Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Indonesia

A photograph of Indonesia
Photograph · Thomas Fuhrmann · CC BY-SA 4.0

Indonesia is between 13,000 and 17,000 islands spread across 1,904,569 km2, the largest archipelagic state in the world, so the question is never what to see but which island to fly to. Over 280 million people live in its 38 provinces and more than half of them on Java alone, the most heavily populated island anywhere and the one carrying Jakarta, the world's most populous city. Sumatra, Sulawesi and the Indonesian portions of Borneo and New Guinea are each a separate trip, across wilderness supporting some of the highest biodiversity on earth. The gaps between them are measured in flights, not in drives.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Indonesian
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+62
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112 where available · 110 police
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. ROH Projects
    05 1 hour

    ROH Projects

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  2. 70003
    07 1 hour

    70003

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  3. Amphitheatre
    10 1 hour

    Amphitheatre

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  4. Angsa
    12 1 hour

    Angsa

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  5. Anna de Kiev
    13 1 hour

    Anna de Kiev

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  6. Art Shop Wahyu
    16 1 hour

    Art Shop Wahyu

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Denpasar
  7. Artsphere
    17 1 hour

    Artsphere

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  8. Batik Art
    20 1 hour

    Batik Art

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Denpasar
  9. Buddha
    23 1 hour

    Buddha

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  10. CAN'S Gallery
    24 1 hour

    CAN'S Gallery

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  11. carpro
    25 1 hour

    carpro

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  12. Cemara 6
    27 1 hour

    Cemara 6

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  13. De Latinos
    29 1 hour

    De Latinos

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  14. D Gallerie
    30 1 hour

    D Gallerie

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  15. Fisherman Fisherman
    32 1 hour

    Fisherman

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Denpasar
  16. Gajah Mada
    33 1 hour

    Gajah Mada

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  17. Galeri Annex
    34 1 hour

    Galeri Annex

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  18. Galeri Zen1
    36 1 hour

    Galeri Zen1

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Denpasar
  19. Gong Bende
    39 1 hour

    Gong Bende

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  20. JKT48 Theater
    51 1 hour

    JKT48 Theater

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  21. M.H. Thamrin
    54 1 hour

    M.H. Thamrin

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  22. Monumen Ancol
    56 1 hour

    Monumen Ancol

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  23. Nadi Gallery
    58 1 hour

    Nadi Gallery

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  24. Omar
    61 1 hour

    Omar

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Denpasar
  25. Panser Anoa
    62 1 hour

    Panser Anoa

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  26. Patung Garuda
    66 1 hour

    Patung Garuda

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  27. Patung Hanoman
    67 1 hour

    Patung Hanoman

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Denpasar
  28. Patung Rama
    75 1 hour

    Patung Rama

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Denpasar
  29. Patung Robot
    76 1 hour

    Patung Robot

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  30. Patung Robot
    77 1 hour

    Patung Robot

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  31. Patung Robot
    78 1 hour

    Patung Robot

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  32. Patung Robot
    79 1 hour

    Patung Robot

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  33. Patung Robot
    80 1 hour

    Patung Robot

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  34. Patung Somali
    82 1 hour

    Patung Somali

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Denpasar
  35. Putri Duyung
    85 1 hour

    Putri Duyung

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  36. Rizel Art
    87 1 hour

    Rizel Art

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  37. Sahadewa
    91 1 hour

    Sahadewa

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Denpasar
  38. Taruna
    97 1 hour

    Taruna

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta
  39. Teater Daun
    100 1 hour

    Teater Daun

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Jakarta

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Indonesia be?

Ten to fourteen days is enough for Bali plus one nearby island or for a focused Java route, not for the whole archipelago. Every added island introduces an airport or harbour transfer, so choose regions first and count transfer days before assigning sightseeing.

What entry documents are needed for Indonesia?

Indonesia Immigration’s official eVisa service is the source for passport eligibility, visa class and stay conditions. Complete any required arrival formalities through government channels and verify the authorised entry point; a Bali-focused commercial site is not evidence of national admission rules.

What is the best way to travel around Indonesia?

Flights bridge distant islands, Java has useful rail corridors, and ferries, buses or local boats complete many regional legs. Check the licensed operator and weather before sea travel, and leave recovery time when an island connection precedes an international departure.

When is a practical time to visit Indonesia?

Dry-season timing varies across Indonesia, although much of Java and Bali is commonly easier from roughly May to September. Sumatra, Sulawesi and eastern islands can follow different rainfall patterns, so select dates for the chosen islands rather than the country name.

What money and payment basics apply in Indonesia?

Indonesia uses the rupiah, and large IDR figures make digit checking important. Keep cash for markets, drivers and smaller islands, use bank-linked machines where available, and confirm whether an accommodation or boat quote includes taxes and local charges.

What practical safety details should I save for Indonesia?

The recorded emergency contacts are 112 where available and 110 for police; electricity is Type C and F at 230 V. Tap-water safety is Not recorded, so rely on local official or accommodation guidance and verify emergency coverage on remote islands.