Singapore
When
Feb to April | July to Sept
Price
From 1 700€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
4 nights
Ideal length
Sentosa, an island connected to Singapore by a bridge, a cable car, and a monorail, was still a British military base as late as the 1960s, nicknamed Pulau Blakang Mati, the "island of death from behind," before being converted into a leisure destination starting in 1972. Its artificial beaches lined with imported sand, its historic forts dating from the Second World War, and its immediate proximity to Singapore's skyscrapers make it an improbable escape in the heart of the city-state.
Sentosa, known until the 1970s as Pulau Blakang Mati, served as a British and then Japanese military base during the Second World War, before the Singaporean government decided in 1972 to convert it into a leisure destination and rename it Sentosa, meaning "peace and tranquillity" in Malay. The forts of Siloso and Fort Serapong, with their cannons still in place facing the sea, now bear witness to this military past within an island now devoted to beaches and theme parks.
Beyond Sentosa, Singapore's Southern Islands archipelago, reachable by boat from Marina South pier, remains largely unknown to visitors despite quiet beaches and hiking trails offering a rare view over the Singapore Strait and the cargo ships passing through it. St John's Island and Lazarus Island, linked by a pedestrian causeway, allow for an improbable escape from urban bustle, less than an hour's boat ride from downtown.
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A Sentosa Beach Resort
A beachfront resort on Sentosa Island, infinity pools facing the sea, within walking distance of the historic forts and artificial beaches.
A Boutique Hotel Facing the Southern Islands
A boutique hotel near Marina South pier, a convenient base for taking a boat to the Southern Islands, rooms overlooking the Singapore Strait.
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