Batam & Bintan from Singapore: The Complete Ferry, Visa, Day Trip and Resort Guide

Batam is the cheap, close island for a spa-and-seafood day trip, while Bintan is the overnight resort escape, so pick by what you actually want from the trip. Both sit about an hour by ferry from Singapore, but they are still Indonesia, which means a visa on arrival and a one-hour time difference to plan around. Line up the rest of your trip with our Singapore travel guide.

1. The short answer: Batam, Bintan, or both?

If you want a cheap, close spa-seafood-shopping day, go to Batam; if you want to unwind overnight at a beach resort, go to Bintan. Batam genuinely works as a day trip, while Bintan is really a one-night escape. With the time and budget, you can even chain a Batam day trip onto a Bintan overnight.

A quick note on the prices in this guide: everything is hedged and indicative (rough SGD, check live before you book), because ferry fares and resort rates move around. Roughly, a Batam day trip is a low-triple-digit spend per person, while a Bintan resort night runs several hundred to four figures for two. Our approach here is honest and no-fluff, downsides included. Compare it with the overland option in our Johor Bahru day trip guide, and shape the wider trip with our Singapore travel guide.

2. Batam vs Bintan vs Johor Bahru: the three easy escapes

The three easiest border getaways from Singapore are Batam and Bintan (Indonesian islands by ferry) and Johor Bahru (Malaysia, overland), and they feel quite different, so choose by purpose. The table below lines up all three across what matters.

Know the shared points too: Batam and Bintan are both roughly an hour by ferry, both are one hour behind Singapore, and both need a visa on arrival for most non-ASEAN passports. If the goal is the cheapest, fastest hop and you do not need a boat, take Johor Bahru; if you want an island, it is Batam or Bintan. The standout on Batam is the value (a spa that costs a fraction of Singapore prices); on Bintan it is the Crystal Lagoon and the resorts. The downside on Batam is the urban grit around Nagoya, and on Bintan it is the fare plus the fact you really must stay over.

3. Can you do both? Trip designs

Yes, and because Batam and Bintan play such different roles, they pair beautifully over a long weekend. The one thing to watch is that they use different ferries from different Singapore terminals, so you book each separately.

On order, it is usually easiest to knock out Batam first as a day trip and finish relaxed on Bintan. There is no reliable direct Batam-to-Bintan resort ferry, so combining them generally routes back through Singapore between the two. Sort your city transfers with our Singapore MRT and transport guide, and if you are stringing this onto a stopover, our Singapore layover guide helps.

4. Getting to Batam: the full ferry guide

Batam is about 45 to 70 minutes by fast ferry from HarbourFront Centre📍Map, with very frequent sailings, which is exactly what makes it a clean day trip. Which Batam terminal you arrive at changes both the journey time and where you land, so pick the terminal that fits your plan.

Match the terminal to what you are doing. Batam Centre is the busiest and is built into Mega Mall Batam, so it is handy for shopping and near Nagoya. Harbour Bay is closest to Nagoya (about 10 minutes) and sits beside the waterfront seafood strip. Sekupang is the western terminal for Barelang and the west coast, Waterfront is further west for the beach resorts, and Nongsapura serves the Nongsa resorts but runs only from Tanah Merah, on Batam Fast.

On fees, expect a Singapore passenger departure fee of roughly S$10 per person from HarbourFront plus a Batam seaport tax of about IDR 100,000 (roughly S$10) per direction. Klook and Trip.com “all in” fares usually bundle these, but verify per product. First sailings from HarbourFront are around 08:00 to 08:10 and the last boats back are roughly 20:30 to 21:20 Singapore time, though times shift by operator and day, so confirm when you book. One heads-up for 2026: Sindo’s HarbourFront service moves to the new HarbourFront Ferry Terminal (a short walk away) from 15 July 2026. You can book at the counter, on Klook or on Trip.com.

If you are continuing straight from Changi Airport, our Singapore layover guide is worth a look.

