The first time I stood in the queue at iFly Singapore, a man in front of me was explaining to his teenage son that he had "basically done this before" because he once watched a skydiving documentary. Ten minutes later he was lying stiffly on a net, jaw clenched, listening to an instructor tell him to relax his legs. Nobody has done this before, not really. Even people who have jumped out of an aeroplane find that a vertical wind tunnel asks a different question of your body. This guide is what I would have wanted in my hands before that first visit: where the place actually is, how a session really runs, what to wear, what it costs, how to fill the rest of the day on Sentosa, and the small mistakes that make visitors feel clumsier than they need to.
One correction before anything else. An older version of this page placed iFly out at Changi Business Park and described a 60-metre drop. Neither is right, and if you plan your day around that you will end up on the wrong side of the island. iFly Singapore sits on Siloso Beach on Sentosa, in a tall glass cylinder you can spot from the beach walk. The flight chamber is a wind tunnel, not a drop, so there is no falling at all: you float on a column of air. I have rewritten the whole guide with that in mind, and where I am not certain of an exact figure, such as a ticket price that changes with the season, I say so rather than invent a number.
What indoor skydiving actually is
Strip away the marketing and the idea is simple. A set of large fans pushes air upward through a vertical glass tunnel at roughly the speed you would reach in free fall, somewhere around 200 kilometres an hour at the top setting for experienced flyers, and much gentler for beginners. When you lie flat on that air, your body weight is balanced by the force of the wind, and you hover. That is the whole trick. There is no harness holding you up, no cable, no parachute. What keeps you safe is a padded tunnel, a flight suit, a helmet, goggles, and an instructor who stands in the chamber door and steers you with hand signals and a firm grip on your suit when needed.
What surprises first-timers is how physical and how quiet it is. Quiet, because you wear earplugs under the helmet and the world narrows to the instructor's hands. Physical, because holding a relaxed arch for sixty seconds uses muscles you did not know you had, mostly across the lower back and thighs. Most people describe the first flight as one part panic, one part giggling, and one part concentration, in about that order. By the second flight your body starts to understand what it is being asked to do, and that is the moment people begin to grin properly.
It also helps to understand why people do this when they could simply book a rollercoaster. A coaster happens to you. In the tunnel you are doing something, however small, and the air answers you back. Bend your knees a little and you drift up. Straighten them and you sink. That cause-and-effect loop is why there are professional flyers who train in tunnels all year, and why teams compete in indoor flying events. For a visitor, it translates into a short activity that feels like you have learned a real skill, which is a rare thing on a holiday itinerary.
Where it is and how to get there
iFly Singapore is on Siloso Beach, the western stretch of Sentosa's beaches, among the beach clubs and the walkway that runs down the shoreline. If you are coming from the mainland, you have four sensible ways onto the island, and the one you choose changes the feel of your day more than you would expect.
| Route | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sentosa Express monorail | Board at VivoCity, ride into the island, then walk or hop on the beach shuttle to Siloso | Most visitors, rain or shine |
| Singapore Cable Car | Glide over the harbour from Mount Faber or HarbourFront to Sentosa | Making the journey part of the day out |
| Walking the boardwalk | Cross the pedestrian boardwalk from VivoCity | Cooler mornings and travellers on a budget |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | Drive over the causeway, with an island entry charge added to the fare | Families with strollers or tired grandparents |
My own favourite is the monorail for convenience, and the cable car on a day when I am not in a hurry. The Singapore Cable Car is not the cheapest way over, it starts around S$31.50, but the view of the container port and the strait is genuinely worth the fare, and it drops you close to the heart of Sentosa. If you would rather bundle a ride with an evening show, the Wings of Time and cable car combination, from about S$38.09, is a neat way to cover both.
Once on the island, Siloso is a fifteen to twenty minute walk from the monorail's beach stop if you are patient, or a few minutes on the free beach shuttle bus. Leave a little slack. Your session has a fixed start time, and the check-in window is not generous. I have watched people sprint up the boardwalk with a coffee in each hand, arriving flustered and sweaty before they had even put on the flight suit. Arrive twenty minutes early, sit down, drink some water, and use the toilet. You will be glad you did.
