food is priced between $15~25.
• Kailash Parbat, 42 Imbiah Road, ☏ +65 6592 5545, 10AM–10PM daily. Indian vegetarian food items served at prices between $10~20.
• Le Faubourg, Block 17 #01-02, 2 Gunner Lane, Mess Hall, ☏ +65 6677 7128, 8:30AM–6PM daily. French cuisine food $20-26.
• 5 Trapizza, 101 Siloso Road, Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, ☏ +65 6376 2662. M–Th noon–9PM, F–Su 11AM–10PM. Italian cuisine food options such as pizzas and pastas from $20. Used to have a trapeze school, but only the name remains.. (updated Aug 2023)

Splurge

• Greenwood Fish Market, #01-02A–05 Quayside Isle, 31 Ocean Way, ☏ +65 6262 0450. noon–10:30PM daily. Fresh seafood served Western, Asian and Japanese style. The menu runs the gamut from fish & chips to poke bowls and $300 seafood platters, but it's all quite tasty and very popular, so book ahead on weekends. $50. (updated Oct 2023)
• Ocean Restaurant, 2 Bukit Manis Rd (Within SEA Aquarium), ☏ +65 6577 6869. W-Su 11:30AM-3PM, 6-10:30PM. Easily the flashiest restaurant in Sentosa, built inside the SEA Aquarium so that diners face directly into the enormous "Open Ocean" tank showcasing manta rays and countless tropical fish. Set menus only (4 to 8 courses), no children under 8. Very popular, so book ahead. Admission to the aquarium is not included, but show up early at the main entrance and you can take a free sneak peek on your way in. Set menus from $148 lunch, $248 dinner. (updated Oct 2023)
• 6 The Cliff, 2 Bukit Manis Rd (The Sentosa Resort), ☏ +65 6708 8310. Daily 6-10PM, Sa Su noon-2:30PM. In sight of jungle, beach and sea, repeatedly voted the most romantic restaurant in Singapore and popular with bosses out for a naughty night with their secretaries. Book a table on the lower deck for the best views. $100. (updated Jan 2017)

Drink

There's a string of beach clubs on Siloso Beach that offer chill tropical vibes, but the party ends at 10 PM sharp every night to avoid disturbing the beauty sleep of the billionaires next door in Sentosa Cove. There are, however, occasional special events that run much longer, especially during events like F1 or New Year's Eve. The most famous of these is ZoukOut, a massive yearly outdoor party organized by Zouk featuring a roster of international and local DJs. Beaches, beer, bikinis, and booming bass. What more do you need?

Beach bars

• 1 Rumours Beach Club, 40 Siloso Beach Walk (right at Siloso Beach), ☏ +65 6970 0625. The restaurant is pleasant but slightly overpriced and the outdoor seating is very nicely set up, although the volume is often cranked up way too high. Reserve in advance if you want one of the little pavilions. Free entry, beer $8, cocktails $12. 
• 2 Tanjong Beach Club, 120 Tanjong Beach Walk. 10AM-8PM. Standing proudly apart on Tanjong Beach, this is the top beach club on Sentosa and priced to match. Maritime French Riviera vibes, brunchy food menu, boozy cocktails. Reserve ahead, particularly on weekends. Various daybeds and lounges available, but they come with a minimum spend of up to $400/group on weekend afternoons. Closes up surprisingly early though unless there's a special event going on. Mains $30, drinks $20. (updated Oct 2022)
• +Twelve, 54 Palawan Beach Walk, The Palawan @ Sentosa, ☏ +65 6277 7089, M–Th 10AM–9PM, F–Su holidays 10AM–10PM. Serves beers from $14 and cocktails from $21.
• Coastes, 50 Siloso Beach Walk (Su–Th 9AM–9:30PM, F Sa 9AM–10:30PM). The very first beach bar when coming in from Beach Station is a pleasant enough place to get your feet in the sand while sipping on a glass of cold white wine. Seating runs right up to the water's edge and the vaguely Australian-style food (fish & chips, burgers, pizza), while hardly gourmet, does the job. Beer from $14, cocktails from $17. (updated Oct 2023)
• FOC Sentosa, 110 Tanjong Beach Walk, ☏ +65 6100 1102. W–Su 11:30AM–10PM (closed M Tu). Barcelona meets Singapore at this beach bar with paellas and a tasty if pricy tapas menu. Set quite far back from the water's edge, but it's also quieter than the rest since it stands some way apart at the east end of Palawan Beach. (updated Oct 2023)
• Ola Beach Club, 46 Siloso Beach Walk, ☏ +65 8189 6601. M–Th 10AM–9PM, F 10AM–10PM, Sa & public holidays 9AM–10PM, Su 9AM–9PM. This family-friendly Hawaiian-inspired beach club stands out for having its own pool (free for customers) and an array of watersports options (charges apply). The food is pretty dire, but the beer is cold and the tiki cocktails are compenent. Beer from $12, cocktails from $16. (updated Oct 2023)
• Rumours Beach Club, 40 Siloso Beach Walk, ☏ +65 6970 0625, M–Th 11AM–9PM, F Sa eve of public holiday 10AM–10PM, Su & public holidays 10AM–9PM. Serves beer from $15 and cocktails from $19.
• Sand Bar, 52-54 Siloso Beach Walk, Sa & public holidays 3PM–1AM, Su 3–9:30PM, M–F closed. Serves beers from $12 and cocktails from $15.
• Splash Tribe, 54 Palawan Beach Walk, The Palawan @ Sentosa, ☏ +65 6277 7089, M–Th 10AM–7PM, F–Su & public holidays 10AM–10PM. Serving beers from $14 and cocktails from $19.

