landmark
Gardens by the Bay
A futuristic nature park with colossal Supertree structures, a cloud forest dome, and a flower dome showcasing plants from around the world.
23 km · about 25 min drive
AsiaIndonesiaRiau
Batam
Riau, Indonesia · Asia
About Batam
Batam works well as a base: 20 minutes from Sekupang, 23km from Gardens by the Bay.
Batam is in Riau, Indonesia, with about 1.2 million people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Sekupang, about 11 km away.
Batam, officially the City of Batam or Batam City (Indonesian: Kota Batam, not to be confused with Batam Kota, a district within this city), is the largest city in the Indonesian province of the Riau Islands.
The city of Batam includes Batam Island at 410 square kilometres (160 mi2), as well as other major islandsRead more
such as Rempang at 165 square kilometres (64 mi2) and Galang at 80 square kilometres (31 mi2). Together, the three-interconnected islands of the Riau Archipelago are known as Barelang (an abbreviation of Batam–Rempang–Galang). The remaining hundreds of tiny islands are largely conservation areas, small fishing outposts, or uninhabited mangroves. Collectively, the land area of all these islands make up around 1,020.28 square kilometres (393.93 mi2). Batam Island is the core urban and industrial zone, while both Rempang Island and Galang Island maintain their rural character and low-density population; they are connected to Batam Island by short bridges. Bulang Island and the islands to its north lie to the west of Batam Island; while they are part of the Belakang Padang District, they are also administratively within the city.
Batam City is an industrial boomtown, an emerging transport hub and part of a free trade zone in the Indonesia–Malaysia–Singapore Growth Triangle, located 20 km (12 mi) off Singapore's south coast. According to Statistics Indonesia's 2020 census, Batam had a municipal population of 1,196,396, making it the third largest city in the region of Sumatra, after Medan and Palembang. Islands that form part of Batam are also the closest parts of Indonesia to Singapore, at a minimum distance of 6 km (3.7 miles) across the Singapore Strait. In clear weather and good visibility, both Batam and Singapore are visible from each other with the naked eye. Batam was the fastest-growing municipality in Indonesia during the decade prior to 2010, with a population growth rate of 11% per year; however, there were setbacks during the subsequent decade. In 2017, the island suffered severe job losses; some 300,000 workers were laid off. The official estimated population as of mid 2025 was 1,296,960.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Batam?
Within an hour or so of Batam: Gardens by the Bay (23 km), Sentosa Island (24 km), Jewel Changi Airport (24 km), Merlion (24 km).
Where is Batam?
Batam is in Riau, Indonesia, about 11 km from Sekupang.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,164,352
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Indonesia
- Region
- Riau
- Timezone
- Asia/Jakarta
- Coordinates
- 1.1494, 104.0249
Tags
Worth the detour from Batam
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Sentosa Island
A resort island just off Singapore's southern coast with beaches, Universal Studios, an aquarium, and a host of family attractions.
24 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Jewel Changi Airport
A stunning nature-themed entertainment complex at Singapore's airport featuring the world's tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex.
24 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Merlion
Mythical half-lion half-fish statue spouting water at Marina Bay, the iconic mascot and symbol of Singapore.
24 km · about 30 min drive
racetrack
Marina Bay Street Circuit
Formula 1's original night race venue, a demanding street circuit lit up against Singapore's spectacular skyline.
24 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Marina Bay Sands
Striking integrated resort with three 55-storey towers topped by a dramatic sky park and infinity pool.
24 km · about 25 min drive
museum
National Gallery Singapore
Southeast Asia's largest visual arts institution, housed in two beautifully restored national monuments.
25 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Singapore Chinatown
A vibrant district blending traditional Chinese temples, heritage shophouses, bustling hawker centers, and modern bars along Pagoda Street.
25 km · about 30 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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