How a session really runs, step by step
The structure is the same for almost every first-timer package, even when the headline offer changes from one promotion to another. Here is the sequence as I remember it.
Check-in and waiver. You hand over your booking confirmation, sign a health and liability waiver, and get a wristband or sticker. Read the waiver properly. It asks about shoulder or neck problems, back trouble, recent surgery, heart conditions and pregnancy. If any of them apply, say so at the desk rather than guessing, because a staff member will usually have a better sense of what is allowed than you will.
Briefing. A group of perhaps eight to twelve people sits in a classroom-style room and watches a short video, then an instructor walks through the body position. The position is called the "banana": chin up, chest forward, arms out in front and slightly bent, hips pushed down, legs bent behind you at a relaxed angle. It looks silly on a screen and feels stranger when you try it on the floor. You also learn the hand signals, because nobody can hear you in the tunnel. Thumbs up means fine, a downward pointing finger means straighten up, and so on. Pay attention here. The ten minutes you spend with your eyes on the instructor are the ten minutes that decide whether your first flight is a graceful hover or an undignified tumble.
Kitting up. You are given a flight suit, a helmet, goggles and earplugs. Take off anything that could come loose: watches, necklaces, earrings if you can, phones, keys. Everything goes in a locker. If you wear glasses, speak to the staff, because goggles usually fit over some frames and not others. Long hair needs tying back firmly, and a loose ponytail under a helmet still whips about, so a tighter braid or bun works better.
The flights. Your group waits in a viewing area next to the tunnel, and each person takes a turn. You step through the door, lean forward into the air, and the instructor takes over. A typical first flight lasts about a minute, which sounds short until you are the one doing it, at which point it feels like both a very long time and almost no time at all. Then you step out, the next person goes in, and you wait your turn for the second flight. Many beginner packages include two flights, though you should check the exact offer on the day you book.
Afterwards. You return the gear, collect your belongings, and, if you bought it, pick up your flight certificate or video. The whole visit, from walking in to walking out, tends to run somewhere between one and a half and three hours depending on how busy the day is. It is not a two-hour affair in which you fall for an hour, as an earlier draft of this guide claimed. Most of the time is preparation and waiting, and the flying itself adds up to a couple of minutes.
What to wear and what to leave behind
The flight suit goes over your clothes, so the aim is comfort and nothing that will bunch up or flap. Here is the practical list, built from watching what went wrong for other people.
| Item | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Shoes | Closed, flat trainers with laces tied firmly | Sandals, slides, heels, boots |
| Clothes | Light T-shirt and shorts or leggings | Thick hoodies, jeans with heavy pockets |
| Hair | Tight braid or bun | Loose ponytail, hair clips |
| Jewellery | Leave it in the hotel safe | Rings, long necklaces, dangling earrings |
| Contact lenses | Fine for most people under goggles | Wearing dry eyes after a long flight without drops |
| Food | A light snack an hour before | A heavy meal, a big fizzy drink |
On the food point: I once ate a large plate of chicken rice at a Sentosa food court twenty minutes before my session. Nothing disastrous happened, but lying face down over a column of air with a full stomach is not a sensation I would repeat. Have something light and eat properly afterwards, when you will be hungrier than you expect anyway.
Bring a small bag with a change of T-shirt. Singapore is hot and humid, and even with a short flight you will be sweating inside the suit. A light towel helps. Leave valuables at your hotel if you can, because lockers on site are for the session, not for storing a full day's baggage.
Who can fly, and who should think twice
Indoor skydiving is more inclusive than most thrill rides, because there is no height bar in the usual sense and no sudden drops. Even so, there are limits, and they are about safety rather than fitness. Operators generally set a minimum age, and it is lower than most parents expect, but it varies by facility and by what the operator currently allows, so check before you promise a seven-year-old anything. The same goes for upper weight limits and for how tall a flyer can be, since the air column has to support you evenly.
People with shoulder dislocations, recent fractures, spinal problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart conditions are usually asked not to fly. Pregnant visitors are generally advised against it. If you are unsure, speak to your doctor before you book and bring any note you have. The waiver is not a formality, and the staff are used to people who ask awkward questions. An older version of this page suggested children from eight with an adult, and a vague "consult a doctor" for pregnancy. I would rather you confirm the current rules directly with the operator, because they are the ones who decide on the day.
