Though small, Singapore is filled with family activities and things to do with kids. Many of them can be found on our southern island paradise of Sentosa. There are beaches, restaurants, historic landmarks, nature trails, and more to get lost in once you step onto its shores. While its pristine beaches and adjacent Universal Studios Singapore are well-known and enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike, there is so much more to discover beyond the sandy shores. These so-called hidden gems, the lesser-known attractions and activities that even locals may be less familiar with, are what sets Sentosa apart.
Sentosa island has a long history that traces well beyond its urban development in the 1970s when the government made its plan to turn it into a holiday resort. Today, it is a hive of attractions, themed parks, and pristine beaches for both international tourists and domestic visitors.
Whether you are a family of thrill-seekers or a household of explorers, nobody ever runs out of things to do in Sentosa. Here are the seven activities no family should miss.
1. Skyline Luge Singapore
Opened in August 2005, the Sentosa Skyline Luge has four downhill racing tracks built around lush greenery. On these tracks, visitors can ride through on a self-control, three-wheeled cart. These carts are propelled by gravity. Each of them comes with a pair of handlebars that riders can push forth and back to adjust the speed.
Visitors not only experience the thrill of racing across various hairpin turns, tunnels, and slopes. Located between Imbiah Lookout and Siloso Beach, they can also catch scenic views of the tropical forest and the bordering sights of the South China Sea. Of all the four tracks, the 628m Jungle Trail is the oldest and probably the most well-known. It takes riders through a forest tunnel before an adrenaline-pumping twist and turn descends.
The newly-opened 638m Kupu Kupu Trail, on the other hand, mesmerises riders in the mystic world of flora and fauna, just like the name suggests (kupu kupu means butterfly in Malay). All four tracks end at Siloso Beach, where visitors are greeted by a skyride system taking them to the top of the hill again.
The 315m-high skyride system works similarly to a ski lift, in which visitors (including their luge cart and helmets) are lifted uphill on chairlifts. For visitors who are not participating in the luge, they may also take the skyride to enjoy a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the city skyline and the sea. Of course, do not miss out on capturing this unforgettable moment with your family with a wefie against the stunning backdrop of the horizon.
Children need to be at least six years old or 1.1m tall to ride on a luge alone. For the skyride, children must be at least 1.35m tall to take it independently. Otherwise, an adult must be present for supervision at all times.
A standard ticket for three luge and three skyride costs S$32, with an additional S$12 for those who are riding with children.
Address: 1 Imbiah Road, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099692
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday – 11:00am to 7:30pm, Friday – 11:00am to 9:00pm, Saturday – 10:00am to 9:00pm, Sunday – 10:00am to 7:30pm
Tickets: Buy Skyline Luge Tickets.
2. Adventure Cove Waterpark
More popularly known as the Sentosa Waterpark, Adventure Cove is the only integrated aquatic and marine life park in Southeast Asia.
Over here, visitors not only can plunge, swirl, or spin down water slides of various sizes and shapes. They can also dive deep into the water and be friends with a company of dolphins, rays, and even sharks.
There are 13 rides and attractions in the waterpark - perfect for the young and young-at-heart who want more than a swim (or selfies) in the pool. Some of the waterpark highlights include the Adventure River — the waterpark's version of the Lazy River — where visitors leisurely drift along a river and bypass sceneries like a grotto and an underwater tunnel with a 180-degree view of the vibrant marine life.
The Pipeline Plunge is a high-speed slide that surprises visitors with several rapid twists and turns before plunging them into a pool of water. Likewise, the Spiral Washout funnels visitors through a speedy water tube and ejects them into the pool with an epic splash.
If you love the idea of swimming together with fishes, go snorkelling at the Rainbow Reef. The lagoon houses more than 20,000 fishes.
The Dolphin Island is a great add-on to the waterpark experience as families can spend an afternoon being really close to the smart and gentle-tempered Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins.
For the youngest family members, they will surely have some great fun by the Seahorse Hideaways, where there is a shallow pool and fountains that are just the right size for toddlers and children.
A standard adult Adventure Cove Waterpark ticket costs S$34 for local residents and S$39 for foreign visitors. A standard child ticket costs S$27 for local residents and S$31 for foreign visitors. There are signs around the Waterpark informing visitors of the minimum height requirement of each slide and attractions.
Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098269
Opening Hour: Daily—10:00am to 5:00pm
Tickets: Buy Adventure Cove Waterpark Tickets.
3. Mega Adventure Park
The Mega Adventure Park on Sentosa is the home to three zipline adventures! The MegaZip turns visitors instantly into the modern-day Tarzan and Jane as they brave 450m downhill over the Imbiah hill jungle, Siloso beach, and the sea at the speed of 60km per hour.
It’s best to take this thrilling flying fox ride with family and friends as the three main ziplines go side by side. Best still, there is no age limit to MegaZip, but those weighing 30kg and below will have to be accompanied by another person.
After the “flight”, visitors may top up the fun and excitement by going for Mega Climb, which consists of a three-level tree-top obstacle with an optional 15m jump. The obstacles are mainly manoeuvring through a series of wooden planks and ropes suspended in mid-air.
Visitors can only participate in two of the three levels. Each level gradually increases in difficulty as well as its height by 5-15m. Visitors with limited rope course experience may wish to start from level one as a warm-up as it requires the least strength and can be easily completed within 15mins.
For family members who cannot stand still and always have that little bit more energy may wish to go for Mega Bounce. A trampoline with a system of elastic band support that allows participants to safely jump up to 8m high.
Again, there is no age limit for both Mega Climb and Mega Bounce, but one needs to be at least 1.2m tall and 30kg to join.
A ticket to Mega Bounce costs S$20 and S$99 for Mega Climb and Mega Zip (with MegaJump, which is an optional component of MegaClimb). Visitors may opt for a Combo (participating in two or three of the activities) tickets at the price between S$83 and S$115.
Address: 10A Siloso Beach Walk, Singapore 099008
Opening Hour: Daily—11:00am to 6:00pm
Tickets: Buy Mega Adventure Tickets.
4. Scentopia
One of the latest additions on Sentosa Island ventures into the aromatic world of perfumes and celebrates the floral heritage of Singapore.
Just a 1min walk away from SkyPark Sentosa by AJ Hackett, Scentopia has a collection of more than 200 scented oils. Visitors can take a personality test to uncover their preferred scent and from there, mix and match a bottle of perfume that they can call their own.
Scentopia is also the perfect place to learn more about the therapeutic benefits of orchids–the national flower of Singapore and Asian floral heritage. On top of customising fragrance, Scentopia offers free guided tours, educational and team-building programmes, as well as augmented reality experiences to immerse visitors in a unique olfactory experience.
This is a designated attraction for families who love hands-on activities. There are also DIY home scent kits for families to bring home as souvenirs or just relive the happy moments of making perfumes together.
Even if you are not a fan of perfumes, there are other home products like bath bombs and soaps that are ideal for everyone’s use. No entrance fee is required for Scentopia. A 50ml perfume-making experience for adults costs S$95 and S$75 for children up to 12-years-old.
Address: 36 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099007
Opening Hour: Daily—11:00am to 7:00pm
Tickets: Free entry. More information check out the Scentopia page.
5. Fort Siloso and Skywalk
A hidden gem on the island. Fort Siloso seldom comes to people’s minds when they talk about things to do in Sentosa, even though it is the only preserved coastal fort in Singapore and has played a pivotal role in Singapore’s military history.
Fort Siloso is one of three seafront forts constructed in 1878 by the British army to protect the straits of Singapore and the nearby New Harbour (or the Keppel Harbour that we know today).
It has just been gazetted as the 74th national monument of Singapore.
Fort Siloso is not “another museum”. It is a massive, outdoor compound with real coastal artillery guns, tunnel complexes, lifelike wax figures, and interactive displays that visitors can explore and absorb in the many significant historical moments.
Families who love to learn more about the history of Singapore or are curious about a former military establishment need to pen Fort Siloso down into their itinerary. Visitors who are interested in visiting the site may wish to start from the Fort Siloso Skywalk. It’s an 11-storey-high treetop trail that offers a scenic view of the surroundings and takes them directly to the entrance of Fort Siloso.
There is no entrance fee required for both Fort Siloso and the Skywalk. There are free guided tours taking place on the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays of every month. Visitors will need to register in advance for the tour, and registration opens every first Friday of the month at 12 noon.
