This is the complete step-by-step guide on how to get to Palawan Beach Sentosa using public transportation. Regardless of whether you were living full-time in Singapore or visiting as a tourist, this article will provide you with all the details to make this trip to one of Sentosa’s nicest beaches completely stress-free.
We are providing this information based on her personal travel experience going to Palawan beach using two different modes of transportation:
- MRT
- Sentosa Express
One of the primary benefits of visiting Singapore is that you can almost completely rely on forms of public transportation to get around the city. Simply book a convenient room within walking distance of a station. This is also particularly true when you are visiting Palawan Beach. You can literally land at Changi Airport and make it right to the beach without spending a penny on a taxi or private car. By the end of this guide, we want to make sure that you save both time and money getting around Singapore, visiting the top attractions on Sentosa Island.
You can buy a Sentosa Fun Pass online in advance and save money getting into the top attractions.
Why should you visit Palawan Beach on Sentosa Island, Singapore?
Palawan Beach is a very popular spot with beachgoers living in Singapore and families looking to have some fun in the sun. It is located along the scenic southwestern shoreline of Sentosa Island. It has been popularized because of its suspension bridge which links beach-goers to the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia.
Aside from chilling and enjoying some beachside drinks and snacks, a popular activity here is to walk from Palawan Beach to Palawan Island. You can capture great photos of the beach from the island.
Also, keep in mind that Palawan Beach is surrounded by many other world-class attractions on Sentosa Island. This is one of the most developed tourist islands in all of Asia. Therefore, it’s possible to explore adjacent beaches (Siloso and Tanjong) as well as attractions such as Resorts World within the same day, or part of the same itinerary.
Palawan Beach is situated between Siloso and Tanjong, so you might want to check all three out and see if Palawan is your favourite?
Conveniently, Palawan Beach is also within walking distance to some of the best hotels on all of Sentosa Island such as The Capella Singapore (5-star, rated 8.9/10). Consider staying right near the beach for the ultimate island getaway.
Getting to Palawan Beach using MRT and Sentosa Express
Step 1: Book your room right beside an MRT Station.
One of the first decisions that you can make when you are planning your itinerary for Singapore is booking accommodation that is within direct walking distance of an MRT station. Unlike most cities, Singapore is really well connected with public transportation.
By staying close to a station you will be sure to save:
- Money
- Time
- The Environment
Conveniently, accommodation developers have figured out that people want to stay close to the MRT. This makes it possible to choose from many different properties throughout the city and even on Sentosa Island that are only one or two minutes away from stations.
Although there are literally more than a hundred examples that we could choose from, here are a few examples below that receive positive review scores:
Fairmont Singapore (8.9/10 Review Score) (Esplanade Station)
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore (9.3/10 Review Score) (City Hall Station)
Step 2: Purchase an MRT Ticket to HarbourFront Station
The first sector of this trip to Palawan Beach on Sentosa island using public transportation requires you to take the MRT to HarbourFront Station. Before you can get on the train, however, you have to decide on what kind of ticket you were going to use.
There are two main ticket options for the MRT in Singapore:
- Buy and load up a stored value card
- Purchase a Singapore Tourist Pass
Cards – Popular with Long-Term Visitors and Residents
Stored value cards are the most popular option for people staying in Singapore for a longer period of time. This includes Singaporeans, ex-pats and tourists spending over three days in the city. These are cards that you purchase and then you can top up with cash. Then, when you want to use the MRT all you have to do is just simply tap the card to enter and exit the station. cards will help you to avoid waiting in line to buy tickets at the ticketing machines. Also, the cost per trip is less than a single journey ticket. The only downside is that you may have to work on getting a refund when you do leave Singapore. When we were discovering how to get to Palawan Beach Sentosa using public transportation for the first time, we used an ez-link card. This is a type of stored value card.
COST SAVING TIP: We strongly recommend buying a multiple attraction pass like the Sentosa Fun Pass to save money on entrance fees. Singapore is loaded with awesome attractions, but they can get costly. Buy several passes at the same time and save money!
Singapore tourist passes are designed for short-term guests to the city. You can purchase these cards for a set duration of time from 1 to 3 days. Then you are allowed unlimited transportation on buses and MRT while in the city. These passes are the best option if you are a busy traveller and plan on making a lot of short trips throughout the city.
Once you have decided what kind of ticket you are going to use, you will have to purchase a ticket to HarbourFront Station.
This is the station that you have to first go to in order to reach Palawan Beach on Sentosa Island.
Step 3: Take the MRT to HarbourFront Station
HarbourFront Station is located on the North-East Line (represented in purple colour on the train map). Knowing the line that you are travelling on and the adjacent station to Harbourfront can help to remind you of when to get off the train.
