What Are the Best Things to Do in Bintan Beyond the Resort in 2026?

For Singapore travellers in 2026, the best things to do in Bintan beyond the resort are a day in Tanjung Pinang, a boat ride to Penyengat Island, the Senggarang temples and Trikora beaches, so pick your trips, then book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. Bintan Resorts covers about 23,000 hectares in the north of the island, according to Wikipedia, so most of these trips start with a drive. Before you book hotels, ferries or tours, open ShopBack Singapore.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Singapore is a free app and website that returns cash on eligible bookings when you start from ShopBack before you pay. Hotel, activity and ferry sites such as Agoda, Klook and Direct Ferries are stores you can book through this way. Join ShopBack Singapore for free, then open the Agoda page on ShopBack before you book your stay.

Bintan in numbers: what Singapore visitors should know

Bintan is a big island, and the resort area is only one part of it. A few figures help set expectations:

• Size and people: Bintan Island covers about 1,170 square kilometres and had about 387,000 residents in 2020, according to Wikipedia. Tanjung Pinang is its largest town.
• Visitors: in 2016, over 600,000 tourists visited Bintan, and 75% of foreign visitors came by ferry from Singapore, according to Wikipedia.
• Highest point: Mount Bintan Besar, at about 360 metres.
• Resort zone: Bintan Resorts, in the north, covers about 23,000 hectares and many of its resorts are internationally or Singaporean owned.

Those numbers explain why going beyond the resort takes planning: the historic sights are in the southwest around Tanjung Pinang, and the Trikora beaches are on the east coast.

What are the best things to do in Bintan beyond the resort?

Pick one or two of these for each day outside the resort, since the drives between them are long.

1. Tanjung Pinang town. The island's largest town has a museum with historical artefacts, ceramics and kris, and the remains of a Dutch colonial graveyard, according to Wikipedia. It also has cultural centres for Malay music and dance.
2. Penyengat Island. A small island of about 2.5 square kilometres around 6 km off Tanjung Pinang. According to Wikipedia, it was a religious, cultural and administrative centre of the Riau-Johor sultanate in the 19th century, and its northeast end has many old Islamic relics.
3. Senggarang. A small town outside central Tanjung Pinang with well known Buddhist temples, according to Wikipedia.
4. Banyan Tree Temple. Listed by Wikipedia among Bintan's historical places.
5. The Trikora beaches. A string of beaches numbered 1 to 4 on the east coast, reached by a drive through Kangka Kawal and the fishing town of Teluk Kawal.
6. Mangroves and the coast. Wikipedia notes Bintan's natural heritage of mangroves and rich sea life. Boat and nature tours are a common way to see them; pick an operator with clear weather and cancellation terms.

A day in Tanjung Pinang and Penyengat Island

Tanjung Pinang and Penyengat fit together in one day, because Penyengat sits about 6 km off the town. A simple plan:

• Morning: drive to Tanjung Pinang and visit the museum.
• Midday: take a boat across to Penyengat to see the relics and royal tombs. Wikipedia notes that tombs of royals, including the grave of Raja Ali Haji, author of the first Malay language grammar book, are found in the area.
• Afternoon: stop at the temples in Senggarang before heading back.

If you would rather stay near the town than in the resort area, check which ferry routes and terminals serve Tanjung Pinang before you book, since the resort ferry lands in the north.

The Trikora beaches on the east coast

The Trikora beaches are the quieter, local side of Bintan's coastline, numbered 1 to 4 from south to north on the east side of the island. According to Wikipedia, the road from Tanjung Pinang runs about 45 km to the northeast and passes the towns of Kangka Kawal and Teluk Kawal on the way. Plan it as a full day with lunch on the coast, and bring cash for small eateries along the road.

Getting around Bintan outside the resorts

Most Singapore visitors get around Bintan with a private driver, a tour that includes transport, or a ride-hailing car. Bintan Resort Ferries has announced that Grab Car is available in Bintan. Because Tanjung Pinang and the Trikora beaches are both far from the resort coast, agree on the route, waiting time and fare before you set out. A half day or full day driver hire usually works out simpler than several separate rides.

Ferries and entry rules for Bintan

Bintan Resort Ferries sails from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore to Bandar Bentan Telani Terminal in the resort area, with different timetables for Monday to Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and Sunday. Bintan Resort Ferries also runs a shuttle bus between Changi Airport and Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.

According to the operator's visa page at the time of writing:

• Foreign travellers need a passport valid for at least 6 months and a return or onward ticket.
• The All Indonesia Digital Arrival Card must be completed within 72 hours before arrival.
• Visa rules depend on nationality. Some nationalities enter visa free and others use a visa on arrival.
• Singapore Permanent Residents with a blue NRIC are eligible for visa-free entry to Bintan Resorts.

