Tourist Popularity

B+

Hotels

Family Friendly

Single Friendly

B-

Senior Friendly

LGBTQ+ Friendly

Weather

B+

Recreation

B+

Nightlife

Restaurants

C+

Crime

InternationalTravel.ai > Indonesia

Indonesia

Coastal Beaches

Best Season to Visit: Summer

Best Off-Peak Month to Visit: November

Famous For: Volcanic landscapes, Coral reefs and diving, Ancient temples, Tropical rainforests

Train Access: Yes (kereta api indonesia (kai), relatively safe)

Bus Service: Yes (TransJakarta, PPD, DAMRI, relatively safe)

Tourist Visa: Most Western passport holders receive a 30-day visa-free entry stamp upon arrival in Indonesia. Alternatively, travelers can obtain an e-visa (B211A) online before arrival for 30 days, extendable to 60 days. Visitors must have a passport valid for 6 months beyond their stay.

Indonesia spans 17,000 islands across Southeast Asia, with travelers diving in Komodo and Raja Ampat, hiking Mount Bromo's volcanic peaks in East Java, and exploring Ubud's rice terraces in Bali. Visitors trek through Sumatra's rainforests, island-hop in the Gili Islands, and visit Borobudur temple in Central Java. The archipelago delivers snorkeling in Sulawesi's Bunaken Marine Park, beach time in the Mentawai Islands, and cultural experiences in traditional villages across Nusa Tenggara. Food experiences include satay in Jakarta, rendang in Padang, and fresh seafood across coastal regions. Travelers navigate between islands via ferries, domestic flights, and speedboats while staying in beachfront bungalows, jungle lodges, and urban hotels.

VRBO Vacation Rentals
Learn More

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, Vrbo connects homeowners with families and vacationers looking for something more than a hotel for their trip. The Vrbo community offers families an array of rental property types such as condos, cabins, lake rentals, beach houses, and more. Discover properties in destinations that everyone dreams of visiting.

VRBO Vacation Rentals

Podcasts

Episode 8: Jake Barber - The Expat Finance Expert Returns

Jake Barber, the Founder and CEO of SJB Global, is a life-long expat and an expert in expat finance. Over the course of Expat Exchange's nearly 30 years online, there are few people we have met with as much lived experience and professional acumen as Jake. We were thrilled to welcome him back to the show and look forward to having him on again!

Episode 6: Jake Barber - Expat Finance Expert and Lifelong Expat

Jake Barber is an expat finance expert and the founder and principal of SJB Global. A lifelong expat currently living in Marbella, Spain, Jake has vast experience helping expats from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries manage their finances while living abroad. Get a primer on what you need to know both before and after you move abroad!

Planning Your Trip to Indonesia

Weather: Indonesia experiences a tropical climate with two main seasons: the wet season (November to March) and the dry season (June to September). Temperatures remain consistently warm year-round, typically ranging from 24-32°C (75-90°F) across most regions. Humidity is high throughout the year, and rainfall is abundant, particularly during the wet season when monsoons bring heavy downpours. Regional variations exist, with some areas experiencing more pronounced seasonal differences than others.

Festivals: Nyepi (Balinese New Year), Idul Fitri, Toraja Funeral Ceremonies, Krakatau Festival

Best Destinations for Kids: Bali Safari & Marine Park in Gianyar offers animal encounters and water attractions. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in Jakarta showcases miniature replicas of Indonesia's regions with interactive exhibits. Gili Trawangan's calm waters and snorkeling reefs suit families with children.

Hidden Gem: Flores, particularly around Labuan Bajo and the Kelimutu crater lakes, remains less crowded than Bali while offering dramatic volcanic landscapes, traditional weaving villages, and access to Komodo National Park without the resort infrastructure of western islands.

Budget-Friendly Advice: Budget guesthouses in Ubud, Yogyakarta, and the Gili Islands cost $8-15 per night; mid-range hotels run $25-50. Street food meals cost $1-3, while restaurant dinners range $5-12. Local buses and minivans (angkot) cost under $1 per ride; inter-island ferries from Lombok to Gili Islands cost $15-25. Domestic flights between major cities like Jakarta-Bali or Surabaya-Flores range $30-80 when booked in advance.

Accessibility: Major cities like Jakarta and Bali have some accessible hotels and shopping centers, but sidewalks are often uneven and public transport lacks wheelchair accessibility. Taxis and ride-sharing apps (Grab, Gojek) are more reliable than buses for mobility-limited travelers. Rural areas and island destinations have minimal accessibility infrastructure.

For the Solo Traveler: Solo travel in Indonesia is generally safe, with well-established backpacker routes through Bali, Yogyakarta, and the Gili Islands where solo travelers easily meet others. Public transport is affordable and navigable, though hiring drivers or joining organized tours simplifies inter-island travel. Female solo travelers should exercise standard precautions in crowded areas and avoid isolated nighttime travel. Ubud, Canggu, and Lombok attract solo travelers with social hostels and co-working space

Planning a 1 Week Stay: Spend 3 days in Yogyakarta visiting Borobudur temple and Mount Bromo, then 2 days in Bali exploring Ubud's rice terraces and temples, finishing with 2 days island-hopping to Gili Trawangan or Lombok for snorkeling and beaches.

Planning a 1 Month Stay: Begin in Jakarta or Yogyakarta for temples and volcanoes (7 days), move to Bali for beaches and culture (7 days), then explore Flores and Komodo (7 days), and finish in Sumatra's Bukit Lawang for orangutan trekking or the Mentawai Islands for surfing and indigenous culture (9 days).

Delving into the Culture

Movies Set: Eat Pray Love, The Year of Living Dangerously, Tjoet Nja' Dhien

Popular Foods: Indonesian cuisine is diverse and flavorful, reflecting the country's vast archipelago and cultural heritage. Some of the most popular dishes include Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Satay (grilled skewered meat), and Rendang (slow-cooked meat in coconut milk and spices). For dessert, Martabak Manis (sweet stuffed pancake) and Es Cendol (iced sweet dessert with green rice-flour jelly, coconut milk, and palm sugar) are widely enjoyed.

Unusual Eats: Sambal Cumi Asin is a dish made from salted squid that is often considered strange by visitors due to its intense flavor and chewy texture. Another unusual food is Durian, a fruit known for its strong odor, which is either loved or loathed by those who try it.

Popular Sports: football, badminton, basketball

Popular Teams: Persija Jakarta (football), PSM Makassar (football), Pelita Jaya (basketball)

Cultural Faux Pas to Avoid: Pointing with one's foot or touching someone's head is considered disrespectful in Indonesia, as the head is believed to be the most sacred part of the body. Additionally, using the left hand to give or receive items or to eat is seen as impolite, as the left hand is traditionally associated with bodily hygiene. Foreigners should also be mindful of their attire, especially when visiting religious sites, and dress modestly to show respect.