Sentosa Island, just off the southern coast of the main island, is one of the best places to visit in Singapore and is home to many of the country’s most stunning beaches. Sentosa, which was formerly a British military base and prisoner-of-war camp, eventually changed into what it is today: a resort for entertainment with hotels, golf courses, a Universal Studios theme park, and a breathtaking stretch of white sand coastline.
Three areas make up the two-kilometer-long Sentosa beach: Tanjong Beach, Siloso Beach, and Palawan Beach. The entire beach’s length was constructed artificially by reclaiming seabed land and then filling it in with sand imported from Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore also has other tiny beaches worth visiting off Sentosa Island. Your 3 days in Singapore is a worthwhile experience. You can visit beaches or even try Kwan Im, a vegetarian restaurant in Singapore.
Beaches In Singapore
1. Tanjong Beach
Tanjong Beach, which is the most segregated and far-flung of the three beach sections, is situated on lovely Sentosa Island. Tanjong Beach has a better chance of locating a quiet spot beneath the palm trees, though Sentosa Island sees over 20 million visitors annually, so it doesn’t mean you’ll be completely alone there. On weekdays, the beach is even more deserted. Arrive in the evening to see cruise ships passing by and the distant, sparkling lights.
The beach is situated in a crescent-shaped bay and is bordered by numerous trees that provide shade from the sun. The sea is warm and inviting for swimming, and the sand is at its whitest here. Additionally, Tanjong Beach is dog friendly, so you frequently see people wading into the water with their four-legged friends.
2. Siloso Beach
On Sentosa, Siloso Beach is the hub of activity. This is where you should be if you enjoy activities like canoeing, beach volleyball, or even water jet packs. It doesn’t get much better for dining and shopping options than Siloso, where you can find everything from the typical beach restaurants serving pizza and fast food to Hawaiian-themed menus, fresh fruits, and even poke bowls. When you need a break from the golden sands, there are a variety of shops and cafés dotted along the coastline.
The hippest beach in Singapore is Siloso, which is also home to some of the island’s best attractions and live music venues. Although there aren’t any sun loungers permitted on the beach, you can bring a towel and relax on the soft sand for a while. However, be aware that this isn’t a quiet beach where you can unwind with a book.
3. Palawan Beach
The most visually well-known of Sentosa Beach’s three sections is Palawan Beach. It can be found after an impressive suspension bridge that has observation towers on both ends, right in the middle of the island. For panoramic views of the ocean, the surrounding jungle, and the coastline, climb up. Then turn around and walk backward on the finest white sand while listening to the swaying palm trees all around you. With its calm, warm blue waters, Singapore’s best swimming area is here.
The island of Palawan, which is close to the equator, is a photographer’s dream. Tanjong Beach is nearby, and despite having more attractions and activities than lively Siloso, it is still much more laid back. Families, solo travelers, couples, and a lot of families looking for a place to relax and have a picnic are all common here.
4. Changi Beach
The 3.3-kilometer-long Changi Beach Park, which has stretches of golden sand that are popular with locals, includes Changi Beach. One of Changi Beach’s charms is that it lacks the trendy, contemporary appearance of Sentosa Island’s beaches. The area still has the appearance of a kampong, a traditional floating village that is found throughout much of Asia. The Changi Ferry Terminal, which is located next to the beach, is the only way to get to Changi. This is still a well-liked swimming area, despite the occasionally unsettling crocodile sightings.
There are lots of BBQ pits, places to rent kayaks and canoes, and restaurants with outdoor seating if you prefer to stay on dry land. People swarm to Changi Beach to catch the sunset or to observe low-flying planes heading to the nearby airport because it is the ideal beach for lounging.
5. Punggol Beach
Punggol Beach will resemble a tropical paradise for those looking to escape the busy Singaporean lifestyle for the day. Punggol, the scene of the 1942 Sook Ching Massacre and later a remote region home to wild pigs, has been cleaned up and reimagined over time. It now provides a peaceful retreat in Northern Singapore where you can sink your toes into the fine sand or plunge into the cool waters for a refreshing swim. The numerous boulders on the beach in Punggol provide breathtaking views as the sun rises and sets over the water, making it a popular destination for photographers and nature enthusiasts.
6. St. John’s Island
The narrow, golden, and soft beaches in St. John are surrounded by stunning coral reefs. They’re a great place to unwind while taking in the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. The island also has picnic areas, swimming lagoons, and a rustic atmosphere that will appeal to those seeking a more sedate vacation. Due to a large number of feral cats that lived there, St. John’s used to be referred to as “cat island.” However, over the past few years, a successful trap-neuter-return program run by the SPCA has brought the population down to a manageable level, which is now being kept an eye on by committed caregivers.
Since there are no accommodations on the island, St. John’s can only be visited on a day trip. The Holiday Bungalow, a single property that can be shared by up to 10 people, is the lone exception.
7. Lazarus Island
Also used for picnics is Lazarus. Coconut trees lining the beach provide plenty of shade, and there is also a rain shelter for when it does rain occasionally in the afternoon. Anyone visiting the island should bring everything they’ll need for the day because there are no facilities there (no food, lodging, or restrooms). Visitors arriving on Lazarus Island can concentrate on sunbathing, swimming in the clear waters, and taking walks along the beach because there are no entertainment options available and no development anywhere to be seen.
8. East Coast Beach
The largest park in Singapore stretches 15 kilometers along the southeast coast, right up against the water. The beach is man-made, constructed on reclaimed land, and has many areas for sunbathing, just like most of Singapore. Because of the park’s enormous size, visitors can kayak, windsurf, and swim in peace away from the crowds. When you arrive early in the morning, you’ll see tai chi classes on the beach and lots of people sitting in silence at Bedok Jetty, which overlooks the serene blue waters.
This is a wonderful weekend getaway because there are bike and walking paths, lots of restaurants with ocean views, camping areas, and BBQ pits, so it’s preferable to travel during the week if you want peace. A bustling city is only a few minutes away, but when you’re sitting beneath the swaying coconut palms, it’s easy to forget that.
9. Pulau Ubin Island
When the local granite quarrying industry started to decline, tourists began to travel to Pulau Ubin for other purposes. Numerous endangered bird species live on the island, which is a part of the Ubin-Khatib Important Bird Area (IBA).
The largest rural area in Singapore is Pulau Ubin; there is no urban development, no centralized public transportation, and wooden jetties and villages predominate over cement ones.
10. Kusu Island
From Marina South Pier, a ferry can take passengers to Kusu (or Tortoise) island. Due to the island’s pristine beaches and stunning blue lagoons, visitors are drawn there, but it is still a quiet, off-the-beaten-path location, so there aren’t many people there. Off the coast, snorkeling is excellent, and a stunning Chinese temple is open to visitors.
There are no food stalls and no overnight stays permitted on the island. Bring drinks and snacks with you if you’re planning a meal by the water so you can use the picnic tables and BBQ pits.