Transcription
Hello adventurers! Are you planning to visit Sentosa but don't want to waste money? Then this video is for you, because I'll be exposing all the top things to do and to avoid, plus give you the ultimate itinerary to help you get the most out of your visit. Let's begin.
Sentosa is a resort island south of Singapore that promises fun in every visit, as long as you have the budget for it. To help you decide if it's worth your money, I'm going to share my honest review and rank each of the attractions here. Starting with the most scenic way to enter Sentosa, the cable car. You'll get to ride on these cars and enjoy a panoramic view from above as you roll into the island. There are two separate lines: Mount Faber Line, that goes from Mount Faber to Harbourfront to Sentosa, and the Sentosa Line, across Senscape, Imbiah, and Siloso Point. To transfer between the two cable car lines, you just have to get off the Sentosa station and cross the road towards the Imbiah station. For me, it's a 2.5 out of 5, because although it gives you a nice high vantage point to look at the island, I find it hard to justify the $30 per round trip price, especially when I know a nicer viewpoint that's free to enjoy. Even as a method of transportation, there are way more affordable options out there. I'll cover all the options for transport in a bit. For now, let's get back to the attractions.
Now, we are at the Resorts World station, home to the largest theme park in Singapore, Universal Studios. Explore seven themed zones that transports you into your favorite movies. Ride huge, twisting, upside-down roller coasters, or meet your favorite characters in person. Personally, it's a 4.5 out of 5 for me, because you can easily have a full day of fun here exploring all of the attractions. If you're looking for the perfect route to visit the USS, I have another video guide that you can watch later.
For now, we're going underwater. Just across the USS, we're transported into an underwater world at the Sea Aquarium. This reminds me of this game called Feeding Frenzy, where you start as a small fish, you eat, eat, eat, and you become a big fish, then finally, you eat all the other bigger fish. You'll spend about 2 hours in the Sea Aquarium, but spend more time if you want to get more in-depth knowledge of the fish. It gets a 4.5 out of 5 from me, because although it's my third time here, each time I come, it's like my first time. It's just so many wonderful things that I don't mind to look at for the whole day.
If exploring the underwater is not enough, head down to Adventure Cove to play in the water. Basically, it's a water-themed park full of thrilling water slides and a relaxing lazy river. The coolest attraction here is the Rainbow Reef, where you get to snorkel over a very lively coral reef habitat full of fishes. Adventure Cove itself is a 3 out of 5 for me, because although it's a very enjoyable water park, it's just way too small. The last time I was there, I was done in half a day. None of the water slides were that memorable either. They actually have way more things to do, but those are not included in the normal ticket entry. For example, Dolphin Island. If you want to meet the dolphins without getting wet, join the Dolphin Encounter for $73. But for a closer connection with the dolphins, play with them in a shallow pool in the Dolphin Discovery. And if you want to go all out and swim with the dolphins, join the Dolphin Adventure. All these prices are inclusive of the tickets into Adventure Cove. If dolphins are too friendly for you, meet the sharks. Don't worry, they cannot bite you because you'll be isolated within this acrylic container, unless, of course, that it breaks. And for that reason, I'm out. Or for something more gentle, meet the rays at the Ray Bay. For $60, you get to dip into the pool of rays and interact with them. Not going to lie, the prices are very steep, but the novelty is undeniable. If you're a big fan of marine animals, this might be your chance to meet your favorite animals face to face. Otherwise, the price might not be worth the experience.
What's an island visit if you don't ride a boat, right? There's actually two types of boat rides you can take for a quick adventure. Ride on the Southern Albatross speedboat that will bring you on a 1-hour tour around the southern islands. However, this is a 3 out of 5 for me, because although it's enjoyable to look at the islands and view Singapore from the sea, at $45 per pax, this is not the most value activity. If you want to catch it, there's daily departures at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., except on Tuesdays. Fancy a boat ride worthy of a dinner date? For $217, you get a four-course meal aboard the Royal Albatross for dinner on a sunset cruise, or the more affordable option, which is breakfast for $180. Otherwise, you can also have lunch on board while it's docked daily from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. I've never really gotten the budget to try them out, but I think this looks really cool, maybe for a special occasion.