5. Getting to Bintan: Bintan Resort Ferries (BRF) to Lagoi

For the resort side of Bintan you take Bintan Resort Ferries (BRF) from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal📍Map to Bandar Bentan Telani📍Map (BBT) at Lagoi, about 70 minutes. BRF effectively has the Lagoi resort route to itself, which is why the fares are higher than Batam’s.

Levies (about S$19 Singapore to Bintan and S$25 Bintan to Singapore) are usually bundled into the ticket price. Note that BRF uses dynamic, airline-style pricing, so fares climb as sailings fill, and a fuel levy added in 2026 is likely already inside the quoted fare. When you land at BBT, your resort’s free shuttle collects you from the arrival hall if you have a booking.

Keep the same one-hour time difference in mind: read that 18:35 last boat in local time and give yourself a buffer.

6. Entry and visa: exactly what you need

Most visitors need Indonesia’s visa on arrival even for a day trip, plus a free digital arrival card, so sort both before you go. Korean, Japanese, Chinese and most Western passports are eligible for the VoA.

To skip the arrival payment queue, do the e-VoA in advance at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Here is the flow.

On top of the visa, everyone must complete the free All Indonesia digital arrival card at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id (or the app) within 72 hours of arrival, which produces one QR you show to immigration and customs. It merges the old immigration card, customs declaration and health form; it became mandatory at Batam seaports in September 2025 and at Bintan’s BBT in October 2025, and the cash declaration threshold is IDR 100,000,000. It is free, so do not pay a third party. Returning to Singapore, you also file the SG Arrival Card at ica.gov.sg within 72 hours, and your passport needs at least six months of validity plus an onward ticket. A common slip is assuming you are visa-free when you are not, so check your nationality early; keep the wider trip budget in view with our Singapore budget guide.

7. What to do in Batam

Batam is spa, seafood and Nagoya shopping, and the moment you cross the strait your Singapore dollar goes a lot further. Here is what actually fills a good day.

Spa and massage

This is Batam’s calling card. Names that get booked again and again include Grand Majesty Spa in the Nagoya Hill📍Map area (a 2-hour aromatic massage from about S$34, a couples’ 150-minute session around S$105), Kalea Spa in Batam Centre (about S$60 for two hours, with free two-way transport from Batam Centre terminal), and Spa Central and Sakura in Nagoya. A typical package runs foot bath to scrub to massage, roughly S$30 to S$60 for two hours, a fraction of Singapore prices. Tipping is customary at about IDR 20,000 to 50,000 (roughly S$2 to S$5) per therapist. Book named, reviewed spas and steer clear of unlicensed “massage” fronts in the nightlife zones.

Floating seafood (kelong)

Stilt restaurants over the water are a Batam institution. Well-known ones include Golden Prawn 555 (Bengkong), Barelang Seafood (by the bridges), Wey Wey Live Seafood (Harbour Bay, with a live band), Kopak Jaya 007 Kelong and Harbour Bay Seafood. Order the gong-gong (sea snails, Batam’s signature, eaten with a toothpick), chilli or black-pepper crab (about S$8 to S$12), salted-egg squid or prawn, and steamed grouper. Two people eat well for about S$25 to S$45. Confirm the tank price and weight before you order to avoid a surprise bill.

Nagoya shopping

The hub is Nagoya Hill Mall (the largest, roughly 10am to 10pm), with BCS Mall for budget finds and Mega Mall built into Batam Centre terminal for last-minute buys. Worth picking up: mid-tier fashion (roughly 30 percent cheaper), Watsons and Guardian beauty products, snacks, chocolate and Sumatran coffee, and batik. Skip the fake “branded” goods, and take care around Nagoya after dark.

Barelang Bridge and around

Barelang Bridge is a chain of six bridges from the 1990s; Bridge 1, the cable-stayed one, is the postcard shot, free to visit, about 45 to 60 minutes from Nagoya, with sunset roughly 5:00 to 6:30pm, and it pairs neatly with a Barelang kelong dinner. Nearby is the Galang Vietnamese Refugee Camp, a historical memorial site. Island day tours to Ranoh or Abang exist but work better as their own trip than bolted onto a busy day.

Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya

One of Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist temples sits on Batam, with spacious grounds and a vegetarian canteen, an easy, calm cultural stop if you want a break from the malls.

If you want to compare the eating with Singapore’s own, our Singapore hawker food guide is a fun read.

8. A perfect Batam day trip, hour by hour

Take a morning ferry, do the spa and lunch first, then fold in shopping and a Barelang sunset, and a single day feels full. The plan below is for HarbourFront to Batam Centre; times are Singapore time, with local Batam time (one hour behind) in brackets.

Here is a rough per-person budget (indicative, and Singapore citizens pay no visa).

A Klook ferry-plus-spa-plus-lunch combo can land around S$85 to S$120 per person with transfers sorted, which is sometimes the easier way to go, though the contents and price move around, so check live. One honest tip: leave a real buffer for that last ferry, because immigration queues balloon on weekends.

9. What to do in Bintan

Bintan is beaches, resorts and a giant man-made lagoon, and most of it happens inside the Lagoi resort enclave. Here is the shortlist.

Lagoi Bay

Lagoi Bay is a 3.5km public beach (free, roughly 7am to midnight) with the Lagoi Bay Lantern Park in the evening and Plaza Lagoi for dining and shops, though be warned that Plaza Lagoi has stayed quiet since COVID and the weekend bazaar comes and goes.

Treasure Bay, Chill Cove and Crystal Lagoon

The Crystal Lagoon at Treasure Bay is a roughly 6.3-hectare man-made seawater lagoon, Southeast Asia’s largest, with an inclusive package covering land and water rides (kayak, paddle boat, ATV) and paid add-ons like wakeboarding and the jetovator. Entry is about IDR 120,000 (roughly S$10 to S$12), hours are around 9 to 6, and ANMON and Natra guests get in free. Day-trippers and Club Med guests can buy day passes too.

Mangrove and firefly tours

A Sebung River mangrove boat tour runs about an hour for roughly S$29 to S$38 per adult, with free Lagoi hotel pickup; the firefly version runs in the evening (around 6:30pm) and so needs an overnight.

Blue Lake, the desert, elephants and more

Blue Lake (a former bauxite mine) and the Gurun Pasir “desert” dunes make a photo-led half-day, but the lake is for pictures only, so no swimming, since the depth of the old mine is unknown. The Safari Lagoi Elephant Park offers rides, but captive elephant riding draws criticism from animal-welfare groups, so if it does not sit right with you, choose feeding and observation instead. Rounding things out are golf at Ria Bintan and Laguna and watersports off Lagoi Bay.

10. A relaxing Bintan 2D1N (sample itinerary)

Cross on a morning ferry, enjoy the Crystal Lagoon, stay a night at the resort, then do the beach and spa before an afternoon boat home, and Bintan feels effortless. The plan below works around a Lagoi resort.

Here is a rough per-couple budget (indicative; Singapore citizens pay no visa; off-peak Nov to Feb can be 30 to 50 percent cheaper).

ANMON is often cheaper bought as a package (ferry, transfer, stay and lagoon access, from roughly S$178 to S$190 per person), so compare the bundle against booking each piece.

11. Where to stay in Bintan: the resort guide

This is where Bintan earns its overnight, so choose by taste and budget from the resorts below.

The rate links in the table below are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Club Med Bintan

The all-inclusive covers meals, drinks, most activities and shows, which makes it the default for families who want nothing to plan. The Mini (4 to 10) and Juniors (11 to 17) kids’ clubs are included, while the Petit and Baby tiers cost extra. Downsides: it runs busy on Singapore school holidays and sits at a premium price.

ANMON Resort

Desert-themed teepee glamping (about 100 tents, roughly 45 sqm each) at Treasure Bay, sold as packages with ferry, transfer, breakfast and free Crystal Lagoon access, so it is good value and five minutes from the ferry. It is a hit with couples and photo-led groups, but tents mean heat, and it is novelty rather than full service.

