Destination guides

Batam or Bintan: which island for a long weekend?

Both are about an hour by ferry from Singapore. Batam is the cheaper pick for food and spa days; Bintan is for resort and beach weekends. Side by side, with the long weekends that suit each.

Updated 17 Oct 20262 min read

CompareBatamBintan
Getting thereFerry, about 1hFerry, about 1h
FromHarbourFront or Tanah MerahTanah Merah
BudgetLowMid
Good forFood and beachBeach and nature
Best monthsMar–OctMar–Oct
Wettest monthsNov–JanNov–Feb
Shortest worthwhile trip2 days2 days
Busy over (shared holidays)Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Christmas, New Year's Day, Vesak Day and Good FridayChinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Christmas, New Year's Day, Vesak Day and Good Friday
Don't miss
  • Seafood dinners on stilts over the water
  • Cheap massages and spa days
  • Resort stays at Nongsa
  • All-inclusive resorts at Lagoi Bay
  • Mangrove kayaking and ATV trails
  • Seafront villas for groups and families

Choose Batam if…

  • You want a cheap, easy weekend. It’s in our lowest budget band, for food and for treatments.
  • Food is the point. Seafood dinners on stilts over the water are the classic Batam night out.
  • You want a spa day. Massages and spa packages cost much less than at home.
  • You might only go for the day. Ferries leave from both HarbourFront and Tanah Merah, which makes it easy to fit around your plans.

Choose Bintan if…

  • You want a resort weekend. The all-inclusive resorts at Lagoi Bay are the main draw.
  • You’re going as a family or a group. Big seafront villas suit several households sharing.
  • You want to do things. Mangrove kayaking and ATV trails fill a day.
  • You don’t mind paying more. Bintan sits in our mid budget band: the resorts cost more than a Batam hotel.

Getting there

Batam ferries leave from HarbourFront and Tanah Merah and arrive at several terminals around the island, so pick the one nearest your hotel. Bintan’s resort ferries run from Tanah Merah to Bandar Bentan Telani, the terminal for Lagoi. Either way it’s about an hour on the water, plus immigration at both ends. Take your passport, and check Indonesia’s arrival card rules on the official government site before you go.

When to go

Batam
  1. January: Wet
  2. February: OK
  3. March: Best
  4. April: Best
  5. May: Best
  6. June: Best
  7. July: Best
  8. August: Best
  9. September: Best
  10. October: Best
  11. November: Wet
  12. December: Wet
Bintan
  1. January: Wet
  2. February: Wet
  3. March: Best
  4. April: Best
  5. May: Best
  6. June: Best
  7. July: Best
  8. August: Best
  9. September: Best
  10. October: Best
  11. November: Wet
  12. December: Wet

Both islands are at their best from March to October. Bintan’s rainy season runs a month longer, into February, and crossings can be choppier in the wettest months.

The long weekends that suit them

Batam and Bintan are both top-three picks for two long weekends in 2027: Hari Raya Haji and Vesak Day in May, and National Day in August. Over Hari Raya Haji and Vesak, Indonesia is on holiday too, so book early. National Day is an ordinary weekend there.

Best upcoming long weekends for Batam

  1. Sat 7 – Mon 9 Aug 2027National Day3 days off · no leave · #2 pick, trip planGood weather that monthNo leave needed
  2. Fri 26 – Sun 28 Mar 2027Good Friday3 days off · no leaveGood weather that monthNo leave neededAlso a holiday in Indonesia, so book early
  3. Sat 15 – Mon 17 May 2027Hari Raya Haji & Vesak Day3 days off · no leave · #2 pick, trip planGood weather that monthNo leave neededAlso a holiday in Indonesia, so book early

Best upcoming long weekends for Bintan

  1. Sat 7 – Mon 9 Aug 2027National Day3 days off · no leave · #3 pick, trip planGood weather that monthNo leave needed
  2. Fri 26 – Sun 28 Mar 2027Good Friday3 days off · no leaveGood weather that monthNo leave neededAlso a holiday in Indonesia, so book early
  3. Sat 15 – Mon 17 May 2027Hari Raya Haji & Vesak Day3 days off · no leave · #3 pick, trip planGood weather that monthNo leave neededAlso a holiday in Indonesia, so book early

Questions

Is Batam or Bintan closer to Singapore?

About the same: both are around an hour by ferry. Batam has ferries from HarbourFront and Tanah Merah; Bintan's resort ferries leave from Tanah Merah.

Which is cheaper, Batam or Bintan?

Batam, generally. It's in our lowest budget band, with cheap food and spa treatments. Bintan's resorts put it in the mid range.

Which is better for families?

Bintan, if you want a resort with space and things to do: big villas, kayaking and ATV trails. Batam suits a short, cheap break.

When is the best time to visit Batam and Bintan?

From March to October. The wettest months are November to January for Batam and November to February for Bintan.

Holiday dates come from MOM's gazetted list, and the leave maths and rankings are worked out the same way as on our long-weekend pages. Updated 17 Oct 2026.

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