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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Singkawang
Spend 1–2 days in Singkawang: explore temples, night market and nearby nature; travel time from Pontianak about 3 h by road.
Singkawang is a small multicultural trading town in West Kalimantan, known for its many Chinese temples and night market. It is reachable from Pontianak in about three hours by shared taxi or limited bus, and offers a compact set of sights that fit into a short stay.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- 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 Rp150,000–250,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp300,000–500,000 excl. bed · High Rp600,000+ 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
- Police 110 · General 112 · Ambulance 118/119
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Shared taxi to Pontianak | Rp150,000 |
| Food at Pasar Hongkong (stew, noodles, cakes) | Rp10,000–Rp30,000 |
| Entry fee to Hang Moi River | Rp5,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SQK · Singkawang Airport
- Opened 2024, no regular commercial flights (check).
- PNK · Supadio Airport (Pontianak)
- Main gateway; travel‑taxi to Singkawang Rp200,000 (2024).
Typical fares
- Singkawang ↔ Pontianak (shared taxi)
- Rp150,000 per head, ~3 h
- Singkawang ↔ Kuching (bus)
- Rp300,000 (≈RM100), 7 h
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
Shared 3‑seat taxis (travel) dominate; one‑daily DAMRI bus to Pontianak (Rp150,000) and to Kuching (Rp300,000). Walkable downtown; rent a motorbike if comfortable.
See and do
Known for
- Hundreds of Chinese temples ("City of One Thousand Temples")
- Cidayu Monument (Chinese‑Dayak‑Malay harmony)
- Pasir Panjang Beach
- Local Hakka cuisine and night market
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pontianak | Shared taxi or DAMRI bus, about 140 km (87 mi), 3 hShared taxi or DAMRI bus, about 87 mi (140 km), 3 h | ≈3 h |
| Kuching (Malaysia) | Daily DAMRI/Bus Asia service from Grand Mall, 6 am departure, 7 h travel with lunch stop | ≈7 h |
Sleep
- Hotel Sentosa
- Rooms from Rp168,000; near main road.
- Hotel Restu
- Rooms from Rp145,000; close to train station.
- Villa Bukit Mas
- Boutique stay in city centre; price check.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | 你好nǐ hǎo |
| How much? | 多少钱？duō shǎo qián? |
| Thank you | 谢谢xiè xiè |
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
- Limited public bus service; rely on pre‑arranged taxis.
- Singkawang Airport has no regular flights (check).
- Human‑trafficking allegations; stay cautious with unsolicited contacts.
Generally safe for day visitors; stay alert to scams and avoid unsolicited contacts, especially regarding personal services.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Singkawang yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hundreds of Chinese temples ("City of One Thousand Temples")
- Cidayu Monument (Chinese‑Dayak‑Malay harmony)
- Pasir Panjang Beach
- Local Hakka cuisine and night market
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Indonesian local tourism agency (general): www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/destinations/kalimantan
- Wikivoyage: Singkawang, revision 5253172 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5253172
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/singkawang). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.