Banyan Tree Bintan

Hillside and beachfront private-pool villas with a strong spa, the romantic choice with dramatic views. The trade-offs are the hilly terrain (you rely on buggies) and a few older villas.

The Sanchaya, Homm Laguna, Nirwana and others

Beyond the big four, The Sanchaya📍Map is an ultra-luxury colonial-style estate from about S$500+ a night, adults-and-honeymoon in feel. Homm Laguna Bintan (formerly Angsana Bintan, rebranded December 2025) is casual upscale for families, roughly S$200 to S$400, and shares the Laguna estate with Banyan Tree. Nirwana Gardens is a 330-hectare estate with five sub-properties (Nirwana Resort Hotel, Mayang Sari beach chalets, Indra Maya pool villas and more), covering mixed budgets. The Residence Bintan and Cabana Bintan are both on the east coast rather than Lagoi, so factor in the longer transfer, while Kamuela Villas / Lagoi Bay Villas are private-pool villas within walking distance of Plaza Lagoi at roughly S$150 to S$300. The old Bintan Lagoon Resort site has reopened in 2026 as Movenpick Resort & Spa Bintan Lagoon and is bookable, though its golf courses are not confirmed operational yet, so verify before a golf trip. Travelling with kids? Our Singapore with kids guide helps with the wider plan.

12. Where to stay in Batam

Most people do Batam as a day trip, but a night lets you add a Nongsa resort or a Barelang stay without rushing.

Rate links in the table below are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Nongsa is a cluster of beach and golf resorts that comes in closer and cheaper than a similar tier on Bintan, while Nagoya hotels suit a shopping-and-nightlife base. For a feel of overall costs, our Singapore budget guide helps you set expectations.

13. Costs and money: what you’ll actually spend

Both islands get cheaper the moment you cross the border, but you still have to watch the fees, taxes and exchange rates.

The currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR), at roughly 1 SGD to 13,900 IDR as of early July 2026, though it moves, so always verify. Cards (Visa and Mastercard) work at hotels, malls and Lagoi resorts, but a surcharge of about 3 to 4 percent is common (technically not allowed, but widespread, and separate from a hotel’s legitimate “++” of roughly 21 percent tax and service). Bintan resorts no longer accept SGD cash, so bring rupiah or use a card; in Batam, taxis, spas and stalls are cash, so change money into IDR at Nagoya Hill or in Tanjung Pinang town rather than at the terminal counters, which run roughly 8 to 12 percent worse. ATMs are plentiful in Batam (BCA and BNI are usually fee-free) but sparse in Lagoi, so bring cash for Bintan. Count your notes at the changer to avoid the short-change trick.

On tipping, small notes for porters (about IDR 10,000 to 20,000 a bag) and spa therapists are the norm rather than a rule. For the Singapore side of the wallet, our Singapore budget guide lays out prices and savings in detail.

14. Getting around the islands

Batam runs on Grab and Gojek, while Bintan’s Lagoi runs on resort shuttles, and a little cash smooths both. The two islands feel quite different to move around.

Lagoi is a gated resort enclave, so even though GrabCar launched there in 2025 it is patchy, and Gojek only operates in Tanjung Pinang. Wherever you are, skip the taxi touts at the terminal and use an app or a booked car. For getting around Singapore itself, see our Singapore MRT and transport guide.

15. Staying connected: SIM and eSIM

In Batam data is effectively essential for Grab and maps, while inside a Bintan resort the WiFi usually gets you through.