Address: Siloso Road, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099981
Opening Hour: Daily—9:00am to 10:00pm (Exhibits are open from 10:00am to 5:30pm)
Tickets: Buy here.
6. Sentosa 4D AdventureLand
Prepare to be transported to a world where 4D technology brings your wildest adventures to life. Sentosa 4D AdventureLand offers an exhilarating lineup of four unique rides that will leave you breathless and craving more.
This is Singapore’s and Southeast Asia’s first four-dimensional (4D) theatre, equipped with immersive audio, motion simulation, and special effects that will guarantee thrill and excitement.
Just imagine watching a 3D movie but with realistic elements like clouds of mist, the smell of the rainforests, water splashes, and vibrations that make you feel like you’re undergoing an adventure yourself in the actual environment.
There are four different themed experiences here at the 4D AdventureLand: “Desperados”, an interactive shoot-out game; “Haunted Mine Ride 4D”, an experience ride; “Extreme Log Ride”, a virtual roller coaster, and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island”, an immersive movie starring wrestler turned Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson.
The 4D AdventureLand is perfect for a family of movie lovers and families who love playing video games together. It is best enjoyed by anyone aged four and above, and for safety reasons, people with motion sickness and heart conditions are advised not to participate.
Each themed ride lasts about 15-20mins. Visitors may choose the 4-in-1 Combo at the price of S$48.90 for an adult and S$35.90 for a child.
Address: 51B Imbiah Road, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099708
Opening Hour: Daily–12:00pm to 7:00pm
Tickets: Buy Sentosa 4D AdventureLand Tickets.
7. Skypark Sentosa by AJ Hackett
If 4D AdventureLand is not enough to tame your adventurous spirit, or you think the Siloso Segway Adventure is too humdrum, head to Siloso Beach. The Skypark Sentosa Bungy Tower will give you a good adrenaline rush by getting you to leap off 47m above the ground and experience free fall for a good 2.5sec.
The highly secured bungee jump is not only known for its spectacular coastal views but also allows visitors to create their one-of-its-kind excitement. You can choose to jump head down, flip off the edge or just plummet and suspend in the air and enjoy the cool air from the sea.
The Sentosa bungee jump is meant for a family of avid thrill seekers, people who are looking for more than an everyday adventure or celebrating their special days with something different.
There is no minimum age requirement for a solo jump, as long as the visitor weighs between 45kg and 140kg, and at least 120cm tall.
For those who are not a big fan of the dive, there is also the option of a Skybridge and Giant Swing. The Skybridge is a 40m-long suspended walkway that takes visitors to the bungee jump spot.
Parts of the Skybridge have small sections of see-through glass flooring that visitors can peek down through to test their appetite for heights. There is also a Glass Cube or an irregular protrusion on the side of the bridge that visitors can lean on to test their courage.
The Skybridge is a great venue to catch a beautiful and bustling sight of all the things that are happening at Sentosa from above. For families who wish to have an adrenaline rush together but are not brave enough to try the bungee jump, the Giant Swing is just right for them.
As the name suggests, the Giant Swing flies (or swoops) participants through the sky at speeds that reach up to 120km per hour by yourself or, with up to three people at each go. Be prepared to scream your lungs out towards the stunning horizon. There are two swings going side by side at any time, so families with bigger hearts may even wish to race against each other in mid-air.
The ticket for Skybridge is S$15 per person. The Giant Swing costs S$69 per person and the bungee jump ranges from S$129 to S$249 per person. There is no discounted price for children.
Address: 30 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099011
Opening Hour: Monday to Friday–12:30pm to 7:00pm; Saturday to Sunday–11:30am to 7:00pm
Tickets: Buy Skypark Sentosa by AJ Hackett Tickets.
Truly, Sentosa is an island teeming with activities from calming pick-me-ups to scream-worthy, free-fall adventures. Fret not the next time you are cracking your brain in search of activities that are suitable for the whole family. Just head south across the Singapore mainland, and you know your next adventure is awaiting you! For the ultimate adventure filled with thrills and spills, you can even consider getting the Sentosa FUN PASS™ so that you can mix and match your fun while enjoying great savings.
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