Discover also: Singapore and its islands, Pulau Ubin, Lazarus, Kusu.
⚠️ Timetables, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.
A few hundred metres off Singapore's south coast, Sentosa can be reached on foot via a promenade from HarbourFront. Its three beaches, Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong, alternate between lively clubs and quiet coves facing the parade of cargo ships. The former Pulau Blakang Mati retains from its military past Fort Siloso, its tunnels and colonial barracks turned hotels. To the north, Resorts World Sentosa brings together Universal Studios, the Singapore Oceanarium and chef-led restaurants, while the Imbiah trails and the south coast offer a breath of fresh air in the heart of the forest.
From Pulau Blakang Mati to Sentosa
Long known as Pulau Blakang Mati, the island was home to Malay kampongs and Orang Laut before the British built forts, batteries and barracks there from 1878 to defend the harbour. During the Japanese occupation (1942-1945), it served as a prisoner-of-war camp, and one of its beaches was the scene of Sook Ching massacres. Renamed Sentosa in 1970 after the departure of British troops, it was entrusted in 1972 to the Sentosa Development Corporation, which turned it into a leisure island, enlarged through land reclamation as far as Sentosa Cove in the 1990s. The colonial barracks now house hotels and museums, and Fort Siloso remains Singapore's only preserved coastal fort.
Beaches, forts and parks
The beaches line the south coast: Siloso for beach clubs and the Wings of Time show, Palawan for families and its suspension bridge to an islet, Tanjong for peace and quiet. In the forest, the free Fort Siloso Skywalk climbs through the canopy to the fort and its tunnels.
To the north, Resorts World Sentosa brings together Universal Studios Singapore and the Singapore Oceanarium. Luge, zip line, cable car and SkyHelix round off an island that can be visited in a day or over a long weekend.
On foot, by monorail or by cable car
Entry is free on foot or by bike via the Sentosa Boardwalk from VivoCity (HarbourFront MRT). The Sentosa Express costs S$4, entry included, and an entry fee of S$2 to S$6 depending on the time is added to taxi or ride-hailing fares; guests of the island's hotels are exempt. On the island, buses A and B and the Beach Shuttle are free.
February to April
From February to April, when the north-east monsoon eases: drier weather, calm seas and heat (around 30 °C) that is quite bearable in the shade. December and January are the wettest months; from June to September, the south-west monsoon mainly brings storms in the early hours and in the morning. If possible, avoid weekends and Singapore school holidays, which are very busy.
Sentosa at a glance
| Location | Off Singapore's south coast, opposite HarbourFront and VivoCity |
|---|---|
| Area | About 5 km², including Sentosa Cove, reclaimed from the sea |
| Former name | Pulau Blakang Mati, renamed Sentosa ("tranquillity") in 1970 |
| Languages | English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil |
| Time difference | +7 hours from France in winter, +6 hours in summer |
| Currency | Singapore dollar (SGD) |
| Getting there | Direct flight Paris–Singapore (≈ 13 hours), then MRT to HarbourFront |
| Island entry | Free on foot or by bike; included in the Sentosa Express ticket (S$4); S$2 to S$6 fee by taxi |
| Entry requirements (French citizens) | Visa-free for up to 90 days; online SG Arrival Card compulsory |
Your questions answered
Do you have to pay to enter Sentosa?
Not on foot or by bike via the Sentosa Boardwalk from VivoCity. The Sentosa Express monorail costs S$4 (entry included), and a fee of S$2 to S$6 depending on the time is added to taxi or ride-hailing fares. Guests of the island's hotels are exempt.
How do you get around the island?
Buses A and B and the Beach Shuttle are free and link Resorts World, Imbiah, Siloso, Palawan, Tanjong and Sentosa Cove. The Sentosa Express serves Resorts World, Imbiah and Beach Station; the cable car (Sentosa Line) is paid.
Can you swim on Sentosa?
Yes, at Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong beaches, laid out as sheltered lagoons. The water is warm all year round; the view of cargo ships in the strait is a reminder that you are at the heart of one of the world's largest ports.
Does the Sentosa Merlion still exist?
No. The giant statue unveiled in 1996 was demolished at the end of 2019 to redevelop the area. To see a Merlion, head to Merlion Park, on Marina Bay, on the main island.
Header photo: Sentosa seen from the cable car — Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons