Singapore/Sentosa
Table of Contents: Culture and History / Travel to Sentosa, visa requirements / Get around Buses to Sentosa By train By monorail / Sentosa attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Shopping, Sentosa souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Budget / Mid-range / Splurge / Sentosa nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Budget 2 / Mid-range 2 / Splurge 2 More from Singapore: Balestier, Bugis, Chinatown, East Coast, Little India, North and West, Orchard, Riverside, Sentosa More from Southeast Asia: Borneo, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, One month of Southeast Asian diving and culture, Paracel Islands, Philippines, Singapore, Spratly Islands, Thailand, Vietnam More from Asia: Caucasus, Central Asia, East Asia, Middle East, Southeast Asia |
Sentosa [1] is an island just off the southern coast of Singapore.
Culture and History
Formerly known by the rather unattractive name of Pulau Blakang Mati ("The Island of Death from Behind" in Malay) and the centerpiece of Britain's spectacularly unsuccessful "Fortress Singapore" strategy in World War II, Sentosa has been rebranded and resculpted into one big tourist attraction, popular among Singaporeans as a quick island getaway. The island offers a few star attractions (notably Underwater World) and Singapore's best beaches, but many of the would-be-attractions are duds and the general trend of overpricing everything makes the island a tourist trap. However, the island is presently halfway through a multibillion construction program that will see Singapore's second casino and a Universal Studios themepark open in 2010.
The small southern islets of Kusu Island, St. John's Island, the Sisters Islands and Pulau Hantu are managed by Sentosa. Various plans to develop them have not come to much and they remain off the beaten track, but by no means undiscovered. The first two can be reached by public ferry, for the rest you will have to charter a boat.
Travel to Sentosa, visa requirements
Basic admission to the island will set you back $2 per person. There is an ever-changing palette of combination tickets that may work out marginally cheaper if you plan to visit multiple attractions. The island is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, although many of the attractions are not.
Sentosa is just 15 minutes away from the city center by taxi. The cheapest way is in to take the North-East MRT to HarbourFront and then find your way to Level 3 of Vivocity, where you'll find the Sentosa Express monorail to the island. The train operates every 5-8 minutes from 7 AM to 11:45 PM daily, and an all-day ticket costs $3 (island admission included). You can also opt for a bus or even walking across to the island, but the price remains the same.
Alternative, from HarbourFront you can also ride the Cable Car [2] for scenic views of the city and the island ($9.90/4.50 adult/child one-way, $10.90/5.50 return, including the chance to visit Mt. Faber).
Sentosa's ferry terminal has been demolished to make way for the casino, but there are still limited ferry services [3] from downtown Singapore's Marina South Pier (a solid 15-min hike from Marina Bay MRT) to the southern islands of Kusu and St. John. Monday through Saturday, there are two services a day, leaving at 10 AM and 1:30 PM, looping to Kusu, St. John, Kusu again and then back to Marina South. This gives you one hour on Kusu, which is plenty for seeing the sights. On Sundays and holidays only, there are five services, at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM and 5 PM, which run to Kusu, St. John and then return directly to Sentosa, giving a minimum of two hours on any island you go to. All ferries cost $15 return, including entry fee.
Get around
All transportation around Sentosa (except taxis) is free.
Buses to Sentosa
Three colored shuttle bus services — Yellow Line, Red Line and Blue Line — connect Imbiah Station to various points on the island. Buses run from 7 AM to 11 PM on weekdays and until 12:30 AM on Fri/Sat.
By train
Beach trams supplemented by minivans shuttle people along the beaches every 15-20 minutes. One service connects Beach Station to Siloso Beach, another connects Beach Station to Palawan and Tanjong Beaches.
By monorail
The old round-the-island Sentosa Monorail was decommissioned in March 2005 to make way for the new Sentosa Express, which can also be used to shuttle between the beaches and Imbiah Station (near the Merlion).
