Table of Contents
Aaah! Sentosa Island, The State of Fun, as they call it! A place where thrills and exciting adventures never end! A place that, frankly, I had never heard of until the moment I started planning a six-day family trip to Singapore. As I browsed through various blogs, websites, and travel forums, Sentosa Island in Singapore just kept coming up. Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me, and I started searching for more information to see what the fuss was all about.
Sentosa Island, The State of Fun
Located only about a quarter mile off the Southern Coast of Singapore, Sentosa Island is basically one giant amusement park. It’s where you find Universal Studios Singapore, Adventure Cove Waterpark, S.E.A. Aquarium, Madame Tussaud’s Singapore, zip lining, bungee jumping, golf, and much…much more. Considering that all this happens only within 1.9 square miles, Sentosa is literally jam-packed with fun and games. As a family traveling with kids, we felt a visit there was in order, and so we planned to spend a day discovering the State of Fun.
Where to Stay: You can choose to stay on Sentosa Island in Singapore, which is convenient if you would like to spend more than one day there. Our personal top-choice hotel on the island is Capella Singapore. A couple of other nice and less pricey options are Village Hotel Sentosa and Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. If you would rather stay at Resorts World, near all the action, check out the Equarius Hotel or Hotel Michael. We always use Booking.com to book accommodations. It’s our favorite website for finding great places all over the world!
View of Sentosa Island in Singapore
Getting to Sentosa Island
Getting to Sentosa Island from Singapore is not complicated. First, make your way to the HarbourFront Centre, then cross over to the island…It’s as simple as that!
Arrive at the HarbourFront Centre in Singapore
The HarbourFront Centre is basically a shopping mall, but also a ferry terminal. This is the point from which you can go across to Sentosa Island. So, arriving here should be your first goal.
View of HarbourFront Centre (the white ship building) and VivoCity Mall near sunset
Take a Grab Car There
Perhaps the simplest and most convenient way to get to the HarbourFront Centre is by taking a Grab car, which is the Asian version of Uber. If you happen to have an unlocked mobile phone equipped with a local SIM card, just download the Grab app and find your ride. Then select HarbourFront Centre or Singapore Cable Car if you are planning on taking the cable car (gondola) across to the island. This is exactly what we did, and it worked out perfectly! Our Grab driver picked us up at our hotel and drove us straight to the cable car entrance. You can actually get a ride all the way to the island itself, but it will cost you more, and you will miss out on some of the fun getting there.
Use the MRT
Taking the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), which is the Singapore subway, is another way to get to the HarbourFront Centre. Depending on where you’re staying in the city, you may need to transfer and ride a couple different trains. Remember that your goal is to get off at the HarbourFront Station, and both the North East Line and the Circle Line of the MRT stop there.
TIP: Click HERE to download the map of Singapore’s MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system
People Getting on a MRT train in Singapore
Riding the MRT in Singapore
Cross Over to Sentosa Island
Once at HarbourFront Centre, you will have to decide how to get over to Sentosa Island. There are basically three different options: You can walk across on the Sentosa Boardwalk, take the Sentosa Express Monorail, or arrive on the Singapore Cable Car.
Sentosa Boardwalk
If you want to get to the island for free, by engaging your leg muscles, your best bet is the Sentosa Boardwalk. From the HarbourFront Centre, head towards the waterfront promenade at VivoCity Shopping Mall, which is connected to the Centre. At the promenade, you will find the start of the boardwalk; then all you have to do is follow it to the island.
Sentosa Express Monorail
Another way to get to the island is by taking the Sentosa Express Monorail. This option will cost you only a few extra dollars. You can use the monorail to move around the island and return back, all for one low price of S$4 per person (as of July 2019). To get to the Sentosa Express Monorail, enter the VivoCity Shopping Mall from HarbourFront Centre, and follow the signs up to the 3rd Level. Once there, go to Lobby L, then purchase your Sentosa Pass from the ticketing booths. At this point, you are all set and ready to ride the monorail across.
Sentosa Express Monorail Train
Singapore Cable Car
Without question, the most scenic way to reach the island is by taking the Singapore Cable Car. This is a modern, eight-person gondola that offers sweeping views of Sentosa and Singapore’s skyline.
