Sentosa skyline

7 things to do on Sentosa Island

By Alex Birungi

There’s fun on tap on Sentosa, a small but perfectly formed man-made isle off the south coast of Singapore.

In Malay, the word ‘Sentosa’ translates to ‘tranquillity’, and while there are plenty of peaceful pockets to be found on this tropical island, there’s also tons of stuff to see and do. Pure feel-good territory, it’s little wonder the place attracts some 20 million visitors a year.

One thing’s for certain – whether you’re here for action or relaxation, or you’re visiting for a day or a week, you can be sure your time here will be epic. As for how to spend it? Here’s a round-up of some of the highlights...

1. Get to know the island on a guided tour

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A driving tour is a great way to discover Sentosa – you’ll be introduced to the island’s best bits from the comfort of an air-conditioned bus, while a knowledgeable guide explains the history of the isle, which was once a British military base. Your guide will also show you the top sights and attractions, talk through interesting local facts and make handy recommendations. Tours last a couple of hours and will help you narrow down what you want to do and when, so it’s a good choice for day one of your visit.

2. Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush at AJ Hackett Sentosa Skypark

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Here for adventure? The AJ Hackett Sentosa Skypark is the place to get your kicks. With a prime location overlooking Siloso Beach, this much-loved attraction serves up a triple whammy of adrenaline in the form of three heart-pumping activities.

First up is the Giant Swing, which catapults you towards the ocean at dizzying speeds of up to 120 miles-per-hour. You can choose to brave it solo or strap in with a couple of friends or family members for support. Close by, there’s the bungee jump – Singapore’s first – which invites you to dive headfirst off the side of a 50-meter-high tower. Finally, there’s the peaceful Skybridge walkway, which offers stellar views of the island and (thanks to transparent sections of the floor) the dreamy shoreline below.

3. Meet your movie heroes at Universal Studios Singapore

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Part of Sentosa’s sprawling Resort World, Universal Studios Singapore makes for a brilliant day out for families of all ages. You’ll find action-packed rides, laugh-a-minute shows, your favourite characters and themed shops and restaurants, all based on smash-hit Hollywood movies and spread across seven superbly created ‘zones’ – Hollywood, New York, Ancient Egypt, Sci-Fi City, Far Far Away, The Lost World and Madagascar.

There are more than 24 attractions to enjoy here, but standouts include Battlestar Galactica: Human vs Cylon (the world's tallest battling roller coasters), Transformers: The Ride – a futuristic and super-realistic 3D experience, and Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, which whisks you away on a wet and wild journey through the age of the dinosaurs.

4. Encounter creatures of the deep at Marine Life Park

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Marine Life Park is where you’ll find two of Sentosa’s most popular attractions – the S.E.A. Aquarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark.

The former is one of the world’s largest aquariums, and home to more than 100,000 underwater creatures across 800 species, in more than 45 aquatic areas.

You’ll come right up close to weird and wonderful sea life, including menacing looking sharks and technicolour fish and coral formations. Our favourite feature of all? The Open Ocean Habitat – a colossal tank that’ll make you feel as if you’re walking right along the seabed.

The Adventure Cove Waterpark, meanwhile, combines water-based thrills with marine life enclosures. Float peacefully down Adventure River, take a sheer drop into darkness on Pipeline Plunge, and snorkel with 20,000 fish at Rainbow Reef. Another big-hitter is Ray Bay, where you can paddle with a friendly family of silky rays.

5. Take time out to unwind

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Time for a little R&R? Sentosa has three man-made beaches to its name, all of which unravel along the west coast and are ideal for lounging.

Siloso Beach is the busiest – a vanilla-shaded powdery swathe in the isle’s north-west. If you tire of sunbathing, there’s an endless list of sports to try here, including kayaking, volleyball and skimboarding, as well as a palm-freckled promenade packed with bars and restaurants.

Further south is Palawan Beach, which is quieter and a hit with families thanks to its long, wide belt of sand. There’s a friendly resident mascot to help entertain little ones, too, known as Captain Palawan.

