How to Get to Bintan Island from Singapore: Full Guide
Singapore and Bintan Island are connected only by ferry.
There is no bridge between the two, and two different routes are available depending on the destination.
Bintan Resort Ferries (BRF) operates a direct 70-minute route to Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT), located in the Bintan Resorts area.
Majestic Fast Ferry and Sindo Ferry operate an alternative route to Sri Bintan Pura in Tanjungpinang, taking 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours.
This guide helps travelers choose the right ferry route for their hotel in Bintan, prepare the correct entry documents, and get from the terminal to their hotel without confusion on arrival.
Bintan Travel Guide (BTG) assists travelers with this crossing daily, helping them choose the right route and prepare the correct documents before departure.
Travelers planning only a day trip to Bintan from Singapore, without an overnight stay, can refer to Bintan Day Trip from Singapore instead.
Bintan Entry Requirements
Three requirements apply before entering Bintan.
- Passport validity: At least 6 months remaining from the arrival date in Indonesia.
- Visa on arrival: Singapore, Malaysia, and several other nationalities enter visa-free. Some nationalities need a visa. See Bintan Visa on Arrival for exact requirements by nationality.
- Digital arrival card: Required for every international visitor. This is officially known as the All Indonesia Arrival Card, though travelers often refer to it as the Bintan Arrival Card. Submit it up to 72 hours before arrival. It takes about 3–5 minutes and requires a passport.
Getting to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore
Every ferry to Bintan Island departs from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, regardless of operator or route.
- About 15–20 minutes from Changi Airport by taxi.
- A shuttle operates directly from Changi via tmftshuttle.changiairport.com.
- Arrival at least 90 minutes before departure is recommended, to allow time for check-in and immigration.
Route 1: Direct Ferry to Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT)
Bintan Resort Ferries’ direct route arrives at Bandar Bentan Telani, and suits travelers staying in the Bintan Resorts area or eastern Bintan.
- Operator: Bintan Resort Ferries
- Departure terminal: Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Singapore
- Arrival terminal: Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal, Bintan
- Crossing time: 70 minutes
- First departure: 08:10 from Singapore
- Last departure: 17:00 from Singapore
- Price: SGD 100–105 round trip for Economy Class, SGD 154–159 round trip for Emerald Class, per adult
Extra sailings are added during weekends, peak season, and public holidays. See Bintan Ferry Schedule and how to choose the best departure.
A full price breakdown, including child fares and peak-season rates, and a comparison of what each class includes, is available on Bintan Ferries Emerald Class vs Economy.
Tickets for this route can be booked online through Tanah Merah to Bandar Bentan Telani.
During peak season, however, ferry tickets on this route are often fully booked well in advance, prompting travelers to consider the second route explained below
Route 2: Ferry to Tanjungpinang (Sri Bintan Pura)
This route suits travelers staying in Tanjungpinang or at The Residence Bintan, and is also a good alternative when direct sailings to Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal sell out.
- Operators: Sindo Ferry and Majestic Fast Ferry
- Departure terminal: Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Singapore
- Arrival terminal: Sri Bintan Pura Ferry Terminal, Tanjungpinang
- Crossing time: 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours
- Departures: Two per day, per operator
- Price: From SGD 98 per person, for either operator
Fares are generally lower than the direct BBT route.
Tickets for this route can be booked online through Tanah Merah to Tanjung Pinang.
Which Route to Choose
- Travelers staying at one of the hotels in Bintan Resorts area or eastern Bintan should choose the Bandar Bentan Telani route.
- Travelers staying at one of the hotels in the Tanjungpinang area should choose the Tanjungpinang route, which also works as an alternative when Bandar Bentan Telani sailings are full.
Getting From the Terminal to a Hotel
From Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT)
- Hotel Shuttle Services: Many hotels in the Bintan Resorts area offer a Hotel Shuttle Service directly from the terminal.
- Grab Car Services: Grab in Bintan is available at Bandar Bentan Telani, but only for destinations within the Bintan Resorts area.
- Taxi Counter: A taxi counter is available at the terminal, located just before the arrival sliding glass doors.
- Private Transfer Services: Private Transfer Services can also be pre-booked for hotels outside the Bintan Resorts area.
Travelers who arrive in the morning before their room is ready sometimes prefer to start the day with an activity, sightseeing, or tour instead of waiting at the hotel.
The full Bintan Tour Package collection can be booked with pickup from Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal.
The same collection is also available with pickup from the hotel lobby for travelers who prefer to explore after checking in.
From Sri Bintan Pura (Tanjungpinang)
- Most hotels do not offer a shuttle from this terminal.
- The Residence Bintan is an exception, offering its own shuttle service.
- Other travelers need book a private transfer, taking about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the Bintan Resorts area.
During peak season, demand for private transfer from Tanjungpinang to the Bintan Resorts area tends to increase, as travelers on this route need to arrange onward transport in advance.
Choosing between the two ferry routes mainly comes down to the hotel’s location and ferry availability during peak periods.
Travelers who prefer not to coordinate the ferry booking, entry documents, and terminal transfer separately can arrange these as part of a hotel stay package, which bundles the crossing and land transfer into one booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
By ferry only. Bintan Resort Ferries runs a direct 70-minute route to Bandar Bentan Telani, while Majestic Fast Ferry and Sindo Ferry run to Sri Bintan Pura in Tanjungpinang, taking 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours.
All Bintan-bound ferries depart from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, regardless of operator or route.
Bintan Resort Ferries operates the direct route to Bandar Bentan Telani. Majestic Fast Ferry and Sindo Ferry both serve Tanjungpinang.
Bintan Resort Ferries' first departure at 08:10, with the last sailing at 17:00. Extra sailings are added on weekends, peak season, and public holidays.
For Bintan Resort Ferries, Economy Class is SGD 100–105 round trip and Emerald Class is SGD 154–159 round trip, per adult. For Sind0 & Majectic, fares start from SGD 98 per person.
Singapore, Malaysia, and several other nationalities enter visa-free. Some nationalities need a visa on arrival, depending on nationality.
Yes. Many hotels in the Bintan Resorts area offer a hotel shuttle service directly from Bandar Bentan Telani. Grab Car is also available there, but only within the Bintan Resorts area.
Yes. A hotel stay package bundles the round-trip ferry ticket, land transfer, and hotel stay into a single booking.
Written by
Sigit Supriadi
Founder & Travel Specialist, Bintan Travel Guide (BTG)
With over 13 years in hospitality across Bintan, from luxury resorts to private villas and islands, and now running Bintan Travel Guide (BTG) since 2023.
I share practical travel information and local insights to help travelers plan with confidence. Every guide reflects local knowledge and up-to-date information on Bintan’s destinations, attractions, and travel logistics
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