Sentosa Island, less than five square kilometres, is a compact leisure island that can easily be explored in a day. There is something for everyone here, like beaches and hiking trails for nature enthusiasts, golf courses for sports lovers, and pulse-raising attractions for thrill-seekers. So, choose your vibe and dive into a day of magical adventures on Sentosa.
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Hotels
First off, let’s start with where you’re going to sleep. A good night’s sleep is crucial before an adventure-packed day, and Sentosa Island has no shortage of luxurious five-star hotels. Less than 30 minutes from Changi Airport, you can be on Sentosa Island within three hours of departing from Bangkok or just ninety minutes from Kuala Lumpur — even faster if you charter a plane.
Let’s take a look at three stand-out hotels for different types of travellers in Singapore.
Known for its colonial architecture and plantation-style decor, Capella Singapore is a stand-out for couples and honeymooners. Located close to Palawan Beach (there’s even a shortcut only accessible from the hotel), you’ll find stunning views of the South China Sea and generously sized rooms. Enjoy world-class dining at Cassia and Bob’s Bar. Guests are also treated to complimentary access to spa facilities, like the steam room.
Resorts World Sentosa — Equarius Hotel is our top pick for families visiting the island. Spacious rooms accommodate active children, and you’re just a stone’s throw from some of the island’s best family attractions, like Universal Studios and Adventure Cove Waterpark. A regular shuttle from the resort ensures you’ll be there in less than 10 minutes. Other standout features include access to six signature restaurants, the opportunity to scuba dive, and access to Dolphin Island.
On an island filled with adventure, sometimes it’s nice to stay somewhere that feels worlds away from the business. For those looking for a restorative stay, the award-winning Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is waiting. Known for its French elegance and expansive sea views, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is home to stunning private pool suites, Michelin-starred Kwee Zeen Restaurant, and one of the best spas in Singapore.
Things To Do in a Day on Sentosa
The island is home to various activities, so we’ll recommend an assortment of adventures you can choose from, depending on your taste. Then, you can put your itinerary together using our recommendations as a guide.
For Families
There are a few standout activities on the island for families, but we’ll start with Universal Studios Singapore, the only Universal Studios in Southeast Asia. The park is split into seven exciting zones, all featuring iconic shows and movies you and the family can immerse yourselves in. In one zone, ‘Ancient Egypt,’ you can ride the pulse-raising ‘Revenge of the Mummy’ indoor rollercoaster, while ‘Far Far Away’ is based on the Shrek franchise and offers a 4D movie experience and character meet-and-greets.
Rides push the limits of rollercoaster tech with the world’s tallest duelling roller coaster and a Transformers-themed coaster with HD visuals and motion effects to simulate a crazy battle between Autobots and Decepticons.
Just a five-minute walk from Universal, you’ll find the S.E.A Aquarium. The first thing you might notice about S.E.A Aquarium is the sheer scale of the place. Home to over 100,000 marine animals from over 1,000 species, you could spend a week here and still uncover new, fascinating experiences. The aquarium is divided into 10 zones with 49 habitats, showcasing marine life from the open ocean, coral reefs, and even mangrove swamps. Spend time with everything from manta rays and sharks before a hands-on experience at the Touch Pool, where you can touch starfish, sea cucumbers, and other harmless marine creatures.
For Golf Lovers
Sentosa Golf Club, winner of the World’s Best Golf Club in 2019, is home to two 18-hole Championship courses. The club has hosted several Singapore Opens, and The Serapong and The Tanjong courses have taken turns hosting the HSBC Women’s World Championship since 2013.
Sentosa Golf Club is one of the stops on the free bus, so you’re never too far for a quick round. All visitors are welcome to play a round, and helpful staff make it easy to start. The outdoor area features robot waitpersons, TVs showing the day’s green speeds, and dining options with stunning views.
For Thrill-Seekers
Whether you’ve scheduled a day of family fun at Adventure Cove Waterpark, home to Southeast Asia’s first hydromagnetic water coaster, or you’d like to bungee jump from AJ Hackett Sentosa, there’s so much for adrenaline junkies on Sentosa Island. iFly Singapore offers indoor skydiving in one of the world’s most enormous wind tunnels. There’s the Mega Adventure Park, where visitors can zoom down the 450-metre zipline or tackle the MagaClimb, an adventure ropes course with varying degrees of difficulty.
To top off your day of thrills, take a sunset jet ski tour, during which you can visit offshore islands like Lazarus Island and Kusu Island.
The Perfect Island Doesn’t Exist…Until Now
While just five square kilometres in size, an incredible amount of fun can be had on Sentosa Island, and while it might seem like you could spend a week here without enjoying every activity, it guarantees there’s something new to try on every visit. You could head down to Sentosa every weekend for a year and still find something new to do — the island’s constantly evolving and changing to incorporate the latest leisure experiences.