Hidden things to do in Sentosa that you probably didn't know you could do!
For most of us, Sentosa means Universal Studios Singapore, beaches, and Rasa Sentosa. In essence, it’s our go-to spot for the weekend and an island of fun for us to unwind and forget about our 9-to-6 grind.
Most of us may have been there a gazillion times before, but before you dismiss it as a locale that’s all too familiar, you may be surprised to find that Sentosa still has some ground left uncovered. From money-saving tips at popular attractions to “secret” things to do, here are 9 insider tips to exploring Sentosa that even veterans may not know:
1. Time your Skyline Luge visit to catch the sunset
During the daytime, the 7-minute gondola ride up to Skyline Luge may provide a scenic view of the Siloso area. But for the best experience, the optimal time to for a ride or two is during sunset at around 7pm, when you can catch a panoramic view of a paddle-pop sky as the sun sets over the horizon.
Zipping down the luge tracks at night won’t be your typical luge affair either. The track turns into a scene out of our Mario Kart dreams with psychedelic neon lights after 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays – so be sure to head down then!
Skyline Luge
- Address: 1 Imbiah Road, Singapore 099692
- Opening Hours: Monday, Thursday & Sunday, 11am to 7:30pm | Friday & Saturday 11am to 9:30pm
2. Treat your Fur-kid to a Dog Cruise on the Royal Albatross
You may have noticed the Royal Albatross’ unmissable presence docked in front of Resorts World Sentosa every time you enter the island. For anyone who’s wondering – yes, this is a fully operational ship, not just decor.
The luxury ship sets sail in the evening, a perfect setting for a romantic date with your boo. Book a 3-course dinner cruise for the most immersive experience complete with an appetiser, main and dessert alongside complimentary drinks.
Those with a fur-kid can also bring your dog on board for the first-ever luxurious dog cruise! This 3-hour sunset sail comes with only the finest - 3-course dinner for you, and your furbaby gets a menu crafted by Bom Bom that you can choose raw or cooked options. There will also be fun activities onboard where you and your pup can stand to win attractive prizes!
Royal Albatross Cruise
- Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
- Dog Cruise Sailing Day: Wednesday 6:30pm to 9pm
- Sunset Sail Dinner Cruise Sailing Days: Friday 7pm to 9:30pm, Saturday 5pm to 7:30pm, Sunday 6pm to 8:30pm
- City Lights Dinner Cruise Sailing Day: Saturday 8:30pm to 11pm
- ReDiscovery Breakfast Cruise Sailing Day: Saturday 9:30am to 11am
- Sunday Sail Lunch Sailing Day: Sunday 11:30am to 3pm
3. Yoga at the Open Ocean Habitat at S.E.A. Aquarium
Have you ever felt relax just looking at all the fishes and sea creatures swimming almost carefree at S.E.A. Aquarium? You can now truly zen with them with a Yoga experience like no other. We’ve teamed up lululemon Ambassador, Dawn Sim, and Trium Fitness to bring you Yoga sessions over two weekends.
Work your Downward dogs and Warrior Twos in front of the Open Ocean Habitat, home to over 120 species of marine life. Try to spot the manta rays during your practice! Hurry for there are only limited slots and sessions for this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Yoga at S.E.A. Aquarium
- Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
- Yoga Sessions: 24, 25 & 31 July, 1 August, 8am & 6pm
4. Learn Scuba Diving or go Behind the Scenes at S.E.A. Aquarium
Photo Credit: Resorts World Sentosa
If yoga isn't your thing, don't worry. How about going for a dive? It may come as no surprise that many scuba diving courses in Singapore require a trip to popular dive sites in the likes of Malaysia and Indonesia. But if you prefer to do the deed 100% locally, you can actually get your PADI certification right here at S.E.A. Aquarium!
Their Open Ocean Habitat – a.k.a. the giant tank that’s home to over 40,000 marine animals – simulates the actual conditions of the sea. You’ll get crystal clear visibility with the well-maintained water and get to swim with the majestic reef manta rays, zebra sharks and the goliath groupers.
If diving isn’t your thing, no worries – you can still explore the S.E.A. Aquarium in-depth with a Behind the Panel Tour. It is a 20-minute guided experience that brings you to some exclusive behind-the-scenes access of the aquarium and Dolphin Island.
