Sentosa Island is located just off the south coast of Singapore.There are three options to reach Sentosa Island from mainland Singapore:
- Car or Taxi – the most expensive option
- Bus – the cost-effective option
- MRT Train – then take the Cable Car, Walk via the Boardwalk, Cycle via the Trail or Ride the Monorail – the experience
Things to do on Sentosa Island:
- Beaches – Sands with a personality
- The Wings of Time – a show of light, water, and fire
- Attractions like Universal Studios & Sentosa Nature Discovery
How did we do it? We took an MRT train to HarbourFront MRT Station and took the short 15 minutes walk via the Boardwalk to reach the island. However, there are a range of options, which we’ll go into more detail below, which will suit whatever your interest, budget and time.
Car or Taxi to Sentosa Island from Singapore
How much to enter Sentosa Island?
Mainland Singapore and Sentosa Island is connected by the Sentosa Gateway, therefore it is possible to reach the island by car or taxi. The cost to enter depends on the time of entry, see below for breakdown.
| 7 am – 12 pm | 12 pm to 2 pm | 2 pm to 5 pm | 5 pm to 7 am | |
| Car or Taxi | S$6 | S$2 | S$6 | S$2 |
If you’re taking a taxi, the above charge will be included in your taxi fare. The above prices apply to every day of the week. The charge is per car not person! The fees were implemented towards the end of 2018 and has been fixed initially for two years. So towards the end of 2020, these fees could be set to change.
Top Tip: Use Grab – Singapore’s equivalent to Uber. It more likely to be cheaper than taking a regular taxi.
Parking
If you choose to drive, there are parking options available. Some are even FREE! However, depending on what attractions you are planning to see, it’s best to find out which car park is the nearest and park there. The car parks are reasonably priced. We found a great article which shows the breakdown of costs for parking on Money Smart. Click here to find out more.
Bus to Sentosa Island from Singapore
Unlike taking a car or taxi, you won’t need to pay an admission fee to enter Sentosa Island. Therefore, only the bus fare will apply.
Public Bus 123
What is the route and first and last buses?
The bus service connects Bukit Merah Interchange (South Singapore) to Beach Station Bus Terminal (Sentosa Island). It’s important to note the direction of travel. If the bus displays a White 123 plate, this will be heading to Sentosa Island. If the bus displays a Red 123 plate, this bus will be heading back to mainland Singapore.
The buses run frequently between 12-16 minutes depending on time of day.
| Monday to Saturday First Bus / Last Bus | Sunday / Public Holiday First Bus / Last Bus | |
| Bukit Merah Interchange (South Singapore) | 5. 45 am / 11.45 pm | 6 am / 11.45 pm |
| Beach Station Bus Terminal (Sentosa Island) | 6 am – 11.45 pm | 6.15 am / 11.45 pm |
Two stops which come before the final Beach Station Bus Terminal located on Sentosa Island which you may wish to get off depending where you want to visit are Resorts World Sentosa and Merlion Plaza. Here’s some examples of some of attractions nearby (bear in mind this isn’t a full list).
| Resorts World Sentosa | Merlion Plaza | Beach Station Bus Terminal |
| Universal Studios Water Park Casinos | Merlion Tower Merlion Walk | Siloso Beach Palawan Beach Tanjong Beach |
How much is the bus and how long is the trip?
The price depends on the distance travelled. Check out how much the price would be here on the Transit Link website. They also have a great tool to instantly calculate the cost of your fare depending where you plan to get on and off here.
Prices range from 92 cents (card) or S$1.70 (cash) to S$2.17 (card) at S$2.80. Therefore, it’s definitely better to pay via card.
Just to give you an idea, if you take the full service from the first stop to the last stop, the trip will last around 90 minutes covering a distance of around 20 km each way. That’s quite a long trip!
Therefore, we’d recommend only using the bus service if you’ll be getting on at one of the nearer stops to Sentosa Island. On the plus side though, it’s incredibly cheap! And it’s even cheaper for senior citizens, students and disabled passengers.
RWS8 – Resorts World Sentosa 8
What is the route and first and last buses?
RWS8 is a shuttle bus that runs a loop service to/from Resorts World Sentosa to HarbourFront on the mainland. The route consists of the four stops:
- Resorts World Sentosa
- Telok Blangah Road – Vivocity
- Telok Blangah Road – Harbourfront Station Exit B
- Telok Blangah Rd – Bef Seah Im Rd
The first and last buses from Resorts World Sentosa are at 5.45 am and 11.45 pm respectively.
