Bintan
Bintan, the biggest island in the Riau Archipelago
The name may remind you of the Indonesian beer, Bintang — and perhaps that's appropriate, as it's the perfect place to sit back with a cold one. A trip from Singapore to Bintan is easy with any of our ferry partners, and since it has became a popular weekend getaway for many people living in Singapore or Johor, there are various options.
If you feel like you need to unwind from the crowds, Bintan is the perfect choice.
Bintan is almost twice the size of Batam, but has about a quarter of the population. There are many resorts in the north of the island, and in the south, there is Tanjung Pinang, the capital city of the Rian Islands Region. With its old town built on the piers, and the nearby Senggarang village, this is the place to come for an authentic historical experience.
The northern town of Tanjung Uban, in the resort area, has a ferry terminal called Bandar Bentan Telani, which serves both Singapore and Batam. Either trip is about an hour by ferry, or you can get there even quicker by speed boat.
How to get from Singapore to Bintan?
Book your tickets online and catch one of the many boats that leave to Bintan Island every day!
The ferry from Singapore leaves from the Tanah Merah ferry terminal (TMFT). There are three routes, each going to one of the three ports on Bintan Island:
- from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Bandar Bentan Telani
- from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Bintan Lagoon Resort
- from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Tanjung Pinang
(Getting to Tanah Merah: To get from the airport to the terminal is easy; either catch bus number 35, or it is only about 6 minutes by taxi. If you're coming from elsewhere in Singapore, take the subway to "Tanah Merah" and again take bus number 35.)
Top three reasons to visit Bintan:
"Chill and Play" is the order of the day at the Crystal Lagoon, YOLO Bounce Park, and Golf Clubs like Ria Bintan. However, if you fancy more action-packed watersports, or even activities like paintball, they are also available!
There are many brilliant restaurants and food markets on the island. Learn about the local culture and history in the old town of Tanjung Pinang or Senggarang village. While exploring the culture of the island, make sure you stop off at the Thousand Face Temple.
This island still maintains a lot of the natural heritage of the region, so bask in nature by visiting the beautiful beaches, or even hiking up Bintan Besar mountain!