Punggol has no public ferry terminal, so a trip to Pulau Ubin starts at Changi Point Ferry Terminal, 51 Lorong Bekukong, where bumboats usually run on demand from 6am to 7pm daily for $4 a person each way. For Batam and Bintan, start by checking Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
An island day is one of the best ways to spend a free weekend. It simply starts a little way from home.
This page is part of eduKate Punggol’s When You Need Help in Punggol, our practical guides for life’s occasions, big and small. It covers bumboats to Pulau Ubin, ferries to Batam and Bintan, what changed in 2026, what to bring home, and who to call if you get stuck.
Quick answer
- Pulau Ubin: bumboats leave from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. NParks lists the fare as $4 a person each way, plus $2 per bicycle.
- Stuck on Ubin with no boat back: call the NParks helpline, 1800-471 7300.
- Chek Jawa: the Coastal Loop boardwalk has been closed for maintenance since 15 September 2026, with works expected to finish on 30 April 2027. The Chek Jawa Wetlands Tour is suspended.
- Batam and Bintan: Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal is at 50 Tanah Merah Ferry Rd, Singapore 498833. Baggage check-in closes 20 minutes before departure.
- HarbourFront: HarbourFront Passenger Terminal’s last day was 14 July 2026, so check with your ferry operator which terminal your sailing uses.
Planning a Pulau Ubin or Island Day Trip
These steps work for Ubin and for a ferry across to Indonesia. Skip the passport steps if you are only going to Ubin.
- Check which terminal you need. Ubin bumboats leave from Changi Point. For Batam and Bintan, read your ticket or ask the ferry company, as the operator list does not say which terminal each one uses.
- Read the notices. NParks posts closures and advisories, including on box jellyfish, high-tide flooding and bad weather, on its Pulau Ubin notices page.
- Plan the journey there. NParks lists buses 2, 29, 59 and 109 to Changi Village Bus Terminal. For Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Singapore Cruise Centre lists bus 35 from Bedok or Tanah Merah MRT. Neither gives a route from Punggol, so plan the first leg in your journey planner.
- Bring cash for the bumboat and confirm the fare with the boatman before you board.
- Check passports for Indonesia. ICA advises at least six months’ validity before departure.
- Arrive early for a ferry. Baggage check-in opens 60 minutes and closes 20 minutes before departure. The security gate opens 45 minutes and closes 15 minutes before.
- Plan your way back. On Ubin, aim to be at the jetty well before 7pm. From Indonesia, submit your SG Arrival Card for the ferry home.
Where to Go and Who to Call
| Where or who | Address or contact | Hours | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changi Point Ferry Terminal | 51 Lorong Bekukong. No MRT; buses 2, 29, 59 and 109 to Changi Village Bus Terminal. NParks lists bus 59 from Tampines East (DT33) Exit B, bus 29 from Tampines Bus Interchange, and bus 2 from Tanah Merah (EW4) Exit B. | Bumboats usually 6am–7pm daily, on demand | Bumboats to Pulau Ubin |
| NParks helpline | 1800-471 7300 | — | No bumboat at the Ubin jetty for your return |
| Chek Jawa Wetlands and Visitor Centre | Pulau Ubin | 7am–7pm daily. Tour suspended. | Boardwalks, Jejawi Tower, the Mangrove Loop |
| Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal | 50 Tanah Merah Ferry Rd, Singapore 498833. Bus 35 from Bedok or Tanah Merah MRT; shuttle bus from Changi Airport T1, T2 and T4; taxi drop-off and car park. | Check-in opens 60 minutes before departure | Ferries to Batam and Bintan |
| Singapore Embassy, Jakarta | +62 21 5091 5400 or +62 21 520 1469 | After-hours emergencies: +62 21 5091 5400 | Consular help in Indonesia |
| MFA 24-hour Consular Response Centre | +65 6379 8800 | 24 hours | Singaporeans in difficulty abroad |
Checked October 2026 — confirm on the official page before you go: NParks: Visit Pulau Ubin, Singapore Cruise Centre: Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and MFA’s Indonesia page.
Singapore Cruise Centre lists these ferry operators. Fares and timetables are set by each company, so contact them directly:
- BatamFast: Batam Centre, Nongsapura, Sekupang and Bengkong. +65 6270 2228.
- Bintan Resort Ferries: Teluk Sebong, for Bintan Resorts. +65 6240 1780.
- Horizon Fast Ferry: Harbour Bay and Nirup Island (Batam). +65 6276 6711.
- Indo Falcon Shipping & Travel: Teluk Senimba Waterfront City (Batam). +65 6278 3167.
- Majestic Fast Ferry: Batam Centre, Sekupang and Tanjung Pinang (Bintan). +65 6278 7688.
- Sindo Ferry: Batam Centre, Sekupang, Bengkong, Tanjung Balai (Karimun) and Tanjung Pinang. +65 6331 4122.
Which Situation Fits You
Cycling on Pulau Ubin with children
NParks lists an extra $2 per bicycle on the bumboat. Read the latest NParks advisories before you go, and in bad weather follow NParks’ advice to stay out of forested areas.
You are going for Chek Jawa
Part of it is closed. NParks says the Coastal Loop boardwalk is under maintenance from 15 September 2026, expected to finish on 30 April 2027, and the Chek Jawa Wetlands Tour is suspended until further notice. The Mangrove Loop and the open section of the Coastal Loop stay open, and the wetlands, boardwalks, Jejawi Tower and Visitor Centre open 7am to 7pm daily.
