Two Riau islands, an hour's sail or so from Singapore, offer a royal island mosque, white-sand beaches and long bridges, and suit a brief getaway or a longer holiday.
Six bridges built in the 1990s link Batam with Rempang and Galang islands. The first, a cable-stayed bridge named after Tengku Fisabilillah, is the classic photo stop.
Best time: Late afternoon
Tip: Hire a car with driver, as public transport out there is limited. Stop only at marked viewpoints, since traffic on the bridges can be fast.
Batam's north-east coast has sandy beaches, small resorts and a view straight across the strait towards Singapore. A quiet corner for swimming, a beachfront meal and sunsets.
Best time: Morning or late afternoon
Tip: Some beaches sit inside resorts and may charge for day access, so check access options for your dates. Swim only where the water looks calm.
A seaside leisure park with swimming pools, a Ferris wheel, play areas and open waterfront space, popular with families looking for an easy day out.
Best time: Weekday daytime
Tip: Which rides and pools are open varies, and visitors report some areas being quiet, so check what is running before you go.
A sign and promenade by the sea in Batam Centre that has become the city's welcome photo spot. Cafes and open space nearby make it an easy first stop on arrival from Singapore.
Best time: Evening
Tip: It is easy to reach on foot or by a short taxi ride from the ferry. Evenings are cooler and busier.
Batam's busy heart for eating and shopping: Nagoya's malls and food streets, Jodoh's shops and restaurants, and Harbour Bay next to its ferry terminal.
Best time: Evening
Tip: Stay on busy streets after dark and keep phones and wallets secure. Many restaurants serve halal food, so ask if that matters to you.
North Bintan's resort district has long white beaches, golf, spas and seafood restaurants, from big resorts to smaller hotels. Operators also offer boat trips through the mangroves.
Best time: Calm mornings
Tip: Ferries from Singapore dock at Bandar Bentan Telani, a short transfer from the resorts. Weather can delay sailings, so check times in advance.
A long stretch of white sand on Bintan's east coast, dotted with large boulders and lined with simple seafood cafes. Quieter and more local than the resort beaches.
Best time: Morning
Tip: Local beach cafes are casual and prices vary, so ask before you order. Waves and currents can be strong in windy months, so swim with care.
Bintan's main town grew around an old harbour and mixes Malay, Chinese and Bugis history. Expect waterfront streets, shophouses, coffee shops and street food. Boats to Penyengat leave from here.
Best time: Morning
Tip: Start early, before the heat, with breakfast at a local coffee shop. Walk the harbour area, then take a short ojek or taxi ride between sights.
A small island that was once the seat of the Riau-Lingga sultanate. Its 1844 Royal Mosque, painted yellow and green, stands among royal tombs, ruins and the heritage of Malay literature.
Best time: Morning
Tip: Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and respect prayer times at the mosque. Small boats leave when full, so check the last boat back.
It is about 7 km in a straight line from Batam & Bintan.
It is about 58 km in a straight line from Batam & Bintan.
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Indonesia page
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
Driest months: Feb, Jun, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Nov, Dec.
Prices here are about 29% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
From Singapore, ferries take about an hour from HarbourFront to Batam Centre, and about an hour from Tanah Merah to Bandar Bentan Telani (Bintan Resorts). Batam's airport is Hang Nadim (BTH); Tanjung Pinang has Raja Haji Fisabilillah (TNJ). Ferries from Batam's Telaga Punggur to Tanjung Pinang also take about an hour. Check passport and entry rules before travelling.
Roughly March to October is usually drier and calmer. From about December to February the northeast monsoon brings more rain and rougher seas, and ferries can be delayed or cancelled, so leave spare time in your plans. The islands are popular for short stays from Singapore and Malaysia.
The islands are home to Malay, Chinese and other communities, and most people are Muslim. Beachwear is fine at resorts and beaches, but cover shoulders and knees in towns and at mosques such as Penyengat. Halal food is easy to find, and Chinese restaurants usually mark non-halal dishes.
Ride-hailing apps and taxis work in Batam, and a car with driver suits the Barelang Bridges. On Bintan, public transport is limited outside Tanjung Pinang, so use hotel transfers or a hired car. Small boats cross to Penyengat from Tanjung Pinang harbour.
112 - general emergency (free, works from any phone where the service is live). 110 - police. 118 / 119 - ambulance and medical emergency. 113 - fire. 115 - search and rescue (BASARNAS). English is understood in the main tourist areas; elsewhere ask your hotel to call for you.
Report a lost passport to the nearest police station (get the police report), then contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document. Keep a photo of your passport in your e-mail or phone - it speeds everything up. The official embassy list linked here shows where to find your country's embassy or consulate.
Big cities and Bali have international-standard private hospitals (e.g. Siloam, BIMC in Bali, Mayapada, RS Pondok Indah in Jakarta). Public referral hospitals are cheaper but busier. Ask your hotel or travel insurer for the nearest suitable hospital.
local government
Helps with: Indonesia's national tourism ministry. Its contact page lists a call centre, a WhatsApp contact centre, an email address and its office in Jakarta for tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Indonesia or planning a trip there.
Phone: 021-3838000
Email: [email protected]
Address: Gedung Sapta Pesona, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.17, Gambir, Jakarta Pusat, Jakarta 10110
un agency
Helps with: The UN migration agency, operating in Indonesia since 1979. It works with governments and partners on migration management and crisis response.
Who qualifies: Migrants, governments and partners working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +62 21 57951275
Email: [email protected]
Address: Sampoerna Strategic Square North Tower 10th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 45-46, Jakarta 12930
ngo
Helps with: The ICRC says it works with the society on training first responders in pre-hospital care, reuniting separated families and emergency preparedness. No contact details are given, so use the society's website.
Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use it. It names the society as the ICRC's partner in Indonesia.