To get to the Singapore Cable Car, either take a Grab car there, or follow the signs to HarbourFront Tower II from the HarbourFront Center. Purchase your tickets, then take the elevator to the top of the tower, and enjoy your ride. I should mention that the Singapore Cable Car consists of two separate lines. One is the Mount Faber Line, which takes you across to Sentosa; the other one is the Sentosa Line, which only operates on the island. There are various packages you can purchase depending on whether you want to ride only one or both lines.
TIP: Click HERE to see the current prices and packages for the Singapore Cable Car and book your ride.
The Singapore Cable Car and Sentosa Island near sunset
Our Day on Sentosa Island
Our one-day adventure to Sentosa Island began later than planned due to a heavy downpour. It was the end of July, when rainy days are not uncommon in Singapore. Despite this mild setback, we got a Grab Car and headed towards the Singapore Cable Car as soon as the rain eased off a little. Our Grab driver arrived quickly, and before long we were standing in line at the Cable Car entrance waiting to get our tickets.
Plan Ahead
As a side note here, I have to say that planning what to do while on Sentosa Island was probably the most challenging task of all. With so many rides and attractions and only one day to spare, it can be quite overwhelming trying to decide which ones to choose. After looking at all the options, I selected some activities that to me sounded a bit more unique. Yeah, sure – Universal Studios is an amusement park staple, but it’s also a place we can visit back home in the US. Massive waterparks are not hard to come by where we live either. Following that brilliant train of thought, I put together the itinerary for the day, and it all worked out great in the end.
Singapore Cable Car, Mount Faber Line
Once we had our tickets in hand, the fun began with an amazing ride on the Mount Faber Line of the Singapore Cable Car, which gave us a bird’s eye view of the whole area . Behind us, we could see the impressive Singapore skyline, and in front of us was lush green Sentosa with its myriad of attractions and castle-like resorts. It was a fantastic experience that we recommend very highly if you are planning a day to the island.
Singapore Cable Car Ticketing Counter
View of the Hard Rock Hotel and Resorts World from the Singapore Cable Car…later in the day near sunset
Skyline Luge Sentosa
Conveniently, the Cable Car took us right near our first planned activity for the day, a ride on Skyline Luge Sentosa. This is a fun attraction where visitors get to drive small Luge carts along four different tracks. Then they can take one of the two scenic chairlifts back up and do it all over again.
The ticketing counter at Skyline Luge Sentosa
When we got off the Cable Car, the rain stopped, and we were excited to experience some thrills without getting soaked. We walked over to the entrance and got the family package. It included four Luge rides and four Skyline rides each. After we got our tickets, all of us selected helmets from a large bin, then went to the starting point. There, the staff gave us quick instructions on how to navigate the Luge carts, and before we knew it, we were flying down one of the tracks.
A pile of Helmets at Skyline Luge Sentosa
The kids all excited to go on the luge
Getting a few instructions before the ride
The finish area at Skyline Luge Sentosa
Here I am, arriving at the finish
From a Student Driver to a Pro
We didn’t start out as the most skilled Luge Cart drivers, but everyone in the family looked like a pro by the final run. After each Luge ride, we took the Skyline chairlift back up, which gave us a chance to enjoy the beautiful views of Sentosa and refocus for another round of wild driving.
Riding the chairlift at Skyline Luge Sentosa
The view from the chairlift in front of us
…And the view behind us!
One of the photos we purchased – Angie and hubby driving down the track. These luge carts may be a tad too small for hubby!
Mega Adventure Park
After we completed successfully our four rounds of Luge and Skyline fun, we headed over to the next attraction on our itinerary, Mega Adventure Park. This is an attraction that offers four different activities: a high ropes course (MegaClimb), a high jump (MegaJump), zip lining (MegaZip), and bungee-assisted trampoline jumping (MegaBounce).
It didn’t take us long to get to Mega Adventure Park since it’s located only a short walk away from the Skyline Luge. Nevertheless, we had worked up a bit of a sweat by the time we made our way there since the sun had come out and the temperatures were soaring.
Angie and hubby at Mega Adventure Park
Dani getting ready for the adventure
MegaClimb
As soon as we arrived and got our tickets, the staff hooked us up with harnesses, then took us to the first activity, the MegaClimb. This was a three-level high ropes course that looked like a super fun challenge. As the staff explained it, the easiest level was the lowest, the second level was the hardest, the third level was the highest. Without wasting any time, our younger daughter, Dani, started making her way through Level 1, the easiest (…not easy at all by the way), and hubby with our first-born, Angie, tackled Level 2, the hardest. I stayed behind because, you know, someone has to be responsible and take a thousand photos!