Hotel bars

• 1-Altitude Coast, 10 Artillery Avenue, The Outpost Hotel, ☏ +65 8879 8765, M–Th 11AM–10PM, F Sa 11AM–2AM, Su 11AM–midnight. Rooftop restaurant, al-fresco deck and infinity pool serving beers from $12 and cocktails from $23.
• Boater’s Bar, #01-01 11 Cove Drive, ONE^o15 Marina Club, ☏ +65 6305 6988, W–Su, eve of public holidays and public holidays 5–11PM, M Tu closed. Floating bar at Sentosa Cove that serves beer from $11 and cocktails from $16.
• Bob’s Bar, 1 The Knolls, Capella Singapore, ☏ +65 6377 8888, 11:30AM–11:30PM daily. Serves beers from $16 and cocktails from $22.
• LeBar, 2 Bukit Manis Road, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, ☏ +65 6708 8310 / +65 6708 8362, noon–midnight daily. Outdoor pavilion lounge that serves beers from $17 and cocktails from $25.

Sleep

Sentosa is not a particularly convenient base for sightseeing elsewhere in Singapore. Most of the accommodation targets visitors looking for a beach or theme park holiday, and is priced accordingly: don't expect any cheap hostels or the like. However, the Sentosa Express monorail has improved access to the mainland, and good deals can sometimes be found if you scout around.

Budget

The cheapest place to stay is actually off the mainland on the Southern Islands: you can camp for free on St John's Island and Pulau Hantu, but camping permits are required. For St. John's Island, free camping permits from the Singapore Land Authority are available online, but you'll need someone with a Singapore ID to apply on your behalf. To camp on Pulau Hantu, you will need to contact the Sentosa Development Corporation by e-mail at administrator@sentosa.com.sg to apply for the permit. And because the islands have zero facilities, you'll need to bring everything with you, including drinking water. Bring a torchlight with you as well, as the islands are not connected to the electrical grid.

Mid-range

• 1 Siloso Beach Resort, 51 Imbiah Walk (Near Siloso Beach, take the Beach tram), ☏ +65 6722 3333. A simple "eco-rustic" hotel right off Siloso Beach, with a large swimming pool and functional if aging rooms. Still, it's the cheapest option on the island, and the resort gets some good karma for employing people with special needs. From $140. (updated Nov 2017)
• Tiny Away Escape @ Lazarus, 11A Pulau Seringat, ☏ +65 8043 4103, stay@tinyaway.com. Five eco-friendly tiny houses on Lazarus Island designed with different themed interiors – Scandinavian, retro, industrial, modern, black and white colonial styles. $300. (updated Oct 2023)
• 2 Travelodge Harbourfront, 50 Telok Blangah Rd (across the road from Vivocity), ☏ +65 6818 6666. This basic motel facing an elevated highway wins zero points for style or views, and the sailors whooping it up in the rooftop bar can get noisy. However, the rooms are clean and modern and the location right next to massive shopping mall Vivocity and the MRT interchange at Harbourfront is quite good, with Sentosa, Chinatown and the Riverside each minutes away by train. $160. (updated Sep 2022)

