An island off the coast of Singapore, Sentosa isn’t just one of the country’s top tourist destinations but a rite of passage for locals and expats alike.
I still have fond memories of picnics on the beach as a child with my extended Indian family. Imagine eating homemade nasi lemak, sitting on the warm sand after a cool dip in the water, surrounded by the chaotic embrace of aunties in swimsuits, hairy-chested uncles and boisterous cousins.
It was on the same beach that I would take part in various beach day orientation games as a university freshman, and years later, where I would spend my adult money on a luxury staycation with my best friend Nur Shafiqah, who was my orientation group leader.
At every stage of my life, Sentosa has served as the perfect space to both celebrate and commemorate those milestone moments.
As I have grown up, so has the island with the arrival of big-ticket attractions like the Universal Studios Singapore theme park, the Resorts World Casino, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and more.
A day trip to Sentosa in 2025 may seem expensive, but in reality, there are several activities that are easily accessible to the public. My colleague Priyaa Vasudevan and I recently put this to the test based on an itinerary of free activities listed on Sentosa’s official website.
We started our day at Imbiah Station, the third stop on the Sentosa Express – the monorail that links VivoCity shopping mall, located above HarbourFront MRT station, to key stops across the island. A one-way ticket costs S$4, but within Sentosa, all train rides are free, so you can hop on and off between stations or head back to VivoCity at no cost.
A couple of minutes’ walk away from Imbiah Station is a free exhibition called Sentosa Nature Discovery. Tucked behind a narrow passageway, next to ZUS Coffee, the recently revamped gallery explores all the wild flora and fauna that exists on the island.
It features real-life specimens and interactive elements such as pullout slides and rotating blocks of information, positioned at a lower height, which makes it both fun and accessible for young children.
As I moved through the space, I saw a trio of squirrels chasing each other around and jumping across tree trunks. If you are lucky enough, you can also spot other wildlife like the long-tailed macaque and the olive-backed sunbird.
A highlight of the exhibit was the Swiftlet Bunker, a replica of an original World War II bunker on Imbiah Hill, which has since become home to the largest known colony of the Edible-nest and Black-nest Swiftlets in Singapore, with more than 250 nests.
Prized for their saliva, which can sell for up to S$2,000 per kilo and is used to make bird’s nest soup, Sentosa’s conservation department has chosen to conserve and study these swiftlets, whose existence is at risk due to loss of habitat and overharvesting.
This zone offers visitors a rare opportunity to step into the shoes of a researcher and walk through the dimly-lit bunker, while recorded sounds of swiftlets played in the background.
At the other end of Sentosa Nature Discovery lies an entry point to the Mount Imbiah Nature Trail, a 2.3-kilometre trail that weaves through the forests on an 80-metre-high hill. An ideal activity for nature-lovers, the relatively shaded walkways offer a tranquil stroll through the lush foliage and, at times, cascading waterfalls.
There are multiple routes to choose from, including a circular trail that is said to offer a better chance at viewing wildlife in action. Inspect repellent is a non-negotiable, and do remember to pack yourself a poncho or umbrella, as most of the walkways were unsheltered.
A disclaimer though, the trail can easily turn into a trek of stone steps and dirt tracks, depending on which entry point you pick.
Our trail started with a flat, boarded walkway and ended with us being drenched in sweat, unhelped by Singapore’s heat and humidity, as we climbed down a series of large, uneven steps that led out onto Siloso Road.
We walked over to the nearby Fort Siloso Skywalk – a towering 11-storey bridge that spans 181 metres long and treats guests to unobstructed views of the sea and neighbouring skyscrapers as they make their way over to Fort Siloso.
Thankfully, a glass elevator ferried us to the top in no time, giving us a teaser of the panoramic view that awaited us. We crossed over the bridge in under five minutes, taking in the much-needed, refreshing sea breeze.
We did not spend as much time as intended at Fort Siloso, which showcased a trove of World War II memorabilia alongside well-preserved military structures and tunnels. One could easily spend an entire day exploring the historic site, which is free to the public.
Our feet still exhausted from the earlier trek...I mean relaxing trail, we decided to take Bus A, one of the free bus services in Sentosa, to Beach Station, where we hopped onto the Beach Shuttle and alighted at Palawan Beach.
As the sun set, we trudged along the sandy shore and came across a statue of a giant, made out of wood, ironically named Little Sue, nestled in the sand. Taking a cue from Sue, we too sat down and simply enjoyed the view in front of us as the skies turned from a warm orange to a pale purple.
In that moment, I felt transported back to my younger self, surrounded by my family and friends, reliving the simple joys that first made me feel like this is home, truly.
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15 Dec 2025 13:35