Lastly, there’s Tanjong Beach, where you’ll find peace and quiet and a cool, boho-style beach club, depending on which end you choose to settle on.

Want to up to ante on the relaxation front? There’s an impressive spa scene on Sentosa Island. The isle’s luxury hotel resorts are decked out with decadent wellness centres, where you can experience sensation showers, cooling plunge pools, and soothing body treatments.

6. Take the kids to Sentosa 4D AdventureLand

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Families give a thumbs-up to Sentosa 4D AdventureLand, an immersive entertainment hub that uses state-of-the-art 4D technology to wow visitors.

There are three attractions to discover here, including the Extreme Log Ride – a high-speed rollercoaster simulator that takes you speeding through the jungle without leaving the theatre – and Desperados, which requires you to saddle up and battle a gang of outlaws in the middle of the Wild West. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, meanwhile, is a 4D show that lines up incredible special effects.

7. Get back to nature in Sentosa’s forests

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Take a breather from all the action and head deep into the tropical forests that cloak the isle’s interior and coast. Whether you’re hiking under your own steam, or you’ve opted for a guided tour with a local expert, you’re guaranteed to leave wide-eyed – tropical birds, exotic flowers, lizards, monkeys, and peacocks are just some of the gems you’ll clap eyes on in these parts.

Don’t fancy all the legwork? Get a bird’s-eye look at the rainforest canopy from high up above it instead. Hop on the Sentosa Line – a slick cable car network that runs the length of the island. A round trip takes a little under 15 minutes to complete, and you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the island – and the Singapore mainland – along the way.

Make BIG savings on Sentosa Island attractions

Whether you want to experience as many Sentosa attractions as possible, or you’ve got a few firm favourites in mind to tick off, Go City can help. Our passes could save you up to 55% on top attractions, and everything is given the seal of approval by our travel experts. To find out more about how things work, click here.

Alex Birungi
Go City Travel Expert

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Woman in a red hat smiling and pointing towards the distant Singapore Flyer
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5 Days in Singapore

