An inside look into one of Singapore’s main attractions. Read all about it!
Sentosa is an interesting creation—an island developed from end to end purely for entertainment and leisure. This might sound strange at first but when you consider Singapore’s small size and lack of countryside, you’ll see why the people needed its own tourist resort to visit.
And indeed, for a small isle, Sentosa packs a punch. It’s full of attractions ranging from the large and glitzy Resorts World theme park and casino to the wild and mysterious Fort Siloso. Similarly, it offers something for everyone. This is a favourite destination for families, thanks to the number of family friendly attractions, but those of an adventurous bent will also find adrenalin-pumping sports here.
Given the sheer variety of options here, here’s a thematic guide to the attractions you might want to check out on your next visit.
Sun, Sea and Sand
The premiere attraction at Sentosa for many visitors is the beaches. And honestly, it’s easy to while away the hours walking or cycling along the beach trails, having an ice-cream at one of the many cafes or doing a bit of shopping.
The three major beaches are Palawan, Siloso and Tanjong Beach. Siloso Beach is most popular for family picnics and is very close to Shangrila Rasa Sentosa. Palawan Beach features rope bridges, bars and restaurants and is closest to the parking. Tanjong Beach, being on the west-most end, is a quieter beach, a good choice if you want some peace and tranquility.
However, if you are an adrenaline junkie, head over to the Sentosa Luge and Skyride. The Luge is one of the most popular recent additions to the island and offers some of the best scenic views to boot. You take a go-cart style slide down a long spiral down Imbiah Hill. While not exactly race-car speed, it is lots of fun, especially if you’re racing a friend. Also, the skiride style lift back to the top that has you dangling high in the end is thrilling and offers spectacular view of the island. This attraction is safe for the whole family, and be warned, it’s addictive!
But if you’re looking for a bigger thrill, Megazip Adventure Park is for you. This adventure park has one of the highest ziplines in Asia for you to experience, as well as a 12 metre-high ropes obstacle course. If that’s not enough, Megazip also offers climbing and a parachute simulator.
You can also go surfing on Sentosa. Yes, you heard right. Despite the flat waves of Singapore’s seas, you can now try your hand at surfing thanks to Singapore’s first artificial wave generator. Located at Siloso Beach, the Wavehouse, a hydrosports centre, offers a few different types of waves to surf on, including the 10 foot tall Flow Barrel.
After the excitement of Siloso Beach, why not take a nice nature walk up to Fort Siloso? Located uphill off Siloso Beach, Fort Siloso is a nice combination of nature trail and military history. Built by the British to protect the shores of Singapore from invasion, it proved to be useless when the Japanese invaded from the north. The preserved
fort is now a museum dedicated to World War II.
What if you want to do nothing at all? If relaxation and indulgence is what you’re looking for, Sentosa offers a number of spas. The most notable is Spa Botanica, located in the Sentosa Resort & Spa, which boasts of outdoor pools, mud baths and Turkish-styled steam baths.
Family Fun:
Sentosa is a great place for the family because it offers so many kid-friendly activities in close proximity. Here’s a collection of the best places to take the kids.
Visible from the mainland, the Merlion Tower provides great views from its lookout points. This is a nice way to get the family to do a little exercise by climbing to the top. If you want to enjoy scenic views without climbing stairs though, the Tiger Tower gives you the leisurely option of taking an air-conditioned revolving platform that elevates up to 110 metres up, giving you a 360 degree view of Singapore, Sentosa and surrounding islands.
If your kids enjoy the nature, they’re sure to love the Butterfly Park and Insectarium. One of the original attractions of Sentosa, the Butterfly Park is still going strong today. Housing over 15,000 live butterflies, this garden conservatory allows visitors to walk indoors and outdoors among fluttering butterflies.
After checking out the insects, go up close with fish and dolphins at the Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon. An old favourite, the Underwater World offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the sea by travelling through underwater tunnels on moving walkways. Also, part of the Underwater World is its Dolphin Lagoon, where visitors can meet and even swim with pink dolphins.
For a fun and educational experience, visit Images of Singapore. Located on Imbiah Lookout, Images of Singapore is a fun museum that tells the story of Singapore’s past through interactive sets, multimedia presentations and moving life-styled mannequins.
And lastly, end the evening with a live show, the Songs of the Sea. Located directly on Palawan Beach, Songs of the Sea is an outdoor show which runs twice every evening. Kids will enjoy this story about magical sea creatures, which features live actors, original songs, a 3D laser show and pyrotechnic displays at the end.
Resorts World Singapore
When visiting Sentosa, Resorts World deserves at least a day on its own. The first integrated resort built in Singapore as part of the government’s relaxation on
casino rules, Resort World provides a complete resort experience including six hotels, a theme park, a casino, a musical spectacle and an upcoming oceanarium.
The biggest attraction for the family at Resorts World, of course, is Universal Studios Singapore. Dubbed the first Universal Studio in South-east Asia, this theme park features one-of-a-kind rides, such as the world’s tallest twin-duelling roller coaster: Battlestar Galatica: Human vs Cylon. This spectacular roller coaster will take you on a ride at the speed of 90 kilometres per hour. Aside from roller-coasters, you can explore the seven themed zones: Hollywood, Sci-fi City, Ancient Eygpt, New York, The Lost World, Far Far Away and Madagascar.
For those who prefer the excitement of gambling, Singapore’s first casino is located underground in Resorts World, taking up an area of 15,000 square metres. Visitors from overseas can use the casino free of charge by presenting their passports, while citizens and permanent residents must pay a non-refundable $100 fee to enter.
If visiting Resorts World, be sure to catch Voyage De La Vie. This permanent rock musical performs from the Festive Grand Theatre of Resorts World, and tells the story of a boy searching for his place in the world. Full of visually stunning spectacles, this production presents Cirque du Soleil style circus stunts and colourful dance choreography.
And finally, the Marine Life Park, when it opens later in 2012, will be the world’s largest oceanarium, housing over 700,000 fish in an eight-hectare area.
Yes, Singapore is small, but what a wide array of activities from the tiny island of Sentosa!