Published · 4 min read
Two islands, two very different moods
Batam and Bintan sit side by side in Indonesia's Riau Islands, both an easy ferry ride from Johor Bahru. They are often mentioned together, but they offer quite different holidays. Batam is the busy, affordable city island for food and shopping. Bintan is larger, greener and quieter, known for beach resorts and natural scenery.
Choose Batam for food, shopping and city sights
- Seafood dinners at great value.
- Shopping malls such as Nagoya Hill.
- The Barelang Bridge, a chain of bridges linking Batam to neighbouring islands.
- The Welcome to Batam monument — the island's classic photo spot.
- Spa and massage treatments at friendly prices.
Choose Bintan for nature and resort life
- Beachfront resorts in the Lagoi area.
- Treasure Bay and its huge Crystal Lagoon for water activities.
- Gurun Pasir Bintan — the island's surprising sand dunes.
- Telaga Biru, the striking Blue Lake.
- Mangrove tours and a slower, more relaxing pace.
Why not both?
With three or four days you don't have to choose. Our Batam & Bintan open trip starts with a Batam city tour and seafood dinner, crosses to Bintan for the sand dunes, Blue Lake and Treasure Bay, and finishes with shopping in Batam before the ferry home — with ferry tickets, hotels, meals, guides and transport all included.
Before you go
- Bring a passport valid for at least 6 months from your travel date.
- Check the latest Indonesian entry requirements for your nationality before departure.
- Pack light clothes, sunscreen and comfortable shoes for the dunes.
