Top 10 free things to do at Sentosa

Sun, sand and sea - what could be better than an island getaway?

Singapore's premium island resort, Sentosa, The State of Fun, has an answer to that - adventures aplenty for the whole family and activities that are free! At a time when prices for everything else are only going one way - up, this is a sweet deal few can refuse.

1. Begin at the Boardwalk

Start your island adventure with a stroll along the iconic Sentosa Boardwalk, the first one with a garden-theme in Southeast Asia. It's an easy trek beginning at the waterfront promenade of Singapore's largest mall, VivoCity. Two-way covered travelators let you to take in five tropical landscapes indigenous to Singapore enroute to Sentosa island without breaking out into a sweat.

The Boardwalk is not just a means to an end - there are gastronomic experiences waiting for you with dining and wining options including Brewerkz and The Wine Company. There's no need to pay a premium to dine with a view!

As soon as you're done with that refreshing stroll, you'll be at the entrance to Sentosa to dive into a host of other fun and free things to do!

2. An eggs-perience not to be missed

In celebration of Easter, don't miss the Sentosa Egg Fiesta - Garden Edition along Palawan Beach. Wander through the whimsical displays, snap photos with Humpty Dumpty and in Carrot Land, and indulge in mystical encounters with fairies and bunny characters.

Partake in fun-filled activities egg painting and bunny photo prop making too!

Date: 25 - 27 March 2016 Time: 10am - 3pm Venue: Palawan Beach

3. Encounter intelligent life - of a different kind

Come see the awesome displays of intelligence, agility and responsiveness from Sentosa's animal friends at the Animal & Birds Encounter.

Colourful denizens of the skies - lories, parrots, and cockatoos - put up a daily show at Palawan Amphitheatre. You can even get up close with endearing monkeys and resplendent reptiles to learn more about them.

Daily Programmes from 2pm - 5.30pm

Lory Feeding at the Bird Aviary Live commentary on lories available Time: 2pm - 2.15pm Venue: Bird Aviary

Teach us Wild A close encounter with animals Time: 3pm - 3.30pm

On the Wild Side Multi-animal encounters Time: 5pm - 5.30pm Venue: Palawan Amphitheatre

4. Meet some natural beauties

Vibrant, hardy, resilient - Singapore's national flower, the orchid embodies all these traits. You can enjoy the colourful sights of these flowers from Singapore and Southeast Asia as you stroll through the Orchid Connection. Stretching from Beach Plaza to the Sentosa Merlion, the Eden-esque walkway that is dotted with these colourful flowers is sure to bring out the Instagrammer in you.

5. Go au naturel at Sentosa Nature Discovery

Sentosa Nature Discovery is a fun-filled indoor and outdoor journey nestled within Sentosa's large cluster of attractions.

Begin indoors with the two-storey information gallery, a treasure trove of fun facts and colourful, and discover interactive exhibits on wildlife and their habitats. Learn to identify species of birds and insects by their sounds, polish your sleuthing skills to find "clues" they leave behind, and participate in some hands-on activities.

With your interest in nature piqued, the trail will take you outdoors to the Imbiah rainforest where nature becomes an immersive experience.

Then, follow the 1.8-kilometre trek along the Nature Walk through a secondary rainforest. Here, you will get up close with the birds, insects, wildlife habitats, and plants of Sentosa.

If you're lucky, you may spot long-tailed macaques, squirrels, geckos, and over 20 different species of birds.

Opening Time: 9am - 5pm daily

6. Be on top of the world at the Fort Siloso Skywalk

When you are done observing the birds from below, get a change of perspective by going up 11 storeys (181 metres) onto the Fort Siloso Skywalk for a bird's eye view of the lush greenery and wildlife on the western side of Sentosa.

The scenic trek which leads to the historic Fort Siloso will bring you above the treetops, providing a clear view of the surrounding waters dotted with ships and boats, too. Get a thrill by looking down below through glass-bottomed floors.

Opening Time: 9am - 7pm daily

7. Step back in time at Fort Siloso

History buffs are in for a treat at Fort Siloso. It is Singapore's only preserved coastal fort, and has a rich memorabilia of pre-WWII and WWII-era. During World War II, its guns were turned landward to support the ground troops fighting the Japanese invasion from the north.

Today, you can see these same guns that were once part of Singapore's first line of defence as you walk through the remains of the fortified military structures and tunnels.

Guided tours are also available for a more detailed historical account of the area.

Opening Time: 10am - 6pm daily (Last entry at 5.30pm)

8. Take selfies with the Merlion

Put on your camera best and snap a selfie with the legendary half-lion, half-fish guardian at the Merlion Plaza.

The mythical creature is a personification of Singapore's history as a port city and a play on the country's original name, Singapura (Lion City).

9. Light up the night

Stay on at the Merlion Plaza for the Sentosa Merlion Magic Lights #FUN. Until March 31, 2016, watch the icon come to live with an amazing display of 3D display of video, light and sound that will surely capture your imagination.

Date: Until March 31, 2016 Show Time: 7.45pm, 8.15pm, 8.45pm, 9.15pm (Weekdays) 7.45pm, 8.15pm, 8.45pm, 9.15pm, 9.45pm, 10.15pm (Weekends, Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays) Venue: Merlion Plaza

10. Watch the love birds

End the night with another magical lights and sound show.

The Crane Dance™ is a modern re-telling of a classical Asian folktale about a pair of mechanical cranes and their love for each other which transforms them into real birds.

Created by an Emmy-winning designer, the star of the show is a pair of 10-storey tall mechanical cranes, each weighing some 80 tonnes. Despite their heft, they move with ballet-like grace in a touching courtship ritual that combines ground-breaking audio and visual technologies.

The 10-minute display accompanied by heart-pounding music and spectacular light and water effects is the largest dancing animatronics performance in the world.

Show time: 8pm daily Venue: Waterfront Station

MasterCard® cardholders get to enjoy discounts of up to 20 per cent and special packages for these adventure zones. For more details, check out: https://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/mastercard/

Share with us a FUN experience you have had with your loved ones at The State of Fun. What about that day made it so memorable?

Stand a chance to win a $50 food & beverage voucher from Coastes and tickets for four to the catch the Wings of Time!

Email your responses to digitalmktg@sph.com.sg