Kids waiting to begin the the MegaClimb
Dani starting out on the not-so-easy Level 1 of the MegaClimb course
Angie working her way through the hardest level
Hubby very focused pushing forward on the hardest level
Dani continues with confidence…She’s got this!
Angie taking a short break on one of the platforms
Slowly but surely, everyone completed their respective course successfully. They were all very proud and fully drenched in sweat from the heat and all the hard work. The kids were ready to go for another round immediately, but the time was ticking and we had to move onto the next thrill, zip lining.
Dani successfully completing the final challenge
Hubby getting closer to the finish
Looking at the high ropes course from the zip lining platform
MegaJump
As a side note, the next logical activity to try would have been the MegaJump, a free-fall simulated 15-meter jump. However, in the interest of time, we moved onto zip lining. Honestly, as hubby and I watched others drop and happily survive, we were very much considering giving it a try. It did seem like a lot of fun!
MegaZip
All of us got up to the MegaZip platform, and were immediately astounded by the view that emerged before our eyes. We were about to zip line over treetops, Siloso Beach, and then arrive at the opposite station on a teeny island.
View of Siloso Beach from the zip lining platform at Mega Adventure Park
Everyone was excited to start zipping, but first, Dani had to be hooked up to hubby since she is light as a feather. Once she was secured, all of us lined up and off we went. It was a short but super fun flight, over the trees, over the beach, then onto the little island. Without question, this was one experience we would gladly repeat over and over again next time we are on Sentosa!
Flying down the zip line at Mega Adventure Park Sentosa
Zip lining over Siloso Beach
Another view of Siloso Beach from the zip line with the trampolines of MegaBounce tucked among the palm trees
Arriving to the opposite zip line station
Here is the bridge to Siloso Beach from the zip lining station
Another beautiful view of Siloso Beach and the modern Singapore skyline behind
Onto Siloso Beach
When we arrived at the opposite platform, we stopped to look at the ocean views for a few minutes. Then all of us walked across a narrow bridge from the tiny island to Siloso Beach. There, we found the trampolines and bungee cords for the MegaBounce, and just like that, the kids forgot they were getting hungry, thirsty, itchy, and tired!
MegaBounce
Bouncing on trampolines while attached to bungee cords is one of our daughters’ favorite activities, so they couldn’t wait to get on the MegaBounce. The staff removed their harnesses only to replace them with new ones, better suited for this particular activity. Once everything was tightened in place, the fun began. Meanwhile, hubby and I stood on the side and watched…And one of us took a gazillion pictures. (Ahem!) I don’t know where Angie and Dani found the energy, but they sure bounced like merry kangaroos until the last minute.
Dani ready to Bounce at MegaBounce
Here she is: Dani having Fun Bouncing at Mega Adventure Park Sentosa
Angie gaining some altitude at Mega Adventure Park Sentosa
When it was all over, we thanked the friendly staff at Mega Adventure Park for this outstanding adrenaline-packed adventure. Then we walked over to get some lunch at the nearby restaurant, Trapizza. We definitely needed to replenish some of our sugar and energy after living life to the fullest.
Lunch on the Beach at Trapizza
Trapizza was the closest restaurant near Mega Adventure Park on Siloso Beach, and it turned out to be a lovely place. Not only was it right on the beach, but also offered the kids’ favorites, pasta and pizza. We ordered just that and thoroughly enjoyed our lunch under a large shady canopy.
Trapizza Restaurant on Siloso Beach
Fort Siloso Skywalk
When we were all refreshed and refueled, it was time to proceed according to plan. So, we walked over to the next point of interest, Fort Siloso Skywalk, which was nearby. This is an elevated trail, approximately 11-story high, that takes visitors above the treetops. At the top, there are incredible views of the surrounding area. The trail leads to the historic Fort Siloso, which is currently a military museum, completely free of charge.
Here is the Fort Siloso Skywalk Tower, you can’t miss it
To get to the Skywalk, we made our way to the entrance tower and took the elevator to the top. Of course, there is also an option to take the stairs, but we were still full from lunch and not quite up to this kind of heroic act. Once up there, we discovered incredible panoramas of Sentosa and Singapore’s modern skyline. The pleasant breeze coming from the ocean revived our senses, which resulted in our kids running up and down the Skywalk, making a good amount of jolly clatter.
