What to do in Indonesia? The 20 most beautiful places to visit in 2026

Indonesia has more than 17,000 islands, but most travelers only discover three or four during a single trip. To know what to visit in Indonesia, think by region rather than by a list of sites to see: each large island has its own specialty, and the distances between them weigh heavily on an itinerary.

• Java, the cultural heart of the country: Borobudur temple and Prambanan temple, the royal city of Yogyakarta, and the Bromo and Ijen volcanoes.
• Bali and the Nusa Islands: terraced rice fields, Hindu temples, beaches, and surf spots.
• Lombok and the Gili Islands: Mount Rinjani volcano, white sand beaches, and snorkeling with turtles.
• Flores and Komodo: the Komodo dragons, from volcanic islands to paradisiacal landscapes and colorful crater lakes.
• Sumatra and Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo: tropical jungle and orangutans in their natural habitat.
• Sulawesi, Papua, and the Moluccas: Toraja culture and some of the richest marine life in the entire world.

The following 20 locations are numbered island by island, starting from Java, the easiest to travel through, then heading east toward the most remote islands. A summary table, with the recommended duration for each location, awaits you just after.

Java is the most populous island in the world and the historical heart of the country. This is where you will find Indonesia's two largest temples and the most accessible volcanoes. A train connects the west to the east of the island, making it also the easiest to travel across by land.

1) Yogyakarta, the cultural capital

Yogyakarta, which everyone calls Jogja, is the center of classical Javanese art. People come here for the kraton, the sultan's palace which is still inhabited and partially open to visitors as a museum, for batik workshops, and for wayang shadow puppet theater performances. The axis that runs through the city from north to south, with its historical monuments, has been inscribed as a World Heritage site since 2023.

The city is primarily the ideal base camp: Borobudur and Prambanan can both be visited in a day, and Mount Merapi, one of the country's most active volcanoes, dominates the northern horizon. Plan for three days on-site, including the temples.

2) Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist monument

Built in the 8th and 9th centuries and then abandoned around the year 1100, Borobudur lay dormant under vegetation until its rediscovery in 1814. The monument is designed as a journey: you ascend from terrace to terrace following the bas-reliefs, up to the top platform and its 72 perforated stupas, each housing a Buddha.

Access to the structure is limited to 1,200 visitors per day, in one-hour time slots, with a guide and bamboo sandals provided to protect the stone. Book your ticket online before you arrive: morning slots sell out first.

3) Prambanan, the great Hindu complex

A few kilometers from Yogyakarta, Prambanan features 240 Shivaite temples built in the 9th century. A masterpiece of architecture, the stone spires of the central sanctuary, covered in scenes from the Ramayana, are among the most powerful images in Java. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991, the same year as Borobudur.

Come in the late afternoon: the light turns the volcanic stone golden and the morning crowds have departed. Borobudur at dawn and Prambanan at sunset fit into the same day.

4) Mount Bromo, the country's most famous sunrise

Mount Bromo reaches an altitude of 2,329 meters in the Tengger caldera, east of Java. Its 800-meter wide crater smokes constantly in the middle of a sea of grey sand. It is one of Indonesia's most spectacular volcanoes, and one of the easiest to approach.

The ritual is always the same: departing in a 4x4 before dawn toward a high viewpoint, sunrise over the caldera, then crossing the sea of sand and climbing the steps to the edge of the crater. Bring a real jacket; it is cold up there before daylight.

5) Kawah Ijen and its blue flames

In the far east of Java, Kawah Ijen is home to a turquoise lake known as the most acidic on the planet. At night, sulfur gases escaping from the crater ignite to produce blue flames, a magical spectacle visible only before dawn. Miners still extract sulfur there by hand, carrying baskets on their shoulders.

The ascent begins in the middle of the night and requires a smoke mask. Ijen naturally combines with Bromo, before taking the ferry to Bali from Banyuwangi.

6) Tumpak Sewu Waterfall

Its name means "a thousand waterfalls": in East Java, the river splits into dozens of curtains of water before plunging into a circular abyss a hundred meters deep, with the Semeru volcano in the background. A ten-minute walk leads to the viewpoint. A steeper path descends to the base of the falls.

And Jakarta?

The capital is often your gateway, and most travelers leave it immediately. Yet, it deserves a day. In the old town of Kota Tua, the former colonial Batavia, Fatahillah Square and its museums tell the story of the Dutch trading post. In the center, the Monas national monument faces the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, which is itself a neighbor to the cathedral. Avoid peak hours when traveling: Jakarta's traffic is one of the densest in the world.

