7 Reasons To Head To Sentosa HarbourFront This Christmas Season

If you think Christmas in Singapore sees the same old bag of tricks every year, you’ve probably never been to Sentosa HarbourFront during the festive season. Skip the usual lights of town and head south instead, where you’ll be spoilt for choice a massive number of leisurely activities for the whole family.

Enjoy the myriad dining promotions and entertainment programmes happening at VivoCity and Mount Faber, or take a short monorail ride into The State of Fun to find everything from expansive beaches and idyllic coves to the magical marine world of S.E.A aquarium. These, for us, are the seven highlights at Sentosa HarbourFront this Christmas season:

Dining in the sky at Faber Peak
faber-peak - sentosa christmas 2016

For the whole month of December, couples can – literally – get high on happiness. At $288 per pair, Dining on Cloud 9 in the iconic Singapore Cable Car takes you through three cycles of the journey between Sentosa and Faber Peak over a lavish four-course set menu. It takes approximately two hours, and includes a glass of sparkling wine each and a box of chocolates. Similarly, a Celebration Cabin ($488 per cabin) on New Year’s Eve lets you ring in 2017 with your very own private space and unparalleled views of the fireworks display!

When: 1 to 31 December 2016

A dazzling mechanical Christmas tree under the stars
vivocity - sentosa christmas 2016

As VivoCity turns 10 years, be serenaded and mesmerised by a massive 107 feet mechanical Christmas tree at its rooftop Sky Park, showcasing a captivating light display and heartwarming festive tunes at 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm daily. On select days (3, 4, 10, 11, 17, & 18 Dec), look forward to traditional Christmas performances, carolling sessions, handbell performances, as well as a roving Santa Claus spreading some festive cheer at 4.30pm & 6.30pm!

When: 28 November – 26 December 2016

Win vouchers & prizes at HarbourFront Centre and VivoCity
harbourfrontcentre

Stand to win a 4-night trip for two to Dubai, or an attractive family package to Legoland Malaysia when you spend a minimum of $50 at HarbourFront Centre and join in the Christmas Lucky Draw. Are you a Friend of HFC? If so, you’ll get double the chances to win!

Over at VivoCity, redeem a $10 Mapletree voucher whenever you spend a minimum of $250. American Express Card Members need only spend $200 to walk away with both a $10 Mapletree voucher and a $10 Starbucks gift card!

When: 28 November – 26 December 2016 (VivoCity) / 3 January 2017 (HarbourFront Centre)

Month-long festive menus

christmas-brunch - sentosa christmas 2016
Capella Singapore

During the entirety of December over at Jamie’s Italian, savour Christmas-inspired Italian dishes ($49.90 for three-course lunch and $65.90 for dinner) by the celebrity chef, or tuck into a festive four-course menu ($68) at Amara Sanctuary‘s Shutters restaurant.

On Christmas Eve, celebrate with your family over a Christmas Mediterranean-inspired meal at Capella Singapore‘s The Knolls. Starting from $78, choose from either a three, four, or five-course meal at the restaurant housed within the hotel’s tranquil grounds. Come Christmas Day, indulge in a hearty brunch ($228) in the Grand Ballroom, which will be transformed into a bustling marketplace with live food stations and live music.

From 23 to 25 December, Le Méridien Singapore‘s buffet dinner feast ($98 on 24th, $69 on 23rd & 25th) will be filled with international dishes like Coq au Vin, Roasted Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing, and Seafood in Pernod Cream au Gratin, along with desserts such as Éclair Croquembouche and  Christmas Whisky Pudding.

When: See individual venues for dates

Award-winning light displays at Universal Studios Singapore

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Photo courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa

Universal Studios Singapore is spreading the Christmas mood with an all-new Santa’s Village, fireworks on select nights, as well as The Universal Journey light display. The latter holds the Guinness World Record for largest light bulb display in an indoor venue with a staggering 824,961 light bulbs!

When: 1 December 2016 – 2 January 2016

Meet the wonders of the ocean at S.E.A Aquarium
sea-aquarium - sentosa christmas 2016

See the magic of the ocean in S.E.A Aquarium‘s Merry Fishmas! Watch Scuba Santa and his elves in action, listen to the fascinating stories about marine conservation as told by Mrs Santa, and go on a tour to discover marine animals you’ve probably never heard of, such as the Cowfish and rare Shark Ray. Admission to the aquarium is priced at $34 per adult and $24 for children aged 4 to 12.

When: 1 December 2016 – 2 January 2017, 10am – 11pm daily

A Christmas Wonderland at Sentosa Cove
quayside-isle - sentosa christmas 2016

As if Sentosa Cove isn’t already picturesque enough, Quayside Isle has been transformed into a fairytale Christmas Wonderland full of bubble-themed displays, interactive installations, dazzling light showcases, and a medley of entertainment programmes for all ages. Also, don’t miss exclusive festive dining promotions at Quayside Isle’s restaurants and speciality stores, including the likes of Kith, &Made Burger, Museo, and Greenwood Fish Market.

When: 18 November – 31 December 2016

Ring in the New Year with epic countdown parties
sentosa christmas 2016

All good things must come to an end, so why not do it with a bang? Bid farewell to 2016 and welcome 2017 in style with the 10th edition of the iconic Siloso Beach Party (tickets start from $48). That’s 12 hours of unbridled revelry, fun, colourful fireworks, and high-octane electronic beats by Dutch DJ Quintino and a line-up of Singapore’s best DJs.

For a more picturesque finale, head over to Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa for a grand party ($88 for free-flow bespoke mocktails or $248++ for free-flow premium champagne) right beside the resort’s stunning 33-metre pool, with the breathtaking South China Sea at your back. Otherwise, walk down to Amara Sanctuary Resort‘s Tier Bar for a Festive Street Fest ($58), featuring a line-up of tapas, a dessert buffet, and guest DJs spinning tunes from 8pm to late.

When: Saturday, 31 December 2016


From now until 31 December 2016, stay tuned to SHBA’s Facebook page and Instagram account (@sentosa_harbourfront) to find out how to win attractive prizes, including staycation packages at Amara Sanctuary Resort & Spa and W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, as well as Christmas buffets and dining vouchers.

This post is sponsored by the Singapore HarbourFront Business Association.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE, Universal Globe logo, and all Universal elements and related indicia TM & © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

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Deputy Editor

Gary is one of those proverbial jack of all trades… you know the rest. When not writing about lifestyle and culture, he dabbles in photography, graphic design, plays four instruments and is a professional wearer of bowties. His greatest weakness: spending more money on clothes than he probably should. Find him across the social world as @grimlay