Sentosa
Photograph: Tristan Tan/Shutterstock
Photograph: Tristan Tan/Shutterstock

The ultimate guide to Sentosa

Our selection of the best attractions, coolest dining spots and top hotels to check into while you're on this little beach paradise

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Gather the fam or crew for some fun in the sun on Sentosa Island. From thrilling amusement park rides and a 50-metre bungee jump, to a cocktail at one of the many fancy bars and restaurants by beach, Sentosa has much to offer for anyone looking to have a bit of fun and relaxation. Here are the best things to do while you're there.

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DO

  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Live out your Mario Kart dreams at HyperDrive. Located at The Palawan @ Sentosa, this go-kart venue serves up three stories of racing fun meshed with virtual gaming elements. Collect bombs and missiles to throw your fellow racers off their game and gain turbo boosts to set yourself ahead of the competition. There are 308 metres of speedy straights and 14 thrilling turns on the track, so you can get your vroom vroom on for hours.

  • Sport and fitness
  • Golf
  • Sentosa

Tee off at UltraGolf, an 18-hole golf course at The Palawan @ Sentosa. This beachside course is designed with two tee positions per hole to suit both beginners and experienced players. For the golf course’s opening special, you can buy a general ticket for $22 and an off-peak ticket at $15.

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  • Attractions
  • Sentosa

If you love fragrances or are simply a nature lover, then you’re sure to fall in love with Scentopia. This immersive attraction has more than 300 augmented reality exhibits to experience, each transporting you into the world of orchids and rainforest flora. You can also sign up for a signature perfume workshop and tinker with orchid essential oils to create your own signature fragrance ($55). On top of that, you can opt to engrave your names on exclusive perfume bottles and packaging too.

  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Situated just steps away from Beach Station, Central Beach Bazaar is one day-to-night destination to tick off your Sentosa bucket list. Don’t miss the Sentosa SkyJet, an 80-metre-high fountains that becomes illuminated with colourful lights after dark. Sentosa’s Musical Fountain (an iconic show from the 1980s) is also back with two five-minute musical numbers from the 1990s. And when you inevitably get hungry, you can head over to the International Food Street to take your pick from eight F&B concepts inspired by cities such as London and Tokyo.

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  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Set aside a day to explore Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park with 24 exciting rides, shows and attractions in seven themed zones. Thrill seekers can take a spin on rollercoasters like Battlestar Galactica and Revenge of the Mummy. For more family-friendly fun, soar over the forests of Far Far Away on Enchanted Airways or ride with Pteranodons on the laidback Dino-Soarin.

  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Live out your ultimate Wipeout dream at Singapore's very first floating aqua park. Both kids and kidults can climb, slide, leap and bounce at the massive inflatable playground and obstacle course – think a giant bouncy castle in the sea, just off Sentosa's Palawan Beach. To maximise the fun for everyone, the water park is split into four zones with varying difficulty levels – Level 1 is specially designed for kids aged five to eight (every one child has to be accompanied by one adult), and Levels 2, 3 and 4 are for those aged nine and above.

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  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Cruise (or race) down four luge tracks with specially designed features including tight hairpin corners, exhilarating tunnels, and exciting downhill slopes. When you reach the bottom of the track, scramble on to Skyride for a treetop ride back to the starting point to do it all over again. It’s sheer fun for the whole family.

  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Sing 'unda tha sea' as you ogle at a 1,000 species of marine wildlife in the world's largest aquarium. There are seven themed zones to explore here, including zones for apex predators, the open ocean habitat, and marine creatures that have evolved to live in shipwrecks. If you want to reach beyond the aquarium glass, join available public programmes to meet dolphins or see how aquarists work behind the scenes.

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  • Sport and fitness
  • Parachuting and skydiving
  • Sentosa

You don't have to hop on a plane to bungee jump anymore. Take the plunge at AJ Hackett Sentosa, Singapore's first and only bungee jump that's right over Siloso Beach. Dive head first or back flip your way over the edge – whatever you like. Besides the bungee, there are also other high-element activities for thrill-seekers, including a giant swing that requires partners to link arms as you 'fly', and a vertical skywalk where you 'walk' (face down, mind you) down the side of the tower down to ground level.

  • Attractions
  • Sentosa

No excuses about not wanting to jump out of a plane, because you can now feel the rush of skydiving a few metres off the ground. You won’t have the Earth zooming towards you, but you will get a scenic eyeful of the sea as your body is kept afloat in the world’s largest indoor skydiving wind tunnel. We can now finally take flight somewhere other than Changi.