Want to be a wizard at the Visions of Magic exhibit? They'll bring you straight into the world of Harry Potter. The most unique thing about this exhibit is how interactive it is. You'll be given a magic wand that you can directly use to point at things and make them move. The ticket prices are not the most affordable, but here's how you can save up to $8 per ticket. Instead of buying the ticket directly, buy the Sentosa Fun Discovery Pass. Essentially, it's like a prepaid card with tokens that you can redeem for entry tickets of attractions in Sentosa. You also get two free entries into Sentosa per fun pass. Use it to cover the cost of the monorail or your drive into the island. For example, if you're aiming for off-peak dates, you can buy $95 tokens for $90. Which I got lucky today because I managed to buy 95 tokens for $79. And you can also stack my promo code for further discount. To redeem your ticket, just show your fun pass QR code at the front counter. In my case, I redeemed two tickets at 45 tokens each. If I bought this normally, this would have costed $16, so this is easily $27 savings for two people. To buy tickets for peak timings, simply buy the bigger fun pass or top up your pass at $5 per five tokens, which can still save you $8 per ticket. You can also use your excess tokens on other attractions, but I only found the Harry Potter entrance ticket to have the most savings. This gets a 4 out of 5 for me, very cool, very interactive.
Moving deeper into Sentosa, the Imbiah station. How about meeting famous people at Madame Tussauds? There's James Bond, Bruce Lee, and Xi Jinping. Just kidding. These are wax replicas of the real people, but they're real enough, at least for the photos. You'll probably spend about 1 to 1.5 hours per visit. It's a 3 out of 5 for me because, despite the novelty and the realism, there isn't much interactivity to keep me engaged. And for $44 per ticket, I'm halfway into USS, which I feel has a much better value.
Want to experience a sky bar? There's one right here at the Sky Helix Sentosa. Basically, you get a seat on the revolving bar table that ascends up to 80 meters above sea level. You'll get a free drink to enjoy on your ride, but you better drink it quick because the whole ride will only last about 10 minutes. While 80 meters above sea level sounds like it's very tall, the actual tower is actually only about 20 meters, so still a little bit short of being in the sky. This is a 2.5 out of 5 for me because I don't like to spend this amount of money and just be rushed out in 10 minutes. Just hang in there, I'll be sharing my three favorite viewing points soon.
Next, learn all about nature in Singapore at the Nature Discovery Boardwalks. From immersive geology to a plethora of biodiversity, to learn about this free to explore boardwalk will satisfy your curiosity. However, this gets a 3 out of 5 because the whole place looks a little bit abandoned. Look at the "T" from the Nature Discovery sign, it's broken, but no one's fixing it. The best way to do the Nature Discovery Boardwalk is to pair it with a trip into the Imbiah Trail to find the hidden ruins of Fort Imbiah. Did you know that Sentosa was originally named Pulau Blakang Mati? In English, it means the island of death. Back then, it was then transformed into a military fort before being rebranded into the resort island that we know of today, which was a super smart move because I wouldn't want to visit the island of death if I don't have to. Just a short hike into the Imbiah Trail, you'll find Fort Imbiah, one of the bigger and well-preserved military fort ruins in Sentosa. This gets a 3 out of 5 for making this a fun jungle hike. I don't know if I'm supposed to be here, but there wasn't any barrier, so just be careful where you step.
If you're looking for a chill 1-hour walk along pretty lights installations, there is actually a new lights exhibit in Sentosa that's free to explore: the Sensoryscape. Come by the area between Imbiah station and Beach station after 7:30 p.m. This gets a 4 out of 5 because the exhibits are especially interactive and fun, highly recommended for families.
Deeper into the island, we are at the Beach station. Heading towards the right side, we'll find the iFly, which is not related to Apple at all. If you've always wanted to skydive but you're afraid of heights, this is the place for you. You'll be jumping into a wind tunnel that blasts huge and fast winds upwards, which mimics the condition of free fall while you're skydiving, but all this while, you'll be safely floating just a little bit above ground. Prices range from $89 to $109 depending on peak timings for 90-minute sessions that includes first flight training. I haven't really tried it myself, but it looks like a 3 out of 5, a worthwhile experience for those looking for a thrill. But if you've already done actual skydiving, this might be a little dull.
Do you like speeding? You can do it legally at the Skyline Luge, where you'll be pulled up the hill to race your friends down. The most basic tickets cost $35 for three rides, and each ride is about 2 to 3 minutes. The car is super easy to ride, you just have to push, pull, and steer. The Skyline Luge gets a 3 out of 5 from me because although it's quite fun, it's too short.
If you like watching a show with music, lights, water, and fireworks, then you might like the Wings of Time. Sometimes you will even find people sitting all the way up the staircases here to catch a glimpse of the fireworks. The Wings of Time gets a 3.5 out of 5 from me because I feel that it's quite an interesting show to watch. By the way, if you find this video helpful so far, please leave a like so that more people can find it. Thank you very much.
