Signature collection
The places we'd genuinely cross the strait for, from Singapore or Johor. Not the closest to the terminal, not the cheapest: the ones that make the whole trip worth it.
01
Something you can't easily get at home in Singapore or Malaysia, not just a cheaper version of it.
02
Doable on a weekend or a long day trip, with clear directions from the terminals.
03
Chosen by our editors. Paid placement never buys a spot in this collection.
5 places in the collection
Worth the FerryLandmark · Barelang
A chain of six bridges linking Batam, Rempang and Galang, Barelang is the island's signature landmark and the gateway to its quieter southern islands. Most visitors pair the photo stop with a seafood lunch further along the route.
Hidden GemHeritage site · Barelang
From 1979 to 1996 this camp on Galang Island sheltered roughly 250,000 refugees. Today visitors walk among a cemetery, an unfinished church, a museum of camp artefacts and a replica of a refugee boat, all managed by the Batam Authority.
Worth the FerrySeafood · Bengkong
A long-running seafood restaurant built over the water in Bengkong, and a regular stop for visitors from Singapore and Malaysia. Diners come for crab and prawns cooked several ways, priced at market rates.
Worth the FerryResort · Nongsa
A beachfront villa resort on the Singapore Strait with nine room types, from pool studios for two to five-bedroom residences. It also has a wellness village and water sports.
Worth the FerrySpa retreat · Sekupang
Batam's original boutique hotel and spa, set on a jungle hillside, has been running since 2008. Its 3- to 6-hour spa packages use plant-based products made in its own on-site lab.