Quick Facts: Port of Bintan | Indonesia (Riau Archipelago) | Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal / Lagoi Bay Terminal | Dock (no tender required at main terminals) | ~45 km to Tanjung Pinang city center | UTC+7 (WIB – Western Indonesia Time)
Bintan is one of Southeast Asia’s most underrated cruise stops — a sprawling tropical island just 45 km south of Singapore, divided between pristine resort beaches in the north and the bustling Malay-Indonesian port city of Tanjung Pinang in the south. The single most important planning tip: know which terminal your ship is using before you step ashore, because Lagoi Bay (resort north) and Tanjung Pinang (city south) are very different experiences separated by a 45-minute drive.
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Port & Terminal Information
Bintan receives cruise ships at 2 primary locations, and which one your ship uses changes everything about your day:
- Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal (Lagoi Bay) — This is the main international terminal on the northwest coast, purpose-built to serve the resort strip. It handles the bulk of cruise calls. Facilities include air-conditioned waiting halls, basic souvenir kiosks, a small café, ATM (Bank BRI and Mandiri machines — bring rupiah backup), and a tourist information desk staffed when ships are in port. There is no formal luggage storage. Wi-Fi is available in the terminal building but inconsistent. [Find this terminal on Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Pulau+Bintan+Island+Indonesia+cruise+terminal).
- Sri Bintan Pura Ferry Terminal (Tanjung Pinang) — Ships occasionally dock here on the southern coast, putting you immediately in the heart of Bintan’s most authentic Indonesian town. This terminal is more utilitarian: a few warung food stalls outside, motorcycle taxis (ojek) at the gate, and a small money changer inside.
- Docking: Both terminals are dock berths — no tender required, which means you can get ashore quickly and reclaim those tender-queue minutes for actual exploring.
- Terminal facilities at Lagoi Bay in detail: 2 ATMs (dispense IDR), no dedicated luggage storage (leave bags on ship), 1 tourist desk with basic maps, shuttle bus staging area, and a taxi rank. There is no pharmacy or post office at the terminal itself.
- Distance to Tanjung Pinang city center: ~45 km from Lagoi Bay terminal (allow 50–60 min by car). From Sri Bintan Pura Terminal you’re already in the city center.
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Getting to the City
Bintan is large — roughly the size of Singapore and Bali combined — so transport decisions matter enormously here. Here’s the honest breakdown:
- On Foot — From Lagoi Bay terminal, almost nothing useful is within walking distance except the beach and a handful of resort facilities. The Lagoi resort strip has some restaurants and a small plaza walkable in 10 minutes. From Tanjung Pinang terminal, you can walk to the waterfront market (Pasar Bintan Center) in 5 minutes — genuinely do-able.
- Taxi (Lagoi Bay → Tanjung Pinang) — Expect IDR 250,000–350,000 (~USD 15–22) one-way in a non-metered car. Always agree on the price before you get in. Licensed taxi desks operate inside Lagoi terminal; these are more reliable than the drivers who approach you outside the gate. Journey time: 45–60 minutes depending on road conditions. Grab (Southeast Asia’s Uber equivalent) works on Bintan if you have a local SIM or roaming data — fares run 20–30% cheaper than negotiated taxis.
- Bus — There is no reliable public bus network connecting Lagoi Bay to Tanjung Pinang that aligns with cruise ship schedules. Local angkot (shared minivans) run between towns but routes and timings are unpredictable for time-pressed cruisers. Not recommended unless you’re an experienced independent traveler with abundant time.
- Scooter Rental — Available near Lagoi resort area from ~IDR 100,000–150,000/day (~USD 6–9). Bintan’s roads are generally well-maintained in the north. This is a genuinely good option if you’re a confident rider and want to explore the coastline at your own pace. Bring your international driving permit. Helmets are legally required and should be provided.
- Hire Car with Driver — The smartest option for a full-day independent cruise. Most guesthouses and hotels near the terminal can arrange a private car with English-speaking driver for IDR 500,000–700,000 (~USD 30–43) for 8–10 hours. This gives you flexibility to cover the beaches, temples, and town on your own schedule. Book via your hotel contact the night before if you’re pre- or post-cruising, or ask the tourist desk at the terminal on arrival.
- Hop-On Hop-Off — No formal HOHO bus operates on Bintan at the time of writing.
- Ship Shore Excursion — Worth it specifically for the firefly tour (difficult to arrange independently after dark and timing can conflict with all-aboard), the blue lake and desert excursion (remote location), or if your ship docks at Lagoi and you want to reach Tanjung Pinang without the taxi negotiation stress. For beach days in the Lagoi area, going independently is easy and saves significant money.
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Top Things to Do in Bintan, Riau
Bintan rewards cruisers who lean into variety — you can swing between mangrove rivers and golf resort pools, fishing villages and Chinese temples, all within one island. Here are the best ways to spend your hours ashore.
