Plenty of locals consider Sentosa as Las Vegas on an island surrounded by beaches that are instagram-worthy. For us, however, who are just visiting, especially for the first time, it is a Wonderland filled with fun, food, great for friends & family!

Visiting all the places in Sentosa for one day is impossible, but you can still have fun even if you are given only a day. There are several ways to do it – you can buy a FUN PASS or plan your own itinerary for the day. In our case, we opted for the latter and although it was a fast-paced day with only a few breaths to spare (figuratively, of course), it was an unforgettable experience.

We were booked at a hotel in Bugis Street and we went to Sentosa via the MRT. We took the North East line to the HarbourFront Station. We took the Exit E and walked to VivoCity to board the Sentosa Express, which is on Level 3. We got off at Imbiah station and walked a little to the Merlion Plaza.

1. The Merlion/The Tiger Tower

Photo source: Pixabay

Tourist that we are, we followed the crowd and started our day at the Merlion Plaza and had our customary photo-op at the famous statue that represents Singapore. I think (like most people?) a trip to Singapore wouldn’t be complete without a picture with the Merlion. We had a quick history about its origin and what it represents to the country.

Instead of going up the Merlion, we headed to the Tiger Tower to get a much better view of Singapore. It is just a few minutes on foot away from the place.  It was a slow ride up the tower, and the view from the top was just breathtaking. Standing there and just enjoying the view from below is therapeutic; however, it might not be for those who have a fear of heights.

2. Madame Tussauds

Next stop is the famous Madame Tussauds where we started with the IOS Live, an interactive history of Singapore with actors acting as ‘tour guides’ of the country’s history. The wax museum features the famous celebrities and prominent people from different countries including Singapore.

What really got us was the Spirit of Singapore boat ride which features iconic landmarks and historical figures of Singapore. It is the fastest and cheapest way to go and see the country, so to speak.

3. Universal Studios

Photo source: Pixabay

After the short history lesson, we didn’t want anything else in the world but to have some adrenaline rush so off to Universal Studios we went. We chose three rides – Transformers, Revenge of the Mummy, and Jurassic Park.

All rides are great, but my personal favorite was the Mummy ride because the sights, sounds, and feel of the ride give you a mixture of adrenaline rush and fear. The ride was mostly in the dark, and all you could see were the ‘souls’ of the dead; thus, you are in anxious excitement what happens next.

Just a note: the lines are much longer than the rides themselves so be ready. We had to wait in line for more than 20 minutes for the rides as there were a good number of people during that time we went.

4. Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom

Our next stop was the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, which I heard, is one of the oldest attractions in Singapore. It’s a welcome treat after all the adrenaline rush from the rides.

Aside from the different species of butterflies, there’s also a parrot area, a welcome part for those who do not like butterflies and insect. What’s so impressive is the park has the look and feel of an authentic rainforest.

5. Malaysian Food Street

We had an early dinner here before heading to our last stop. Don’t be fooled by the name because, despite the name, the place does not serve Malaysian cuisine exclusively. It features an eclectic mixture of different cuisines from other countries, such as Chinese cuisine. It’s an excellent place to try out different kinds of food, especially if you go there as a group since you can order different dishes and share.

Our personal favorites Penang Hainan Lor Mee, Klang Bak Kut Teh (I had to research the names again), and fried rice.

6. Wings of Time

Photo source: Sentosa

This is our last leg and we can genuinely say that our day at Sentosa ended with a bang (literally and figuratively speaking). It’s a combination of 3D projection, lights, and lasers. I cannot think of a better way to end a day in Sentosa than this show. I’d definitely watch it again when I go to Singapore again. The best seats are the higher ones at the back because it gives you a better view of everything.

It was a fast-paced and tiring day, but if I go back to Singapore again, I will reserve a couple of days to go around Sentosa and discover the other things I was not able to see the first time.

Tip:

You can skip Universal Studios and reserve one day for it instead if you want to have your fill of the rides. If you do that, you can go and have fun at the Skyline Luge after Madame Tussauds since it is only a walking distance from each other.

Depending on how many people you're with, they have combo deals to choose from. For us, we got the Luge and the Skyride. Both of these attractions are perfect when you’re in a group. The Skyride, on the other hand, gives you a much wider view of Singapore from above.