Sentosa

Sentosa is Singapore’s play island: theme parks, aquarium, luge runs and three groomed beaches, all a monorail hop from the city. Ride the cable car over the harbour on the way in, it turns transport into the first attraction, and build the day around one anchor rather than trying to do all of them.

• Universal Studios, the region’s flagship park; book timed entry ahead.
• The Skyline Luge, gravity karting through the jungle, the island’s best value thrill.
• S.E.A. Aquarium, the vast open-ocean tank is the room everyone stays in.
• Siloso Beach, bars, volleyball and the sunset end of the island.

School holidays and weekends run at capacity; on any other day, arrive at park opening and flip to the beaches after lunch. The boardwalk entrance is free on foot, and evening beach bars need no ticket at all.

The Sentosa Express monorail leaves from VivoCity mall, and the cable car from HarbourFront makes the scenic entrance. Inside, free buses and the boardwalk link the beaches and parks.