Must-See
1. Tanjung Pinang Old Town & Waterfront (Free) — The atmospheric heart of Bintan’s largest city, where wooden shophouses painted in faded pastels line the waterfront and the smell of fish sauce and lemongrass drifts from open kitchens. Stroll the waterfront promenade, poke into the covered market, and watch the wooden tongkang boats load and unload at the pier. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
2. Penyengat Island (Ferry IDR 10,000–15,000 each way, ~USD 1) — A tiny island 2 km offshore from Tanjung Pinang that served as the royal capital of the Riau Sultanate. The 18th-century Sultan Riau Grand Mosque (Masjid Raya Sultan Riau) is legendary for reportedly being built with egg whites mixed into the plaster. You reach Penyengat by wooden motorboat from the Tanjung Pinang waterfront. The whole island is explorable by foot or rented bicycle. Give this 2–3 hours minimum and don’t miss the royal tombs on the hilltop. Check a [guided cultural tour on Viator](https://www.viator.com/search/Pulau+Bintan+Island+Indonesia) for a narrated version.
3. Vihara Avalokitesvara (Vihara 1000 Buddha) (Free, donations welcome) — One of the most striking Chinese Buddhist temples in the Riau Archipelago, near Tanjung Pinang. Hundreds of Buddha statues fill the halls and gardens in various sizes and poses. The temple is active and deeply reverential — arrive respectfully dressed and move quietly. Allow 45 minutes.
Beaches & Nature
4. Trikora Beach (Free) — On Bintan’s east coast, about 45 km from Lagoi, Trikora is four connected stretches of palm-fringed white sand that the resort crowds haven’t fully discovered. Vendors sell grilled corn and young coconut. Swimming is good outside rough season (December–February). Allow 2 hours. Best reached by hire car or scooter.
5. Lagoi Bay Resort Beach (Free to access the beach itself) — The north coast beach fronting the resort strip is clean, calm, and beginner-friendly for swimming. Water sports — jet skis, banana boats, kayaking — are bookable on the beach from IDR 100,000–300,000 per activity. Convenient if your ship docks at Lagoi Bay terminal. Allow 1.5–3 hours.
6. Bintan Fireflies Discovery Tour (from USD 28 — [book on Viator](https://www.viator.com/search/Pulau+Bintan+Island+Indonesia)) 🎟 Book: Bintan Fireflies Discovery Tour — A 2-hour nighttime boat ride through mangrove-lined rivers to see thousands of synchronised fireflies blinking in the trees. This is genuinely one of Bintan’s most magical experiences and nearly impossible to replicate elsewhere on a cruise circuit. Timing (evening departure) can work if your ship has a late all-aboard or overnight stay. Allow 2 hours.
7. Bintan Desert & Blue Lake (from USD 97.73 for 2D/1N — [book on Viator](https://www.viator.com/search/Pulau+Bintan+Island+Indonesia)) 🎟 Book: 2 Day 1 Night / Trip to Bintan desert and blue lake — Yes, Bintan has a small sandy desert and a vivid blue volcanic lake — two of the most photogenic and unexpected landscapes on the island. The desert (Gurun Pasir Busung) covers roughly 3 hectares of white sand dunes near the village of Busung. The blue lake (Danau Biru) gets its color from former kaolin mining. Both are mid-island. The Viator trip runs as an overnight for full immersion, but the sites can also be visited as a long day trip by private car. Allow 4–5 hours for a day-trip version.
8. Desa Wisata Ekang — Village Cultural Activities (from USD 15.22 — [book on GetYourGuide](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Pulau+Bintan+Island+Indonesia¤cy=USD&partner_id=MHU0UHU)) 🎟 Book: Indonesia: Desa Wisata Ekang Activities in Bintan — A community tourism village where you can try traditional Malay weaving, fishing methods, coconut processing, and local cooking with the villagers themselves. Unhurried, immersive, and genuinely off the resort circuit. Allow 2–3 hours.
Day Trips
9. Bintan Mangrove Tour by Kayak or Longboat (IDR 200,000–350,000/person, ~USD 12–21) — The mangrove systems along Bintan’s river estuaries are dense, biodiverse, and hauntingly beautiful in the early morning light. Longboat tours depart from the Lagoi area and include narration on the ecosystem and traditional fishing communities. You’ll spot kingfishers, monitor lizards, and — if lucky — proboscis monkeys in the canopy. Allow 2–3 hours. Book locally at the Lagoi activity desks or browse options on [GetYourGuide](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Pulau+Bintan+Island+Indonesia¤cy=USD&partner_id=MHU0UHU).