Bali is the gateway for most travelers, and the island deserves an article all to itself. Here is what you need to know to include it in a larger itinerary.

7) Ubud and the Jatiluwih rice terraces

Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali: temples, dances, artisan markets, and cafes in the middle of rice paddies. Around the town, the Tegallalang rice terraces, Tirta Empul temple, and Goa Gajah cave can be visited in a single day. Further west, the rice terraces of Jatiluwih illustrate the subak, the Balinese collective irrigation system inscribed by UNESCO since 2012.

The south of the island concentrates the beaches and surf spots, from Canggu to the Bukit peninsula, with the Uluwatu temple perched on its cliff. The Tanah Lot temple, set on a rock facing the sea, is the ideal place to admire a magnificent sunset. Regarding network coverage, mobile signal varies greatly between the south, Ubud, and the north: we detail everything in our article about the SIM card in Bali.

Other places appear in every travel journal. In the central mountains, the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple seems to float on Lake Bratan, and Pura Ulun Danu Batur overlooks the lake from Mount Batur. On the slopes of Mount Agung, Besakih, the "mother temple," is the island's largest Hindu sanctuary. On the coast, Seminyak and the Bukit Peninsula, with the beaches of Nusa Dua and Padang Padang, attract beach lovers, while the quieter Sanur serves as a departure port to the Nusa islands.

8) Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan

These three islands are reachable by speedboat from Sanur. Nusa Penida is the wildest, featuring the Kelingking cliff and diving sites where manta rays can be found. Lembongan and Ceningan, connected by a yellow bridge, are more gentle: mangroves, lagoons, and sunsets.

Plan for two to three days for the three islands. The roads in Nusa Penida are steep and damaged: if you aren't comfortable on a scooter, hire a driver for the day. Are you spending most of your stay here? The Bali eSIM page lists plans tailored to the island.

To the east of Bali, Lombok offers the same landscapes with much fewer crowds and largely preserved natural beauty. The island is predominantly Muslim, the atmosphere is calmer, and the southern beaches remain largely untouched.

9) The ascent of Mount Rinjani

Standing at 3,726 meters, Rinjani is the second highest volcano in Indonesia. The trek lasts from two to four days depending on the itinerary, departing from Sembalun or Senaru. Climbing the volcano requires real effort, but the reward is well worth it: an immense caldera, Lake Segara Anak, and an active cone sitting in the middle of the water.

The final ascent takes place at night to reach the summit at sunrise, offering a 360-degree view of Lombok, Bali, and Sumbawa. The trek is undertaken during the dry season, guided by a local agency with porters. Check the volcano's alert level before booking.

10) The Gili Islands: Trawangan, Meno and Air

Three sand confetti pieces northwest of Lombok, without cars or scooters: you get around on foot, by bicycle, or by horse-drawn carriage. Gili Trawangan is the most lively, with its nightlife. If you are looking for calm, Gili Meno has the most tranquil atmosphere and is very popular with lovers. Gili Air is the perfect compromise between the two, and each island has its own paradise beach. Snorkeling with turtles can be done directly from the beach.

Fast boats connect the Gilis to Bali and Lombok. Plan for three days to enjoy the place and truly unplug.

11) Kuta Lombok and the southern beaches

Don't confuse it with Kuta in Bali. Located in the south of the island, Kuta Lombok is a surfer village surrounded by crescent-shaped bays: Tanjung Aan, Mawun, Selong Belanak. The waves are suitable for both beginners and experienced surfers, and the surrounding hills offer easily accessible viewpoints, such as Bukit Merese at sunset.

Three days are enough to explore the beaches by scooter. It's the perfect place to finish a sporting circuit after Rinjani.

Further east, the small islands of the Sundas become drier and wilder. Flores is traversed by road from west to east, through volcanoes and villages, and its port of Labuan Bajo is the gateway to Komodo National Park.

12) Komodo National Park

Created in 1980 and listed by UNESCO in 1991, the park brings together the islands of Komodo, Rinca, and Padar, along with a multitude of volcanic islets. People come to see the Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard, which can be observed on foot with a ranger. The Padar viewpoint, with its three bays of different colored sands, offers a breathtaking view.

Underwater, it is one of the best diving spots in the country: manta rays, turtles, intact corals. Trips depart from Labuan Bajo, as day trips or two to three-day cruises. The best season runs from April to November. The currents are powerful: choose a serious diving center.