For nervous first-timers, here is the honest reassurance. You cannot fall. The worst realistic outcome is that you bounce lightly against the soft tunnel wall and an instructor steers you back. Most fear is about the unknown, and the briefing does a good job of draining it. If you are a person who hates not being in control, tell your instructor in the briefing. They will usually hold you closer during the flight.
Costs, and what drives them up or down
I am going to be careful here, because iFly's pricing shifts with promotions, with weekday versus weekend, and with the package you pick. The older version of this guide quoted a flat SGD 120 to 150 per person. As a rough planning figure for a standard first-timer package of two flights, that is not a ridiculous range, but I would treat it as a starting point and check the live price before you set your budget. Prices on the operator's own page are what count, and nothing I write here replaces them.
| What changes the price | Typical effect |
|---|---|
| Number of flights | Each extra flight adds to the total, though extra flights often cost less each |
| Weekend or public holiday | Higher demand, and sometimes a higher price |
| Group size | Family and group packages can lower the per-person cost |
| Photo and video add-ons | Optional extras you decide on at the time |
| Seasonal promotions | Occasional offers in quieter months |
To keep a day on Sentosa from getting expensive, think of the flight as the splurge and pad the rest with cheaper pleasures: the beach itself is free, the walkways are free, and hawker-style food courts on the island are far cheaper than the beachfront restaurants. If you want a guideline for the whole trip's money, Singapore's travel profile in our data puts a comfortable day at somewhere between S$150 and S$400 per person, depending on how much you eat out and how many attractions you book.
The best time to go
Because the tunnel is indoors, rain does not cancel your flight, which is a quiet advantage in a tropical city. Where timing matters is crowds and comfort on the walk to and from the venue. Weekday mornings are the calmest. Weekends and school holidays are busier, and on a public holiday the queue at check-in can be long. Late afternoon slots feel more relaxed in the heat, since you have the beach to cool off on afterwards.
Climate-wise, Singapore is hot and humid all year. The drier stretch runs roughly from December to June, while November to January brings the heaviest rain. In practice that means an umbrella in your bag and a plan B for the beach, but your flight is unaffected. If you want to pair iFly with outdoor attractions, such as the beach, the cable car or a hike, the drier months are friendlier.
One more timing note. Do not stack your flight directly before a long-haul departure or a big dinner reservation. Give yourself buffer. The session length is predictable in theory and flexible in practice, because groups run behind when a first-timer needs a second attempt at the body position.
Building a full day around the tunnel
The flight itself is a small slice of the day, which makes Sentosa a good base. Here is a loose plan I have used with visitors, with the caveat that you should shuffle things around to fit your own energy.
Morning. Take the monorail or the cable car over early, before the heat settles in. Walk the beach for a while, and have a light breakfast. If you plan to try the zip-based or high-up activities, this is the time, because your stomach is calm and your legs are fresh.
Late morning. Do your iFly session. Mornings suit a first flight because the venue is quieter and your body has not yet been tired out by walking.
Lunch. Eat properly. Singapore does not make this difficult, and the food courts around Sentosa offer a fair spread of local plates. Chicken rice is a classic, and laksa is worth a try if you have not had it, a coconut curry noodle soup with prawns and fishcake that tastes better the more humid the day.
Afternoon. This is the flexible part. Families often head to Sentosa 4D AdventureLand, which is around S$43.05 and works well for younger children. Thrill-seekers can look at Mega Adventure Park, from S$59.00, with its zip line, climbing and obstacle courses. For something gentler, the SkyHelix Sentosa bundle, from S$27.86, is a slow rotating seat that lifts you above the treeline for a view over the island and the sea.
Evening. End with a show. Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony runs after dark with water, light and fire effects on the beach, and it is around S$35.11. It makes a calm finish after a physical day.
