When every day is a holiday and Mondays come in more hues than blue, you realize you are in Sentosa Island. Open your eyes to a state of perpetual fun, the state of the sun. Here parties don’t wait till the weekend and the borders are open to all but boredom. Hop onto a roller-coaster ride to the most fantastic island resort of Singapore- Sentosa.
Relax on the sprawling 2 km picturesque beach or have a day out on the golf course. If you are an indoor-person, you can revel in Sentosa Resort- a luxury resort in a grand colonial building the British military put up in the 1880s.
In February of 2010, Resorts World Sentosa, a US$ 4.93 billion project featuring four hotels, shops selling Cartier jewelry and Jimmy Choo shoes, and the country’s first casino, opened its doors to a flood of gamblers and shoppers, thus making Sentosa one of the most coveted holiday spots in Asia. This Resort also features a Universal Studios Theme Park, a Marine Life Park that consists of the world’s largest oceanarium and an Adventure Cove Water Park.
Visited by over 20 million people every year, Sentosa, Singapore is just half a kilometer away from the main island of Singapore and the fourth largest island of the country. Over 70% of the island is covered with secondary rainforest. Sentosa Island, Singapore is truly a place that you have to visit at least once in your lifetime, and a place you can’t let go , once you visit it.
A number of hotels currently fill the tropical island. Right from the exclusive Amara Sanctuary Resort to Capella Singapore to Costa Sands Resort and Crockfords Tower, you will be spoilt for choice. The Festive Hotel offers you a perfect friendly island-life atmosphere while the Hard Rock Hotel with its sleek modern design and legendary entertainment promises you a rocking good time.
Sentosa Island, Singapore also offers a variety of dining options. Sit surrounded by a lush landscape with majestic views of the South China Sea as you gorge on some delicious seafood. Over 50 unique dining establishments offer an endless variety of food choices from sumptuous rich Asian fare to award-winning Italian and other European dishes. Grab a quick bite in cafés and bistros and beach bars or enjoy an intimate dinner conversation in the many fine dining restaurants. Go out for a stroll in the evening, in the exclusive shopping places of Imbiah Lookout, Quayside Isle and Siloso Point.
Sentosa Island Map
Facts about Sentosa Island
- The island is very old, dating back to the 14th century, when the Sentosa map first appeared on the globe. As early as the 19th century, British colonialists arrived in the island, whose populace made their living from the water, either by harvesting turtle eggs, fishing or by navigating ships.
- It was at this time; the island came to be known as, “Pulau Belakang Mati” translated as “the Island of Death from Behind”. The reason for this could be that the island was a “pirates’ lair”, and many ships got raided along the way, believes Timothy Barnard, an Associate Professor of History at the National University of Singapore. Some historical records, however indicate that the name was derived from a malaria outbreak that killed many residents in the 1840s.
- ‘Sentosa’ translates as ‘peace and tranquility’ in Malay. The word originates from the Sanskrit word, ‘Santosha’, which means ‘contentment’.
- The island’s secondary rainforest is inhabited by a variety of native flora and fauna, including parrots, peacocks, monkeys and monitor lizards. During the construction of the Resorts World Sentosa, this environment was minimally impacted as two hundred trees in the designated area were planted elsewhere on the island.
- The island is popular for ‘Fish Reflexology’, a massage available in most of the spas, where Turkish or African fish are made to nibble on the feet’s dead skin, thus making it smooth. These sessions are very popular in the Underwater World.
- Fort Siloso on the western side of the island still has old tunneled underground passages, bunkers, and gun emplacements, dating back to the late 19th century. This former military base was captured by the Japanese and was used as a prisoner-of-war camp in World War II. It was returned to the Republic by the British War Office in 1967, as part of the withdrawal of British Troops from Singapore.
- The island was developed into a recreational center in 1972 and has since been managed by the Sentosa Development Corporation. It even won the 9th Tourism Award in 1994 for the “Leisure Attraction of the Year”.
Where is Sentosa Island?
The easiest way to reach Sentosa, Singapore is by the Singapore Cable Car that not only promises an easy journey but also a lovely aerial view of the Singapore skyline along with picturesque views of the exotic island. To get here, alight at HarbourFront MRT and take Exit B (HarbourFront Centre) and then follow the signs leading to the Singapore Cable Car station at HarbourFront Tower II. The Cable car operates daily from 8:45 am to 10 pm and the last boarding time is 9:30 pm. Tickets are priced at S$18 for kids and S$29 for adults.
In fact, you can also travel by foot to Sentosa, thanks to the Sentosa Boardwalk, a leisurely stroll from the VivoCity Shopping Mall’s waterfront promenade. This has been made further easy with two-way canopy travelators. Guests can leave their cars behind on mainland Singapore and take the MRT to HarbourFront station at VivoCity Shopping Mall and then make their way through Sentosa Boardwalk. The Sentosa Boardwalk is open 24 hours, but the travelators operate only from 7 am to 12 am. Only $1 is charged per person on weekdays. But the Boardwalk is made free to people on weekends and other public holidays.
Sentosa is also very well connected by public transport. You can take the North-East Line or Circle Line and alight at the HarbourFront Station. From there, you can either go to the 3rd level of VivoCity shopping mall and take a leisurely stroll down the Sentosa Boardwalk or you can transfer onto the Sentosa Express. Ticket prices vary.
The Sentosa Express, located at VivoCity (Lobby L, Level 3), provides easy access to Sentosa, HarbourFront Center and St. James Power Station. Ticket fares are S$4 per person.
Best time to visit Sentosa Island
Sentosa’s climate echoes the hot climate of Singapore. The beach air though cools and refreshes your soul. A perfect seaside holiday, the ideal time to visit Sentosa, would be in June-August as November and December fall in the rainy season.
Sentosa Island hours
The island is open to all throughout the year, even though individual attractions and hotels have their own timings and prices.
More about Sentosa Island
Nearby attractions: Siloso Point, Imbiah Lookout, Azzura Beach Club, Serapong, Sentosa Cove, Resorts World Sentosa
Related: Underwater World Singapore | Singapore City Map