5 Sensational Ways to See Sentosa

Just off Singapore’s southern coast, Sentosa is basically an island built for having fun. Beaches, theme parks, restaurants, attractions and nightlife are all packed into one place, so whether you’re here for the thrills, the views or simply a day by the sea, there’s plenty to keep you busy. And with this much happening in one place, why experience it all from just one perspective? Glide above the harbour by cable car, dangle your feet high above the island on SkyHelix, cruise past its beaches and landmarks, or swap your usual dinner table for a private cable car in the sky. And once the sun goes down, Wings of Time brings fountains, lasers, music and fireworks right to the waterfront. From quick experiences you can fit between your plans to ones worth building an evening around, here are 5 sensational ways to see Sentosa.
 

Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass Round-Trip

Singapore is impressive enough from the ground, but seeing it from above is a completely different experience. Skyscrapers that usually dominate the view become part of a much bigger skyline, busy roads shrink into streams of tiny cars, boats make their way across the harbour, and pockets of greenery suddenly reveal just how much of the city sits between them. All of it is constantly changing outside the cable car window as it makes its way towards Sentosa.

The Singapore Cable Car Sky Pass takes that view from Mount Faber across the harbour and into Sentosa, covering both the Mount Faber and Sentosa lines. The scenery changes throughout the journey too, moving from the lush greenery around Mount Faber and views across Keppel Harbour to Sentosa’s attractions, coastline and Siloso Beach. A continuous trip across both lines takes around 40–45 minutes, although the pass also allows stops along the route to explore before continuing the journey. 

And then there’s the time of day. In daylight, there’s the full panorama of the harbour, greenery and cityscape to take in. Come evening, the same journey starts to look completely different as the daylight fades and Singapore and Sentosa light up below.
 

Wings of Time Symphony Show

A quiet stretch of sea probably isn't where you'd expect to find one of Sentosa's biggest nighttime spectacles. But once Wings of Time Symphony begins, the waterfront at Siloso Beach becomes almost unrecognisable. Water shoots high into the air, enormous projections appear over the sea, lasers cut across the night sky and bursts of fire join the whole thing — and they still have fireworks waiting for the finale.

The 20-minute show follows Shahbaz, a mythical prehistoric bird, and his friends on a journey through time, using music, 3D projections, water displays and pyrotechnics to tell the story. With performances usually at 7:40 PM and 8:40 PM, it also fits nicely into an evening on Sentosa without taking over the entire night.

My tip: Arrive around 30 minutes early to get settled before the show. Standard and Premium seating are available, with Premium seats offering a more central view and backrests.
 

Singapore Flyer SkyHelix

SkyHelix Sentosa is part sightseeing, part hanging out in the sky. The open-air ride takes a circular group of seats high above the island, slowly rotating along the way so the scenery changes around the group. Feet dangling, drink in hand and Sentosa in the background — it’s a surprisingly laid-back setup for something happening that far above the ground.

And that's probably what makes SkyHelix such a fun addition to the day. It isn't entirely about reaching the top, snapping a photo and coming straight back down. There’s time to sit, chat and take in views across Sentosa, the coastline and surrounding islands while the ride does the sightseeing for you. Come evening, the illuminated helix adds another layer to the experience as the scenery below starts lighting up.
 

Singapore Cable Car Sky Dining

Imagine sitting down for dinner and, between one course and the next, the entire view has changed beneath you. That’s Singapore Cable Car Sky Dining. A private cable car carries you between Mount Faber and Sentosa while dinner is served inside, with the harbour, city skyline, greenery and eventually the lights of Sentosa moving through the view along the way.

There are a few ways to experience it too. Starlight Flight is the full three or four-course dinner, beginning with a welcome drink before dishes such as tiger prawn salad, Wagyu ribeye and red plum brûlée. The Singapore Chronicles takes inspiration from Singapore’s history and food culture, working familiar local flavours such as jasmine tea, coconut, laksa leaf and pandan into a three-course meal while the journey across Singapore becomes part of the experience. And Beer Cabin is the relaxed option for a group of friends: a large dispenser of Tiger Beer to share at the table, alongside corn ribs, garlic wings and truffle parmesan fries.

So the appeal isn't limited to one particular kind of night out. It could be a proper multi-course dinner above the city, a Singapore-inspired food experience or simply beers and snacks with friends while the harbour passes underneath.
 

Sentosa Island Bus Tour

Not every view of Sentosa needs to come with your feet dangling somewhere above it. If heights aren't really your thing — or exploring the island with a guide, a camera and very welcome air-conditioning sounds more appealing — the Sentosa Island Bus Tour keeps things firmly on the ground.

The two-hour tour starts at Imbiah Lookout, where everyone climbs aboard and sets off around Sentosa with a live guide sharing the stories behind the island as you go. There are designated stops along the route to hop out, stretch their legs, explore and take photos, with sights including Fort Siloso Skywalk, Sentosa Sensoryscape and the island's coastline before everyone meets back at the bus and carries on to the next stop.

There’s quite a bit of history hiding underneath all the beaches and attractions too. Sentosa was once a British military stronghold, and the tour traces some of its transformation from fortified island to the resort destination it is today. So for the history lovers, curious explorers, enthusiastic photo-takers, there’s plenty to look out for beyond Sentosa’s headline attractions. And if two hours of sightseeing, stories and air-conditioning sounds like your kind of afternoon, the Sentosa Island Bus Tour is available to book through WAUG.