Singapore is packed full of great things to do, from spectacular gardens and high-octane adventures to shopping high-end boutiques and stuffing your face with zingy chili crab in huge open-air hawker centers. No surprise then that, alongside stalwarts of the world stage including Paris, London and New York, it’s one of the most-visited cities on the planet, welcoming just shy of 15 million tourists in 2022. Five days in Singapore is just about enough time to scratch the surface of this magnificent garden city, ticking off its bucket-list attractions and getting a flavor of its hip neighborhoods and world-class foodie culture, a glorious mish-mash of Malay, Indonesian, Indian and Chinese influences. The sheer number of things to see and do around the island can be a little daunting for newbies though, so check out our suggested 5-day Singapore itinerary below for inspiration. And remember: far better to spend time appreciating a little of the city rather than rushing around trying to see everything at once and ultimately experiencing very little. Day 1: Bucket List Adventure Start your 5-Day Singapore itinerary as you mean to go on: by immersing yourself in over 200 years of Singaporean art and culture at the National Gallery. The collection here is huge. So huge in fact that it requires two national monuments to house it, namely the former Supreme Court and City Hall. Step inside these stately buildings to admire pieces that range from 19th-century woodcuts and oil paintings to 21st-century sound and video installations. Feeling suitably cultured, exit the gallery and cross the bridge to where a stroll past the iconic Merlion statue (part mermaid, part lion) and around Marina Bay conjures up some of the city’s finest views of the Central Business District’s soaring skyscrapers and the three towers of the Marina Bay Sands Resort. Head up for a cocktail in its SkyPark, accompanied by 57th-floor views across the city and beyond, or stay on terra firma to experience all the delights of the resort’s cavernous Shoppes mall, an ultra-luxe shoppers’ paradise complete with sampan boat rides along Venetian-style canals. As night falls, get yourself down to the Gardens by the Bay, a vast acreage of parkland that incorporates towering futuristic supertree structures, tranquil gardens and two massive durian-shaped glass hothouses. It’s the Supertree Grove light show you’ve come here for though; a free event that runs twice every evening and sees the trees burst into spectacular life with a dazzling display of light and color accompanied by a rousing symphonic soundtrack. In a word, wow. Day 2: Sentosa Island Located just off the southern tip of Singapore, the island resort of Sentosa is a mini adventure playground that’s chock-full of cool attractions, sandy beaches and high-octane thrill rides for adrenaline junkies. Start your day two adventure with an exhilarating cable car ride across the bay, then take your pick from the myriad entertainments on offer here in this tropical paradise. Families with kids might fancy the epic Universal Studios SIngapore with its white-knuckle rollercoasters and larger than life Sesame Street characters; or perhaps the vast aquarium or waterpark. Bone-white sand, turquoise lagoons and swaying coconut palms await on the resort’s sandy Palawan, Tanjong and Siloso beaches, with a handy free shuttle serving all three. Siloso keeps things exciting with its fearsome Skybridge, which includes opportunities to bungee jump or test your nerve on a giant swing high above the sands. End your day with a sunset ascent on board the SkyHelix Sentosa at Imbaiah Lookout, where a gently rotating gondola takes you 80 meters above sea level for 360-degree views of Singapore’s skyline, the Southern Islands and beyond. Day 3: A Feast for the Senses One of the great things about Singapore is that many of its attractions are open more or less around the clock, making planning your sightseeing itineraries relatively