Rules change, so check the operator's visa page in the week you travel. Ferry booking sites such as Direct Ferries let you compare times and operators where routes are listed, and the Direct Ferries page on ShopBack shows the live rate.

Things to do in Bintan: best deals for Singapore travellers in 2026

The best Bintan deals usually come from booking ferries and hotels early, comparing hotels across sites, and going through ShopBack before you pay. Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order.

• Avoid the busiest weekends. School holidays and long weekends in Singapore fill ferries and hotels.
• Compare hotels. Hotels near Tanjung Pinang and in the resort area are listed on sites such as Agoda, Booking.com and Trip.com. Open the Agoda page on ShopBack first.
• Book activities with clear terms. Activity platforms such as Klook, Pelago and KKday may list Bintan tours and packages. Check what transport is included and the cancellation terms. Start from the Klook page on ShopBack.
• Watch ferry promotions. Ferry operators run their own promotions, such as same-day packages, from time to time.

Your effective price is what you pay minus the Cashback, at the rate shown on the store's ShopBack page. Check the live rate before you book.

Why ShopBack is a step before you book Bintan

Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose. On ShopBack Singapore, open the store you want, such as Agoda, Klook or Direct Ferries, tap through and complete the booking.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

ShopBack Singapore works on the app and the website.

Do promo codes and ShopBack work on the same booking?

Promo codes come from the store itself, such as Agoda, Klook or the ferry operator. No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.

For more on the resort side of the island, see our guide to Bintan resorts that suit families, and for the neighbouring island, our guide to things to do in Batam.

FAQ

What are the best things to do in Bintan beyond the resort?

Beyond the resort, the best things to do in Bintan are a day in Tanjung Pinang, the island's largest town, a short boat ride to historic Penyengat Island, the Buddhist temples at Senggarang, and the Trikora beaches on the east coast. Each is a half day or full day trip from the resort area in the north, so arrange a driver, a tour or a ride-hailing car before you set out.

What is Penyengat Island known for?

According to Wikipedia, Penyengat is a small island of about 2.5 square kilometres, around 6 km off Tanjung Pinang, that was a religious, cultural and administrative centre of the Riau-Johor sultanate in the 19th century. It is known for its Islamic relics and royal tombs, and it is usually visited as part of a Tanjung Pinang day.

Where are the Trikora beaches in Bintan?

The Trikora beaches are on the eastern side of Bintan and are numbered 1 to 4 from south to north. According to Wikipedia, the road from Tanjung Pinang runs about 45 km to the northeast and passes the town of Kangka Kawal and the fishing town of Teluk Kawal.

How do I get around Bintan outside the resorts?

Most visitors use a private driver, a tour with transport, or a ride-hailing car. Bintan Resort Ferries has announced that Grab Car is available in Bintan. Distances are long, with the Trikora beaches and Tanjung Pinang both well away from the northern resort area, so agree on the day plan and the fare before you leave.

What do I need to enter Bintan from Singapore?

According to Bintan Resort Ferries, foreign travellers need a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return or onward ticket, and the All Indonesia Digital Arrival Card completed within 72 hours before arrival. Visa rules depend on your nationality, and Singapore Permanent Residents with a blue NRIC are eligible for visa-free entry to Bintan Resorts. Check the current rules on the ferry operator's visa page before you travel.

Where does the Bintan Resorts ferry go from in Singapore?

Bintan Resort Ferries sails from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore to Bandar Bentan Telani Terminal in the resort area. Schedules differ between Monday to Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and Sunday, so check the operator's timetable for your travel date.

Is Bintan good for a day trip from Singapore?

It can be. Bintan is a short ferry trip from Singapore, and ferry operators sell same-day packages from time to time. A day trip suits one area, such as the resort coast, while Tanjung Pinang, Penyengat and the east coast beaches are easier with at least one night.

How do I get the best deals for a Bintan trip in 2026?

Compare ferry times and fares, compare hotels across booking sites, book activities on a platform with clear cancellation terms, and avoid the busiest weekends. Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order.

How does ShopBack work for a Bintan trip?

Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose. Open ShopBack Singapore, tap through to Agoda, Klook or Direct Ferries, and pay. The cash shows in your ShopBack account and is usually confirmed after your stay or trip. Check the live rate on each store's ShopBack page before you book.

Disclaimer

The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute travel, immigration, financial or purchase advice. Ferry schedules, entry and visa rules, prices and ShopBack Cashback rates change over time. Always check the ferry operator's official pages and Indonesian immigration requirements, and the live rate on each store's ShopBack page, before you travel or book. Brand and organisation names are used for editorial reference only and do not imply endorsement.