Money and payments
Cards and cash
Credit card payments by law must be charged in rupiah.
Tipping
Fancy restaurants, hotels and the like will charge 10% government sales tax plus a variable service charge.
//
Asia · South-Eastern AsiaUsable guideCountry in Southeast Asia and Oceania
Photo: Flickr user: Jon Chia https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonwhchia/, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Indonesia is a huge tropical archipelago scattered across both sides of the Equator between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. One of the world's most ecologically diverse countries, it comprises over 17,000 islands, many of them lush and rainforested, fringed by beaches and dotted with active volcanoes. Thousands are entirely uninhabited save for abundant wildlife, while some 6,000 are home to hundreds of ethnic groups with their own languages, foods and cultures, including the world's largest city, Jakarta, and the tourist hotspot of Bali. Indonesia's extraordinary natural and cultural diversity, and the warmth and friendliness of its people, draw millions of travellers to visit each year.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Indonesia.
Cards and cash
Credit card payments by law must be charged in rupiah.
Tipping
Fancy restaurants, hotels and the like will charge 10% government sales tax plus a variable service charge.
Indonesian
The sole official language is Indonesian, known in that language as Bahasa Indonesia (not Bahasa, which literally means "language").
To use your mobile phone in Indonesia, you can either roam using your home provider, purchase an eSIM from a travel eSIM provider before you arrive, or (typically for the best coverage and prices) purchase an Indonesian SIM card after you arrive in Indonesia.
Mobile networks
Tap water is generally not potable in Indonesia.
Most Indonesians have not yet quite accepted the germ theory of disease: instead, any flu-like diseases are covered under the concept of masuk angin, lit. "enter wind".
Covered in the guide
Indonesians follow the western naming order convention; however, some people do not denote their surnames or don't have one.
Covered in the guide
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
the perennially congested capital which is also the largest city in the country
university town in the cooler highlands of Java
a cultural hub of Kalimantan
the capital of Papua and a gateway to the highlands
with its great beaches and exciting nightlife, Kuta is yet another reason for visiting Bali
the gateway to Sulawesi and home of the regionally famous Bugis seafarers
the diverse main city of Sumatra, known for its large Indonesian-Chinese community, and gateway to Lake Toba and the rest of the Batak land
southeastern Sumatra's port city, and former capital of the great Srivijaya kingdom
superb trekking into the lands of the Lani, Dani and Yali tribes in remote Papua
one of the largest Buddhist temples in the world located in Central Java province; often combined with a visit to the equally impressive Hindu ruins at nearby Prambanan
some of the scariest volcanic scenery on the planet and one of the best locations in the world to see the sunrise
one of the best scuba diving destinations in Indonesia, if not the world
tigers, elephants, and monstrous rafflesia flowers in this huge expanse of forest in Sumatra
home of the Komodo dragon and a hugely important marine ecosystem
the largest volcanic lake in the world
popular island to east of Bali with the tiny laid-back Gili Islands and mighty Mount Rinjani
Places in Indonesia on the World Heritage List.
Prambanan Temple
Listed 1991
Komodo National Park
Listed 1991
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra
Listed 2004
Ujung Kulon National Park
Listed 1991
Sangiran
Listed 1996
Sawahlunto
Listed 2019
Ombilin coal mine
Listed 2019
Borobudur Temple Compounds
Listed 1991
Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy
Listed 2012
The Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks
Listed 2023
Mengening Temple
Listed 2012
Pegulingan Temple
Listed 2012
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Wild and rugged, the sixth-largest island in the world has a great natural and cultural wealth with more than 40 million inhabitants and is the habitat for many endangered species. This is where you can find Aceh, Palembang, Padang, Lampung and Medan, as well as the multi-coloured Lake Toba in the land of the outspoken Toba Batak and Indonesia's gateway island, Batam.
The vast majority of Borneo, the world's third-largest island, forms Kalimantan (with the remainder belonging to Malaysia and Brunei). An explorer's paradise for the uncharted (but quickly disappearing) forest, mighty rivers, the indigenous Dayak tribe, and home to most of the orangutans. The cities of Pontianak, Banjarmasin, and Balikpapan are some of the fastest growing in the nation, and it is also the site of the newly purpose-built city called Nusantara which is to replace Jakarta as Indonesia's capital.
The country's heartland, big cities including the capital Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Semarang and a lot of people (with almost 50% of the population) packed on a not-so-big island. Also features the cultural treasures of Yogyakarta, Solo, Borobudur and Prambanan.
By far the most popular tourist destination with complete facilities serving all kinds of travellers. Bali's blend of unique Hindu culture, legendary beaches, numerous religious and historical sites, spectacular highland regions and unique underwater life make it a perennial hotspot for tourists.
Strangely shaped, this island houses a diversity of societies and some spectacular scenery. This includes the Toraja culture, megalithic civilisation in Lore Lindu National Park, rich flora and fauna, and world-class diving sites like Bunaken and Bitung.
