Batam and Bintan in One Trip: Crossing Over and a 4-Day Sample Plan
Only a narrow strait separates Batam and Bintan. How to cross from Telaga Punggur, when to choose Tanjung Uban or Tanjung Pinang, and a 4-day sample plan from Singapore.
Batam and Bintan are neighbours in the Riau Islands province, but they feel very different. Batam is a busy city with malls, food and business. Bintan is quieter: beaches and resorts in Lagoi, mangrove forests and the legacy of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate in Tanjung Pinang and on Penyengat Island. Because they are so close, they are easy to combine in one trip.
Still deciding between them? Batam.com compares the two in Batam vs Bintan: which island should you pick?.
Crossing from Batam to Bintan
Regular crossings from Batam to Bintan leave from Telaga Punggur port on the east side of Batam. From Hang Nadim Airport, Telaga Punggur is about 20–30 minutes away. There are two destinations on Bintan:
To Tanjung Uban (north Bintan). Passenger speedboats take about 15 minutes. The ASDP roro ferry for cars, motorbikes and passengers takes about an hour; tickets are sold online through Ferizy. From Tanjung Uban, Lagoi is reached by road. Details are in our article on Tanjung Uban port.
To Tanjung Pinang (Sri Bintan Pura port). Fast boats take about an hour. This suits you if you are heading for Tanjung Pinang town, Penyengat Island or Senggarang. See Sri Bintan Pura port.
Batam and Bintan are both in Indonesia, so this is a domestic crossing without immigration checks, and both islands use WIB time. Schedules change with the day, season and weather; an overview of all routes is in Ferry routes to and from Bintan.
A 4-day sample plan from Singapore
Day 1 – Singapore to Batam. Take the ferry from HarbourFront to Batam Centre (see the HarbourFront–Batam Centre ferry guide on batam.com). Spend the afternoon and evening shopping and eating; the Batam food guide helps you choose.
Day 2 – On to Tanjung Pinang. From Telaga Punggur take the boat to Sri Bintan Pura, then a pompong boat to Penyengat Island with the Sultan of Riau Grand Mosque and the tomb of Raja Ali Haji. In the evening, try gonggong, the sea snail Tanjung Pinang is known for.
Day 3 – North Bintan. Travel by road to Lagoi for the beaches of the north coast or a Sungai Sebung mangrove tour.
Day 4 – Back to Singapore. From Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal in Lagoi, the ferry to Tanah Merah takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. Remember that Singapore is one hour ahead of Bintan.
It works the other way round too: arrive via Bintan and leave via Batam.
Tips
During long holidays the roro queues at Telaga Punggur and Tanjung Uban can be long, so book early. Check prices, schedules and operators directly before you travel.