If you are planning a short escape from Singapore to Indonesia’s Riau Islands, you have two main options: Batam and Bintan. Both are roughly 45 minutes to an hour from Singapore by ferry. Both are popular weekend destinations. But they offer quite different experiences, and the right choice depends on what kind of trip you are after.
The Key Difference in One Sentence
Batam is an island city — commercial, lively, affordable, with golf courses, seafood restaurants, and easy access to local Indonesian life.
Bintan is a beach resort island — quieter, more scenic, and dominated by international-standard resorts catering to a higher price point.
Getting There
Batam
- From HarbourFront Ferry Terminal → Batam Centre or Harbour Bay (45–60 mins)
- From Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal → Nongsapura or Waterfront City (45 mins)
- Multiple operators, frequent departures (roughly hourly from 7am–9pm)
- Return ferry: approx. SGD 70–80
Bintan
- From Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal only → Bandar Bentan Telani or Sri Bintan Pura
- Fewer departures — typically 2–4 per day depending on the route
- Return ferry: approx. SGD 70–90
- Important: Bintan’s resort area is 45–90 minutes from the ferry terminal by bus or car
Verdict: Batam is more convenient to get to, with more departure options and no long transfer at the other end.
Beaches
Batam
Batam has beaches — Nongsa on the northeast coast is the most developed, with beach resorts and water sports. The beach quality is decent but not remarkable. The water is generally calm and swimmable. Do not come to Batam primarily for beach scenery.
Bintan
Bintan has genuinely beautiful beaches — wide, white sand, clear water, particularly in the northern resort zone. The beaches at places like Banyan Tree and Nirmana are among the best easily accessible from Singapore. If beaches are the priority, Bintan wins clearly.
Verdict: Bintan for beaches. Batam for everything else.
Activities
Batam
- World-class golf (12+ courses)
- Jet skiing, water sports
- Shopping at Nagoya Hill and Batam Centre malls
- Seafood dining
- Spa and massage
- Day trips to the Barelang Bridge and outer islands
- Nightlife and restaurants in the city
Bintan
- Beach and resort relaxation
- Water sports at resort beach clubs
- ATV and cycling trails
- Some cultural day trips to Tanjung Pinang (the island’s main town)
- Resort spa facilities
Verdict: Batam offers more variety of activities. Bintan is better if the goal is resort relaxation.
Cost Comparison
Batam
- Accommodation: SGD 60–200/night (wide range from budget guesthouses to luxury resorts)
- Meals: Very affordable — excellent seafood for SGD 15–30/person
- Activities: Golf from SGD 35, water sports from SGD 20, spas from SGD 25
- Shopping: Noticeably cheaper than Singapore
Bintan
- Accommodation: SGD 180–600+/night (dominated by international resort brands)
- Meals: Resort dining is expensive; local warung are cheaper but less accessible
- Activities: Resort-priced — beach clubs, water sports packages at premium rates
- Shopping: Limited; the island is not a shopping destination
Verdict: Batam is significantly more affordable. Bintan suits travellers who want the resort experience and are willing to pay for it.
Who Should Visit Each?
Choose Batam if you want:
- A golf trip
- An affordable weekend with good food and activities
- A first-time visit to Indonesia on a shorter budget
- A corporate retreat or group trip with mixed activities
- Shopping combined with leisure
- Local food and a more urban Indonesian experience
Choose Bintan if you want:
- A proper beach holiday in a beautiful setting
- A luxury resort stay at a specific property (Banyan Tree, Club Med, Nirmana)
- Minimal planning — just show up at the resort
- A romantic, secluded escape
Can You Do Both?
Yes. A combined Batam–Bintan itinerary is possible — fast boats connect the two islands. A 3–4 day trip could include a night in Batam (golf, seafood) followed by two nights in Bintan (beach resort). We arrange combined itineraries — WhatsApp us to discuss.
Our Recommendation
For most travellers from Singapore looking for a value-for-money, activity-rich weekend escape: Batam. The combination of golf, seafood, local life, and easy logistics is hard to beat at the price.
For travellers who specifically want a beach resort stay and are willing to pay international resort prices: Bintan.
Both are excellent. The choice depends on what you want the trip to feel like.
Plan your Batam trip with us →
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Let us arrange every detail — ferry, hotel, tours and transfers. WhatsApp us and we will take it from there.
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