The Mount Faber Cable Car

The cable car opened in 1974 to link Mount Faber with the island of Sentosa, and it remains one of the more enjoyable ways to move around the south of the island, swinging out from the hilltop station over the container terminals, cruise berths and the harbour before arriving above Sentosa's beaches. The view takes in the whole working port, which is one of the busiest on earth and a genuinely impressive sight, along with the strait, the offshore islands and Indonesia beyond on a clear day. A second line runs along Sentosa itself. Cabins include glass-bottomed ones for an extra charge, and the ride is often taken after dark when the port lights and the city skyline are at their best. Mount Faber station has viewpoints and a park at the top of the Southern Ridges walk.

History

The idea came up in 1968, building began in 1972 at a cost of S$5.8 million, and Goh Keng Swee opened the line on 15 February 1974, the second aerial ropeway in the world to span a harbour, after Barcelona's of 1931. It was rebuilt as a modern gondola, reopening on 21 July 2010, and the Sentosa Line opened on 14 July 2015 (Wikipedia, Singapore Cable Car).

What's there

• The harbour crossing - the span over the container port and cruise terminal.
• The port view - one of the world's busiest harbours seen from above.
• Mount Faber park - the hilltop viewpoints at the mainland station.
• The night ride - the port and skyline lit after dark.

When to go

Year-round; late afternoon and evening are best, both for the temperature and for the lights. It runs late into the night. Weekends and school holidays are busy, and the queue at HarbourFront can be long. Storms suspend the service.

Good to know

It is expensive for a short ride, and there are cheaper and faster ways to reach Sentosa, including a boardwalk you can walk for free; the cable car is worth it for the view rather than the transport. Glass-bottom cabins cost more and add little. Service stops in thunderstorms, which are frequent.

Nearby

Sentosa's beaches and attractions are at one end; the Southern Ridges walk starts at Mount Faber.

Key facts