Singapore › Sentosa Hotels
Updated: March 29, 2023
By Santorini Dave
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Staying in Sentosa – My Advice
- Where to Stay in Singapore – a guide
- Public buses and trains on the island are free, but there is an entry fee for the island when coming from mainland Singapore. The fee is $4 if entering via monorail or $5-7 per car or taxi, depending on the date and time. If entering via cable car (the most fun way!), the entry fee is included in the ticket price. If staying at a hotel in Sentosa, there is no cost for entry. Just show the hotel booking confirmation for the first entry; the hotel will then give you a pass to cover all entries for the duration of your stay.
- Sentosa Island is known as Singapore’s Playground. Despite the carefree nickname, Sentosa still has the same uptight rules as mainland Singapore. Stiff fines are enforced for infractions that include chewing gum, jaywalking, and spitting.
- When exploring the mainland, use public transportation. It is the most cost-efficient, user-friendly, and punctual system in the world.
The 7 Best Hotels in Sentosa
1. Capella
Hotel phone: +65 6377 8888
A former British colonial army base, overlooking the family favorite Palawan Beach, the Capella has three pools (main, kids’, and lap pools), a luxurious spa, and some of the finest restaurants on the island. Personal Assistants work closely with each guest to customize the details of their stay. A variety of spectacular accommodations are available, including spacious rooms, suites, villas, and manors. Ideal for families or large groups, the hotel’s suites and manors are available with up to three bedrooms, while manors and villas all include private plunge or lap pools. This hotel is close to the Palawan Amphitheatre and both of the islands golf courses.
2. Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa
Hotel phone: +65 6275 0100
The only beachfront resort in Sentosa, the Shangri-La features an enormous pool with waterslides, the largest kids’ club on the island, and many more amenities that make it perfect for families. For couples’ getaways, the resort hosts an adults-only floor, adults-only pool area, and an unforgettable spa with couples’ suites and Singaporean-style holistic treatments. All rooms and suites come with balconies and views of the sea, gardens, or rainforest. This is the westernmost resort on the island, right in between Fort Siloso and Siloso Point cable car station.
3. Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa
Hotel phone: +65 6708 8310
This sprawling, sophisticated resort comprises 27 acres and is home to three award-winning restaurants, a tiled pool, and tennis courts. Its extravagant spa is housed in a British colonial heritage building with its own private waterfall pool and a Moroccan mud pool. The graceful setting fuses local Singaporean hospitality and design with French-inspired gardens and amenities. Located just a five minute walk to Tanjong Beach and adjacent to the golf course, this hotel sits on the most tranquil part of Sentosa.
4. W – Sentosa Cove
Hotel phone: +65 6808 7288
The flashy W is the island’s trendy party hotel. Events are almost constant with a weekly Ladies’ Night, LGBT Fridays, and a monthly Endless Summer pool party, among others. Rooms and suites are spacious with vivid colors and floor-to-ceiling windows, some with private terraces and plunge pools. Located at the eastern end of the island in the posh Sentosa Cove area, near the Tanjong Golf Course and the marina.
5. One°15 Marina Club
Hotel phone: +65 6305 6988
Located inside an upscale yacht club, this 26 room waterfront hotel has great family amenities, including an infinity pool and children’s pool, tennis court, arcade, and trampoline. Featuring six inspired bars and restaurants, including a bistro inside the pool, this boutique’s dining options rival those of much larger resorts. Their incredible spa includes butler service and full suites. One°15 Marina Club is walking distance to the shops and dining at Quayside Isle and the Tanjong Golf Course.
6. Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa
Hotel phone: +65 6825 3888
Featuring four outdoor pools and two award-winning restaurants, this intimate, boutique resort includes a wide range of colonial or modern accommodations. Rooms, suites, villas, and even a mansion are available, some with private pools or hot tubs, all with tranquil views of the ocean, tropical gardens, or rainforest. An indulgent spa, nature trail, and heritage walk round out the experience here. Amara sits in the middle of the island, with easy access to Palawan Beach, Universal Studios, and Imbiah Station.
7. Oasia Resort Sentosa
Hotel phone: +65 6818 3388
With a nice pool this upscale resort offers guests a relaxing retreat after a day of play. Guests may stay in contemporary rooms with sleek, modern design or upgrade to the heritage wing, with ‘40s colonial charm and views of the Sentosa Merlion. The Oasia Resort is in the heart of Sentosa’s attractions, just a five-minute walk to Universal Studios, great restaurants, and is adjacent to Imbiah Station, with connections throughout the island and to mainland Singapore.
The Best Beaches in Sentosa
Sentosa Island is comprised of three public beaches and a marina area, each with its own distinct feel:
- Siloso Beach is the westernmost beach on the island. This area is lively with water sports and beach activities, and is home to several bars and restaurants.
- Palawan Beach is in the center and is a favorite destination of families with younger children. Several kid-centric attractions are located on Palawan Beach, including the Palawan Amphitheatre’s daily animal and bird encounters.
- Tanjong is the easternmost beach; this is the quietest and least developed, perfect for couples’ getaways.
- On the far eastern point, the marina area Sentosa Cove is the only residential zone on the island. This incredibly affluent enclave is mostly owned by foreigners and expats purchasing vacation property, with very few living here full time.
The Best Places to Eat on Sentosa
- Malaysian Food Street • $
Best cheap eats, a replica street food area complete with hawker stalls. - The Knolls • $$$$
Mediterranean fine dining, located in the Capella Hotel. - The Garden • $$-$$$
Health-conscious European fusion, consistently ranked the #1 restaurant in Sentosa. - Tanjong Beach Club • $$-$$$
Fun, beachy atmosphere and fairly inexpensive. - Coastes • $$-$$$
Beachside and family-friendly, Sentosa’s best brunch.
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