How much is the bus and how long is the trip?
Costing only S$1.00 for inbound trip (inclusive of Sentosa admission charges), the fee can be paid by EZ-Link Card or cash. And it gets better, outbound rides from Resorts World Sentosa are free!
The full loop service runs every 5-10 minutes and the journey time is around 20 minutes covering 7 km.
This is a great option from HarbourFront MRT station!
MRT Train – Cable Car, then Walk or Cycle the Boardwalk or Ride the Monorail to Sentosa Island from Singapore
MRT is the Mass Rapid Transit service i.e. a railway network in Singapore. It’s super easy to use and great for easily getting around the country.
You can take the MRT to the HarbourFront MRT station (located on the mainland) and from there you have three options, which we’ll go through below.
Cable Car
This is by far the most scenic way of entering Sentosa Island, but with that also comes the high cost. This is the most expensive way to enter the island so goes without saying, take the cable car for the experience but it’s not used for regular trips. There are two lines; Mount Faber Line and Sentosa Line.
Mount Faber Line
The cable car starts at Faber Peak high up on the hillside. This would be the most scenic route of the two lines giving you a panoramic view of the habour. This lines consists of three stops; Mount Faber, HarbourFront and Sentosa.
Sentosa Line
The newer line of the two, this route runs across the island giving you a view of the all of the attractions and beaches. This route consists of three stops; Merlion, Imbiah lookout and Siloso Point.
How much are the tickets and what are the opening times?
The Singapore Cable Car Sky Pass includes a round trip and admission into Sentosa Island. You can book online for cheaper tickets and to get a free upgrade to unlimited rides all day. The Sky Pass includes both the Mount Faber Line and Sentosa Line.
| Adult | Child | |
| Singapore Cable Car Sky Pass Round Trip | S$35 | S$25 |
If you’re a local resident, then you can get the tickets for even cheaper. To find out more, click here to go to Sentosa Island website.
The cable car ride is open daily from 8.45 am to 8.30 pm (last boarding at 9.30 pm).
Walk via the Boardwalk
You can access the boardwalk from VivoCity Mall in HarbourFront. There are plenty of signs on display so super easy to get to so no chance of getting lost! The Boardwalk is free! And the walk only takes around 15 minutes, there’s lots of photo opportunities!
Cycle via the Trail
There is a dedicated track for cyclists to enter Sentosa Island. This costs S$2. The cycle network spans around 12 km with the track beginning adjacent to the Boardwalk and splitting into different tracks once reaching Sentosa Island. You are able to get Sentosa Cove and the three island beaches.
There are three routes which vary in difficulty. To find out more about the routes, click here to go the Sentosa Island website.
Ride the Monorail
From HarbourFront MRT station, there are clearly visible signs for Sentosa Express (Monorail). The station is located on the third floor, Lobby L in VivoCity Mall.
What are the stops and opening times?
The Sentosa Express Monorail has four stops:
- VivoCity Station (Previously known as Sentosa Station)
- Resorts World Station (Previously known as Waterfront Station)
- Imbiah Station
- Beach Station
The monorail runs daily with the first train leaving at 7 am and the last train at midnight.
How much are the tickets?
Tickets cost S$4 per person for a one way ride to get to Sentosa Island. This includes your admission into the island. You then have free unlimited use of the monorail for the day is you wish to use to get to the other stops. The return trip is also free.
Which is the Best Way to get to Sentosa Island?
The easy answer is the Boardwalk as it’s free.
However, depending on where you’re departing from in mainland Singapore, it’s worth looking into all the options above to see what bests suits you and who you are travelling with taking into account your interests, budget and journey time.
If you’re staying near HarbourFront MRT station, we would suggest taking the MRT or walking if you’re super close by to get to HarbourFront MRT station. Then depending on your interests, choose from the Cable Car – if you want the experience, the Boardwalk – if you want to save some money or the Monorail – if you want an experience without blowing your budget.
If you’re staying far away from HarbourFront MRT station, it could be worth taking a taxi. We’d recommend using Grab as this tends to be cheaper than a regular taxi. This will save you lots on the journey time.
If you’re staying near the 123 bus route, i.e. Queensway, Napier Road, Orchard, Clemenceau Avenue, Havelock, Tiong Bahru and Lower Delta Road, it might be worth taking the 123 bus. It’s a great option if you want to save some money but just bear in mind the journey time and if it fits in with you plans.
