Sentosa is getting driverless shuttles you can hail like a regular ride. Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) and ride-hailing platform TADA announced on 29 October 2026 that an on-demand autonomous shuttle service will start running on the island in early 2027. Rides are free for the whole pilot, you book them in the TADA app, and the first phase covers 21 pick-up and drop-off points across western Sentosa, from Siloso Beach to Beach Station. If you have ever melted in the afternoon heat walking from Palawan to Siloso Point, this one is for you.
> Quick view: starts early 2027 · free during the pilot · book in the TADA app · daily 1pm to 7pm · 21 pick-up points across western Sentosa in phase 1 · two 8-seater WeRide shuttles, safety operator onboard
How it works
This is ride-hailing, not a bus timetable:
- Book in the TADA app. The same app used for regular ride-hailing suggests the nearest pick-up and drop-off points based on your GPS location. The booking feature goes live when the service starts.
- Find the PUDO signboard at your pick-up point, and check that the shuttle's ID matches the one shown in your app.
- Scan the QR code onboard to confirm your ride.
The shuttles follow set routes but skip any stop where nobody is getting on or off, so the ride goes more directly to where you are headed. Up to two passenger groups share a vehicle, each shuttle seats up to 8, and a trained safety operator from Tower Transit Singapore, which runs Sentosa's existing buses, rides onboard throughout the pilot.
Where it goes
Phase 1 covers western Sentosa with 21 points. These are the locations named so far:
| Area | Pick-up and drop-off points |
|---|---|
| Beaches | Siloso Point (Beachfront), Ola Beach Club, Coastes / Skyline Luge, Palawan Beach (FOC by the Beach), The Palawan @ Sentosa, Palawan Kidz City, Southernmost Point of Continental Asia |
| Hotels | Equarius Hotel, Hotel Ora, Hotel Michael / Crockfords Tower, The Laurus, Village Hotel Sentosa / The Barracks Hotel, Oasia Resort Sentosa, Capella Singapore, Amara Sanctuary, Siloso Beach Resort |
| Transport and attractions | Beach Station (in front of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf), Mega Adventure Park |
| Planned for mid-2027 | Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Siloso Point, Imbiah Lookout |
Phase 2 extends the service to eastern Sentosa, adding 6 points that connect Tanjong Beach to Sentosa Cove for 27 in total. That phase needs approval from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) first, and no date has been announced.
What this means for you
- Free now, probably not forever. Fares are waived for the pilot only, and TADA says payment options for later are still under consideration. If you want the novelty ride, the pilot window is the time to take it.
- The hours are short. The shuttles run 1pm to 7pm daily. Sentosa's regular buses and beach shuttle remain free and run longer hours, so this adds an option rather than replacing anything.
- Expect waits at peak times. The pilot starts with two 8-seater vehicles for the whole western half of the island. On a crowded weekend, the free beach shuttle may still be faster.
- The start date can move. SDC and TADA will run pre-deployment trials covering routes, booking and safety protocols before opening to the public. As of 4 November 2026, "early 2027" is as precise as it gets, so check the TADA app closer to the date.
The bigger picture
Sentosa has been the island Singapore uses to test self-driving vehicles on real roads. An earlier on-demand autonomous shuttle trial ran there in 2019, and a WeRide Robobus has been looping Resorts World Sentosa since 2024, going fully driverless in commercial service in July 2025. The new shuttles are a newer right-hand-drive generation with doors on the left, built for Singapore roads. The stated long-term goal is to remove the onboard operator entirely, and voice commentary introducing Sentosa's attractions is planned along the way. Our guide to Punggol's driverless public shuttle covers the other big autonomous ride you can already take on the mainland.
Source: Sentosa Development Corporation and TADA announcement of 29 October 2026, as reported by Land Transport Guru and TheSmartLocal's preview ride of 30 October 2026. Photo: WeRide / TADA / Sentosa Development Corporation.