If iFly is only one stop on a bigger Singapore trip
Many visitors build iFly into a three or four day city break. The shape of those days depends on the traveller, so here is how I would sequence them, using attractions that sit well together geographically.
| Day | Focus | Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Marina Bay | Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer, the SkyPark observation deck |
| Day 2 | Sentosa | iFly, the beach, an evening show |
| Day 3 | Wildlife | Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, River Wonders, Night Safari |
| Day 4 | Culture and food | Chinatown, Kampong Glam, hawker centres |
The Marina Bay day is a natural opener. Gardens by the Bay is the headline, with prices starting around S$33.94, and the Singapore Flyer is about S$46.00. The Flyer is a large observation wheel and works best near sunset, when the light turns the bay copper and the skyline begins to glow. If you are short on time, choose one or the other, not both.
The wildlife day is a separate commitment and deserves a full day. The Singapore Zoo is from about S$46.17, and Night Safari is around S$54.24. Because those parks sit together in the Mandai area, it pays to arrange transport in advance so you are not stuck hunting for a ride after dark.
If you are travelling with friends who are not into thrills, remember that you do not have to fly to enjoy the beach side of Sentosa. Siloso has a viewing deck near the tunnel where non-flyers can watch through the glass. It is one of the better free spectacles on the island, particularly if you want to see your own group in action and capture a few photos from outside.
Entry rules and paperwork for visitors from abroad
The flight does not require any special visa, but getting into Singapore does need some planning, and it is worth sorting out before you buy anything non-refundable. A typical short stay for many passports is visa-free. For others, in particular holders of passports that the immigration authority treats as requiring a visa, the process runs through an authorised agent or a local sponsor. In our own records the fee for one common route is around SGD 30, and processing is often quoted at three to five working days, longer at peak periods. All short-term visitors, visa-free or not, also need to submit the SG Arrival Card online within three days before arrival.
The simplest advice is to check your own situation on our visa requirements pages, which list who needs what, how long it takes and where facts were last verified. If you want help with the application itself, our team can guide you through it. The mistake I see most often is travellers who plan every Sentosa moment and leave the entry paperwork until the week before departure.
A related note on flights. Some embassies and visa centres ask for proof of an onward or return itinerary before they will process an application, and not everyone wants to buy a full fare ticket before the visa decision comes back. If that is you, our flight reservation service provides a dated reservation to attach to your application. It is a reservation for visa purposes, not an issued ticket, so do not treat it as a boarding document, and always follow the rules of the authority you are applying to.
Getting around Singapore on the cheap
Public transport is excellent and a good way to see how locals live. The MRT and buses cover almost every area, and a stored-value card makes it painless: tap in, tap out, no coins. An EZ-Link card is around S$12.00, and you can top it up at MRT stations and convenience stores. For the airport, taxis and private transfers are available if you arrive late or travel with heavy bags.
Keeping data on your phone is the other practical choice. An eSIM bought before you leave means you land online, which matters when you are juggling ride-hailing and your session time. Options such as the Eskimo Global eSIM, from about S$9.00, are straightforward to install before the flight. Check that your phone supports eSIM first.
Small mistakes that make the day worse
After enough visits you start to notice the same slips. People turn up in sandals and have to rent or borrow shoes. They forget to bring photo ID, which matters if the operator asks for it. They book the last slot of the day, leave themselves no margin, and spend the afternoon watching the clock. They skip the briefing, nod along, and then tense up in the tunnel. They fight the air. If you remember one thing from this guide, make it this: relax. The harder you push against the wind, the more it pushes back. A soft, slightly arched body floats, and a rigid body wobbles.
Another frequent mistake is treating photos as an afterthought. Cameras are not allowed in the chamber, and phones certainly are not, so what you get is what the operator records. Decide in advance whether you want the add-on, then spend your attention on the flight, not on how you look. The best pictures I have seen came from people who simply let go and laughed.
Finally, avoid booking everything on trust from outdated blog posts, including older versions of this one. Facilities change owners, packages, opening hours and rules, and a number copied between sites for years can be completely wrong. Ring or message the operator for anything critical: age limits, weight limits, medical conditions and how many flights are included.
