A weekend in Batam: Kelong seafood, long massages, short ferry

Nobody goes to Batam for the architecture.

Batam is the easiest overnight escape from Singapore, as long as you want what it does well: seafood eaten over the water, spa treatments that run long, and resorts that feel further away than they are. Nobody goes for the architecture. The crossing takes roughly 50 minutes to an hour, Batam runs an hour behind Singapore, and the one decision that shapes the weekend is which ferry terminal you sail to.

Pick your terminal first

If you want malls, massages and dinner, sail to Harbour Bay. If you want a pool and some quiet, sail to Nongsapura and stay there. Ferries from HarbourFront Centre serve the town-side terminals, including Batam Centre and Harbour Bay; ferries from Tanah Merah go to Nongsapura, the closest terminal to the Nongsa resorts in the north-east. Several operators run the route and their timetables differ: BatamFast's, effective from 17 September 2026, lists Batam Center, Sekupang and Nongsapura, with Gold Coast sailings suspended until further notice.

Entry rules are the same as for the rest of Indonesia. Indonesia's embassy lists Singapore citizens as visa-exempt for up to 30 days. Everyone needs a passport with at least six months' validity and must fill in the free All Indonesia e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before arrival.

Seafood on stilts

The kelong, a wooden restaurant on stilts over the sea, is the dinner to build the trip around. You choose prawns, crab and fish, and the kitchen cooks them however you like. Prices feel low after Singapore, which is most of the point. Horizon Fast Ferry's own two-day itinerary sends people to Love Seafood Piayu, about 40 minutes from Harbour Bay. Whichever kelong you choose, get there before sunset: eating while there is still light on the water is half the meal.

The spa question

This is what Batam is best known for, and the main reason to go. Resort spas offer long full-body treatments; reflexology shops in Nagoya charge by the hour. Horizon's guide names The Spa Secret near Nagoya Hill, and Spa Central Batam, which has a kids' club so parents can actually lie down. Carry cash. Cards work in malls and resorts, but spas, taxis and kelongs often prefer rupiah.

Nagoya, bridges and temples

Nagoya Hill is the big mall and the island's busiest area for eating and shopping; BPK Sukajadi does Batak-style pork, a lunch you won't get at a kelong. For something to take home, the shops in Bay Front Mall next to Harbour Bay terminal sell kueh lapis, the many-layered cake that is the classic Batam souvenir. Outside town, pick one: the Barelang Bridge, which links Batam to the islands south of it, for the sunset photo, or Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya, one of Indonesia's largest Buddhist temples, for a calmer hour.

Green, and greener

If the weekend needs some exercise, Horizon's itinerary points families to Panbil Nature Reserve, with walking trails and animals such as deer and rabbits. Golfers have Tering Bay and the Radisson course; check green fees with the clubs before you pack the bag. A morning round followed by an afternoon massage is a very Batam way to spend a Saturday.

Where to stay

Nongsa is the resort side, with Montigo Resorts Nongsa, Turi Beach Resort and Nongsa Point Marina. Harbour Bay has the Swiss-Belhotel and the Batam Marriott if you want to be in town. One night works fine; two is enough for a proper reset.

Batam suits groups of friends, couples who just want a long massage, and anyone whose idea of a holiday is lunch that lasts until dinner (we are not judging; we are booking). Use Grab, carry small notes, and book the last ferry home with some time to spare.

Good to know Ferries leave from HarbourFront Centre and Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, and terminals and timetables vary by operator, so check before you book. Complete the All Indonesia e-Arrival Card on the official site within 72 hours of arrival. Batam is one hour behind Singapore.