Also known as the Lesser Sunda Islands — literally the "Southeast Islands" — they are divided into East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara and contain scores of ethnic groups, languages and religions, as well as Komodo lizards and more spectacular diving. West NT contains Lombok and Sumbawa and many small islands. Lombok is the increasingly-visited sister of Bali and offers several diving sites as well as historical and religious locations. East NT contains Flores, Sumba and West Timor as well as several other islands, including Komodo Island, home of the Komodo dragon, and offers the unique attraction of containing tiny kingdoms on Sumba. Traditional art in East NT, especially woven cloth, is interesting and reasonably priced, and you can find beaches that are literally covered with sand of unique colours, coral, and shells.
The historic Spice Islands, formerly much fought over by colonial powers, are now seldom visited, but Ambon, Ternate, the Banda Islands, the Kei Islands and the Morotai Island are promising destinations for marine tourism.
The western half of the island of New Guinea, with mountains, forests, swamps and an almost impenetrable wilderness in one of the remotest places on earth. Aside from the gold and copper mining in the area of Freeport, this is probably one of the most pristine parts of the country, and scientists have discovered previously unknown species here.
Public transport and paid services in Indonesia.
By boat
Indonesia is all islands and consequently boats have long been the most popular means of inter-island travel.
By train
PT Kereta Api Indonesia, +62 21 121, the government-owned train company, runs trains across most of Java and some parts of Sumatra.
By bus
The use of luxury long-distance buses is a new trend, very comfortable with air suspension and can stop wherever you want.
By ride-hailing service
Ride-hailing for both cars and motorbikes, powered by smartphone apps, is available in more than 200 Indonesian cities.
By car
Driving in Indonesia is rarely rewarding. You may wish to avoid it unless you have prior experience.
By motorcycle
In many parts of Indonesia, such as Bali and Yogyakarta, it is possible for tourists to rent a motorcycle to get around.
By taxi
For a group of two to four people, a conventional taxi may be the best choice for relatively short journeys. Taxi fares in Indonesia are relatively cheap and relatively uniform across the country.
By motorcycle taxi
Ojek (OH-jeck) are motorcycle taxis.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Indonesia.
Finding apps for Indonesia…
Other ways to travel:By yachtBy angkotBy bajajBy becakOn footBy horsecart
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Jakarta · International · CGK
Loading places around the airport…
Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Jakarta
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 29° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 31° | 30° | 29° |
| Avg. low | 25° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 25° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 353 | 386 | 248 | 197 | 141 | 95 | 89 | 49 | 66 | 134 | 198 | 244 |
| Humidity | 84% | 86% | 84% | 83% | 83% | 82% | 80% | 78% | 76% | 76% | 79% | 83% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$40
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$100
Per person, per day
Luxury
$255
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $20 | $55 | $150 |
| Food and drink | $10 | $20 | $45 |
| Local transport | $5 | $10 | $20 |
| Activities | $5 | $15 | $40 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
—
We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 2 of 4Exercise increased caution
Exercise increased cautionin Indonesia due to risk of natural disasters, unrest, and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Unrest Demonstrations occur frequently in Indonesia, and they are a normal part of the political landscape, but the type, size, and impact vary significantly, and some demonstrations can turn violent. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Natural disasters Indonesia regularly experiences natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. These may result in disruptions to transportation, infrastructure, sanitation, and health services. Review our information on Weather and Natural Disasters in Indonesia. Terrorism There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Indonesia. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. Terrorists target police stations, places of worship, hotels, bars, nightclubs, markets, shopping malls, and restaurants. Do not travel to the provinces of Central Papua, or “Papua Tengah,” and Highland Papua, or “Papua Pegunungan,” due to civil unrest.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Volcanic eruptions Volcanic eruptions occur frequently across Indonesia. In the event of a volcanic eruption, follow the latest advice issued by the local authorities, including on areas to avoid, exclusion zones and actions to take if air quality is affected. For more details, see Extreme weather and natural disasters on the Safety and security page. Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Commercial options to leave Indonesia remain available, but your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East.Before you travel: check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator review your travel insurance policy for coverage monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice…
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Indonesia.
ItinerariesFirst-time Bali itinerary covering Ubud rice terraces, Uluwatu sea cliffs, Canggu surf breaks, and Nusa Penida boat trips with practical transport advice.
6 min read
Travel tipsRealistic Bali travel budget breakdown covering private pool villas, local warung dining, daily private driver costs, and beach club spending.
6 min read
InspirationCompare Bali and Phuket across beaches, food scenes, culture, nightlife, accommodation costs, and transit to pick the best Southeast Asian holiday.
6 min read
Nature & adventureThere are more than fifty national parks in Indonesia. They encompass some of the most spectacular landscapes of the country.
Wikivoyage
Food & drinkIndonesian cuisine is an umbrella term referring to the culinary traditions spanning the archipelago of Indonesia, using different ingredients and spices to create a rich and flavourful masterpiece.
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureWith more than 13,000 islands and warm water all year, Indonesia is considered an idyllic destination for surfing.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.