An early start or a small group
NParks says boats usually leave when 12 passengers are on board, though operators may go with fewer. Operators may charge more for a part-filled boat or a trip outside 6am to 7pm, and trips outside those hours need to be arranged in advance.
A day trip to Batam or Bintan
MFA says Singapore passport holders can enter Indonesia for up to 30 days under a visa exemption (A1 Visa Exemption Tourism), with no advance application, and the stay cannot be extended. We have seen only third-party reports of Indonesia’s digital arrival declaration for Batam, so check live with your ferry operator and MFA’s Indonesia page before you sail.
Your ferry used to leave from HarbourFront
HarbourFront Passenger Terminal’s last day was 14 July 2026. Its ferries have moved to the new HarbourFront Ferry Terminal built by Singapore Cruise Centre in the same HarbourFront precinct (BatamFast from 7 July 2026, the other operators from 15 July), so check your ticket and ask your ferry operator before you set off.
Fares, Rules and What You Can Bring Home
- Ubin bumboat (NParks): $4 per person each way, plus $2 per bicycle. Operators may charge more for fewer than 12 passengers or outside operating hours, so confirm before you board.
- Ferries to Indonesia: fares are set by each operator. We have not listed them, as they change.
- GST relief on the way home (Singapore Customs): a day trip of under 48 hours gives you S$100 of relief on new goods, instead of S$500 for longer trips.
- Duty-free liquor: only after at least 48 hours outside Singapore, so a day trip does not qualify. There is no allowance for cigarettes or tobacco.
- SG Arrival Card: ICA exempts Singapore residents only at the Woodlands and Tuas land checkpoints, so residents arriving by ferry submit one too. It is free on ICA’s website or the MyICA app, within three days before arrival.
Neighbour’s Tips
- Bring small notes. It makes paying the bumboat fare quick and easy.
- Save 1800-471 7300 before you cross. It is the number to call if the jetty is empty at the end of the day.
- Swap Chek Jawa’s Coastal Loop for the Mangrove Loop until the works finish, expected in April 2027.
- Give yourself an hour at Tanah Merah. Check-in closes 20 minutes before departure, and missing it means missing the boat.
- Check your terminal the night before, especially if you used to sail from HarbourFront.
- Submit your SG Arrival Card before the ferry home, on ICA’s own website or app only. It is free, and paid sites are not ICA.
- Keep shopping under S$100 on a day trip, or be ready to declare it.
If It’s Urgent or Someone Gets Hurt
Pulau Ubin is part of Singapore, so call 995 for an ambulance or fire and 999 for the Police, as listed on gov.sg. If there is simply no bumboat to take you back, call the NParks helpline on 1800-471 7300.
In Indonesia, MFA lists 112 for ambulance, fire and police. Then contact the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta (after hours, +62 21 5091 5400) or MFA’s 24-hour Consular Response Centre on +65 6379 8800. We could not verify contact details for Singapore’s Consulate-General in Batam, so check MFA’s Indonesia page. Our guides to a lost passport overseas and a medical emergency abroad cover the next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a ferry from Punggol to Pulau Ubin?
No. Punggol has no public ferry terminal. Bumboats to Pulau Ubin leave from Changi Point Ferry Terminal, 51 Lorong Bekukong.
How much is the bumboat to Pulau Ubin?
NParks lists $4 per person each way and $2 per bicycle. It may cost more for a part-filled boat or outside 6am to 7pm.
What time is the last bumboat back from Pulau Ubin?
There is no fixed timetable. Bumboats usually run on demand from 6am to 7pm daily. Outside those hours, arrange a boat in advance; if none is available at the jetty, call 1800-471 7300.
Do Singaporeans need a visa for Batam or Bintan?
MFA says Singapore passport holders can enter Indonesia for up to 30 days under a visa exemption, with no advance application. The stay cannot be extended.
Where do Batam ferries leave from now?
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal handles ferries to Batam and Bintan. HarbourFront Passenger Terminal closed after 14 July 2026, and its ferries now use the new HarbourFront Ferry Terminal nearby, so confirm your terminal with your ferry operator.
Do I need an SG Arrival Card coming back by ferry?
Yes. Residents are exempt only at Woodlands and Tuas. Our SG Arrival Card guide explains how to submit it.
More Help on eduKate Punggol
- Weekend trips to Johor, Batam and Bintan, and air quality
- Punggol parks, Coney Island, coastal trails and nature rules, for a nature day closer to home.
- Before you fly: our overseas trip checklist
- SG Arrival Card for your return to Singapore
- Official: NParks Pulau Ubin notices · Singapore Cruise Centre: ferry check-in · Singapore Customs: GST relief
Enjoy the Sea Breeze
Whether it is a bicycle ride round Ubin or a lazy day in Bintan, a trip across the water feels like a proper break. Check the notices, carry some cash and keep an eye on the clock for the boat home.
And if your family is also looking for calm, small-group English, Mathematics or Science, eduKate Punggol teaches classes of three in Punggol. Come find out more: Book a consultation · Chat on WhatsApp
eduKate Punggol
Small-group English, Mathematics and Science
Primary and Secondary
By appointment · +65 8823 1234
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Checked October 2026. Addresses, opening hours, fees and rules change, so please confirm with the official source before you go.