The easiest fix is to load an Indonesia eSIM before you fly. Airalo’s Indonesia eSIM is data-only, roughly US$4.50 for 1GB over 7 days or about US$9 for 3GB over 30 days, and it activates the moment you land while skipping SIM registration and IMEI steps (note it rides the Indosat and Tri networks, so for remote coverage Telkomsel is stronger). A physical SIM from a Nagoya GraPARI or Indosat store needs your passport and runs about IDR 100,000 to 200,000. Singapore telco roaming on pay-per-use is expensive, so buy a roaming pass (about S$5 to S$6 per 1GB) or an eSIM, and turn data roaming off until you land, because a phone can latch onto an Indonesian tower over the southern waters and rack up charges on the crossing. For the Singapore side, see our Singapore eSIM guide.

16. Food and halal

Batam is cheap seafood and local food, Bintan is resort dining and the Lagoi Bay eateries, and halal food is widely available on both islands.

In Batam, floating seafood (gong-gong, crab) and a local plate like nasi padang or mie goreng are cheap and filling. Lagoi in Bintan has resort restaurants plus the Plaza Lagoi eateries and a weekend bazaar, with halal spots such as local warungs and nasi padang. This is a Muslim-majority area, so halal is easy to find, but international resorts like Club Med do serve pork and alcohol, so if you need strictly halal, pick a certified venue. To compare with Singapore’s own food scene, our Singapore hawker food guide is the place to start.

17. Best time to go and sea conditions

You can go year-round, but the northeast monsoon (Nov to Mar, worst in Nov and Dec) brings more rain and choppier seas, and the occasional cancelled crossing.

In short, the calm, ferry-reliable dry season around April to October is the safe bet, and once you weigh crowds and price the shoulder months (Apr to May, Sep to Oct) strike the best balance. In dry or El Nino years, haze from Sumatra is possible around July to October, so check air quality on the NEA PSI or myENV app. Weekends, Singapore school holidays, Chinese New Year (17 to 18 Feb 2026) and Indonesia’s Lebaran (mid-to-late March) all spike ferry and resort demand, so book resorts three to six months ahead and ferries three to four weeks ahead in high season. If you get seasick, take medication about 30 minutes before boarding and sit toward the rear. Line this up with our best time to visit Singapore guide.

18. Safety, scams and etiquette

Both islands are safe for visitors, and the real risk is terminal touts and inflated fares rather than violent crime.

• Taxi touts: terminal taxis often claim a “broken” meter and quote 2 to 3 times the fare. Use Grab or Gojek, or agree the price before you get in.
• Floating seafood: confirm tank prices and weight before ordering to avoid a shock bill.
• Money changing: count the notes on the spot and do not hand them back (short-change trick). Nagoya and town changers beat the terminal.
• Nagoya after dark: the nightlife and red-light zones bring touts and catcalling, so do not walk alone at night, and never accept a drink from a stranger.
• Methanol: cheap unbranded spirits can be lethal. Stick to sealed international brands or beer. Drugs carry the death penalty.
• Etiquette: this is a Muslim-majority area, so dress modestly in towns and mosques (swimwear only at resort beaches and pools), use your right hand, remove shoes at mosques, keep public affection minimal, and be discreet about daytime eating during Ramadan.

Solo and female travellers are generally fine with normal caution, preferring Grab and avoiding Nagoya at night.

19. First-timer mistakes to avoid

The trips that go wrong nearly always fail on the same handful of mistakes, and every one of them is avoidable.

For the mistakes on the overland getaway, we cover those separately in our Johor Bahru day trip guide.

20. Which island suits you? By traveller type

If you already know your travel style, pick straight from the matrix below.

21. Booking checklist before you go

Once you have chosen your island, work through the list below in order and you are set.

For connectivity see our eSIM guide, and for timing see our best time to visit guide.

22. Plan the rest of your Singapore trip

Choose your island, sort the visa, and check the ferry in local time, and Batam or Bintan becomes an easy one- or two-day escape.

Here is what to read next. For the big picture, our Singapore travel guide; for the overland border hop, the Johor Bahru day trip guide; for getting around town, the MRT and transport guide; and for stopovers, the Singapore layover guide. On the practical side, see our budget guide, hawker food guide, eSIM guide, Singapore with kids guide and best time to visit guide.

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