Hostels in Riau Archipelago 
Looking for the best hostels in Riau Archipelago? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Riau Archipelago with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Riau Archipelago hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Riau Archipelago and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Riau Archipelago
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Riau Archipelago, across 1 cities! Not all cities have hostels, but many offer alternative budget options like guesthouses and affordable hotels. Use our filters to quickly find cities with hostels or other budget accommodations to simplify your trip planning.
All Riau Archipelago hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Riau Archipelago. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Riau Archipelago
The Riau Archipelago became the 32nd Province of Indonesia in 2002. It Is the main group of islands within the Riau Islands Province. Located just about 1 hour traveling by ferry from Singapore, it is east of Sumatra. To the south are the Anambas Islands in the South China Sea. Mostly low swampy ground, the province is 96% water with some highlands to the west and south. The larger islands Bintan and Batam are known for their wildlife and resorts.
Bintan Island, also called Negeri Segantang Lada, with its 65 miles of coastline is the largest of the 3200 islands and is known as a tourist destination. International resorts dot the beachfront. Visitors to the island will delight in finding sea turtles, green turtles, hawkbill turtles, dolphins, eagles, silver monkeys and kites. Tanjung Penang is located in the southern part of the island and is the chief city. Parts of the island are being developed as high end holiday spots which are being touted as the next best place to vacation after Bali.
Tourists to the area will enjoy visiting the Grotto Santa Marie, Tanjung Penang, the 500 Lohan Temple, the Chinese Pagodas, the Banyan Tree Temple and the Raja Ali Haji Monument. There are 4 golf courses and 10 spas on the island. Watersports include canoeing and kayaking, parasailing and paragliding, jet skiing, and hiking. Hikers will enjoy the trek up Mt. Bintan which is described as very challenging.
Batam Island is to the west of Bintan. It’s largest city is also named Batam. It is a bustling place with an international airport and 6 ferry terminals. There are 6 swinging bridges that connect 3 islands The bridges are called the Barelang which is an abbreviation of the names of the 3 islands. Waterfront City is one of the best-known beach areas in the region. While on the island visitors can enjoy golf, watersports, drive a go-Kart, locate a day tour, visit the temples and tombs and go diving with the dolphins. There are plenty of spas, places to shop and to eat on the Island, discotheques and pubs.
The accommodations on the islands include famous chain hotels, beach resorts, villas, apartments, camping and hostels. The hostels are listed as backpacker and cheaper hotels, i.e., some of the 2-star hotels are described as hostels.
Handwritten by local expert for Riau Archipelago hostels Jakob Lombardi
Travel Tips for Riau Archipelago - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Riau Archipelago. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Riau Archipelago. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in Riau Archipelago
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in Riau Archipelago?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Riau Archipelago here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in Riau Archipelago safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.