Name: Sentosa
Address: Sentosa, Singapore
Rating: 4.7

Vibrant island with sandy beaches, hotels & a casino, plus golf courses, a theme park & aquarium.

Gardens by the Bay

Provided by Google

Universal Studios Singapore

Merlion Park

Marina Bay Sands Singapore

김범석

Lee Iris

Supertree Grove

Sentosa is home to the S.E.A. Aquarium, the world's largest oceanarium, holding over 45 million liters of water and housing over 100,000 aquatic animals.

Largest Oceanarium

The iconic Merlion statue on Sentosa requires a team of cleaning professionals to spend 10 days cleaning it with jet sprays and preservative chemicals.

Merlion Cleaning

Despite its urbanization, Sentosa still boasts a significant amount of forest land, covering about 70% of the island and providing a habitat for various wildlife.

Forest Coverage

The Merlion statue on Sentosa stands tall at 37 meters, making it a prominent landmark on the island.

Merlion Height

Sentosa's monorail system was opened in 1982, providing a convenient way for visitors to travel across the island's western side.

Monorail System

In 1974, the Singapore Cable Car system was built, connecting Sentosa to Mount Faber, offering stunning views of the island and surrounding areas.

Cable Car Connection

Sentosa

Sentosa, Singapore, distinguishes itself through its meticulously engineered blend of leisure and history. Beyond its beaches, the island was once a British military fortress, Pulau Blakang Mati. Fort Siloso, the only preserved coastal fort in Singapore, stands as a testament, offering a glimpse into the island's strategic past and its role in defending against invasion during World War II. The Merlion statue on Sentosa, significantly larger than its downtown counterpart, once offered panoramic views from its mouth and head, a unique architectural feature now discontinued. Sentosa's commitment to manufactured experiences extends to its diverse range of attractions, from underwater worlds to simulated skydiving, creating a concentrated hub of entertainment. The island's artificial beaches, composed of imported sand, are constantly maintained to ensure pristine conditions, a testament to the dedication to creating an idyllic escape.

Introduction

Sentosa is undergoing a significant transformation into an immersive festive wonderland, marked by the "Sentosa Presents: A Big, Big World" event. This island-wide transformation, running from December 9, 2024, to February 16, 2025, is a multi-partner collaboration between Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), DBS Bank (DBS), and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The aim is to boost tourism growth and solidify Sentosa's position as Asia’s premier island resort getaway.

The transformation introduces three distinct whimsical realms across Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Sensoryscape, and Palawan Beach. These zones feature interactive installations and activities that evolve from Christmas through Chinese New Year, offering exclusive deals for DBS and POSB cardholders across approximately 40 Sentosa partners.

Resorts World Sentosa contributes "A Big, Big World of Excitement," celebrating cultural diversity with themed zones inspired by England, France, Germany, and Japan. These zones include large-scale installations like an 8.5-meter hot air balloon and a 7.8-meter cuckoo clock, alongside light displays and projected landmarks.

SDC's commitment to sustainability is evident through its Sustainable Sentosa Framework, recognized with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council – For Destinations (GSTC-D) certificate, making Sentosa the first island destination in Asia to receive this accolade. This transformation also includes digital advancements, such as enhanced guest experiences through One Sentosa, AI-driven automation for partnerships, and initiatives like the Carbon Footprint Calculator.

Island's Transformation

The Sentosa Boardwalk, opened on January 29, 2011, provides an alternative route for visitors to reach Sentosa Island. Prior to its opening, a wire sculpture named "Reverie — Musical Journey" by Victor Tan Wee Tar was commissioned and installed at the Boardwalk. The S$70 million Sentosa Boardwalk features themed gardens, shops, and eateries, offering covered walkways and travellators for convenience during rainy weather. Before the Boardwalk's construction, an environmental assessment led to the replanting of over two hundred trees and plants from the construction site elsewhere on the island to minimize ecological impact.

The Boardwalk links to areas where the Crane Dance robotic performance once operated until its closure in March 2020 due to redevelopment plans for Resorts World. The Waterfront Promenade, near the Boardwalk, previously housed several restaurants, but the buildings are now vacant. The Boardwalk's elevated viewing deck offers open views of the bay.

Walk-in entry to Sentosa via the Boardwalk was initially free on weekends and public holidays from June 7, 2014, to January 4, 2015, and has been free of charge since the end of SG50 celebrations. The Sentosa Boardwalk frequently hosts bazaars on weekends. The Boardwalk connects visitors to attractions such as the SEA Aquarium via the Forum at Resorts World.

Sentosa Boardwalk

Fort Siloso, a decommissioned coastal artillery battery on Sentosa, played a crucial role in Singapore's defense during World War II as part of "Fortress Singapore." Constructed in 1878, its name originates from the Malay word for "rock," referencing a hazard to shipping in Singapore's harbor. The fort was strategically built on Pulau Blakang Mati (Sentosa) to protect Keppel Harbour, involving the flattening of Mount Siloso for artillery installations.

Originally designed to defend against sea invasions from the south, its guns were turned inland during the Battle of Singapore in 1942 to target advancing Japanese forces. The fort's armaments evolved from 7-inch and 64-pounder guns in the 1880s to include 10-inch guns, twin 6-pounder guns, searchlights, and anti-aircraft machine guns by the 1930s. Today, Fort Siloso stands as a military museum, offering free admission and featuring the Surrender Chambers with refreshed exhibitions since June 2017.

The Fort Siloso Skywalk, a 43m high tower with a 181m bridge, connects Siloso Beach to the fort, providing panoramic views of the Singapore Straits and surrounding areas. Visitors can explore landmarks, exhibits, and underground tunnels, with the WWII Experience Casemates building offering air-conditioned respite. A dilapidated pier near the exit marks the original entry point for transporting materials during the fort's construction.

Fort Siloso

Sentosa Island features artificial beaches created using imported sand, addressing Singapore's limited natural beaches. While some find the beaches less appealing for swimming due to the view of moored ships and the artificial nature of the coastline, they remain a popular destination for both tourists and locals, including school groups. Despite concerns about water quality, it is generally considered safe for swimming.

Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) monitors the water quality of popular recreational beaches, but Sentosa is not among the seven beaches for which weekly sampling is conducted. The NEA assesses beaches based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, with grading based on the water quality of the past 100 water samples. Beaches are assessed for their suitability for primary contact activities such as swimming, skiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, kite surfing, jet-skiing, and water immersion training.

For those less interested in swimming, Sentosa offers alternative attractions such as Fort Siloso, accessible via a skywalk that provides opportunities for wildlife spotting, and a nature trail at Imbiah Lookout, showcasing Southeast Asian rainforest flora.

Sentosa

Did You Know?

Largest Oceanarium

Merlion Cleaning

Forest Coverage

Merlion Height

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