Just a 75-minute ferry ride from Singapore, Batam is both an island and a city in Sumatra’s Riau Islands. Travelers from Singapore and Malaysia flock here to enjoy Indonesia’s lower cost of living, giving this free-trade zone an international feel. The top things to do in Batam revolve around golf, massages, spa treatments, duty-free shopping, and seafood feasts at kelongs (restaurants on stilts on the water). But there are also watersports, Buddhist temples, and the Muhammad Cheng Hoo Mosque.
Like Singapore, Batam is hot, wet, and steamy year-round, but the “dry” season (May–October) brings lower humidity, less rainfall, and more mellow temperatures. It’s a popular mini-break for Singaporeans and Malaysians, so plan your visit for midweek rather than weekends, and avoid major public holidays such as the Lunar New Year in January or February.
Confusingly, Batam is both an island and a city—and, even more confusingly, the Batam city area encompasses several different islands. The Barelang Bridge links the three most important isles: Batam (BA), Rempang (RE), and Galang (LANG). Batam public transit isn’t set up for visitors, so your easiest options for getting around are taxis, rideshares with Grab or Gojek, hiring a private driver, or hopping on a tour.
It would be rude to visit Batam without scarfing some of the Riau Islands’ excellent seafood. For an authentic experience, head out of the city to the south of Batam island, where Kopak Jaya 007 Kelong Seafood Restaurant perches on stilts over the water. Play it safe with crab, shrimp, grouper, scallops, and more, or up the ante with a plate of gonggong sea snails or crab with salted egg.