Sentosa attractions and sightseeing
Universal Studios Singapore The fourth Universal Studios theme park will open at Resorts World at Sentosa around 2010. Like its American and Japanese counterparts, it will feature rides and shows based on popular films. |
Sentosa has lots of self-proclaimed attractions, but many if not most are pathetic; for example, the "Enchanted Grove of Tembusu" consists of a couple of badly painted concrete totem poles. The following list is limited to those that somebody might actually find attractive. For all attractions below, a "child" is defined as being between three and twelve.
- Carlsberg Sky Tower, near Cable Car (blue/green bus), [4]. 9 AM-9 PM daily. Asia's tallest observation tower. It takes you up to a height of 131m above sealevel and offers a 360-degree view of Sentosa, Singapore and the Southern islands. On clear days the outlines of Malaysia and Indonesia can be seen. $10/7 adult/child.
- Dolphin Lagoon, Tanjong Beach (yellow/red bus). Has cute pink dolphins doing all the usual tricks (jumping through hoops, balancing balls, etc). Shared ticket with Underwater World.
- Fort Siloso, near Underwater World (all buses, then transfer to tram), [5]. 10 AM-6 PM. Formerly the largest British naval base in Fortress Singapore, its guns staring balefully out towards the sea in preparation for enemy attack. The Japanese rode bikes down the peninsula instead; after your visit here, be sure to visit the Battle Box at Fort Canning Hill to find out what happened next. Now turned into a museum, you can follow a tour through the area (complete with lots of wax figures) to find out what the life of a recruit was like. Nearly doubled in size in 2004. $8/5 adult/child.
- Images of Singapore, near Cable Car Station (green, blue bus). 9 AM-7 PM. A sugar-coated, kid-friendly retelling of the official Singapore story, where people of many races have come together to live in harmony. Renovated in 2006 and now uses the latest technology, but there is not all that much substance under the glitz. $10/7 adult/child.
- Sentosa Merlion (Monorail Imbiah). 10 AM-8 PM. A stretched-out 37-metre version of the statue by the Singapore River, which is lit up at night and shoots lasers from its eyes. Admission enables you to take the elevator up into its mouth and gaze out over the nearby Port of Singapore, as well as experience some seriously cheesy exhibits downstairs. $8/5 adult/child.
- Underwater World, near Siloso Beach (all buses), [6]. Claims to be Asia's largest tropical oceanarium, it features a walk-through aquarium with lots of sharks and fishes and many smaller tanks. $19.50/12.50 adult/child, includes admission to Dolphin Lagoon.
There are a few sights of minor interest on Kusu Island, reachable by ferry. The name means "Turtle Island" and there are indeed lots of reptiles scampering about, but don't expect an unspoiled tropical paradise: the island was thoroughly reworked with land reclamation in 1975 and looks exactly like the rest of Sentosa.
- Da Bogong (Tua Pekong) Temple, Kusu Island. An unassuming little Taoist temple dedicated to the Merchant God. During the yearly Kusu Festival (Oct-Nov), this is the focal of pilgrims coming to pray for prosperity.
- Keramat Kusu, Kusu Island. An unusual Muslim shrine (not a mosque) atop a small hill, dedicated to the saint Syed Abdul Rahman and his family, who lived here in the 19th century. The shrine is painted bright yellow and is visited by particularly by childless couples.
City tours
The prisoner of Sentosa Most people feel they can see Sentosa in a day — how about being confined to the island for over three years? This was the fate of Chia Thye Poh, a member of the opposition Barisan Sosialis, who was arrested in 1966 under the Internal Security Act. He was asked to sign a document renouncing violence and ties with the Communist Party of Malaya, but Chia, a man of principle, refused as he had no such ties and had never advocated violence. Never charged or brought to trial, he was held in prison for 23 years, becoming the world's second-longest-serving political prisoner, after Nelson Mandela, and was "released" only in 1989 to house arrest on Sentosa. He was allowed to move back to the mainland in 1992 and had all restrictions lifted in 1998. |
Among Singaporeans the most popular reason to go to Sentosa is to hit the beaches: Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong from west to east respectively. All three are artificial, but does it really matter? Unfortunately the water is rather murky due to the neverending parade of ships across the Straits. Siloso is the place for beach volleyball, while Palawan claims to be the southernmost point of continental Asia (if you count the bridge connecting Sentosa, and ignore any competing Malaysian claims). Tanjong, for a long time the quietest of the three, is now home to hip beach club KM8 (see Drink) and is best avoided if you do not like thumping bass.
