ID · Riau Islands · 1.08°N 104.50°E

bintan

Resort island a ferry ride from JB or Singapore, made for lazy beach weekends.

Best time
Any time of year. The northeast monsoon, roughly November to February, brings more rain and choppier seas, especially on the east coast. Weekends and Singapore school holidays are the busiest.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Drive to JB, about 4 hours from KL, and take a ferry from Stulang Laut to Tanjung Pinang, about 2 hours. Or cross into Singapore and take the ferry from Tanah Merah to the Lagoi resort area, about an hour.
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ID · Riau Islandsbintan1.08°N 104.50°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Resort island a ferry ride from JB or Singapore, made for lazy beach weekends.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingBintanID, Riau Islands
KLbintan
≈ 387 km from KL, as the crow flies
Sumpat, Bintan

Photo: Bintan info · Public domain

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A big, mostly rural Indonesian island just across the strait from Singapore. The north coast is a gated strip of beach resorts around Lagoi, while Tanjung Pinang in the south is the real town, with markets, seafood and a short boat ride to historic Penyengat Island.

Makan

  1. GonggongSea snails boiled and eaten with chilli sauce, Tanjung Pinang's signature dish.Map ↗
  2. Otak-otakGrilled fish paste wrapped in leaves, sold all over the island.Map ↗
  3. Mie lendirYellow noodles in a thick, sweet peanut gravy with a boiled egg.Map ↗
  4. Seafood on stiltsChilli crab, steamed fish and prawns at the kelong-style restaurants over the water.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Lagoi resort beachesCalm, clean beaches on the north coast, with water sports run by the resorts.Map ↗
  2. Penyengat IslandA short boat ride from Tanjung Pinang to the old seat of the Riau sultanate and its bright yellow mosque.Map ↗
  3. Trikora BeachA long, quiet stretch of sand and granite boulders on the east coast.Map ↗
  4. Mangrove boat tripsBoats wind through the mangrove rivers near Lagoi; evening trips go looking for fireflies.Map ↗
  5. Tanjung Pinang townThe island's main town, for markets, old coffee shops and evening food stalls.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Bring your passport. Malaysians don't need a visa for a short visit, but it should have at least six months' validity.
  • Lagoi and Tanjung Pinang are over an hour apart by road, so pick the ferry terminal that suits where you're staying.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.