The Complete Weekend Escape Guide to Batam

The easiest way to reach Batam is the daily ferry from HarbourFront Terminal in Singapore to Batam Centre. Crossings take 35–40 minutes and run from 07:00 to 20:30. Book tickets in advance via 12Go, especially for Friday afternoon and Sunday evening sailings which sell out.

If you are heading straight to a Nongsa resort, the Tanah Merah–Nongsa Direct route is faster (25 minutes) and drops you at Nongsa Point Marina, skipping the need for a taxi.

Nongsa is the resort strip: choose Turi Beach Resort or Montigo Resorts for luxury, Batam View Beach Resort for mid-range with beach access. Nagoya is better for those who want urban convenience – Planet Holiday is the best mid-range choice in the area.

For Batam Centre, the Novotel is the most reliable option and puts you 5 minutes from the ferry terminal. BCC Hotel is the budget pick in the same area.

Spa day in Nagoya: a full four-hour package costs SGD 60–100 and includes massage, body scrub and facial. Barelang Bridge drive: hire a car for the day (SGD 70–80) and see Batam's iconic six-bridge chain. Mangrove kayak tour: three hours paddling through Nongsa's tidal forest, guided, from SGD 45.

Waterfront City is the place for a proper seafood dinner – budget SGD 25–40 per head for a full spread of chilli crab, grilled prawns and butter clams. For something more local, the Nagoya Night Market is unmissable: street stalls, loud music and BBQ smoke that you can smell from two streets away.