Experience the best of Batam Center

Batam Centre is the main commercial and government district of Batam, an island in the Riau Islands of Indonesia, about 20 kilometres across the strait from Singapore. Its ferry terminal receives boats from Singapore, and the district is a grid of malls, offices, hotels and wide roads. By the seafront, Engku Putri Square holds the large welcome sign that greets many arrivals.

Beyond the centre, the Barelang bridges link Batam to the smaller islands of Rempang and Galang. Galang has a former camp that sheltered Vietnamese refugees from 1979 to 1996, now a museum. Nongsa, on Batam's north-east coast, has beach resorts, and the island of Bintan is a ferry ride away.

Gonggong, sea snails boiled and dipped in chilli sauce, and otak-otak, fish paste grilled in banana leaf, are Riau Islands specialities. Malay dishes such as nasi lemak turn up at breakfast. The weather is warm all year, with the heaviest rain at the turn of the year.