Getting Around Bintan: The Complete 2026 Guide
Knowing how to get around Bintan before you arrive can save both time and money.
Bintan is a large island, and transport works differently depending on where you stay.
Travelling around the Lagoi resort area is relatively easy, with resort transfers, the BinBin shuttle and GrabCar available for selected journeys. If you want to explore farther across the island, such as Tanjungpinang, Trikora Beach or southern Bintan, a private car with driver is usually the most convenient option.
The key is to plan your transport around your itinerary rather than assuming you can simply find a ride wherever you go.
Getting Around Lagoi and Bintan Resorts
If your holiday stays mainly within Bintan Resorts and Lagoi, you may not need to hire a private car at all.
Many hotels provide transfers for arriving and departing guests, while the BinBin Shuttle Bus connects a growing number of resorts, Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal, Pujasera and Plaza Lagoi.
A BinBin day pass currently costs IDR 25,000 and includes unlimited rides for the day. Different routes cover resort clusters including Natra Bintan, The ANMON, Banyan Tree, Cassia, Nirwana and other locations around Bintan Resorts.
If you plan to spend most of your holiday around the resort area, combining hotel transfers, Grab and the BinBin shuttle can be an easy and affordable way to get around.
Is There Grab in Bintan?
Yes. If you are wondering “is there Grab in Bintan?”, the answer in 2026 is yes.
GrabCar is officially available within the Bintan Resorts area, giving travellers another option for on-demand transportation between resorts, attractions, beaches and other locations within the area. The service offers app-based booking, real-time tracking and cashless payment.
Grab also operates around Tanjungpinang, although availability can differ depending on your exact location and time of day.
For longer journeys across the island, however, it is still better to arrange your transport in advance rather than depending entirely on finding an available Grab driver.
Hiring a Car with Driver in Bintan
For travellers who want to explore beyond Lagoi, booking a car rental with driver in Bintan is usually the simplest option.
A private driver gives you the flexibility to combine several destinations in one day without arranging separate rides. This works particularly well for itineraries covering places such as the Sand Dunes & Blue Lakes, Tanjungpinang, Penyengat, Senggarang or Trikora Beach.
Published 2026 rates from local transport operators show approximately IDR 800,000 to IDR 1,200,000 for around eight to twelve hours with a standard vehicle, depending on the operator, vehicle and duration. Many packages include the driver and fuel, although parking, overtime and other expenses may vary.
For families or groups of three or four people, splitting the cost can make a private car surprisingly reasonable.
Before confirming, ask whether your quoted price includes fuel, parking, waiting time and overtime. It is also useful to share your planned destinations in advance so the operator can confirm that everything fits comfortably into your booking period.
How Long Does It Take to Get Around Bintan?
Bintan is larger than it can appear on a map. Even if two attractions are on the same island, they may still require a substantial drive.
As a rough guide, transfers from Bandar Bentan Telani to nearby Lagoi resorts can take around 10 to 20 minutes, while travelling from Lagoi towards Tanjungpinang can take around an hour or more. Reaching Trikora Beach from Lagoi can take approximately 90 minutes depending on your destination and road conditions.
This is why a short Bintan trip works best when you group attractions by area rather than travelling from one side of the island to another several times a day.
Which Bintan Transport Option Should You Choose?
For a resort-focused holiday, use your hotel transfer, BinBin shuttle and Grab for short journeys around Lagoi.
If you are planning a full day of sightseeing, a private car with driver is usually more practical because you can visit several attractions without arranging transportation at every stop.
For a simple one-way journey, such as ferry terminal to hotel, book a taxi or private transfer. Independent travellers can also consider scooters, but only when comfortable with local road conditions and licensing requirements.
Choosing the right transport option at the start of your trip makes exploring Bintan much easier.
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