The station before HarbourFront is Outram Park.
You can expect to hear verbal announcements on the train to alert you of the next upcoming station. Therefore, when you hear Outram Park Station being announced it’s a good idea to get closer to one of the exits especially during peak travel times.
There are also signs above the exits on the trains to show you where you are on the line.
Step 4: Get off at HarbourFront and walk to Sentosa Express Monorail Station.
You cannot take the MRT directly to Palawan Beach. You have to transfer at HarbourFront to the Sentosa Express Monorail System.
Take Exit E to get out of HarbourFront Station.
Walk to VivoCity shopping mall.
Follow the signs to the third floor.
On the third floor, you will find the Sentosa Express Monorail Station.
*** Note: Keep in mind that it is also possible to walk to Sentosa or take a shuttle bus from HarbourFront Station to Palawan Beach. The walk is long, especially in Singapore’s heat!
Step 5: Buy a ticket for Sentosa Express train to Beach Station
Next up, get your cash out and purchase a Sentosa Express train ticket to Beach Station. You can do this in the ticketing office in VivoCity Mall.
Board the train and enjoy the short ride! Once you arrive at the Beach Station get off the train. As its name suggests, this is the best station to access Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach and Tanjong Beach.
Step 6: Take the shuttle or walk to Palawan Beach.
Upon arrival at Beach Station you will have two choices:
- Take the beach shuttle to Palawan Beach or….
- Walk to Palawan Beach
The beach shuttle leaves the station area every 10 minutes or so. It usually takes about 4-5 minutes to reach Palawan Beach.
Also, walking is a good alternative if it isn’t too hot outside while you are getting to the beach. The walking distance from Beach Station to Palawan is about 700 meters and this should take you about 10 minutes.
Where should you stay near Palawan Beach?
Singapore is one of the best cities in the entire world when it comes to finding amazing luxury hotels.
But there is a catch.
Singapore is not a cheap place to visit because the accommodation is quite expensive relative to other countries in Southeast Asia. If spending isn’t an issue, then you can choose from some of the best properties anywhere. The reality, however, is that most people struggle to afford high-end hotels in Singapore unless they are business travellers.
Therefore, you are going to have to make a decision about what your budget is for accommodation in Singapore and whether or not you actually want to physically stay on Sentosa Island. Staying near Palawan Beach on Sentosa Island can be very convenient if you plan on going to Resorts World and you want to capture some beautiful views while you are there. There is lots to see and do!
We have researched some of the best properties near Palawan Beach. If you do have the cash and budget for better, more luxurious options on Sentosa Island then you might want to try one of the properties listed below:
Capella Singapore (5-star, rated 9/10)
Capella The Club Residences Singapore (5-star, rated 8.8/10)
The Outpost Hotel Sentosa by Far East Hospitality (5-star, rated 8.9/10)
W Singapore – Sentosa Cove (5-star, rated 8.7/10)
Another option is booking a room in the city center and then using this guide to get to and from Sentosa Island. Areas such as Chinatown, Clarke Quay and Little India have a wide range of more affordable hotels in comparison to what is located on Sentosa Island.
Additional questions about your trip to Palawan Beach using public MRT?
We hope that this step by step guide on getting to Palawan Beach has been detailed enough so that it is a stress-free connection. One of the benefits of visiting Sentosa is that you can easily check out four or five different attractions in a single day as opposed to making multiple trips to the island.
Sentosa island has everything from world-class golf courses to some of the best family attractions in all of Southeast Asia. It can feel a bit overwhelming, however. Therefore we strongly suggest that you take the time to think about where you want to stay and what specific attractions you want to experience while you were on the island. You might want to explore the beaches one day and then go to Resorts World another day. Alternatively, you might want to check out Fort Siloso or the golf courses. The big idea here is that you should pack a lot of refreshments if you’re heading to Sentosa because the weather can get hot and there are lots of things to see and do while you are on the island.
Other things to See and Do…
Technically, you literally could spend a week on Sentosa island checking out different sites and activities. There is literally something for everyone. In general, the island does have a bit more of a family friendly vibe opposed to a party vibe. But that doesn’t mean that there are not restaurants and bars available for older patrons.
Even though this guide is written to get you to Siloso Beach you can also get to adjacent beaches by following similar directions. The adjacent beaches to Siloso are:
Palawan Beach
Tanjong Beach
If you have the energy you can walk between these beaches but most tourists take 10 to take the beach shuttle due to Singapore’s extreme heat during the day. Sentosa island also has Resorts World that is the biggest drawing card on the island. If you are a golfer there are also some world-class golf clubs on Sentosa that you can try out as well. Generally, they tend to be quite expensive relative to other golf courses in Southeast Asia but if you do have the money you can expect high quality greens and fairways.