- Fish Reflexology, Underwater World (near ticket booth), ☎ +65-62799229. Daily 10 AM-7 PM. For a spa treatment with a difference, pop in to have fish nibble dead skin off your feet. You have a choice between "gentle" Turkish fish and "aggressive" African ones: neither will cause damage, but the African ones are pretty ticklish! The treatment concludes with foot reflexology or head and shoulder massage, performed more traditionally by humans. $35/40 min.
- Sentosa Golf Club, 27 Bukit Manis Road, ☎ +65-62750022. One of Singapore's most prestigious golf courses, it features two 18-hole courses. When sipping your gin and tonic in the clubhouse, raise a toast to Chia Thye Poh (see box), who was for years held under house arrest in a one-room guardhouse in the club grounds. $120 weekdays, $220 weekends.
- Spa Botanica, 2 Bukit Manis Road (The Sentosa Resort), ☎ +65-63711318, [7]. Singapore first self-proclaimed "tropical garden spa", offering limited facilities but a wide range of treatments. $100-300.
The nearby islands of Kusu and St. John also offer some beaches, which are quieter but otherwise not much different from those on Sentosa itself. St. John is also a popular spot for fishing.
Shopping, Sentosa souvenirs
Every corner of Sentosa is inundated with gift shops filled with all the plush Merlion toys you will ever need (and then some).
- VivoCity, HarbourFront MRT, [8]. This giant complex on the mainland just next to the Sentosa bridge is Singapore's largest shopping mall, featuring anchor tenants like The Gap, two giant food courts and creative landscaping. There is a huge hypermarket featuring Singapore's largest organic supermarket. The Sentosa Express monorail station is integrated into the mall, and the Singapore Cruise Centre is connected to VivoCity via a bridge to the HarbourFront Centre, where there are also other shops as well.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
As you might expect from a giant amusement park, food on Sentosa is (by Singaporean standards) rather pricy and mediocre. Things have, however, got slightly better in recent years with local chains allowed to open up outlets. For cheaper food options, you may grab a bite at either VivoCity or HarbourFront Centre.
Budget
- Seah Im Food Centre, Seah Im Road (across road from Vivocity). Popular with locals and has a range of Indian Muslim food stalls and a variety of local cuisine. The building is rather old, but the food is quite good. $2-7.
- Food Republic VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, #03-01. Themed like a collection of 1960s hawkers, only with air-conditioning (and hygiene). Slightly expensive for a food court, but the selection is good and it's usually packed. $5-6.
- Koufu, Palawan Beach. 9am-9pm. The only foodcourt on Sentosa with the local food found in any run of the mill foodcourt. Food is all right, but there are tastier options around. $4-$10.
Mid-range
- Trapizza, Siloso Beach (north end). Yes, that's right, this place offers pizzas, pastas and a trapeze school. $20.
- Sakae Sushi, Siloso Beach (south end). Beachside conveyor belt sushi (yes, with aircon), hardly gourmet fare but quite tasty anyway. $20.
Splurge
- Altivo, Mt. Faber, [9]. Not on Sentosa itself, but accessible via the cable car. The food here is fancy and unspectacular, but it's a good place to just go for a drink and watch the lights twinkle.
- The Cliff, 2 Bukit Manis Rd (The Sentosa Resort), ☎ +65-63711425, [10]. In sight of jungle, beach and sea, repeatedly voted the most romantic restaurant in Singapore. Book a table on the lower deck for the best views. $100+.
- Il Lido, 27 Bukit Manis Road (Sentosa Golf Club), ☎ +65-68661977, [11]. Daily 1:30-2:30 PM, 6:30-11 PM. Modern, stylish Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, featuring views of the Straits. Bar-lounge with live DJ attached. Some dishes are excellent (try the spaghetti with sea urchin or the seabass with porcini), but for the very high price the quality is rather uneven. $200+.
