Given the size and the highly urban character of Singapore, it may come as a surprise to know it has places that provide quieter settings for unwinding and relaxing, away from the hustle and bustle of the fast-paced lifestyle for which Singapore is known. One such escape is Sentosa, a 500-hectare island paradise only fifteen minutes away from the city, half a kilometer from the southern part of Singapore’s main island. Today, the island resort of Sentosa is one of Singapore’s most popular attractions, not just among tourists but for locals as well.
Then and Now
Visiting Sentosa today provides little indication why it used to be known by the name Pulau Blakang Mati, which in Malay means something like “The Island of Death from Behind.” Indeed, the shift from that rather ominous name, not counting the period when it was more neutrally known as Pulau Panjang (“long island”), to its relatively recent and current incarnation as Sentosa (“peace and tranquility”) displays not just the many stories surrounding the island but also its ultimate triumph as a place of positive vibes.
Still, many other aspects of Sentosa’s past have left visible traces for anyone visiting it nowadays. Its significance in Singapore life and tourism can be traced to its earliest days as a fishing village, and its historical importance during the Second World War and subsequent continuation as a site for military bases are manifested in the preservation of sites like Fort Siloso and the Mount Imbiah Battery—but this time for peaceful purposes by bridging locals and tourists in harmonious placidity.
The life of Sentosa as it is known, experienced, and loved today has its roots in 1968, a year after it was handed by the British military to the newly independent Singapore government. Deciding to develop this pulau into the island resort it has now become, the public was asked to suggest new names to serve as a guiding light for this development project. Eventually, 1972 became the year of birth for Sentosa, when it adopted its new name and grew into its new life. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Sentosa Development Corporation was incorporated in September of that year to oversee and manage Sentosa’s growth and development.
Today, the realigned organization Sentosa Leisure Group continues to develop this island of flora and fauna, of which 70% is secondary rainforest and over 3 kilometers of white-sand beach. At the same time that it serves as a preserve for nature and history, Sentosa’s facilities are state-of-the-art. Aside from being the only place in Singapore with beachfront accommodation and almost 700 hotel rooms with full facilities, Sentosa’s blend of leisure and recreational facilities remains unmatched in terms of providing a variety of pleasures for visitors at all hours every day of the year.
And Sentosa continues to literally grow, the money going into the island’s development (since 1972, S$420 million from private investors and S$500 from the government) keeping it always in development through land reclamation, facility construction, and an ever-efficient transportation system connecting it with the mainland.
Getting to Sentosa
While there are myriad options for arriving at Sentosa—by car, bus, or taxi—the journey to this island may already be part of the attractions itself, especially if you decide to travel using the iconic Singapore Cable Car or the Sentosa Express just recently made operational in 2007.
Connecting Mount Faber on the main island to Sentosa via the Keppel Harbour, the Singapore Cable Car has been providing steady service since 1974, when it became the first aerial ropeway transport system spanning a harbor. With its three stations—the Jewel Box Station at Mount Faber, the Harbourfront Station, and the Sentosa Station—the Cable Car is a convenient way to get a literal overview of Sentosa, between 47 and 93 meters above sea level. The cost for a two-way ride in the normal cabin is S$13.90 per adult and S$8.50 per child 3 to 12 years old, and a dollar less for a one-way ride. The glass cabin offers a two-way ride for S$20.00 per adult and S$13.00 per child.
The Sentosa Express is made up of two four two-car trains with distinctive colors and travels back and forth across 2.1 kilometers at a comfortable yet efficient eight minutes. With its ability to carry 120 people per train, around 4000 passengers may be moved in an hour. A single-day pass for S$3 allows unlimited rides, including island admission. It is open from 7 am to 12 midnight.
Major Attractions
The Imbiah Lookout Zone is home to many of Sentosa’s major attractions, a good starting point to experience the variety of pleasures the island has to offer, including the high-tech audiovisual delights of Sentosa 4D Magix and the Sentosa Cineblast. The former is a highly-immersive multi-sensory theatre, while the latter is a state-of-the-art cinema simulation ride. Admission to each costs S$16 per adult and S$9.50 per child, and both are open from 10 am to 9 pm daily.
Another sight, not cinematic but real, that cannot be beat may be found from the 36-story Carslberg Sky Tower. As the tallest free-standing observation tower in Asia, the Sky Tower provides an impressive view that takes in the entire Singapore skyline and a panorama that is an unrivalled sight (on a clear day, you can see Malaysia and parts of Indonesia), even after having gone through on the Cable Car. It is well worth the S$12 per adult and S$8 per child rates.
