2026 Singapore to Batam Day Trip Guide: Ferry Fares, Arrival Card and a S$150 Budget Itinerary
A one-day Batam trip from Singapore for Philippine passport holders: the new HarbourFront ferry terminal, fares by operator, the All Indonesia Arrival Card, a time-stamped itinerary and a full budget.
Batam is the cheapest "abroad" you can reach from Singapore on your day off. The ferry takes about an hour, a Philippine passport gets you in visa-free, and the whole day can cost under S$150 per person, ferry included.
This guide covers the ferry, the new arrival card, getting around, what to see, a sample day with costs, and the questions kababayans ask us most.
Quick facts
Ferry time: about 50 minutes to just over an hour each way
Door to door: about 2 to 2.5 hours from central Singapore
Visa: none needed for Philippine passport holders, up to 30 days
Arrival card: All Indonesia Arrival Card, online, free, within 72 hours of arrival
Ferry cost: about S$56 to S$76 return before fees and surcharges
Money: Indonesian rupiah (Rp). Plan around Rp13,000 to S$1 and check the rate on the day
Before you go checklist
Passport with at least six months of validity left
Your Singapore pass (Work Permit, S Pass or EP card). You need it to come back in
All Indonesia Arrival Card done on your phone, QR code saved
Ferry ticket, booked ahead on weekends
Some rupiah, or S$ to change at the terminal
The Grab app, which works in Batam
Rest day sorted. If you are a domestic worker, confirm with your employer that you can leave Singapore for the day
How to get to Batam from Singapore
Four operators sail to Batam: Sindo Ferry, BatamFast, Majestic Fast Ferry and Horizon Fast Ferry. Sindo and BatamFast sail from both HarbourFront and Tanah Merah. Majestic and Horizon sail mainly from HarbourFront.
HarbourFront moved this year. The old HarbourFront Centre ferry terminal closed on 27 July 2026. Batam ferries now leave from the Singapore Cruise Centre, 5 HarbourFront Avenue. Take the MRT to HarbourFront (North East or Circle Line) and follow the signs.
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal is the better pick if you live in the east. A shuttle or Grab from Tanah Merah or Expo MRT gets you there.
Ferry fares (as of October 2026)
Operator
One-way
Return
Sindo Ferry
from S$28
from S$56
BatamFast, Majestic, Horizon
about S$43
about S$76
On top of the fare, expect:
Fuel surcharge since 12 March 2026: S$6 going to Batam, and Rp65,000 on the way back
Terminal and departure fees, often added at checkout
Budget about S$25 per person for fees and surcharges on a return trip. Our Batam Day Out calculator adds this line for you.
Sindo is the cheapest. BatamFast, Majestic and Horizon run more sailings, so you pay a few dollars more for more choice of times. BatamFast lists sailings from HarbourFront to Batam Centre from 7.40am to 9.40pm.
Which Batam terminal?
Batam Centre is the main terminal, close to the Mega Mall area
Harbour Bay is closest to Nagoya, the shopping and food district
Sekupang is on the west side
For a first day trip, Batam Centre or Harbour Bay keeps your travel on the island short.
The arrival card you cannot skip
Indonesia now uses one form for everyone: the All Indonesia Arrival Card. It replaced the paper arrival card, the customs declaration and the health declaration. Batam's ferry terminals require it.
Fill it in online, free, within 72 hours of arrival. Earlier submissions are not accepted
You get a QR code. Immigration and customs both scan it
It is not a visa. Philippine passport holders still enter visa-free
Do it the night before, on your phone, and screenshot the QR code in case the terminal signal is weak.
How to get around Batam
Grab is the easiest way around for a day trip. Check the fare in the app before you confirm.
Most day-trip spots sit within a 30 to 40 minute ride of each other. Barelang Bridge, the farthest, is about 30 to 40 minutes by car from Nagoya or Batam Centre.