Walking on Fort Siloso Skywalk and enjoying the amazing views
Posing on Fort Siloso Skywalk
The view of the beach from Fort Siloso Skywalk
The city view from the Skywalk
After we spent some time admiring the views from Fort Siloso Skywalk, we had to keep moving. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time for us to visit the actual fort, but if you enjoy history, definitely check it out.
Singapore Cable Car, Sentosa Line
The next attraction on our itinerary for the day was the Trick Eye Museum. To get there, we took the Sentosa Line of the Singapore Cable Car from Siloso Point Station. Conveniently, this station is located right across the street from Fort Siloso Skywalk, so our kids didn’t get to complain that their feet were hurting from too much walking.
Riding the Sentosa Line of the Singapore Cable Car
The ride on the Cable Car was truly awesome; the beaches, the island, the Singapore skyline, we could see it all! After some time, our cabin slowed down as it arrived to Imbiah Lookout Station, the midpoint of the Sentosa Line. Luckily, we knew exactly what we were doing, so we didn’t get off like some confused tourists would. Instead, we continued on until the Merlion Station at the end of the Sentosa Line.
Sentosa Merlion and Resorts World
We got off the Cable Car and started looking for signs to point us towards the Trick Eye Museum. It turned out that we weren’t as close to it as we imagined. In fact, we quickly learned that we would need to take the Sentosa Monorail Express to Resorts World, which was one stop away.
Sentosa Merlion
As we headed towards the monorail station, we spotted the Sentosa Merlion statue nearby. Although we hadn’t planned to go inside, we had to stop for a few minutes and check it out up close.
Here it is, in all its glory, the Sentosa Merlion statue
In case you are not familiar, the Merlion is the symbol of Singapore, a creature that has the head of a lion and the body of a fish (or mermaid). Therefore, it’s a mermaid-lion…a Merlion. You may have heard that Singapore is known as “The Lion City”…Well, this is the reason why!
Currently, there are a total of seven Merlion statues around Singapore. The one on Sentosa Island is the largest, rising 37 meters (about 121 feet). It’s also the only one where visitors can go inside and climb up to the top, then enjoy the views from the Merlion’s head and mouth. If you have the time, this is definitely a fun activity to do with the family. Who doesn’t want to get inside a lion’s mouth…better yet, a Merlion’s mouth!
UPDATE: Sadly, the iconic Merlion on Sentosa Island in Singapore will be demolished sometime after October 20, 2019, which is the last date of admission. At the moment, there are no specific plans as to where it will be relocated. We will definitely keep you posted.
Resorts World
After taking some photos of Singapore’s mascot, we continued on our way to Resorts World and the Trick Eye Museum. The Imbiah Station of the Sentosa Monorail Express was very close, so we hopped on a train that took us there in no time.
Walking near Lake of Dreams in Resorts World Sentosa
TIP: Once on Sentosa Island, you can ride the Sentosa Monorail Express for free.
It turned out the Trick Eye Museum was still a good walk away, but this was just as well. We got a chance to see many of the amazing sights at Resorts World, like the Universal Studios globe, the candy trees at Candylisious, and the pretty Lake of Dreams.
Candy Trees at Candylicious
Angie and the Universal Studios Globe on Sentosa Island
Trick Eye Museum
Eventually, we made our way to the Trick Eye Museum, which turned out to be a really delightful place to visit. It was also air conditioned, which gave us a chance to cool off after walking out in the Singapore heat!
Van Gogh’s Starry Night and I
The Trick Eye Museum offers a large collection of fun art installations that trick your eyes. They appear 3D when photographed from a certain angle. Conveniently, there are markings on the floor to point to the perfect spot to capture your Instagram masterpieces.
XR Museum App
Perhaps one of the most interesting features at the Trick Eye Museum is the App they suggest you download before starting your tour. It’s an augmented reality App that brings many of the exhibits to life. You can take photos and videos through the App and really impress your social media peeps!
TIP: To get the App in advance, search for “XR Museum” or “TrickEye Museum” in the Apple iTunes Store or Google Play Store. Once you download it, select the region of the museum you are visiting, then have fun. Click HERE for more information and instructions.
We all spent a long time playing around with the App and snapping all kinds of photos and videos. It was a ton of fun, and here are a few of the many photos to prove it. (Note: We didn’t take these pictures with the App…They are just good, old, regular photos.)