A quick comparison of other Sentosa thrills
If you are weighing iFly against other active options on the island, this table gives a rough sense of how they differ. Prices are the starting prices on our listings and can vary by date.
| Activity | Feel | From |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Adventure Park | Zip line and climbing, outdoors | S$59.00 |
| SkyHelix Sentosa | Slow, scenic, relaxing | S$16.76 |
| Sentosa 4D AdventureLand | Family-friendly, indoor | S$43.05 |
| Wings of Time | Evening show on the beach | S$35.11 |
| Universal Studios Singapore | Full-day theme park | S$73.59 |
If you only have time for one adrenaline activity, I would ask what sort of thrill you like. People who enjoy being strapped in and thrown about may prefer a theme park. People who like learning something with their body will love the tunnel. And people who want the least effort for the most view should take the SkyHelix or the cable car and call it a day.
Going with kids, teenagers or parents
Group dynamics decide how a day like this feels, so a few honest notes from watching different families. Teenagers are the easiest audience: they treat the briefing as a challenge, they compete over who holds the best position, and they happily wear the suit for photos. Younger children can be wonderful or tearful, and there is rarely a way to tell beforehand. A child who loves swimming pools and trampolines tends to take to it. A child who dislikes loud noise or being handled by strangers may need a gentler warm-up, such as watching a few other flyers through the glass before their turn.
Parents and grandparents often surprise everyone. I have seen a retired couple in their sixties float steadily after two minutes of instruction, while their much fitter grown-up son tensed up and kept drifting sideways. Strength is not the point; calm is. If an older relative is keen but worried, the best move is to let them watch a session first, then decide. Nobody should feel pushed, and the staff will not mind if someone changes their mind in the waiting area.
If only part of your group is flying, plan something for the others. The beach is the obvious answer, and the walkways near Siloso have shade, drinks and places to sit. A relaxed alternative is the SkyHelix, which needs no athleticism whatsoever and gives non-flyers a view of their own.
My honest verdict
Is indoor skydiving worth the money in a city that is already full of things to do? For me, yes, with conditions. It is worth it if you enjoy trying something physical, if you are travelling with people who will enjoy watching you, and if you treat it as a memory rather than a bargain. It is less worth it if you are on a tight budget, if you dislike being coached, or if you expect a stomach-dropping thrill. The tunnel is closer to learning a trick than riding a ride, and the satisfaction is the point.
What I like most is how well it fits into a Sentosa day. You are never far from the sea, you can get back to your hotel easily, and the rest of the island offers enough variety that nobody in your group is stuck. Set aside half a day, eat light, listen in the briefing, and do not fight the air. Then book the evening show, sit on the sand, and let your legs recover while the fireworks go off. That is a very good Singapore day.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is iFly Singapore?
It is on Siloso Beach, Sentosa, not at Changi Business Park as an older version of this page said. Take the Sentosa Express monorail, the cable car or walk across from VivoCity, then continue to Siloso Beach.
Do I need previous skydiving experience?
No. First-timer packages are designed for people who have never flown, and the briefing and the instructor in the chamber cover everything you need.
How long does the whole visit take?
Plan on roughly one and a half to three hours from check-in to leaving. The flying itself is only a few minutes in total, with the rest spent on briefing, kitting up and waiting your turn.
What should I wear?
Light, comfortable clothes and closed, flat shoes with laces. You will be given a flight suit, helmet, goggles and earplugs. Tie back long hair and leave jewellery behind.
Is it safe for children and older visitors?
The activity is gentle by thrill standards, but age, weight and health limits apply and can change. Confirm them with the operator before booking, and see a doctor first if you have back, neck, shoulder or heart concerns.
Can pregnant visitors take part?
It is generally not recommended. Ask the operator and your doctor before planning around it.
What does it cost?
Prices depend on the package, number of flights, day of the week and any promotion. As a loose planning figure, a standard first-timer package has been in the region of SGD 120 to 150, but check the current rate with the operator before you budget.
Do I need a visa to visit Singapore?
That depends on your passport. Many visitors enter visa-free for a short stay, others need a visa through an authorised agent, and everyone submits the SG Arrival Card. Check the visa requirements section for your nationality.
Featured experiences in this guide
Plan the rest of your Singapore trip with HolidaySG
Pair your flight with the cable car, a beach show or a wildlife day, and sort your entry paperwork early. Browse Sentosa and Singapore attractions, check visa requirements, or read about our flight reservation service for visa applications. Tickets are emailed after our team confirms your booking.