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  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

If you visit only one World War II-related site, make it this one. On the northwestern tip of Sentosa is the last remaining inactive coastal gun battery in Singapore. Here’s a brief history: Fort Siloso was built in the 1880s on Mount Siloso to aid in protecting the port, mainly the western entrance to Keppel Harbour and the coal stocked nearby. It formed part of Singapore's coastal defence alongside Fort Serapong and Fort Connaught.

  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Here’s your chance to meet your favourite celebrities – well, not in the flesh, but this is the next best thing. Renowned waxwork museum Madame Tussauds is split into thematic zones spanning World Leaders, History, Film, Sport, Music and TV. There’s an A-List Party section where you can see the wax figures of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Johnny Depp, and a newer K-Wave Zone where you can pose with Bae Suzy (or your favourite oppa) in front of cherry blossom trees. Aside from these international superstars, visitors can take selfies with some of our local heroes and celebs too, including Jack Neo and Gurmit Singh.

EAT

  • Sentosa

Bedrock Bar and Grill's offshore sister Bedrock Origin draws inspiration from its coastal address, offering the best that the sea – and land – has to offer. You can still find Bedrock's signature applewood-grilled steaks, but Origin spotlights lighter, fresher flavours. Highlights include the local barramundi tail, which is left to age for seven days for a firmer bite and finished in the oven with a blanket of chimichurri. Or try the turbot served on the bone, a juicy slab fortified with kombu butter.

  • Mediterranean
  • Sentosa

Traverse the sun-soaked Latin-Mediterranean regions via imaginative dishes at Sol & Ora. Think handcrafted pastas and risotto such as seafood fregola and Sardinian porcetto; light seafood dishes that will bring to mind the French Riviera; lively Spanish flavours in the 'La Bomba', tapas, and grilled creations; and fresh Greek vegetables and herbs in hearty dishes like the vegetable moussaka. Besides an extensive list of wines, kick back Mediterranean style with Sol & Ora's sunny cocktails, our favourites being the Amalfi Afterglow (Pigskin gin, limoncello and Prosecco) and A Night in Ibiza, a boozy concoction of brandy, blood orange, and house-infused carbonated white wine sangria.

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  • American
  • Sentosa

Located within Sentosa Golf Club, Panamericana rewards you sumptuously for taking the extra effort to leave the mainland. First, there’s the unbeatable view. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a glimpse of the sea, but it’s best to dine al fresco. Grab a seat out on the verandah, or head down to the manicured lawn – both overlook glittering vistas of the South China Sea and palm trees that sway in the cool breeze. Speaking of rewards, its spread of flame-grilled meats is simply to-die-for. 

  • Spanish
  • Sentosa

Inspired by the beaches of Barcelona, FOC Sentosa is the sister outlet to the popular restaurant on HongKong Street but with a more laid-back vibe. The two-storey beach house is split into two wings, one with a focus on food and the other on drinks. Laze by the side of its private pool, cocktail in hand, and take in the sunset before heading in to enjoy a feast of grilled seafood and paella.

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  • Contemporary European
  • Sentosa

Chef Richard van Oostenbrugge’s first restaurant in Singapore obtained its first Michelin star in 2019 – within just a year of its opening. It has retained its star every year since. Choose a five-course Discovery menu or eight-course Experiential menu, either way you’ll get exquisite plates with theatrical presentation. A meal here wouldn’t be complete without the taste of Oostenbrugge’s signature apple dessert too – a ginger-poached Granny Smith sorbet encased in a sugared shell that sits pretty on top of a puff pastry and walnut crumble.

  • Seafood
  • Sentosa

Ocean Restaurant provides a unique dining experience: it’s housed within the world’s largest oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa with a breathtaking front-row seat to the massive undersea habitat. It’s also headlined by two-Michelin star celebrity chef Olivier Bellin, who is lauded for his fierce advocacy for sustainable dining approaches. This shines through in his modern European dishes, which feature responsibly sourced seafood, local produce and house-grown herbs.

DRINK

  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Come chill by the beach at +Twelve, a beach club in The Palawan @ Sentosa. This beachside venue has 12 cabanas with private plunge pools and daybeds for all-day lounging, as well as an infinity pool and swim-up bar. Nibble on sandwiches, salads, and bar bites with a signature cocktail in hand while grooving to beats spun up by live DJs and entertainment acts.