The AJ Hackett, where you can satisfy your cravings for extreme sports. Their most iconic offering is to bungee jump down their 47-meter high tower, which you can also request to have your head dip into the pool down below. I actually tried this before, it's quite fun, I enjoyed it. I will give this a 3 out of 5, but your heart might also jump because this is $99 per jump. For a more gradual way to conquer your fear of heights, perhaps the Mega Adventure Park will be more suitable. Embark on high-element adventure courses, or their most iconic offering: to zipline 450 meters down into the beach. This also gets a 3 out of 5 because although these are very fun activities, the costs are still quite prohibitive. Their booth is just further down AJ Hackett Tower. Just check in here and they'll drive you over to your activities.
And my favorite spot in Sentosa, the Siloso Skywalk. For a total price of $0, you get up the elevator to a sky-high view of the Sentosa island. Down the Skywalk is Fort Siloso, which is now a museum where you can explore well-preserved old military forts and learn the darker side of Singapore's history for free. Depending on how much you want to see, you can spend 2 to 3 hours at Fort Siloso. This gets a 4 out of 5 because it was quite fun exploring the fort.
For some mind-blowing illusions, go to the Trick Eye Museum. It looks interesting and definitely going to be fun if you go with friends who like to take funny photos together. There's also an AR component to spice up the scene, but personally, at this price point, it's a 2 out of 5. I would reserve it as a backup plan for a rainy day.
Going back to the Beach station, if we had went to the left instead, we'll be in the most family-friendly part of Sentosa. One of the newest water parks in Singapore, Splash-topia. The most impressive thing here is this octopus. It costs $23 per entry. Overall, this is a 3 out of 5, very suitable for families with smaller children looking for casual water play. For a more challenging water park, visit HydroDash. Basically, it's a very fun obstacle course on top of the sea. So if you fall and flail, you just get dunked into the sea. But it's a 2.5 out of 5 for me because it costs $30 per 1 hour of play, and unless you bring family and friends who enjoy this kind of obstacle courses and are fit enough to have fun under the sun, this might be a little bit boring.
For a more chill water play experience, visit the family-friendly beach club, Flipperz. Enjoy a more exclusive mini water playground and lounging areas, but their charges are slightly complicated. The most affordable option is sitting for six people with a $50 minimum spend on a weekday visit after 5:00 p.m. to avoid the $10 cover charge.
And the ultimate kids' playground, KidZania. If you want to expose your children to real-life working, send them to KidZania. Basically, it's like a simulation of a city where your kid can go in and do certain jobs, get money, and at the end of the day, you can redeem the money for some prizes. So your kid can go up and work as a nurse or a pilot. And let me tell you a funny story. You see there right now, it says Malaysia Airlines, but last time it was Qatar. And people were quite upset because this is Singapore, why is it showing Qatar, not Singapore Airlines? But actually, KidZania puts all these names according to who sponsors them. As of recently, the sponsor changed to Malaysia Airlines, which isn't anymore Singaporean. So please, please, Singapore Airlines, come and take over the sponsorship. Practically, this is a childcare, so you can come here, drop off your kid, then go out to USS or to the beach or something. But please remember to pick up your child before closing. It'll be funny if they have income tax on the children's earnings, make them learn early in their life.
For a dry activity, mini-golfing at the Ultra Golf. Have fun on their 18 holes at $22. It's a 3 out of 5 if you're looking for a fun, low-energy activity. Speaking of golf, Sentosa is actually world-famous for the full-size golf. One of the two courses here, the Tanjong Golf Course, is in the world's top 100. However, unless you're ready to make a hole in one of your pocket, stick to the mini golf because it's at least $500 per pax for a golf session.
How about a peaceful day at the beach? Well, you've got lots of options here. There's Tanjong Beach, Palawan Beach, but the best beach is the Siloso Beach because not only is it the largest, it's also where you can easily rent water sports equipment such as stand-up paddling or kayaking. The most unique activity that I found here is the jet blading, basically you get to strap on a water jetpack and fly around. The biggest plus of Siloso Beach are these big pavilions that you can use as a sheltered picnic spot. It's also where AJ Hackett and Mega Adventure is. I can imagine a beach day with the family where the chill fam can hang around the pavilion and play by the beach, while the ambitious ones go for more adventurous activities.
Next, the most beautiful waterfront in Sentosa, the 115 Marina. Enjoy the view of the beautiful yachts or have a scenic meal at one of the restaurants along the waterfront. This gets a 3 out of 5 because although I enjoyed walking around the splendid waterfront, it's kind of hard to get here and the food prices are more suitable for special occasions.
