RegionOutline guide

Batam

Largest city in Riau Islands, Indonesia

Photo: Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Batam is a small but busy island in the Riau Islands in Indonesia that is 45 km by 25 km, and has nearly a million people, hundreds of factories owned by multinationals, towns, shopping centres. Only 30 minutes by ferry from Singapore, it is a gateway to the other Riau Islands.

Sights and activities

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Batam Golf
Do
Golf stay and play packages
Batam is a golfers paradise. Batam Island is blessed with 7 great golf courses providing top class championship golf and great hospitality.
Hours
24/7
Price
From $85
Details

Getting there and around

Getting there

By plane
As often in Indonesia there is a first security check for entering the terminal, which implies some queuing. Batam airport has only toilets, ATM, money exchange and a few overpriced souvenir shops.
By boat
In 2014, signs showing a picture of a raised finger over a pair of lips have been installed at the Batam Centre International Ferry Terminal.

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Getting around

By minibus (Metro Trans)
Fixed route plies between Jodoh and Telaga Punggur (Rp3,000-4,000). Sample fares for other destinations are as follows:
By bus
The Batam local government (known as pemerintah) operates a bus service known as "Bus Pilot Project".
By car
The Kijang, which is generally everywhere in Indonesia, is strangely absent in Batam.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Hang Nadim International Airport

Batam · International · BTH

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Read before you go to Batam

Articles and travel topics about Batam and Indonesia.

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Full travel guide

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Towns and districtsAn acronym of Batam, Rempang, and Galang Islands, this is a group of islands which are administrated as part of the city of Batam (this article only covers the rest of the islands other than Batam)

UnderstandLocated only 20 km from Singapore and 25 km from Johor in Malaysia, Batam is Indonesia's equivalent to China's SEZs (Special Economic Zones) - a place where the nation's economic planners test new economic policies and…

TalkIndonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is modeled on the version of Malay which originates from Riau on the Sumatra mainland and the Riau Islands.

Get inAll Batam ports, namely Harbour Bay (Jodoh), Batam Centre, Nongsapura, Sekupang and Waterfront City (Teluk Senimba) are visa-free and visa-on-arrival ports of entry.

Get aroundThere are plenty of taxis in Batam, but there are no standard color schemes: however, licensed taxis have yellow license plates, while unlicensed ones do not (and are best avoided).

BuyThe Indonesian rupiah may be legal tender, but the Singapore dollar (S$) is Batam's unofficial second currency.

EatBatam has plenty of eating out choices, including great Chinese seafood in the outdoor food courts, such as the Windsor and Nagoya Food Courts and A1 Pujasera.

DrinkCity authorities claim that Batam's tap water is drinkable, but the rusty color puts some people off. It is wise to stick with bottled water anyway, about Rp10,000 for a 5-gallon jug.

SleepMuch of Batam's accommodation is in Nagoya. There are several resorts in Nongsa.

Stay safeBatam is generally safe during the daytime hours, but at night if you are in the entertainment areas of Nagoya you should exercise caution.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Batam" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Batam", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Overview

Sights and activities

Batam Golf