Batam Ferry Guide: Terminals, Fares & Fees from Singapore
Choose your Batam ferry terminal, see what the ticket doesn't include, and learn booking cutoffs and arrival tips before you cross from Singapore.
On this page
Last updated November 2026: a Batam ferry from Singapore leaves from HarbourFront or Tanah Merah and takes roughly 40 to 70 minutes, depending on the terminal. Ticket prices are not the full cost, because Singapore and Batam terminal fees are charged separately. Use this guide to pick a terminal, price the whole trip and avoid booking mistakes.
Featured image: Masgatotkaca at Indonesian Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Batam ferry routes from Singapore
Ferries to Batam depart from two Singapore terminals: HarbourFront Centre and Tanah Merah. Most routes start at one of these two, and Batam Centre is the most popular arrival point, according to CNA's report of 28 November 2025. That report counts six Singapore–Batam connections, including a new link to Bengkong. Crossing times below come from a ticket reseller's description of Batam Fast services and a CNA news report. Confirm them with your operator, since schedules can change without notice. You can also read about HarbourFront's ferry terminal on the Singapore Cruise Centre site.
| Singapore terminal | Batam terminal | Approx. crossing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HarbourFront | Harbour Bay (near Nagoya) | 40–50 min | Batam Fast timing |
| HarbourFront | Sekupang (northwest coast) | 40–50 min | Batam Fast timing |
| HarbourFront | Batam Centre | 55–70 min | Most popular arrival |
| HarbourFront | Waterfront (Teluk Senimba) | Check the operator | Sindo lists a fare to Waterfront |
| Tanah Merah | Nongsapura (northeast coast) | About 45 min | Batam Fast timing |
| Tanah Merah | Batam Centre | Check the operator | Sindo lists a fare for this route |
| HarbourFront | Gold Coast, Bengkong (north) | About 1 hour | New route; Sindo Ferry and Batamfast, two round-trips each daily |
Which Batam ferry terminal should you choose?
Start with where you are sleeping, then check crossing time. A shorter boat ride does not help if the onward transfer is long. This guide gives no taxi or Grab prices, because none are supplied in our sources. Ask your hotel for the transfer cost before you book.
- Batam Centre: best for city sightseeing and shopping. See Batam's shopping malls before you pick a hotel nearby.
- Harbour Bay: a shorter crossing of 40–50 minutes, and it sits near the Nagoya district.
- Sekupang: also 40–50 minutes from HarbourFront, on the northwest coast.
- Nongsapura: the northeast coast, reached from Tanah Merah in about 45 minutes.
- Waterfront (Teluk Senimba): on the west coast, with a Sindo fare from HarbourFront.
- Gold Coast, Bengkong: aimed at the northern beach clubs, and it skips the usual 25-minute car ride from Batam Centre, per CNA.
What a Batam ferry really costs
Sindo Ferry's fare page lists S$28 one-way and S$56 return from HarbourFront to Batam Centre, Sekupang or Waterfront. Tanah Merah to Batam Centre is the same S$28 one-way and S$56 return. Fares are in Singapore dollars and include a surcharge. Fees come on top. Singapore charges a S$10 passenger departure fee per person from HarbourFront or Tanah Merah. Batam charges a terminal fee of Rp100,000 or S$10 per person when you depart from Batam Centre, Sekupang or Waterfront. A temporary fuel surcharge may also apply. Sindo asks you to prepare exact Rupiah in cash, so confirm which fees that covers when you book. Treat these as figures checked on 5 November 2026, from a page carrying a 2025 update line, and confirm before travel.
Departing Batam takes Rp100,000 or S$10, but Sindo wants exact Rupiah in cash, so carry it.
| Line item | One-way from Singapore | Return trip |
|---|---|---|
| Sindo fare, HarbourFront to Batam Centre | S$28 | S$56 |
| Singapore departure fee | S$10 | S$10 |
| Batam terminal fee (Rp100,000 or S$10) | Paid when leaving Batam | S$10 or Rp100,000 |
| Running total, excluding fuel surcharge | S$38 | S$76 if you pay the Batam fee in S$ |
How to book and check in for the Batam ferry
Book direct with the operator or through a reseller such as BusOnlineTicket. Compare the fare and the fees included before buying. Batamfast's online schedule opens 3 months ahead, and online reservation closes 1 hour before departure. You must be at the pre-immigration gate with your boarding pass at least 30 minutes before departure. Batamfast has no pre-seating, so seats are assigned at check-in. Its HarbourFront ticket office is open 0800 to 2000 daily. Check the name on every ticket against the passport, because errors can stop you at the gate.
Settle your Batam terminal before Batamfast's schedule opens 3 months ahead, since a long onward transfer can undo a shorter crossing.
- Reserve at least 1 hour before departure.
- Reach the pre-immigration gate 30 minutes early with boarding pass and passport.
- Online check-in is not open to children under 16 travelling without an adult.
- Passengers needing special assistance also cannot use online check-in.
- Keep cash for fees: Sindo asks for exact Rupiah.
Changes, refunds and missed ferries
Batamfast tickets are non-transferable, so names cannot be changed. Special-price tickets cannot be changed or cancelled. Read the fare conditions on your booking confirmation before trying anything else. A refund claim must be made within 3 days after the ticket's last valid date. Unused terminal fees can be refunded, but surcharges cannot. Batamfast says a confirmed reservation you do not cancel can be charged at one-way fare. Cancellations by call Centre must reach Batamfast at least 1 hour before departure. If you booked through an agent, change requests go through that agent.
Arriving in Batam: immigration, visas and getting onward
You clear Indonesian immigration at the Batam terminal. CNA reports that visitors from China and India generally need a visa, typically on arrival or an e-visa. Other nationalities should check entry rules on the Indonesia tourism site before travelling. Sindo and Batamfast each publish visa pages too. Flying is the alternative to the ferry, and Batam's airport is covered in our airport guide. Once you land, 8 Things to Do in Batam: Best Attractions & Day Plans is the best next read. Beach-side stays near Nongsapura or Bengkong pair well with island hopping from Batam.
Common Batam ferry mistakes
Most problems come from small details. Fix these before you pay.
- Booking the wrong Batam terminal for your hotel.
- Forgetting the S$10 Singapore departure fee.
- Arriving after the 30-minute pre-immigration cutoff.
- Carrying no Rupiah for Batam terminal fees.
- Booking a special-price fare, then changing plans.
Is the Batam ferry trip worth it?
A day trip works because crossings run 40 to 70 minutes. A single return then costs about S$76 with fees, before any fuel surcharge. An overnight stay spreads that cost over more time. Read whether Batam is worth visiting to weigh the trade-offs. Weather also affects sea days, so see the best time to visit Batam. Evenings are a reason to stay over, and Batam's nightlife covers the options.
Notes for your Indonesia trip
Optional updates when we add or change a town or island guide.
You might also like
Continue reading
More guides you'll find useful