straightforward. The sprawling 200-acre tropical oasis that is Singapore’s urban Botanical Gardens is open from 5AM ‘til midnight almost every day, so you really have no excuse not to pop by. Visit in the morning to maximize your experience. There’s plenty to explore here after all, from tranquil Swan Lake to the aromatic Ginger Garden, iconic bandstand and miles of tree-lined walkways. Don’t miss its undisputed highlight, the National Orchid Garden, with thousands of eye-popping aromatic blooms. Mosey over to the nearby Adam Road hawker center where dozens of bustling street food stalls ply their trade, serving up authentic south Asian cuisine to hungry punters. Try rich, spicy laksa with prawns or gorge on chicken satay skewers drenched in sticky peanut sauce. Then there’s pungent fish head curry and the ubiquitous national dish of sweet-and-savory chili crab – all good enough to make a grown man weep. Your only difficulty will be deciding what to have for lunch. Wash it down with a traditional Singapore Sling at the iconic colonial-style Raffles Hotel back in the Civic District. The classic gin-infused tropical cocktail was actually invented here way back in 1915. Day 4: Back to Nature Singapore is one of the greenest cities on the planet, with an absolute multitude of outdoor activities on offer, from elevated walkways through jungle canopy along the island’s Southern Ridges to kayaking through the mangroves at Pulau Ubin. Pick of the bunch though is Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, a sprawling green space that’s slap-bang in the middle of the island and contains 400 (count ‘em) acres of untamed tropical rainforest. Don your hiking boots and pith helmet (optional) for a day in this absolute treasure trove of biodiversity, where you might be lucky enough to spot critters including reticulated pythons, flying lemurs and crab-eating macaques on a ramble through dense forests of trailing vines and towering trees that teem with colorful birdlife. If you’re feeling game, a hike to the top of the hill (the highest in the country at over 500 feet, fact fans) rewards the intrepid explorer with glorious 360-degree views across Singapore and – on clear days at least – far beyond. Day 5: Souvenir Shopping in Kampong Glam Singapore’s Muslim district is also one of its hippest neighborhoods; an Instagrammer’s dream-come-true crammed with heritage charm, colorful shophouses and super-snappable street art. It also happens to be an ultra-cool shopping hotspot where ultra-hip indie boutiques rub shoulders with ancient antique emporia, textile shops and modern ceramics specialists. A wide selection of cute cafés and some of the best restaurants in town make it a fine destination for a day’s sightseeing, snapping and souvenir-hunting. Impossibly narrow Haji Lane is your destination for chic boutiques hawking the latest batik fashions as well as one-off jewelry pieces handmade by local designers. Meanwhile, the cavernous antique stores on Bussorah and Arab Street are like something from a long bygone era, but there are great treasures waiting to be unearthed here by the keen-eyed browser. Think ornate Turkish lanterns, great ceramic pots, jugs and vases, old paintings and baroque carved wood furniture that could have come straight from a sultan’s palace. If ceramics are your vibe, hit up Supermama’s on Beach Road for something from their stylish Singapore Blue Range. Or pick up a perfume customized to your specifications from one of the multiple atmospheric perfumeries in Kampong Glam, where your intoxicating creations are decanted into fine little decorative bottles, ready for you to take home. Finally, grab a decadent cookie from Guilt or a life-changing almond croissant from Mother Dough to fortify you for the metro ride back to your hotel. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Temple in Little India, Singapore
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Things to do in Little India