Like the Sky Tower, the Merlion Walk at Sentosa Island also looms large at 37 meters. Even from outside, the iconic half-lion half-fish is a good introduction to the mythic spirit of Singapore, and a tour of its interior only reinforces this with audio-visual presentations and sculptures of sea creatures from the world’s cultures. Discover your fortune in the mouths of the Mercubs inside, and admire the skyline view from the Mouth Gallery. As you leave the Merlion, traverse across the 120-meter Merlion Walk with its intricate mosaics and structures. Costs are S$8 per adult and S$5 per child, and the attraction is open from 10 am to 8 pm.
From 9:00 am to 6:30 pm, S$10 per adult and S$6 per child enables visitors to enter the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom at Sentosa Island. With 1500 live butterflies from over 50 different species and 3000 species of the world’s rarest insects—including a 160mm Dynastes beetle, the largest on record, all under a rainforest canopy teeming with plants and flowers, this kind of nature experience is an easy way to partake of exotic life.
S$10 per adult and S$7 per child are the admission rates to Images of Singapore, a must-see museum that probes the heart of Singapore’s history and culture. Visitors to this 2005 winner for Outstanding Achievement in the Reinvention of a Cultural Heritage Centre from the Themed Entertainment Association will not just be taken to the soul of Singapore but can also take some of it with them in the form of souvenirs, ranging from toys and games, books and clothing.
The Sentosa Luge and Skyride is a good way to cap the Imbiah Lookout experience. A “part go-cart, part-toboggan, pure excitement” downhill ride and a Skyride combo is available for S$10.00, but be prepared to spend for special rates like S$18.00 for two combo rides. This ride is highly addictive, thrilling but safe for the entire family.
Having enjoyed pleasant experiences of various sorts can continue by having lunch at the various eateries around Imbiah Lookout at Sentosa Island. Tastes of Singapore is the choice for local delicacies, but those looking for more international fare can enjoy other places like Delifrance Café Merlion, Subway, or Sarpino’s Pizzeria. Dessert may be had at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf or at any of the two ice-cream parlors: Mövenpick of Switzerland or New Zealand Natural.
The increasing expansion of Sentosa is most obvious when it comes to its 3-kilometer white-sand beachfront. Divided into three areas, each one has something to offer whatever mood. Siloso Beach is hip high-energy, especially attractive to sporty types into beach volleyball, canoeing, mountain-biking, rollerblading, and the Flying Trapeze (S$7.00 per swing, S$15.00 for 3 swings). Palawan Beach is happy family-friendliness, with the Dolphin Lagoon nearby as well as a bridge that leads to the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia. Tanjong Beach is quiet and romantic, especially at night, when the lights from ships docked at the nearby port twinkle like stars within reach.
Those interested in history coming to life can go on the Fort Siloso Tour (S$8.00 per adult, S$5.00 per child). Formerly a coastal fort during the Second World War, it has now been preserved as a museum. The only such fort still existing in Singapore, the museum is a moving depiction of wartime conditions, with interactive exhibits and the largest collection of weapons and life-sized replicas, waxworks, and war tunnels.
For visitors with a strong interest in sea-life, S$19.90 per adult and S$12.70 per child allows admission to both the Dolphin Lagoon and Underwater World as Sentosa Island. The former will make you laugh with glee at the synchronized antics of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins cavorting for show, while the latter will wow you with its expansive depiction of the exotica under the sea.
As an underground oceanarium, Underwater World offers an other-worldly experience on its 83-meter moving walkway through a acrylic tunnel teeming with fish, sharks, moray eels, stingrays, and coral reefs. Highly exciting and educational, you may also opt for a more relaxing experience here via the foot massage by Fish Reflexology.
Sentosa Hotels & Resorts
Perhaps the long day was not enough, even with the light-and-water extravaganza known as Songs of the Sea (S$6.00 per person, nightly shows at 7.40 pm and 8.40 pm), where you are entertained by the spectacle while you “dine, chill, by the sea” at Ami’s. If so, there are hotels and spas available at Sentosa where you can either stay the night or unwind before you go back to the mainland.
Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa is a luxury hotel built upon the hillside—sheer luxury and ultimate comfort, just like the Sentosa Resort and Spa, and the Rasa Sentosa Resort with its facilities for various watersports.
Costa Sands Resort Sentosa offers accommodations more casual—air-conditioned villas with videogames, barbecue pits, and a swimming pool make it a very good choice for friends visiting Sentosa together.
The Treasure Resort and the Siloso Beach Resort offer other kinds of accommodation, and in the former, you get to experience sleeping in a preserved pre-WW2 building.
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