Indonesia is an incredible country located in Southeast Asia. In fact, Indonesia is one of the most popular destinations in Asia. It has something for everyone – backpackers, couples, solo travelers, luxury travelers, etc.
Indonesia offers several experiences – from swimming in waterfalls to volcano trekking, from surfing to scuba diving, from traditional celebrations to relaxing sunsets, from temples to cooking classes – you should find something that suits your needs and interests.
If you’re planning your first trip to Indonesia, this guide should answer any questions you may have. We’ll talk about travel facts, the best time to visit Indonesia, the best destinations, recommended itineraries, travel costs, travel essentials and how to prepare for your trip.
| Information | Indonesia |
|---|---|
| Language | Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) |
| English-friendly | Yes |
| Currency | IDR (Indonesian rupiah) |
| Internet reliability | Good |
Indonesia has almost 20,000 islands and depending on your destination, you may be facing different types of seasons. We decided to split this section into four sections to help you understand the seasons:
| Areas | Season | Months |
|---|---|---|
| Java |
Dry season Wet season Ramadan (Note that transport can be harder during this time) |
April to October November to March April 23rd to May 23rd 2020 |
| Bali |
Dry season Wet season |
April to October November to March |
| Komodo (Flores) |
Dry season Wet season |
April to November December to March |
| Lombok |
Dry season Wet season Ramadan (Note that transport can be harder during this time) |
April to October November to March April 23rd to May 23rd 2020 |
Planning your trip to Indonesia? We created Indonesia itineraries to help you. You can pick the length of your stay and follow our recommended itineraries. We created itineraries for up to one month including our favorite Indonesian destinations.
Bali
Bali & Lombok
Bali, Lombok & Komodo
Java, Bali, Lombok & Komodo
In this section, you’ll find general information on costs and how to prepare for your trip. Finally, you will find a table that will provide an overview of cost and options depending on your travel budget.
If you’re planning on staying in Bali longer, you may like our guide to living in Bali.
In Indonesia, you’ll find several options when it comes to accommodation. Whether you’re a budget traveler or not, you won’t have difficulty to find options. You can find dorms starting at $3 per night.
You can also take a look at our accommodation guides for the following destinations:
When it comes to food, you can find different types of restaurants. If you eat local food, you can eat for less than IDR 3000. Obviously, you may find elegant restaurants around the country when you can pay more if you wish to. The cheapest options are usually in small local restaurants called warungs.
Some activities such as hiking or beach bumming are free. Although, if you’re planning on visiting temples, doing yoga retreats, getting surfing lessons or going on a diving trip, you will have to pay for it. You can browse activities in Indonesia here to have an idea of the costs.
In general, it’s pretty easy to get around Indonesia. You can either fly, take a ferry, a bus or hire a private driver to reach your destinations.
To book your transport between destinations, you can book via 12GO or via a travel agency. Most of the time, your hotel and hostel may be able to help you.
| Travel Cost | Budget travel | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $4 per night | $15-50 per night | $50+ |
| Meal | $2-5 per meal | $5-15 per meal | $15+ |
| Activities | Focus on free activities | Mixing free activities & mid-range | $30+ per day |
| Transport | By bus/train/ferry | By bus, ferry, train, flight | Private driver |
Overall, traveling around Indonesia is fairly safe. Of course, you should always lock your valuables especially if you’re staying in a hostel.
ATM and card skimming are pretty common and you should try and only use ATMs attached to banks. You can pick an ATM with cameras too. Skimming is popular around the Gili Islands and Nusa Islands, where there are only a few ATMs available. Having a travel card such as Revolut allows you to freeze your bank account, which is great for traveling around Indonesia. In Java and Lombok, the culture is a little different (if we compare to Bali) and rip-offs tend to happen more often. Be prepared to negotiate more.
When driving around, you should always put your purse and valuables inside your motorbike because people could try to snatch them. Pickpocketing is also common so make sure to keep your valuables in a safe spot especially if you’re going out – it happens a lot on dance floors. That said, if you have a safe in your hotel, use it to keep your money safe.
For ladies: it’s not always safe to walk alone at night. Groping can happen and it’s always smart to ask a friend to walk you home at night. The same applies for driving at night time. Avoid dark alleys if you can and read the updates in the Expats groups on Facebook. Ususally, you can find information on dangerous spots within the female groups.
Be prepared that you might get into dodgy situations if you have to deal with the police. If you’re stopped by the police, remember your rights. You should always get your fine in paper and not pay the police straight away with cash since bribing and corruption is “popular” in Indonesia. You ask for a “blue fine”.
Apart from the travel essentials, here are the things you should absolutely bring along with you in Indonesia. Click on the images to shop on Amazon. You can also check out this list of travel essentials in Southeast Asia or this list for Bali (which covers both seasons).
Depending on your nationality, you may need to get a visa to visit Indonesia. Note that many countries receive a free entry up to 30 days. Then, you may be able to extend your visa for an extra 30 days.
If you wish to extend your visa – you will need to go to the visa on arrival at the airport. You’ll have to pay a fee and then you’ll have to go the Immigration office three times. You can also get an agent and this way, you can go to the Immigration only once.
You can verify your visa requirements here.
Browse flights on Skyscanner to find deals.
Book your travel insurance for as little as $42/month.
Find accommodation anywhere in the world.
Check the visa requirements and apply for a visa if needed.
Volunteer abroad in exchange for free accommodation.
Book transfers, tours, and activities in advance.
It’s hard to find a good data plan when you’re traveling. You have to research the best deals, go to a store, and hope they have a prepaid SIM card for travelers and tourists.
And if they don’t? You could be without service for the rest of your trip. Not only is that frustrating, but it can also be time-consuming.
eSIMs are the solution to your travel woes. With an eSIM plan, you can stay connected no matter where you go. Plus, there are no contracts or cancellation fees, so you can change your plan whenever you want.
If you’re looking for an eSIM plan while in Indonesia, then be sure to check out the providers below. They all offer great plans that will keep you connected while you’re there.
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