S.E.A. Aquarium
- Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
- Opening Hours: (July) Monday, Saturday & Sunday, 9am to 5pm | (From 1 August) Monday to Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday, 9am to 5pm
5. Get Discounted Attraction Tickets with a Sentosa Fun Pass or Sentosa Value Bundles
Much like the coins you’d use at an arcade, Sentosa Fun Passes are tokens that you can purchase online and then spend on various attractions on the island such as Ola Beach Club, iFly, and Mega Adventure Park. For the most part, redeeming the tokens help you save a few bucks at each attraction, so it certainly adds up to more savings! The pass is also valid for 180 days, so you don't have to worry you have to use it all at one go!
If you plan to hit a few attractions in a single day at Sentosa, do consider buying a Sentosa Value Bundle that gives you various options with tons of savings. You can get a bundle that allows you to choose 3 out of 5 attractions that include the Skyline Luge, Trick Eye Museum, and 4D Adventureland. The most thrilling value bundle of them all even includes a 1-hour City Skyline Cruise with YachtCruiseSG and also a skydive session with iFly!
6. Enter Universal Studios Singapore 2 Hours Earlier to Beat the Crowd
Battlestar Galactica TM Universal Studios & © 2021 Universal Cable Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
Avid theme park goers, you might already know these common hacks: go as early as possible, avoid weekends, and head for popular rides first. If you’d like to one-up the rest and maximise each ticket further, purchase Early Admission tickets the next time you head down to Universal Studios Singapore.
An early admission ticket will get you into the theme park at 12pm while – everyone else holds out till 2pm! The extra pocket of time can be spent on meet-and-greets with select characters, lunch at the park’s themed restaurants and, most importantly, lining up for popular rides before everyone else.
#KlookTip: The 12pm early entry will apply for visits to USS starting 1 August 2021 when the park reverts back to its normal opening at 2pm.
Universal Studios Singapore
- Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
- Opening Hours: (July) Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 7pm | (From 1 August) Thursday to Sunday, 2pm to 8pm (Early Entry at 12pm)
7. Meet Your Favourite Korean Stars at Madame Tussauds
Have you been binge watching all the Korean dramas while staying at home? It's time to head to Madame Tussauds Singapore to meet your favourite Korean stars at their latest K-wave Zone! Pose in front of hanoks, blooming cherry blossom trees, and of course the shining stars like Suzy Bae and Song Seung-heon. We heard Oppas Kim Woo Bin and Lee Min Ho have also made guests appearances at the K-Wave zone!
Madame Tussauds Singapore
- Address: 40 Imbiah Road, Singapore 099700
- Opening Hours: Thursday to Monday, 10am to 6pm
8. Let Your Kids Get Closer to Nature at ForestPlay
Immerse in the wonders of unstructured play against the backdrop of luscious greenery at Singapore's First Nature Playscape, ForestPlay. Here, kids 4 and above can bring ideas to life with the use of real tools, recycled wood, and tyres to create imaginatively. See them ignite their creativity, gain problem-solving skills and connect with nature while playing at this newest attraction at Sentosa!
ForestPlay
- Address: 112 Tanjong Beach Walk, Singapore 098945
- Opening Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 6pm
9. Splurge on a Universal Studios Singapore VIP Experience for a Private Tour & Skip Queues
Meet and greet your favorite characters from famous movies in a private meet and greet
With zones that include Hollywood, New York and Ancient Egypt, Universal Studios Singapore makes us forget we’re still in Singapore. If you’d like to feel like royalty while at it, splurge on Universal Studios Singapore VIP Experience to treat yourself to the best of the theme park.
The VIP Experience comes with a 5-hour private guided tour through the theme park with priority access to rides and select meet-and-greet with your favourite characters. You’ll even get to pick up fun facts about the theme park that most aren’t aware of, like the secret room in the Far Far Away Castle that you can book for private parties.
S.E.A. Aquarium also offers an in-depth 3-hour VIP Tour. During this 3-hour guided tour, a personal guide will take you around the aquarium to share more of the key exhibits and facts that you otherwise wouldn't have found out! You'll also have exclusive access to the aquarium's back of house and Dolphin Island, where you'll meet their own aquarist to find out how they care for the thousands of sea animals daily!
BONUS: Hike to Fort Serapong for an Indiana Jones adventure
Located on an obscure hill on the island, the area is hidden away from crowd-laden areas of Sentosa and remains a charming enclave engulfed in nature. The hike up is pretty easy – it’s an approximate 30-minute-walk up a 400m hill. Along the way, you’ll catch views of the sea peeking from between the trees.
Once at the fort, you’ll also be greeted with a largely untouched 1800s fort complete with tunnels, bunkers and artillery batteries – much like a scene out of Indiana Jones. Be sure to wear proper shoes as the dirt paths can be slippery during the rainy season.
#KlookTip: Mount Serapong lies within a conserved area – to explore it, book a guided tour with Sentosa.