An alternative to the Boardwalk and Monorail, the RWS8 busis great if you’re looking to save those extra cents.
If you’re a keen cyclist, the cycling routes offered in Sentosa Island offer varying difficulty levels of the trails so worth checking out.
If you’re looking to splurge on an experience, the cable car is the choice for you! You won’t be disappointed by the incredible panoramic views!
What Attractions are on Sentosa Island?
Sentosa Island is known as ‘The State of Fun’. The entire island is dedicated to the fun attractions. Here’s a list of of some of the attractions on offer:
- Universal Studios
- Adventure Cove Waterpark
- Skyline Luge
- S.E.A Aquarium
- Madame Tussauds
- Singapore Butterfly & Insect Kingdom
- Sentosa Nature Discovery
- Sentosa Golf Club
Prices vary across all of these attractions. If you are intending on visiting more than one attraction, you should consider buying a combination ticket. Here’s a link to Klook.com, where you can purchase your ticket. To find out more of what we got up to on our 2 day trip to Singapore, you can check out our article here.
Where to go for Dining Experience in Sentosa Island?
Arbora – Go for the stunning views!
This is a hilltop dining experience located in Mount Faber Park. If you fancy a delicious meal surrounded by panoramic views of the island, we’d recommend this restaurant. They offer Western style cuisine and botanical inspired drinks. Check out their range of meals here on their website.
Dusk Restaurant & Bar – Go for the sunset!
This restaurant offers European cusine and is located on the hilltop, and you can enjoy panoramic views of the HarbourFront and Sentosa Island. Check out what they offer here on their website.
Good Old Days – Go for the delicious food!
Halal restaurant offering delicious local Asian food. There is an Al-a-Carte menu but they also offer a buffet option. Check out the menu on their website here.
Cable Car Sky Dining, Stardust Cabin – Go for the once in a lifetime experience!
If you want to really push the boat out, this is the one for you! This is private dining in the sky! The menu offers a 4-course menu and and price starts from S$288 per couple.
The duration of the trip lasts approximately 90 minutes with three rounds. Dining experiences begin from 5.30 pm and last admission is 6.30 pm. If you arrive later than this, your rounds may shorten to two rounds.
Check out the menu here on their website.
Wings of Time, Sentosa Island – The Ultimate Multimedia Show
When and Where?
This show occurs twice daily at 7.40 pm and 8.40 pm in the evenings lasting around 20 minutes. It’s a great way to finish off your day in Sentosa Island. The show is filled with music, light, water, fire and laser effects. The show is located at Beach Station.
How much are the tickets for Wings of Time?
| Standard Ticket | Premium Ticket |
| S$18 | S$23 |
| S$15* | S$19.50* |
*If you are a local resident.
What About the Beaches?
There are three beaches on Sentosa Island; Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong. Each beach has its own personality.
We found a great article, that not only describes each of these beaches, but also other beaches in Singapore worth visiting. Find out more here on Travel Triangle website. Hopefully, this can help you pick which beach to visit if you’re short on time!
How Long do you Need in Sentosa Island?
Well, this is completely dependent on how much time you have and what attractions you’re interested in visiting. We would recommend between 1-4 days. Why?
If you’re short on time, or only have 1 day, we’d recommend Universal Studios – the park is pure FUN!
If you’re only interested a select few attractions, we think 2 days is enough to cover everything.
If you have kids, then we’d recommend up to 4 days. The island is full of family friendly, kid-friendly attractions. And as a family, it’s always going to take that bit of extra time to cover the attractions you want to without tiring out the whole family!
Is Sentosa Island Worth Visiting?
Yes! Absolutely! We did a day trip to Sentosa Island visiting only Universal Studios as we were short on time. We cannot describe the amount of fun we had and it definitely brought out the excitement of our inner child!
If we were staying in Singapore for longer, we would definitely have purchased a combination ticket and visited some of the other attractions.
Sentosa Island attractions do come at a price though. Entry into Universal Studios cost S$79 each! So although the combination tickets offer slight discounts, the trip can certainly become a very expensive one especially for a family.
That said, if it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for you and your fellow travellers,we’d definitely recommend it if your budget can cover it!
We’d love to hear from you about your thoughts on Sentosa Island and what attractions you’d recommend, share your comments below.
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