Things to do on Batam Island -A compressed cross section of best of Southeast Asia

If you are staying in Singapore or Malaysia, there are plenty of places where you can go to enjoy some time in the water. However, the water sports at Batam can be done for a fraction of what it would cost at any of the high-end places, which leaves you with the ability enjoy a lot more activities and things. Getting Batam itself can be categorised under water sports. You need to get on a ferry to reach the Batam Islands. The ferry services are done by different companies and groups including resorts like Berjaya Waterfront Hotel. Once you reach Batam Island it is time to try a range of activities like wakeboarding and water skiing. The best place you can go to try all the water sports in one go is Batam Cable Park.

Although surrounded by the sea, seafood is among the most expensive food you can find on the mainland. However, at Batam, the food is out of this world and prices are relatively rather low. There are many a hotel in Johor Bahru City Centre that would be only too happy to serve you a steaming dish of chilli crab, while Batam's black pepper crab is a must try. It is agreed among all visitors that Batam has the best fried calamari to be found anywhere in the vicinity, so it is a must order dish, too.

It may sound rather weird to go to one island only to go exploring others. But these three islands are some of the most beautiful places you would ever visit, with Anambas Island being crowned Asia's best tropical island in 2013. The beaches are gorgeous, the weather is perfect, and the pampering you would receive at each of the islands is beyond compare.

While Batam is not known for its temples and religious background, a visit to the temples can add some necessary variety to your itinerary. Tua Pek Kong is the oldest temple to be found on Batam and was greatly influenced by Chinese architecture in its building. If you are interested, you can visit Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Temple as well, which – with an area of 4.5 hectares – is dubbed the largest temple in Southeast Asia.

NED, or Nagoya Entertainment District, is the most happening location in Batam once the sun has set. It is a district for nightly entertainment and has a collection of bars, pubs, nightclubs and all the essentials of a happening nightlife. Entrance to nightclubs are comparatively cheaper here, and a cocktail would set you back only about $5 or less. If you are a party animal or a nocturnal creature who wishes to explore the world under moonlight, Batam will have you up and running in no time.