Getting there and choosing your base
- Harbour Bay and Batam Centre ferry terminals: Ferries from Singapore's HarbourFront reach Harbour Bay, a short drive from Nagoya; Batam Centre takes boats from HarbourFront, Tanah Merah and Johor Bahru. Match the terminal to your hotel, as taxis have no meters and fares are bargained.
- Nongsapura and Waterfront City: Smaller terminals that mainly serve nearby resorts. Nongsapura has boats from Tanah Merah, which is linked to Changi Airport by shuttle bus.
- Hang Nadim International Airport (BTH) and Telaga Punggur: The airport handles mostly domestic flights from Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Bali, with a few international routes. Telaga Punggur is the terminal for boats to Bintan.
Areas to consider
Nagoya (Lubuk Baja)
Suits short city stays, shopping and nightlife, and holds most of the island's hotels. Walking alone around the entertainment streets late at night is unwise, so ask whether the hotel can send a car for the return.
Nongsa
Suits resort breaks on the north-east coast, with its own ferry link to Tanah Merah. Resorts here are far from Nagoya's restaurants, so check what meals are served on site and how you would get into town.
Batam Centre
Suits business visits to government offices and travellers using ferries from Johor Bahru. Check the walk from the hotel to the ferry terminal with luggage, and allow time for immigration queues on departure.
Waterfront City (Teluk Senimba)
Suits families wanting a resort on the west coast with a ferry pier close by. Ask whether the pier's sailings match your travel times, as using another terminal means a longer taxi ride.
When to go
Batam has no real dry season: rain falls in every month, usually most heavily from about November to January and least in February. Because most tourists come from Singapore, compare weekend and weekday rates before fixing dates. Indonesian national holidays, especially Idul Fitri, fill ferries and flights.
Before choosing a room
- Batam runs one hour behind Singapore, so read check-in times and ferry schedules in local time, especially when connecting to a flight from Changi.
- Singapore dollars are widely accepted in cash, but card payments must be charged in rupiah, so confirm the currency on any prepaid booking.
- Hotel reservation counters at the Harbour Bay and Batam Centre terminals sell rooms in three-star and better hotels and can beat the walk-in rate at the front desk.
Sources and planning resources
Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.