  • Things to do
  • City Life

Popular rooftop bar and lounge 1-Altitude broke some hearts when it closed in 2022. But it's now found a new expression as 1-Altitude Coast – a rooftop bar and day club with enviable views over the Sentosa coast. Perched at the top of The Outpost Hotel, the concept boasts a rooftop pool, a contemporary Asian menu, and a selection of tropical-inspired cocktails. Grab yourself a drink before sitting back on the cerulean cushions to vibe to tropical house, afrobeat, and electro-pop played by resident DJs at the deck.

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  • Clubs
  • Sentosa

Inspired by coastal cuisine from around the world, chef Jason Jones’ all-day menu includes dishes such as Mediterranean-style barbecued octopus salad and a snapper ceviche reminiscent of Mexico. The seaside locale also serves up icy drinks to help cool off from the tropical heat. And of course, what's TBC without its breezy weekend brunches? Aside from the typical eggy offerings, there are a few waist-friendly options, like the chilled melon salad and acai bowls.

  • Hotel bars
  • Sentosa

Bob’s Bar is the perfect hideaway on Sentosa Island for a mojito or Old Fashioned. Nestled within the lush surroundings of Capella Singapore, it oozes the same old-warm charm as the highly-rated resort. Don’t miss the Bosun’s Call every evening at 6pm, where the bartenders give out tasting rum infused with pineapple and small bites in a nod to the hotel’s naval tradition.

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  • Sentosa

What’s a trip to the beach without lazing on a deckchair, Mai Tai in hand? At this sprawling seaside restaurant in Sentosa, you can do just that. Besides tropical cocktails, Coastes stocks a formidable array of draft and bottled beers, and the nosh is unfussy yet vibrant enough to live up to the restaurant’s beachy vibe.

STAY

  • Hotels
  • Resorts
  • Sentosa

Old meets new at Sentosa’s six-star luxury hotel, where modern fixtures hug restored colonial buildings. The stunning resort is spread across 30 acres of verdant greenery overlooking the sparkling sea. We won’t be surprised if you feel like you’re in the lush jungles of Ubud or on the unspoilt beaches of Koh Samiu. Spend a leisurely afternoon in the resort’s cascading pools, have a Mediterranean breakfast at The Knolls, or simply luxuriate in spacious rooms and villas – some even come with private terraces and plunge pools.

  • Hotels
  • Sentosa

Oasia Sentosa Resort is a 191-room wellness resort with the beautiful facade of a conservation building surrounded by the island's lush vegetation and scenic views. Here's where to stay if you want a true rest-and-relax getaway. Sign yourself up for Oasia's signature spa and massage 'journey's at the in-house spa, or attend complimentary programmes which include sunset yoga, HIIT classes, and wellness-focused workshops hosted by partner brands. Oasia Sentosa Resort is also home to its signature restaurant, Bedrock Origin, with culinary highlights such as Kingfish Sashimi, Aged Barramundi Tail, and Australian Barley-fed Bone-in Striploin. Read more about our staycation experience at Oasia Resort Sentosa

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  • Hotels
  • Spa hotels
  • Sentosa

Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa offers a modern tropical holiday experience along Siloso Beach. It boasts an outdoor pool, spa, fitness centre, and a private balcony in each guest room overlooking views of the hill, sea or landscaped gardens. One of our favourite things about this hotel is its private beach, where you can enjoy the sand and waves away from the usual crowds in Sentosa. Water sports equipment is also available for rent, so you can start your water adventure right away.

  • Hotels
  • Luxury hotels
  • Sentosa

This new upscale property in Sentosa exclusively caters to adults, so you won't be rudely interrupted during your romantic pool date by the sounds of wailing children. Stay in one of the 193 stylish guest rooms with chic design inspired by Singapore's distinctive colonial black and white bungalows. For a sundowner, head up to the lush rooftop overlooking the sea. Take a dip in the pool exclusively for guests while ordering your favourite cocktails from the bar.

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  • Hotels
  • Sentosa

Another luxury option is The Barracks Hotel Sentosa, a cosy 40-room property housed in a former British artillery outpost. It's all about intimacy, personalisation and romance here – The Barracks Hotel has a well-curated list of heritage tours, wellness activities and all-day dining to suit even the most well-heeled travellers. The decorand amenities are pleasing too, with modern rooms that retain a nostalgic charm, a cloistered swimming pool, and access to Oasia Spa.

More places to explore

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