Sentosa nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
The beaches can offer some pretty wild parties on Friday and Saturday nights, especially if one of the on-again, off-again foam parties pops up. The New Year's Eve party in particular is legendary, as is ZoukOut [12], a massive yearly outdoor party organized by Zouk, featuring a roster of international and local DJs. Beaches, beer, bikinis and booming bass, what more do you need?
- Bora Bora Beach Bar, Palawan Beach (yellow/red bus), ☎ +65-9005-4238, [13]. Open daily 10:30 AM until 7 PM or later. Laid-back beach bar playing jazzy tunes. Free entry, beer $8, cocktails $12.50-.
- Cafe del Mar, Siloso Beach (Beach Tram). A franchise of the famous Ibiza club, offering a pool by the beach and chill-out music. The restaurant is overpriced and mediocre, but the outdoor seating is very nicely set up. Reserve in advance if you want one of the little pavilions. Free entry, beer $8, cocktails $12-.
- Km8, Tanjong Beach (yellow/red bus, then beach train or walk), ☎ +65-6274-2288, [14]. Open daily 11 AM until midnight or later. The closest Singapore gets to the Ibiza scene, with DJs spinning music on the beach and partygoers splashing in the club's pool. Beware the infamous Sarong Fly ($48), a bottle of Absolut vodka somewhat diluted with lime and grape juice. Free entry, drinks S$10-.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Sentosa is not a particularly convenient base for sightseeing elsewhere in Singapore, and most of the accommodation targets visitors looking for a simple beach holiday. However, there's a race on to complete new hotels before the casino opens, and some excellent deals can be found if you scout around.
Budget
Camping on Sentosa is not allowed, and the only campground on the island has closed. Camping is possible on St. John's Island, the Sisters Islands and Pulau Hantu, but free camping permits from the Sentosa Development Corporation (tel. +65-62750388) are required.
Mid-range
- Costa Sands Resort Sentosa, 30 Imbiah Walk (red/blue bus), ☎ +65-6275-1034, [15]. Offers simple "kampung" huts (max 3 people) for $50/36 peak/off-peak and new air-con chalets (max 2 people) for $125/98; there are additional discounts for trade union NTUC members. In addition to the nearby beach, guests can use a swimming pool.
- Treasure Resort (Imbiah Station), ☎ +65-6271-2002, [16]. Formerly Sijori Resort, the prewar colonial building may interest architecture buffs, but beach lovers will be disappointed to find that it's plonked down in the middle of the island far from the coastline and the interior is badly in need of a renovation. At least there's a pool. $180.
Splurge
Sentosa features a sprinkling of resort hotels catering to those who want a beach holiday within striking distance of the city.
- Amara Sanctuary, 1 Larkhill Road (near Palawan Beach), ☎ +65-68792538 (sanctuary@amarahotels.com, fax: +65-62231293), [17]. Surrounded by 3.5 hectares of tropical rainforest, this hotel features 120 guest rooms in a converted British army barracks as well as 10 standalone garden villas. Three pools, in-house spa, easy walk to the beach. Disabled-friendly. $500.
- Rasa Sentosa Resort, 101 Siloso Road (all buses), ☎ +65-6275-0100, [18]. With 459 rooms this is by far the largest hotel in Sentosa, offering a rather generic package holiday experience. The main selling point is that this is the only beachside resort in Singapore. $335.
- The Sentosa Resort & Spa, 2 Bukit Manis Road (yellow bus), ☎ +65-6275-0331, [19]. Formerly Beaufort Sentosa, this hilltop resort-style hotel on the quieter eastern side of the island is well known for its Spa Botanica and fancy restaurants. Recently renovated and looking better than ever, with a deep Olympic-sized pool. 300 meters to Tanjong Beach. $420.
- Siloso Beach Resort, 51 Imbiah Walk (Beach Tram), ☎ +65-67223333, [20]. Opened in 2006, this resort looks like a minimalistic city hotel, all black paint and green glass, accidentally built on a tropical island. Despite the name, the resort is not on the beach, but across the road from it. $260.
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