Spend some time away from the bright lights and crowded Marina in Singapore, and you’ll discover delightful, multicultural districts dotted like small, colorful time capsules hidden around the city. Once such enclave is Little India, north of the center on the other side of the Rochor Canal. Noisy, bustling and bursting with life, it’s a welcome reprieve if the somewhat sterile efficiency of the rest of the city is getting you down. Everything here is walking distance from everything else, so head here on the Big Bus Red Route, then wander the narrow lanes, try a Roti Prata (grilled pancake with a Singaporean twist) and shop for shimmering silks or bright flower garlands. Other things to check out while you’re here include: Festivals The Indian Heritage Center A puzzle hunt Temples Shopping centers Festivals Though busy and bustling most of the time, Little India is particularly vibrant during festival times. Check your calendar and be sure to swing by if you happen to be in town when any of these are happening: Deepavali Also known as Diwali, this Hindu festival takes place every October or November and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It’s also called the Festival of Lights, because many homes light oil lamps and the narrow lanes are lit up with lights and lanterns hanging from one building to another. Visit during this time and you’ll see streets filled with art, have a chance to try special Diwali-inspired food and adorn yourself with flowers or a henna tattoo. Pongal This South Indian harvest festival takes place over four days in the new year and celebrates prosperity and new beginnings. Each day is devoted to a different practice, but each involves light displays, traditional dress and street performances. In the spirit of the abundance, locals consume plenty of rice and vegetables and fill the streets with music and dancing. Thaipusam Honoring the Hindu deity Lord Murugan, Thaipusam is celebrated every year in late January or early February. Devotees pierce their cheeks, tongues and bodies with metal skewers, then process through the streets carrying arches decorated with flowers and peacock feathers. This practice is considered to be an act of thanksgiving for answered prayers, and requires a particular amount of physical and mental fortitude! Navratri If you happen to be in Little India in September or October, you may be fortunate enough to witness the celebration of Navratri, which lasts for nine nights and ten days. This Hindu festival pays respect to the nine forms of the goddess Durga, and each of the nine days is marked by a different color. On the tenth day a silver chariot carrying a statue of the goddess is paraded through the streets, celebrating her victory over the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasura. Indian Heritage Center Though it’s only been called ‘Little India’ since the 1980s, this area of Singapore has been home to an Indian community since early colonial times. Visit the Indian Heritage Center to learn more about how they came to be there, see the interesting collection of Indian artifacts and top up your knowledge of south Asian history while you’re at it. There are plenty of interactive displays and interesting exhibitions, making it a nice escape from the heat and crowds outside. Temples Though predominantly a Hindu district, Little India is surprisingly diverse when it comes to religions. If you find your spiritual side needs a pick-me-up, take yourself on the self-guided ‘Walk of Faiths’, which goes past eleven religious sites over a one-and-a-half-mile route. Along the trail, you’ll see the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, decorated with colorful statues of various Hindu deities, the pyramid-shaped Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and the Chinese Buddhist Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple. There’s also the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, known the Temple of a Thousand Lights because of the chain of lights surrounding the giant Buddha statue, as well as a couple of Christian and Muslim buildings. Take your time wandering from one building to another, or hire a bike if you prefer a more whistle-stop version. Puzzle Hunt If you need a little guidance on your explorations, or are looking for a fun group activity, try a Little India Puzzle Hunt, which is a kind of outdoor escape room. This immersive puzzle-solving game will take you all around the district as you search for clues and learn fun facts along the way. Be sure to take time for a photo opportunity at the colorful Chinese villa known as The House of Tan Teng Niah, and if you’re hungry grab a biryani or some spicy prawn noodles from a street food stall at the Tekka Center. Shopping If you didn’t get all your shopping done during the day, don’t worry, because the Mustafa Center in Little India is open 24 hours. Hidden within the organized chaos of this four-storey mall you’ll find clothes, perfume, electronics and jewelry, as well as locally made accessories and souvenirs. There’s also the Little India Arcade, where you’re likely to find locals shopping alongside the tourists. Whatever your preference, be sure to pick up some of the district’s most famous export, Tiger Balm! Explore Little India with Go City Whether you prefer feasts or festivals, temples or trinkets, there’s something for everyone in Little India. Be sure to get a pass from Go City before you go, so you can save on all your favorite attractions while you’re exploring!
Karleen Stevens
The colorful Kampong Glam district in Singapore, with the golden dome of the Sultan Mosque visible behind the palm trees.
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Things to do in Kampong Glam

