What to expect
Sentosa is an island of beaches and paid attractions, joined to the mainland by a covered boardwalk that takes about ten minutes to walk and costs nothing on foot. The beaches are man-made and the sand was imported, which bothers some people and not others. What is genuinely good is the western end: a hillside fort with tunnels and gun batteries, reached by a raised walkway through the tree canopy, and considerably quieter than the beach strip.
Getting there
HarbourFront on the North East and Circle lines, then the boardwalk from the mall's third floor. Walking in is free; the monorail and cable car both charge. The boardwalk has moving walkways and shade for most of its length.
When to go
Early or late. The beaches are exposed and the middle of the day is hard work. Weekday mornings are the quietest by a wide margin. Public holidays are best avoided entirely unless crowds are the point.
What a resident would tell you
Almost everyone pays for the monorail without realising the boardwalk is free, sheltered and barely slower. The walk also gives you the better view of the harbour.
Worth knowing
Costs mount here faster than anywhere else in Singapore. Entry to the island on foot is free, but most things on it are individually ticketed, and a family day can become expensive without any single decision feeling extravagant. Decide what you are doing before you arrive.
If it rains. Beaches are fully exposed. The tealrium is the indoor backup.