Bintan Day Trip from Singapore: Complete Travel Guide
Bintan is one of the easiest getaways from Singapore. The ferry ride takes only about 70 minutes, yet many travelers still wonder whether a day trip is really worth it.
Usually, the questions are simple: is one day enough, and how do you plan everything without feeling rushed?
From our experience arranging day trips regularly, the answer is yes.
With proper timing and a well-planned route, a one-day trip to Bintan can feel smooth, enjoyable, and surprisingly complete.
Bintan itself is not complicated.
In a single day, you can enjoy beaches, nature, local food, and a few carefully chosen highlights without needing to stay overnight.
This guide keeps everything clear and practical, so you can understand exactly how to plan your trip step by step from Singapore, what to expect during the journey, and what to do in Bintan within one day.
How to Go to Bintan from Singapore for a Day Trip
Traveling from Singapore to Bintan is quite straightforward. You’ll depart from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore and arrive at Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT) Ferry Terminal in Bintan.
The ferry ride takes around 70 minutes and is operated by Bintan Resort Ferries.
For a day trip, these are usually the most comfortable ferry timings:
- Morning ferry: around 08:10 from Singapore
- Return ferry: around 18:35 from Bintan
One useful thing to know is that Bintan is 1 hour behind Singapore time.
So if you leave Singapore at 08:10, you’ll arrive in Bintan at around 08:20 local time, which gives you more usable time to enjoy your day trip.
For the return journey, you’ll normally arrive back in Singapore at around 20:45 Singapore time, making it a very manageable same-day getaway without feeling too rushed.
Round-trip ferry tickets generally range from around S$100 to S$159 per adult, depending on your travel date and whether you choose Economy or Emerald Class tickets.
Below is the step-by-step guide for traveling from Singapore to Bintan for a day trip.
Departing from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore
Once you’ve booked your ferry tickets online and selected the 08:10 departure, here’s a simple step-by-step guide for your travel day.
- Arrive at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at least 90 minutes before departure. For the 08:10 ferry, it’s best to be at the terminal at 07:00 AM.
- Go to the Bintan Resort Ferries counter and show your ferry ticket confirmation together with your passport.
- The staff will print your boarding pass for the ferry.
- After that, proceed to the clearance and immigration area.
- Once immigration is completed, you can wait at the departure hall until boarding is announced.
The Ferry Journey to Bintan
The ferry ride from Singapore to Bintan takes around 70 minutes. If you depart Singapore at 08:10, you’ll usually arrive in Bintan at around 08:20 local time, since Bintan is 1 hour behind Singapore.
Seating arrangements depend on your ticket type. Economy Class uses free seating, while Emerald Class includes assigned seats and access to the open deck area.
Arriving at Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT) Ferry Terminal
After arriving in Bintan, you’ll go through several arrival procedures before exiting to the arrival hall.
- Immigration Clearance
Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months before your travel date. It’s also important to check the latest Bintan entry requirements before traveling.Travelers from Singapore, Malaysia, and several other countries can enter Indonesia visa-free for short visits.
If your nationality requires a visa, you can usually apply for a 7-day paid Visa on Arrival at the terminal. You can read our separate guide about the Bintan Visa on Arrival process for more details.
- Indonesia Digital Arrival Card
Before entering Indonesia, travelers are also required to complete the Indonesia Digital Arrival Card, which some travelers also refer to as the Bintan Arrival Card. - Customs Clearance
After immigration, continue to the customs clearance area. Make sure you don’t leave any personal belongings behind, especially items placed in the X-ray trays during the screening process. - Arrival Hall
Once everything is completed, you can proceed directly to the arrival hall.For guests joining our day trips, we usually ask about their ferry ticket class in advance, since the arrival exit area is different between Economy and Emerald Class passengers.
This helps our driver standby at the correct pickup point for a smoother arrival experience.
What to Do in Bintan on a Day Trip
Since Bintan is quite a large island, it’s important to plan a realistic itinerary instead of trying to fit too many places into one day.
This helps you enjoy each stop more comfortably without feeling rushed during the trip.
At Bintan Travel Guide (BTG), we handle travelers almost every day, including many day-trip visitors from Singapore.
