Batam Kota is a bustling industrial city set on the Singapore Strait and surrounded by palm-fringed beaches and emerald-green golf courses. In addition to being a trade hub between Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, the city is a gateway to the picturesque Riau Islands province.
Things to do in Batam
Batam Kota is popular with holidaymakers from Singapore and Malaysia. Luxury beach resorts, world-class golf courses and duty-free shopping make Batam Kota the perfect getaway. Bask in the sunshine while sipping a fresh coconut and make a splash with watersports like jet skiing and banana boat rides.
Short bridges connect Batam Kota with the neighbouring islands of Rempang and Galang. Melayu Beach on Rempang Island is one of the prettiest, where you can relax on honey-coloured sand and swim in glassy water. Nongsa Beach on the main island is a hotspot for high-end resorts and is a great place to order cocktails and enjoy sunsets.
Shop, dine and play at the enormous Mega Mall Batam Centre. Shop a huge range of international brands and catch the latest Hollywood blockbusters at the movie theatre. You’ll find everything from nasi goreng to American-style burgers in the food court.
Visit the Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Monastery, one of the largest temples in Southeast Asia. It was built in the late 1990s and features a modernist design with gleaming marble floors and soaring white pillars. Admire a trio of gold Buddha statues in the main hall and light your own incense stick.
Batam Kota is famous for affordable, ocean-fresh seafood. Local restaurants serve some of the best chili crab, battered calamari and grilled lobster in Southeast Asia. Seafood buffets are a great chance to try a range of dishes.
Getting around Batam
Taxis are a fast and affordable way to get around Batam Kota. Ferries run between Batam Kota and Singapore, while there are also sailings to Johor Bahru in Malaysia. Hang Nadim Airport is a 20-minute drive from the city centre.