Things to do in Batam on a day trip
Barelang Bridge
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A chain of six bridges linking Batam to smaller islands. Free to visit. Go late afternoon for the sunset photos.
Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall
The biggest mall on the island, with clothes, snacks, electronics, a cinema and a food court. Most visitors come for prices lower than Singapore.
A massage or mani-pedi
This is the reason many kababayans go. A two-hour massage around Rp200,000 works out to about S$15, against S$50 or more in Singapore. Ask for the price before the session starts.
Seafood dinner
Seafood is a Batam favourite with Singapore visitors. Ask the price per kilo before you order, and confirm whether rice and drinks cost extra.
Sample Batam day trip itinerary with budget
Prices per person, assuming a group of four splitting Grab rides. Check current fares before you go.
Time
What
Cost per person
7.40am
Ferry from HarbourFront (Cruise Centre) to Batam Centre
S$76 return
Fees and fuel surcharges, both ways
about S$25
9.00am
Arrive, immigration with your arrival card QR
Free
9.30am
Grab to Nagoya Hill, shop and breakfast
Your budget
12.30pm
Lunch
about S$5 to S$10
2.00pm
Two-hour massage
about S$15
4.30pm
Grab to Barelang Bridge for sunset
split four ways
7.00pm
Seafood dinner
about S$15 to S$25
9.00pm
Last ferry back to Singapore
included above
Estimated total: about S$140 to S$160 per person, plus shopping. Pick Sindo instead of the S$76 operators and you save about S$20.
Batam day trip budget summary
Item
Low
High
Ferry, return
S$56
S$76
Fees and surcharges
S$25
S$25
Grab rides (shared)
S$5
S$15
Food
S$20
S$35
Massage
S$15
S$25
Total
about S$121
about S$176
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Frequently asked questions
Do Filipinos need a visa for Batam?
No. Philippine passport holders enter Indonesia visa-free for up to 30 days as tourists, including through Batam's ferry terminals. You still need the All Indonesia Arrival Card, which is free and takes a few minutes online.
Can a domestic worker go to Batam on a day off?
Your Work Permit lets you leave and re-enter Singapore, but your employer should know you are leaving the country for the day. Tell them ahead, bring your Work Permit card, and book a return ferry that gets you home before the time you agreed.
Which is cheaper, Batam or JB?
JB costs less to reach, since the bus or the RTS Link costs a few dollars. Batam costs more in ferry fares but feels more like a short holiday. Read our JB crossing guide for Philippine passports to compare.
Should I change money in Singapore or Batam?
Either works. Compare the rate before you change, and change only what you plan to spend. Many shops in Nagoya take Singapore dollars, but you usually get a better deal paying in rupiah.
How early should I be at the ferry terminal?
Aim for 45 minutes to an hour before departure. Immigration queues on weekend mornings at HarbourFront run long.
Updates log
3 October 2026: First published. Fares, surcharges and the new HarbourFront terminal as of October 2026.
No. Philippine passport holders enter Indonesia visa-free for up to 30 days as tourists, including through Batam ferry terminals. You still need the All Indonesia Arrival Card, which is free and done online within 72 hours of arrival.
How much is the ferry from Singapore to Batam in 2026?+
About S$56 return on Sindo Ferry and about S$76 return on BatamFast, Majestic and Horizon, as of October 2026. Add a fuel surcharge of S$6 out and Rp65,000 back, plus terminal fees. Budget about S$25 per person for fees and surcharges.
Where do Batam ferries leave from in Singapore now?+
From the Singapore Cruise Centre at 5 HarbourFront Avenue, after the old HarbourFront Centre terminal closed on 27 July 2026, and from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Sindo and BatamFast sail from both.
How much does a Batam day trip cost?+
About S$120 to S$180 per person for ferry, fees, shared Grab rides, food and a massage, before shopping. Choosing Sindo Ferry is the easiest way to save about S$20.
