Places of worship in Bintan
- 01
Masjid Raya Sultan Riau
The Grand Mosque of the Sultan of Riau on Penyengat Island, an active mosque with 13 domes and four minarets, known for the story that egg whites went into its mortar.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, outside prayer times and Friday midday
- Tickets
- We could not confirm an entry fee or fixed visiting hours; check on the day. It is a working mosque: cover shoulders and knees, women should cover their hair, and photography inside the building is not allowed, according to the Indonesian-language article we read.
- 02
Senggarang Temples and Stilt Village
A cluster of Chinese temples and a stilt-house village across the water from Tanjung Pinang, including a temple famous for the banyan tree that has grown through it.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, in drier months (February or July to August)
- Tickets
- We could not confirm any entry fee. Temples ask for respectful behaviour: modest clothes, no touching of offerings, and a small donation if you wish. Agree the boat fare before boarding.
Experiences in Bintan
- 03
Treasure Bay Crystal Lagoon
A man-made 800-metre Crystal Lagoon at Treasure Bay, Lagoi, with shallow beaches and nearby resorts, described by Wikipedia as the largest swimming pool in Southeast Asia.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning; open 09:00 to 18:00 per a dated travel guide
- Tickets
- Wikivoyage, dated, lists Rp120,000 for adults and Rp90,000 for children, covering only the shallow beaches, with water sports extra. Prices and hours change, so check on the day.
- 04
Trikora Beach
A long line of white-sand beaches on Bintan's east coast, with calm shallow water, casuarina shade, simple huts and snorkelling and island trips.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning to early afternoon; drier months are February and July to August
- Tickets
- The public stretches have free parking, according to the Indonesian-language article; resort stretches are for hotel guests. Hut rents and equipment prices vary, so agree them first.
Neighbourhoods in Bintan
- 05
Lagoi Bay and Bintan Resorts
The gated resort area on Bintan's north coast, set up in 1990 as an Indonesia-Singapore joint venture, with beach hotels, golf courses and the Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal.
- Time needed
- 2 to 4 nights
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- February or July to August are the drier months
- Tickets
- The area is gated and visitors pay entry at the gate. Check the ferry package with your hotel. Wikivoyage, which is dated, lists Treasure Bay entry separately.
Museums in Bintan
- 06
Museum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alamsyah
Tanjung Pinang's local history museum, housed in a Dutch-era school building, with more than 2,600 objects from jewellery to manuscripts and a replica of Riau-Lingga regalia.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, any month; useful on wet or very hot days
- Tickets
- We could not confirm the ticket price, opening days or English labelling. Check locally before you go, and confirm the museum is open on the day you plan.
Day trips in Bintan
- 07
Pulau Penyengat
A small island a short boat ride from Tanjung Pinang that was the seat of the Riau-Lingga rulers, with a famous mosque, royal tombs, a fort hill and a Malay hall.
- Time needed
- Half a day (3 to 4 hours on the island)
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, arriving before about 10 am; the drier months are February and July to August
- Tickets
- There is no single island ticket that we could confirm. Small boats run from the Tanjung Pinang waterfront when they fill; a travel guide listed a very low fare, but fares change, so agree the price before boarding. Dress modestly because this is a Malay Muslim heritage island.
Landmarks in Bintan
- 08
Royal Tombs and Raja Ali Haji's Grave
The burial grounds on Penyengat that hold Riau rulers and the tomb of Raja Ali Haji, the writer honoured as a national hero.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, before the heat
- Tickets
- We could not confirm an entry fee or hours. Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes at tomb enclosures if asked, and ask permission before taking photos.