Before we get to the ultimate itineraries, let's learn how to get in and around the island. Despite being an island, it's actually well-connected by a main road, a monorail, and a boardwalk. The reason why I don't recommend the cable car is because you can easily get into the island at 1/10 of the price. The fastest and the easiest way is the monorail, also called the Sentosa Express. For the price of $4, you get to ride the monorail that will bring you to the stations that are within walking distance to most of the attractions, and it's super easy to take the monorail. Simply take the public train to the Harbourfront station, get up to VivoCity level three at the payment entry, simply wave your credit card or EZ-Link card and board the monorail. This is the fastest way to get straight into the Beach station. However, if you want an even more affordable option, instead of taking the monorail at level three, get out of the train station at Exit C and walk towards bus stop number four. Just in front of it, there's a fenced area to get on the RWS shuttle bus that will take you to the Resorts World station for just $1. This shuttle bus doesn't bring you to the Beach station, but the good news is you only have to pay for the monorail if you board it from VivoCity. So just get off the shuttle bus and take the monorail to get to Imbiah station or Beach station for free. And for the most scenic and free option, simply walk down the Sentosa Boardwalk from Harbourfront. It's about 15 minutes walk to the Resorts World station, where you can also continue a trip on the monorail for free.
Now, to get around the island, to move between the beaches, take the free Beach Shuttle, which are easily identifiable as these open-air buses. But take note, you can only get on and off at the designated bus stops. Beware, this is different from the Big Shuttles, which have Service A and Service B. Bus B is the one that will bring you to 115 Marina Waterfront. All of these buses can be found at the Beach station. In summary, you can use the Beach Shuttle, the Big Shuttle, and the monorail to get around the island for free. See, you don't even need the cable car. Anyway, Sentosa is quite small, so everywhere is relatively walkable.
By the way, Sentosa did not pay me a single cent to make this video. So if you'd like to support this channel, please consider making your bookings via my affiliate link on Klook, where you can also get a better price. For your convenience, I've also compiled all of the attraction details in this one table, one click away from the booking page. Thank you for your support.
Now, now, now, the moment that you've been waiting for: our ultimate itinerary for the maximum fun without going broke. Feel free to add or remove according to your liking.
For a budget Sentosa day trip in under $50: Start at the Harbourfront station around 10:00 a.m. to take the $1 shuttle to the Resorts World station, where we'll explore the Sea Aquarium next. Take the monorail to Imbiah station and enjoy the Nature Discovery Boardwalks, which are thankfully mostly sheltered, before hiking the Imbiah Trail to explore Fort Imbiah. Next, find the lift to get up the Siloso Skywalk, where you can enjoy the free elevated view, followed by a historic exploration of Fort Siloso. From here, if the weather is not too bad, enjoy a leisurely walk along the beach. Otherwise, you can also take the Beach Shuttle, get to the Beach station, and look for the Big Shuttle bus that's marked Bus B. Alight at W Hotel stop and have another lovely stroll across the waterfront. After you get your feel of Zen, take the same shuttle bus B from the Sentosa Cove Village to get back to the Beach station. There are a few food trucks around Beach station if you're looking for a short, affordable dinner break. By now, it should be about 7:30 p.m. and it should be dark, which is the perfect time to go back to Siloso Beach because now it's glowing. This is the magical shots of Siloso. To make the night even more magical, take a walk along the Sensoryscape and let each of the light exhibit light up your visit.
Next is the must-do $100 itinerary for Sentosa: Start your day with a very hearty breakfast and get to the Harbourfront station by 9:00 a.m. Also catch the $1 shuttle, but this time we're going to Universal Studios to have a full day of fun. If you like rides but don't like to queue, follow my ultimate USS route in my other video guide. After USS, have a short dinner break before taking the monorail to Beach station to catch the 7:40 Wings of Time. You can also check out the Magical Shots or Sensoryscape tonight if you didn't get to.
Now, if I have one day and $1,000 to spare in Sentosa, here's how I will do it: I'll start the morning at Adventure Cove plus the Dolphin Discovery. Maybe I'll have my lunch at One Altitude Coast before going for the Skyline Luge, the iFly, and the Mega Zip. I'll have my dinner aboard the Royal Albatross for a sunset dinner cruise. And to let myself immediately chill and relax, I'll spend the rest of my budget to spend the night in one of the five-star hotels. Now, I just need to find the $1,000.
Speaking of hotels, actually, I don't recommend spending a night in Sentosa. Firstly, most of the hotels here are expensive, and secondly, Sentosa has very bad accessibility to other parts of Singapore. You might end up wasting a lot of time getting in and out of the island. Unless you're planning to spend the whole day in Sentosa, then maybe it's worth to spend a night. But if you're planning to explore other parts of Singapore, maybe move to another accommodation that has better accessibility.
And congratulations, you probably know more about Sentosa than 90% of the locals. But don't just visit Sentosa while you're in Singapore, because we have way more for you to experience, just like this amazing local food that you cannot miss. I'll see you there. Look.