Splurge

Main pool at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa

• 3 Amara Sanctuary, 1 Larkhill Rd (Near Palawan Beach), ☏ +65 6825 3888, fax: +65 6223 1293, sentosa@amarasanctuary.com. Surrounded by 3.5 hectares of tropical rainforest, this hotel features 120 rooms in a converted British army barracks as well as 10 standalone garden villas. Three pools, in-house spa, easy walk to the beach. Disabled-friendly. $500. 
• 4 Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, ☏ +65 6377 8888, gr.singapore@capellahotels.com. Luxury resort designed by Foster+Partners, built around two colonial-era bungalows. With Balinese-style terraced pools, high-class restaurants and impeccable service, the Capella often comes up high in rankings of Singapore's best hotels. You can choose between spacious rooms in the main building or private villas complete with their own plunge pools. Also the site of the 2018 summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un; the first ever bilateral summit between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader. $1000. (updated Feb 2021)
• Oasia Resort Sentosa, 23 Beach View, ☏ +65 6818 3388, info.orsentosa@fareast.com.sg. Hotel with 191 suites and rooms, in-house spa, a 22.5-m pool with sun lounges, three function rooms, and 9 dining establishments.
• 5 Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort, 101 Siloso Rd, ☏ +65 6371 1088, reservations.sen@shangri-la.com. Opened in 1993, the granddaddy of all Sentosa hotels is also by far the largest on the island, with 459 rooms offering a well-maintained but rather generic package holiday experience. The main selling point is that this is Singapore's only genuine beach resort, with direct access to Siloso Beach and plenty of sea sports and family-friendly activities. $400. (updated Feb 2021)
• 6 Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa, 2 Bukit Manis Rd (yellow bus), ☏ +65 6708 8310, H9474@sofitel.com. Formerly Beaufort Sentosa, this hilltop resort-style hotel on the quieter eastern side of the island is well known for its Spa Botanica and fancy restaurants. Renovated and looking better than ever, with a deep Olympic-sized pool. 300 m to Tanjong Beach. $420. 

• The Barracks Hotel Sentosa, 2 Gunner Lane, ☏ +65 6512 2202, info.tbh@fareast.com.sg. Hotel that is housed in a conserved colonial building, it has 40 rooms and suites, pool and Jacuzzi.
• The Outpost Hotel Sentosa, 10 Artillery Avenue, ☏ +65 6722 0801, info.toh@fareast.com.sg. Hotel with 193 guest rooms, 7 function rooms, and a rooftop Sky Pool and bar for hotel guests only.
• Village Hotel Sentosa, 10 Artillery Avenue, ☏ +65 6722 0800, info.vhs@fareast.com.sg. Hotel with 606 hotel rooms, 7 function rooms, and a pool deck with 4-themed pools – Lazy River Pool, Children’s Play Pool, Adventure Pool and infinity Pamukkale Pool.

• 7 One 15 Marina, 11 Cove Drive, Sentosa Cove, ☏ +65 6305 6988, frontdesk@one15marina.com. 26 guest rooms intended primarily for visiting yachties, but open to anyone. Restaurant, spa and infinity pool. From $400. (updated Feb 2021)

• 8 W Singapore, 21 Ocean Way, Sentosa Cove, ☏ +65 6808 7288. The only hotel in Sentosa Cove, done up in an over-the-top style -- expect gilded furniture, pink mood lighting and brightly colored pop art -- memorably described as "what old people think young people think is cool". The nearest beach is a 15-min shuttle bus ride away, but on the upside, the hotel does have the largest pool in Singapore (complete with water slide) and most rooms have great views over the superyacht-laden marina. From $400. (updated Feb 2021)

Resorts World Sentosa

All the hotels in Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, can be booked via reservations@rwsentosa.com.

• 9 Crockfords Tower, Resorts World Sentosa. All-suite hotel exclusively for casino high rollers. Even if you aren't staying here, take a peek at the lobby and its several million dollars' worth of Chihuly glass. Invitation only. 
• 10 Hard Rock Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa. Corporate rock for wannabe rock stars. The lagoon-style pool with real sand is nice though, and the Rang Mahal Pavilion is among the better options. From $225. 
• 11 Hotel Michael, Resorts World Sentosa. Designed by and named after architect Michael Graves, but mostly in shades of lime. From $250. 
• 12 Festive Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa. Family-oriented hotel where most rooms feature a special loft bed for the kids. More upmarket than you'd think. From $200. 
• 13 Equarius Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa. Likely the best option in Resorts World, but priced to match. Spacious bedrooms and bathrooms, with panoramic views of the sea or forest. The "Ocean Suites" face directly into the SEA Aquarium, so you can sleep with the fishes. There are also 20 "Equarius Villas" in 1/2/3-bedroom configurations with private garden, private timber sundecks, bathroom with rain showers and free-standing tubs, private Jacuzzi, free-form swimming pool, and buggy services. From $300. 

Go next

Chinatown and Little India are easy stops on the North-East MRT line. Or check out the other integrated resort at Marina Bay.