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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Selatpanjang
Selat Panjang
Go for one night if you are crossing between Sumatra and Malaysia or Batam; skip it as a destination on its own.
Selatpanjang is the main town on Tebing Tinggi island in Riau's Meranti regency, reached only by boat. It is a trading and seafood town of about 100,000 people with a handful of old Chinese temples, a grand mosque and sago noodles. Almost everyone who comes is passing through between Pekanbaru, Batam and Malaysia, so one night covers it.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Local name
- Selat Panjang
- Best months
- Feb–Apr, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Jan (rain peak), Ramadan for daytime eating
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp250,000–400,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp400,000–800,000 excl. bed · High Rp800,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112 · Police 110 · Ambulance 118
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Becak ride in town | Rp10,000–20,000 |
| Sago noodles (mie sagu) or miso noodle soup | Rp15,000–30,000 |
| Nasi Padang plate | Rp20,000–40,000 |
| Seafood dinner, per person | Rp60,000–150,000 |
| Bottled water 600 ml | Rp5,000–10,000 |
| Guesthouse room | Rp45,000–100,000 |
| Mid-range hotel double | Rp150,000–550,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PKU · Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport (Pekanbaru)
- Nearest useful airport; ferry from Pekanbaru's Sungai Duku terminal to Selatpanjang, then onward by road and boat — check sailing days
- BTH · Hang Nadim International Airport (Batam)
- Ferry from Sekupang to Selatpanjang; the usual route if you are coming from Singapore — check operator and day
- DUM · Dumai (Pinang Kampai Airport)
- Ferry from Insit ferry port to Selatpanjang; check whether the service is running
Typical fares
- Becak in town
- Rp10,000–20,000, agree first
- International port departure tax
- Rp60,000 (check)
- Ferry to Batam or Bintan
- several hours; check operator and day
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is small and walkable in the centre. Becak (cycle rickshaw) is the standard short hop, roughly Rp10,000–20,000 per trip. No public bus network worth using; agree the fare before you get in.
See and do
Known for
- Hoo Ann Kiong temple (1868)
- Sago noodles (mie sagu)
- Live seafood restaurants
- Ferry links to Batam, Pekanbaru and Batu Pahat
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dorak or Alai beach and kampung areas | Becak or ojek from town, then local roads | Under 1 h |
| Pekanbaru | Ferry from Sungai Duku side, several operators | Half a day |
| Dumai | Ferry to Insit ferry port | Several hours |
| Batam and Bintan | Ferry to Sekupang or Tanjung Pinang | Half a day or more |
Sleep
- Around Jalan Tebing Tinggi and Jalan Kartini
- The town centre: restaurants, shops and the mid-range hotels are within a few minutes' walk.
- Near Tanjung Harapan ferry terminal
- Best if you arrive late or leave early; a few guesthouses sit within becak distance.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Terima kasihterima kasih |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?berapa harganya |
| Where is the ferry terminal? | Di mana terminal feri?di mana terminal feri |
| I would like sago noodles | Saya mau mie sagusaya mau mie sagu |
| Can I pay by card? | Bisa bayar dengan kartu?bisa bayar dengan kartu |
| Where is the toilet? | Di mana toilet?di mana toilet |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- There is no airport and no road to mainland Sumatra: boats are the only way in and out.
- Direct Singapore ferries have been suspended since 2020; route via Batam instead.
- Ferry timetables and operators change often, and seas can cancel sailings in the wet season: confirm the day before.
- International port departure tax is charged separately from the ticket.
Low street crime; the real risks are ferry schedule changes, rough seas in the wet season and scooter traffic on the main roads. Carry cash, as cards are not widely accepted.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Selatpanjang yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hoo Ann Kiong temple (1868)
- Sago noodles (mie sagu)
- Live seafood restaurants
- Ferry links to Batam, Pekanbaru and Batu Pahat
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Indonesia.travel — official tourism site: www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/home
- Riau province tourism: www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/destinations/sumatra/riau
- Wikivoyage: Selatpanjang, revision 5272413 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5272413
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
SelatpanjangSelat Panjang
Ke alamat ini, ya
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in town; the nearest consulates are in Pekanbaru and Batam, embassies in Jakarta.
Area code 763; country code +62.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/selatpanjang). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.