10. Raja Ali Haji Fisabilillah (Tanjung Pinang City Tour) — Named for Bintan’s most celebrated poet and scholar, Tanjung Pinang is worth a proper ramble: the Chinese Kapitan Temple, the Dutch fort remnants at Kota Piring, the night market (pasar malam), and the waterfront jetty where inter-island ferries still arrive packed with durian and dried fish. Allow a half-day.
Family Picks
11. Treasure Bay Bintan (Entry IDR 150,000–300,000/person, ~USD 9–18 depending on activities) — Southeast Asia’s largest crystal lagoon sits at this resort complex in Lagoi. Children love the inflatable water park, kayaking, and paddleboarding in the impossibly turquoise man-made sea. It’s well-organised, safe, and 10 minutes from the Lagoi cruise terminal by taxi. Allow 3–4 hours. Check [Viator](https://www.viator.com/search/Pulau+Bintan+Island+Indonesia) for bundle deals.
12. Bintan Elephant Park (IDR 150,000–450,000/person depending on experience, ~USD 9–27) — One of Bintan’s more family-oriented nature encounters, offering elephant interaction experiences in a semi-forested setting near Lagoi. Check the operator’s animal welfare standards before booking — responsible travellers should look for “no riding” policies, which the better operators have adopted. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Off the Beaten Track
13. Kampong Bugis Fishing Village (Free) — A stilted water village near Tanjung Pinang where the Bugis community (famous seafarers of the archipelago) still builds wooden boats by hand using methods passed down for generations. There are no tourist facilities and no entrance fee — just wander respectfully and photograph with permission. Allow 45 minutes.
14. Gunung Bintan (Bintan Hill Trek) (Free) — Bintan’s highest point at ~340 m above sea level. The trail through secondary rainforest takes 2–3 hours return and offers views across to the Riau islands on clear days. Carry water, wear closed shoes, and go early. No guide required but one is helpful for first-timers — ask at your hotel or at the Tanjung Pinang tourist desk.
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What to Eat & Drink
Bintan’s food culture is a layered blend of Malay, Chinese Peranakan, and Bugis traditions — spicier and more fragrant than what you’d find in Singapore, and priced for locals rather than resort guests if you know where to look. Head away from the hotel pools and toward the waterfront stalls and shophouse restaurants for the real eating.
- Otak-Otak — Spiced fish paste grilled in banana leaf over charcoal; the Bintan version is smokier and more intensely flavoured than the Singaporean equivalent. Sold at roadside stalls for IDR 3,000–8,000 (~USD 0.20–0.50) per piece. A must-try snack.
- Gonggong (Sea Snail) — The unofficial mascot of Bintan’s seafood scene. These trumpet-shaped sea snails are boiled and eaten with a toothpick and chilli dipping sauce. A plate at a waterfront seafood restaurant runs IDR 30,000–60,000 (~USD 2–4). Tanjung Pinang waterfront restaurants are the best setting.
- Mie Tarempa — Yellow noodles tossed with tuna, dried shrimp paste, and bird’s eye chilli. A Riau Archipelago speciality you won’t easily find elsewhere. Order at any warung in Tanjung Pinang for IDR 20,000–35,000 (~USD 1.25–2.20).
- Soto Melayu — A light but deeply fragrant Malay turmeric broth with shredded chicken, rice cake, and crispy shallots. Breakfast staple. IDR 18,000–30,000 (~USD 1–2) at morning warungs.
- Seafood Restaurants on Jalan Teuku Umar, Tanjung Pinang — This strip is Bintan’s most reliable destination for fresh grilled fish, tiger prawns, and crab. Order by weight; budget IDR 150,000–300,000 (~USD 9–18) per person for a generous seafood spread with rice and vegetables.
- Teh Tarik — Pulled milk tea, sweetened and slightly frothy. The preferred drink in every kopitiam (coffee shop) on the island. IDR 6,000–12,000 (~USD 0.40–0.75).
- Durian (seasonal, June–August peak) — If your cruise calls during season, the roadside durian stalls are unmissable — pungent, creamy, polarising. IDR 30,000–80,000/kg (~USD 2–5) depending on variety. The Musang King variety from Bintan farms is exceptional.
- Resort Dining at Lagoi — The Banyan Tree, Angsana, and Nirwana resort restaurants offer Western menus and poolside cocktails at Singapore-adjacent prices (USD 15–40 per person). Convenient but optional — the street food 10 minutes away is vastly more interesting.
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Shopping
The best local souvenirs from Bintan are things you genuinely cannot find at home: hand-woven Tenun Melayu (traditional Malay fabric in gold and silk thread), batik sarongs
🎟️ Things to Book in Advance
These highly-rated experiences fill up fast — book before you arrive to avoid missing out.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
📍 Getting to Pulau Bintan Island Indonesia, Riau
Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.
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