Sentosa
Sentosa is Singapore's resort island, where you go for beaches, Universal Studios and a short walk through wartime history.
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Sentosa is a small island off Singapore's southern coast, linked to the main island by a causeway, a bridge and a cable car. For much of the 20th century it was a military site, and Fort Siloso, a coastal fort from the colonial era, remains on its western side. Today the island is the city-state's main leisure area, with beaches, a theme park, an aquarium and a cluster of hotels and resorts.
Visitors usually come for beach time, Universal Studios Singapore or the S.E.A. Aquarium. The island suits families and anyone who wants a resort stay within a short ride of the city. The beaches are spread across the island, so plan transport between them. Sentosa is hot and humid year-round, and rain can fall in any month, so build in midday shade and a flexible day. One full day covers the beaches and one park. Two days leaves room for the aquarium and a slower pace.
Sentosa in five
- Get the SG Arrival Card before you landMost visitors must submit the SG Arrival Card online before arriving in Singapore. Use the official ICA site, since immigration checks this card at the airport.Visas and entry
- Take the Sentosa Express from VivoCityThe monorail runs from VivoCity to the island's stations. Tap a contactless card or EZ-Link at the gate.Getting around
- Buy Universal Studios and aquarium tickets onlineUniversal Studios Singapore and the S.E.A. Aquarium sell tickets on their own websites. Buying in advance can save time at the ticket counter.Tours and tickets
- Set up an eSIM before you landAttraction entry QR codes need mobile data at the gate. Set up the eSIM before you leave the airport, not at the resort desk.Phones and eSIM
- Stay on Sentosa only for the beachThe city centre is about an hour away by monorail and MRT, so a base in town suits city sightseeing. Stay on the island if you want to walk from your hotel to the parks and beaches.Where to stay
Need to know
- Currency
- Singapore dollar (SGD)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; SG Arrival Card for most visitors Read more
- Emergency
- 999 police, 995 ambulance and fire; 112 from mobile
- Tipping
- Not expected; check the bill for a service charge
- Time
- UTC+8, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryWet, monsoon
- FebruaryWet, Lunar New Year
- MarchShowers, warm
- AprilHot, drier
- MayHot, drier
- JuneHot, drier
- JulyHot, drier
- AugustHaze risk
- SeptemberHaze risk
- OctoberRain returns
- NovemberWet season
- DecemberWet, year-end
Right now in Sentosa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
29
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 72%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Chinatown
05:16 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today33°24°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 33°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed32°24°100%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu30°24°98%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Fri29°22°100%Friday: Rain. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat29°24°98%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Sun30°24°98%Sunday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Mon29°23°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 01:40 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.278 SGD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Singapore city centreBy monorail and MRT from SentosaMarina Bay, Chinatown and Little India, all reached by monorail and MRT.Read the guide
- Southern RidgesBy cable car from SentosaA walking route through parks, starting from Mount Faber, which the cable car from Sentosa reaches.
- Gardens by the BayBy MRT from the city centreCooled conservatories and the Supertree Grove, a short walk from the MRT in the city centre.
Before you go to Sentosa
Rules for Sentosa, checked
- Submit the SG Arrival Card online before you arrive. Check which passports need a visa at ica.gov.sg.Source
- Chewing gum cannot be bought in Singapore, and only therapeutic gum can be brought in. Check Singapore Customs before you pack.Source
- Eating and drinking are banned on MRT trains and buses. Check the LTA website for the full list of transport rules.Source
- Littering and spitting carry fines and are enforced. Keep wrappers in your bag until you find a bin.
Plan around Sentosa
Chinatown, Marina Bay and the food centres, a short trip from the island
Read the guideGetting aroundMonorail, MRT and the Sentosa Boardwalk from the city
Read the guideVisas and entryThe SG Arrival Card and which passports can enter visa-free
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and typical prices for food, rides and tickets
Read the guideWhere to stayIsland resorts or a base in the city, and what each costs
Read the guideTours and ticketsTickets for the parks, the aquarium and island tours
Read the guideSentosa FAQ
Is Sentosa worth visiting?
Yes if you want beaches, Universal Studios and the S.E.A. Aquarium. It is a resort island, not a city, so add the city for food and older neighborhoods.
How do you get to Sentosa from the city?
Take the MRT to HarbourFront and walk to VivoCity, then ride the Sentosa Express monorail. You can also walk the Sentosa Boardwalk from HarbourFront.
How many days do you need on Sentosa?
One full day covers Universal Studios or the aquarium and a beach. Two days lets you add Fort Siloso and a slower day on the beach.
Is Sentosa good for a family trip?
Yes. Universal Studios, the S.E.A. Aquarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark are all on the island, so families can cover them in one area.
What is the best time to visit Sentosa?
April to July is drier than the rest of the year, though showers still come. Haze from fires in the region can affect August to October in some years, so check the forecast.
Is Sentosa expensive?
Yes, compared with the city. Food and hotels on the island cost more, and each big attraction sets its own ticket prices, so check each one.