Pulau Bintan
Bintan is a short ferry ride from Singapore, with resort beaches in the north and Chinese temples and Malay history in Tanjung Pinang.
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Bintan is the largest island in Indonesia's Riau Islands province, a short ferry ride from Singapore. Ferries run daily from Singapore's Tanah Merah terminal, and the crossing to Tanjung Pinang takes about 45 minutes. The main tourist area is the north coast, where Bintan Resort and Lagoi have white-sand beaches facing the South China Sea and many resorts have golf courses. The Trikora beaches on the east coast, about 45 km from the capital, are another popular choice.
Tanjung Pinang, on the south-western coast, is the provincial capital and largest town, and it is an autonomous city separate from Bintan Regency. Its old town has the small Cetiya Satya Dharma temple, a Dutch colonial graveyard now mostly in ruins, and Kampung Bugis, a stilt village over the low-tide mudflats. Penyengat, a small island about 6 km off Tanjung Pinang, has the yellow Masjid Raya Sultan Riau, built in 1818. The island has a tropical climate with an average temperature of about 26 °C. Drier, sunnier weather runs from March to early November, and the wetter period is roughly November to March.
Pulau Bintan in five
- Check the ferry terminal and timetableFerries run from Singapore's Tanah Merah terminal to Bintan's resort and town piers, about an hour. Check the last return sailing and arrive early with your passport.
- Pre-book your resort transferLagoi sits well away from the ferry pier, and taxis are limited. Book a hotel shuttle or private car in advance, and confirm where it will meet you.
- Pick Lagoi for resorts, Tanjung Pinang for historyLagoi is a gated resort zone with beaches and golf. Tanjung Pinang has local food, markets and boats to Penyengat Island, and costs less.
- Reset your watch for Indonesian timeBintan is one hour behind Singapore, so ferry times and check-in times can be confusing. Set your phone clock to local time on the pier.
- Check your entry route and visaEntry rules for Indonesia apply on Bintan, and not every pier handles the same visa options. Check your passport's rules before you book.Visas and entry
Things to do in Pulau Bintan
See all attractions in Pulau Bintan
Need to know
- Airport
- Raja Haji Fisabilillah (TNJ), Tanjung Pinang; most visitors use the ferry
- Getting there
- Ferry from Singapore, about 1 hour
- Getting around
- Hotel shuttles and taxis; Lagoi is a gated resort zone
- Best base
- Lagoi for resorts; Tanjung Pinang for town and Penyengat
- Time
- UTC+7, one hour behind Singapore
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet monsoonJanuaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 329 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet monsoon
- FebruaryRain16 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Drier, breezyFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, breezy
- MarchRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Dry, hotMarchRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 165 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Hot, calmAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 232 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, calm
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Hot, calmMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 241 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, calm
- JuneRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Dry, calmJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 227 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- JulyRain19 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Dry, calmJulyRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 152 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- AugustRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Dry, busyAugustRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 168 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- SeptemberRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°ShowersSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 168 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- OctoberRain26 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°ShowersOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 229 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- NovemberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet, swellsNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 306 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, swells
- DecemberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Wet monsoonDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 273 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet monsoon
Average daily high and low in Tanjung Pinang, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Pulau Bintan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 31°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 1 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Pulau Bintan
04:18 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today32°23°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed31°24°99%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Thu31°22°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri29°23°95%Friday: Rain. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Sat30°23°100%Saturday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun31°23°100%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Mon29°23°100%Monday: Rain. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 12:41 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Pulau Penyengatabout 15 min by boat from Tanjung PinangA small island with a famous yellow mosque and Malay royal history.
- Tanjung Pinangabout 1 hour by ferry from SingaporeA local town with seafood, markets and the airport.
- Singaporeabout 1 hour by ferryThe easy return trip; leave slack for the last sailing.
Before you go to Pulau Bintan
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Rules for Pulau Bintan, checked
- Check whether your passport is visa-free or eligible for a visa on arrival for Indonesia on the Directorate General of Immigration site (imigrasi.go.id) before you fly or sail.
- Indonesian law protects sea turtles and their nests, including the hawksbill and green turtles that nest on Bintan Resort beaches. Do not handle turtles or touch nests.
- Masjid Raya Sultan Riau on Penyengat has a formal dress code. Check what it requires before you go across by ferry.
Plan around Pulau Bintan
Entry, regions and the rest of the country
Read the guideSumatraThe big island to the west of Bintan
Read the guideJakartaThe capital, reached by flight from Bintan or Singapore
Read the guideThousand IslandsAnother quick beach break, from Jakarta
Read the guideVisas and entryIndonesian entry rules for your passport
Read the guideConnectivityeSIMs and data options for your trip
Read the guidePulau Bintan FAQ
How do you get to Bintan from Singapore?
By ferry from Tanah Merah ferry terminal, about an hour to the resort or town piers. Check the timetable and the last return, and bring your passport.
Is Bintan worth visiting?
For a short, easy beach break from Singapore, yes. Lagoi's resorts are comfortable and calm, but the island is less varied than Bali or Lombok.
Do you need a visa for Bintan?
Bintan is part of Indonesia, so Indonesian entry rules apply. Many nationalities use a visa on arrival or e-VOA, but check your passport and the pier before you travel.
How many days do you need in Bintan?
Two or three nights for resorts and the beach. Add a day for Tanjung Pinang and Penyengat if you want local food and history.
What time zone is Bintan in?
UTC+7, one hour behind Singapore. Set your phone and check ferry and check-in times carefully on the day.