One of Singapore’s hippest ‘hoods, Kampong Glam is an Instagrammer’s dream, all colorful 19th-century shophouses, cute cafés, chic boutiques, vibrant street art and heritage grandeur. Take a stroll along this buzzy district’s atmospheric lanes with us as we take a deep dive into the coolest things to do in Kampong Glam. Kampong Glam and How to Get There Once ruled by super-wealthy Malay sultans, Kampong Glam is known as Singapore’s Muslim district, its magnificent 200-year-old gold-domed mosque a gleaming beacon above the labyrinth of streets and alleys that surround it. The sultans may have long since departed but this treasure trove of heritage buildings, eye-popping street art and beautiful Peranakan buildings in sunset reds, lime greens and turmeric yellows still bear a certain regal charm. Being tucked handily between Chinatown and Little India, Kampong Glam is easily walkable – it would take around an hour to stroll east out of Chinatown to Kampong Glam and then onward to Little India. This timeline of course assumes the impossible, i.e. that you won’t be tempted to pause for delicious dumplings, souvenir shopping and perfect photo opportunities along the way. Alternatively, buses serve many nearby roads including Victoria Road and Beach Road, or you can hop on the super-efficient automated MRT metro. The Green Central Line will take you direct to Bugis station, from where it’s a short walk to the heart of the Kampong Glam action. Things to do in Kampong Glam Start your Kampong Glam sightseeing trip with a stroll through the streets, getting an eyeful of the funky street art that adorns nearly every available surface: in Arab Street alleys, on hotel facades, even on the sides of several museums! Look out for works by internationally acclaimed artist Ernest Zacharevic, especially along Victoria Street towards North Bridge Road, and spot pieces by mural maestro Didier ‘Jaba’ Mathieu on Arab Street, the side of the Cuturi Gallery and elsewhere. Muscat Street’s Gelam Gallery takes the theme and runs with it, filling two sides of a narrow back-alley with a technicolor explosion of works from artists including PrettyFreakyFantasy, Liyana Farzana, Helene Le Chatelier and local legend Slacsatu. Of course, no Kampong Glam itinerary would be complete without a visit to the splendid Sultan Mosque, commissioned by the first Sultan of Singapore in the early 19th Century. Its opulent golden dome, ornate parapets and vast prayer hall are among the most admired features, but look out too for the glass bottle ends that decorate the base of each domes, contributed by lower-income Muslim families during the mosque’s construction. The Malay Heritage Centre adds further color to Kampong Glam’s rich history with historical artifacts, interactive exhibitions and occasional cultural performances held inside what was once the royal palace of the Singapore sultans. Or, for something altogether more quirky, mosey over to the Vintage Cameras Museum, where the fascinating collection of over 1,000 cameras dates back as far as the late 19th Century and includes examples of spy cameras and cameras used as weapons during the Second World War. You can’t miss this one: the facade itself is designed to look like a vintage camera and there’s a colorful painting of a camera-toting dude by Singapore artist Ceno2 on the side of the building. Kampong Glam Shops Putting the ‘glam’ in Kampong Glam, Haji Lane is an impossibly narrow lane crammed with cool indie boutiques, cute cafés and hip bars. This is where you’ll find in-the-know Singapore fashionistas shopping the latest styles, while arty types browse for one-off avant garde jewelry pieces. Arab Street and Bussorah Street are where you can explore seemingly timeless antiques stores like Dwiz and Grand Bazaar. These absolute treasure troves of Turkish goods and handicrafts including ceramics, textiles and intricate mosaic lamps are stalwarts of the neighborhood. Meanwhile, you’ll find the most exquisite hand woven antique rugs and carpets in family-run stores including the mighty Samad & Sons and Amir & Sons. Kampong Glam is also a hub for Singapore's best-loved perfume businesses, where oils, unguents, fragrances, balms and more can be bought ready-made or customized to your own personal tastes. Head to Sifr Aromatics’ fabulous laboratory-like emporium on Arab Street to have your own blends of scents created and bottled to take away in delightfully decorative vessels. Royal Fragrances and Aljunied Brothers also merit a stop to sniff and purchase some of their scent-sational products. Ceramics are big business here too, and you’ll find plenty of fine local pottery at Supermama’s on Beach Road. Pick up something blue-tiful from their signature Singapore Blue range of plates, saucers, cups and more and browse the kaleidoscope of other souvenirs including homewares, candles and more. Kampong Glam Restaurants Gourmands rejoice! Kampong Glam is among Singapore’s top foodie destinations, with a deliciously decadent hotch-potch of cuisines to explore, from Malaysian to Indonesian, Swedish to Singaporean. Authentic Indonesian fare is the name of the game at Sari Ratu, an unpretentious eatery on Pahang Street that serves up some of the best nasi padang in Asia, as well as sticky peanut satay, zingy lamb rendang and impossible-to-resist beef tendon curry. Head over to Arab Street’s Fika Swedish Café & Bistro for halal meatballs. Yep, you read that right: enjoy these perfectly moreish meaty treats with roasties and a dollop of lingonberry jam. Cheap and cheerful with street tables in view of the Sultan Mosque, Kampong Glam Cafe serves no-frills Malay favorites to hungry tourists, students and locals. Try curry served with homemade rotis or a warming bowl of mee rebus for the win. Hit up tiny, trendy Brine for French-Japanese fare that includes dishes such as charred cauliflower with hummus, spicy sambal octopus, and braised beef cheeks with couscous. Fans of baked goods will not be disappointed by the Kampong Glam food scene either. Mother Dough is Singapore’s premier purveyor of almond croissants – and not without good reason. Get there early to avoid disappointment. Meanwhile, pop culture mavens will delight at the names of some of the sweet treats to be found at Guilt and The Fabulous Baker Boy. Guilt’s menu of kooky cookies includes the Tinder Surprise, a vanilla choc chip cookie that’s wrapped around a decadent double chocolate fudge brownie with salted caramel. Then there’s the Fifty Shades of Grey with its orgasmic combination of Earl Grey tea, creamy white cocoa butter, pistachios, sea salt and honeycomb toffee. The Fabulous Baker Boy is no slouch in the name game either, with signatures including the very lemony Beyonce (inspired by her Lemonade album, of course) and The Ed Sheeran Carrot Cake, for which no further explanation is necessary. Tuck in! Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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