Batam

Is Batam safe?

Yes, for the day trips and short breaks that bring most visitors over from Singapore. Violent crime against tourists is rare, and the island has none of the earthquake and volcano risk of Bali or Lombok. The real risks are slower and more ordinary: smoke haze from Indonesian fires, wide roads where drivers speed, bag snatchers on motorbikes, and drinks that are spiked or contain methanol.

BP Batam, which runs the island's passenger ports, counted 2.1 million visitors from Singapore in 2024. We score Batam 71 out of 100, a long way below Singapore (91) but above Jakarta (64) and close to Johor Bahru (68), the other Singapore day trip.

Crime: assaults between locals, snatch theft for visitors

Batam's police recorded 503 assault reports in 2024, more than any other crime, plus 260 group assaults. The police chief said most began as disputes, such as neighbours arguing over parking. Indonesia recorded 0.30 homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary people in 2022, a figure that is probably too low, but we found no pattern of violence against visitors.

Theft is the crime that reaches tourists. Police received 254 reports of ordinary theft, 247 of motorbike theft and 113 of aggravated theft in 2024. In July 2023 two men on a motorbike pulled a Dutch tourist's bag from behind, a loss of about 10 million rupiah; police said the same pair robbed a second victim the next day.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary's advice for Indonesia covers Batam too:

• Carry only what you need and hold your bag on the side away from traffic.
• Keep your card in sight when you pay; card fraud is common.
• Change money only at licensed changers with a Bank Indonesia logo and QR code.
• Use registered taxi firms or app rides, check the driver matches the app, and share your trip.

The FCDO also lists ferry terminals and malls among likely targets for terrorists in Indonesia. That risk is national, not specific to Batam, but it is a reason to stay alert in the crowded arrival halls.

Ferries from Singapore

Most visitors arrive by sea. Singapore's immigration authority lists HarbourFront and Tanah Merah among its ferry checkpoints, and in Batam the international terminals include Batam Centre and Harbour Bay. Traffic peaks on holidays: on Good Friday 2025 Batam Centre took 59 ferries carrying 8,254 passengers from Singapore, against 1,956 passengers on an ordinary weekday two days earlier.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary warns that boats in Indonesia can be overloaded and poorly maintained and that sea conditions can change fast. On the scheduled international routes that mostly means checking for life jackets, not boarding a boat that looks overcrowded, and bringing your own children's life jackets if you need them, since the FCDO says child sizes are not always available. The FCDO also advises against sailing after dark unless you are satisfied the boat is properly equipped.

Fast roads

Batam's roads are wider and emptier than most in Indonesia, and that is part of the problem. Police counted 1,043 crashes in 2025, up 12%, though deaths fell from 78 to 33. For a city of about 1.39 million people that is 2 to 6 deaths per 100,000, well below Bali's rate, but police counts often miss later deaths. Insurer Jasa Raharja logged 13 deaths in the first three months of 2026 alone, and the traffic police chief told the Ombudsman that wide roads push drivers to speed.

The worst spots named in April 2026 were Jalan Letjen Suprapto around Tembesi, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman near police headquarters and Duta Mas, and Jalan Jenderal Ahmad Yani. Use app-booked cars rather than renting a motorbike. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says a UK licence alone is not valid; you need an international driving permit.

Haze and health care

Haze is the risk Singapore visitors underrate. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary names the Riau Islands, Batam's province, as one of the areas where smoke from wildfires drifts in the dry season from May to November. In 2026 Batam's schools moved classes home on 16 September, 29 September and 7 October because of smoke, flights were delayed or cancelled in mid-October, and the city health office logged 11,628 cases of acute respiratory infection in October, up from 7,245 in August. If you have asthma or heart or lung disease, check the haze map from Singapore's Meteorological Service before you book.

Tap water is not safe to drink. The FCDO says local medical care can be poor and some tests are unreliable, and it warns of deaths from methanol in drinks bought in licensed bars, shops and hotels. Buy sealed bottles from reputable places and get help at once if anyone has blurred vision after drinking. Rabies is present in Indonesia, so avoid stray dogs.

How we scored it

Health and environment (58) and traffic safety (58) are Batam's weakest factors, set by the 2026 haze season and a police road count that is low but probably incomplete. Night safety (69) uses the same FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary advice and Gallup share as Bali and Jakarta. Violent crime (86) is the strongest factor, kept below 90 by frequent assaults and the FCDO's terrorism warning.