The Dinosaur
Lily Pads
Disclaimer: We would only do this to an elephant at the Trick Eye Museum
Woman Holding an orb with our kids inside
Witch making a stew of our kids
Surfing on a Crocodile
The Lava Canal
The Ice Canyon
Alice in Wonderland
Polar Bear Cub
Skydiving
Horse Racing
Pink Ballerina
…And a wacky Nike ballerina!
Acrobatics Team
The Things We Wish We Had Seen
After we left the Trick Eye Museum, hubby and the kids began complaining loudly about being tired and hungry. So we stopped at the nearby Malaysian Food Street and filled up on tasty specialties from Singapore’s neighboring country.
By the time we finished dinner, it was getting late, and our kids became increasingly more cranky and grouchy. They were definitely starting to show classic signs of mood decline due to a long day of too much fun. There were still a couple more things on our Sentosa itinerary, but we had to let go of them. Since these are activities very much worth your time, I have to mention what they were. You can get to both of them by taking the Sentosa Monorail Express back from Resorts World Station and get off at the final Beach Station.
Palawan Island
The first attraction on my list of “things I would like to have seen” on Sentosa is Palawan Island. This is a tiny island off of Palawan Beach, which interestingly happens to represent the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia. It’s a beautiful place that you can easily visit by walking across a narrow suspension bridge from Palawan Beach. Arguably, this is one of the most picturesque spots on Sentosa Island, so definitely stop by if you can!
Wings of Time Show
The Wings of Time Show is the other planned attraction we didn’t get to experience. This is an impressive show of lights that happens every night on Siloso Beach. It combines impressive visual effects with a glorious soundtrack for the perfect end to a day on Sentosa Island.
TIP: For more details about the Wings of Time Show and to purchase tickets, click HERE.
Even though we missed this incredible spectacle, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset from the Singapore Cable Car on our way back.
Near sunset on the Singapore Cable Car
View of Resorts World Sentosa from the Singapore Cable Car
The Hard Rock Hotel and Singapore from the Cable Car
Crossing back to the city and the HarbourFront Centre on the Singapore Cable Car
Go to The State of Fun
As you can see, one day is hardly enough for Sentosa Island in Singapore. The fun attractions and activities that await there are countless, so plan as much as you can in advance. If you know what you want to do before you get there, you won’t spend your time wondering and wandering. Whatever you choose, your day on Sentosa will be an adventure, because this is The State of Fun! It’s a place where kids’ dreams turn into reality, and adults become kids once again!
The sunset behind us
IMPORTANT!!!
When traveling abroad, be sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months AFTER your planned stay. There are many countries that follow this rule very strictly. If you show up to the airport with a passport that expires in less than 6 months, you will NOT be allowed to board your plane! Click HERE to learn more and to see the list of countries that require 6 months of remaining passport validity.
Special Thanks
We would like to thank Mega Adventure Park, One Faber Group, Skyline Luge Sentosa, and the Trick Eye Museum for providing our family with tickets for the attractions described in this article. We had an absolutely amazing time and want to be sure to mention that while these activities were sponsored, all opinions expressed here are our own. Please, refer to our Disclosure Policy for more information.
Disclaimer
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we will receive a small commission if you purchase something through these links. There is absolutely NO additional cost to you! We are affiliates of Booking.com and sincerely believe this is one of the best websites for booking accommodations. Thank you so much for choosing to use our affiliate links! These small commissions help us continue to update and run this website. 🙂
Resources to Help Plan Your Trip to Sentosa Island in Singapore
Sentosa, The State of Fun – The official website for Sentosa Island in Singapore; find information about all the things you can do, the places you can stay, and much more.
Visit Singapore, Sentosa Island – A web page dedicated to Sentosa Island by the Singapore Tourism Board
Sentosa Attractions Featured in the Article – Fort Siloso || Fort Siloso Skywalk || Mega Adventure Park || Palawan Beach & Island || Sentosa Express Monorail || Singapore Cable Car (One Faber Group) || Skyline Luge Sentosa || Trick Eye Museum || Wings of Time Show (One Faber Group)
The restaurants we enjoyed on Sentosa Island in Singapore – Malaysian Food Street, Trapizza
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the photos in this post were taken by Vessy and Cameron with a Nikon D5600 camera and iPhone X. Please send us an e-mail at vessy@feelgoodandtravel.com if you would like to use any of them. All images are subject to copyright laws.
These activities took place on July 24, 2019.
PIN THIS POST! 🙂
Sentosa Island in Singapore Pin
Comments