Based on that experience, here are three practical and well-balanced ways to spend your day in Bintan.
You can follow one of these suggested itineraries, or choose a custom arrangement based on your own travel style and interests.
1. Full Day Tour — Explore Bintan
This is one of the most complete options if you want to experience different sides of Bintan within a single day. A typical itinerary usually includes:
- Mangrove river tour
- Local coffee plantation and bee farm
- Blue Lake and Sand Dunes
- 500 Lohan Temple
If time allows, you can also stop by Lagoi Bay before heading back to the ferry terminal.
This option works especially well for first-time visitors who want a balanced mix of nature, sightseeing, and local experiences without rushing too much between stops.
You can explore the full details of the Full Day Tour in Bintan, including how the itinerary is commonly arranged for travelers visiting from Singapore on a day trip.
2. Snorkeling Experience (East Bintan)
If you prefer a slower and more relaxed day, snorkeling can be a great choice.
Most snorkeling activities take place on the east side of Bintan, usually from a kelong , a traditional wooden platform built above the sea.
The water is generally calm and shallow, making it suitable even for beginners. The experience is also quite flexible, with no overly strict schedule, so you can enjoy the water at your own pace.
After snorkeling, there’s usually enough time for lunch, and depending on your ferry schedule, you may also add a short mangrove tour or a quick visit to Lagoi Bay.
You can explore the Bintan Snorkeling Tour for more details on how it can be arranged as part of a day trip from Singapore.
3. Custom Day Trip
This option is suitable for travelers who already have specific places or activities in mind.
Simply share your preferences in advance , whether it’s certain attractions, food spots, activities, or a slower travel pace, and BTG will help arrange a practical itinerary based on travel distance, timing, and ferry schedules.
If the plan feels too packed for a one-day trip, adjustments are usually recommended to keep the experience smooth and comfortable throughout the day.
You can learn more about the Custom Trip in Bintan and see how the itinerary can be arranged around your travel preferences.
Returning from Bintan to Singapore
If your return ferry from Bintan to Singapore is scheduled for 18:35, it’s recommended to arrive at the ferry terminal by around 17:30.
This gives you enough time for check-in, immigration clearance, and boarding procedures before departure.
The ferry journey back to Singapore takes around 70 minutes. Since Singapore is 1 hour ahead of Bintan, you’ll usually arrive at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at around 20:45 Singapore time.
Common Mistakes When Planning a Bintan Day Trip
- Not realizing that Bintan is 1 hour behind Singapore time. This often causes confusion when checking ferry schedules and arrival times.
- Choosing the wrong ferry timing. Some travelers book ferries that are too late in the morning or too early in the evening, which reduces the amount of usable time in Bintan.
- Planning the trip too last minute. Ferry tickets, especially during weekends and public holidays, can sell out quite quickly.
- Assuming transportation in Bintan works like Singapore. Grab is available mainly around the Bintan Resorts area, but outside that area, transportation options become very limited. You can also read our guide about using Grab in Bintan for more details.
- Visiting Bintan without a proper itinerary. Some travelers only arrange a private car and driver without understanding travel distances and timing between attractions.
Since this is a day trip, having a realistic route is important to make the experience feel smoother and more enjoyable. - Spending the entire day only visiting Blue Lake and Sand Dunes. Many travelers book these tours through online marketplaces, but the trip itself usually lasts only around 3.5 to 4 hours in total.
As a result, they don’t fully maximize the time available during their day trip in Bintan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The ferry ride is only around 70 minutes, and with an early departure and evening return, you have enough time to enjoy a few key highlights without rushing.
The most recommended schedule is the morning ferry around 08:10 from Singapore and the return ferry around 18:35 from Bintan, giving you a full day on the island.
The ferry journey takes about 70 minutes from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT) in Bintan.
Many nationalities, including Singaporeans, can enter Bintan without a visa for short visits. Always check the latest visa requirements before your trip.
You can explore nature, culture, and light activities such as mangrove tours, the 500 Lohan Temple, the Blue Lake and sand dunes, Lagoi Bay Bintan, or snorkeling.
Yes. Share what you want to see and do, and the itinerary can be built around your timing, distance, and ferry schedule, so the trip feels smooth and unrushed.