13) Kelimutu and its three lakes

In the east of Flores, the Kelimutu volcano is home to three crater lakes whose water changes color over the months, from blue to green, and sometimes even to red. You hike up at dawn from the village of Moni: a fifteen-minute walk separates the parking lot from the craters, and the morning mist does the rest.

The road between Labuan Bajo and Moni crosses the entire island, with stops such as the spiderweb rice terraces of Ruteng, the traditional villages around Bajawa, and Wae Rebo, a hamlet of conical houses accessible only by foot.

Sumatra is the island of great nature. Its tropical forests have been listed as World Heritage sites since 2004, and it is one of only two places in the world where wild orangutans still live.

14) Bukit Lawang and the Gunung Leuser National Park

The village of Bukit Lawang, a few hours' drive from Medan, is the main access point to the Gunung Leuser National Park. One to several-day treks allow you to observe Sumatran orangutans in the wild, along with gibbons, macaques, and sometimes hornbills. The return to the village is often done by tubing on the river.

For an even wilder jungle, Ketambe, on the other side of the park, receives far fewer visitors. In any case, keep your distance from the animals and never feed them.

15) Lake Toba and Samosir Island

Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world: 100 kilometers long, 505 meters deep, born from a colossal eruption. In the middle, Samosir Island is the cradle of Batak culture, with its saddle-shaped roof houses and stone tombs.

We stay in Tuk Tuks, rent a scooter, and tour the island in two days. It's the perfect break after a jungle trek. Surfers and hikers will also find their happiness further afield, in the off-the-beaten-path locations presented below.

Kalimantan covers most of Borneo. Few roads, many rivers: here, you travel by boat, far from the beaten path.

16) Tanjung Puting National Park

It is the highest-rated location by travelers in the Tourdumondiste survey, conducted among 785 people who visited the country. The concept: a three or four-day cruise on a klotok, a wooden houseboat, on the Sekonyer River, between Kumai and the Leakey camp founded by primatologist Biruté Galdikas in 1971. You sleep on the deck, under a mosquito net, to the sounds of the forest: an unforgettable experience.

The park covers 355,000 hectares and is home to one of the largest populations of wild orangutans in the world, which can be observed at feeding platforms, along with proboscis monkeys along the banks. Access is via plane to Pangkalan Bun.

17) The Derawan Archipelago

Off the east coast of Kalimantan, the Derawan archipelago is a treasure for divers. Turtles at every dive, the Maratua atoll to drop your bags, and the Kakaban inland lake where you swim among stingless jellyfish.

The archipelago is on the UNESCO tentative list. It is well-earned: a flight to Berau, then road and boat. Count on at least four days.

Sulawesi, the former Celebes, is shaped like an orchid and has two faces: the mountains of the Toraja country in the south, and the seabed in the north and center.

18) Rantepao and the Toraja country

The Toraja are known for their funeral ceremonies, large collective events that last several days, for their tombs carved into cliffs, and for their tongkonan, massive houses with prow-shaped roofs. Travelers are easily invited to the ceremonies. The most lavish ones take place in July and August.

Get accompanied by a local who explains the customs to you: the experience changes completely. Around Rantepao, the rice fields and villages are explored on foot. Allow for four days, including travel from Makassar.

19) The Togian and Bunaken Islands

In the Tomini Gulf, the fifty or so islands of the Togian Archipelago reward those who accept a long journey: no crowds, very little signal, and reefs just a few fathoms from the pier. It is a favorite for many travelers, who end up staying longer than planned.

Easier to access, the Bunaken National Park, across from Manado, plunges all year round along dizzying drop-offs. Both sites are on the UNESCO tentative list.

20) The Raja Ampat Islands

Raja Ampat, "the four kings," is an archipelago of karst sugarloaf islands set upon turquoise waters, northwest of New Guinea. It is the second most favorite place for travelers in this same survey, and a global benchmark for diving, featuring an incredible diversity of corals and fish. The breathtaking panorama of Piaynemo, accessible via a wooden staircase, is the photo that everyone brings home.

We arrive by plane in Sorong, then by ferry to Waisai. The best season is from October to May, unlike the rest of the country. Plan for one week: the journey is long, and there is an entrance fee for the marine park.

In the Moluccas, the Banda Islands, former spice islands, offer colonial forts and dives on lava flows. In contrast, the mountainous regions of central Papua, where Lorentz National Park and the Baliem Valley are located, are formally advised against by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Our 20 locations cover the essentials, but the archipelago is full of places where travelers can be counted on one hand. Here are the ones that come up most often with long-term travelers, from west to east.

Ujung Kulon National Park (Java)

In the far west of Java, this park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, is the last refuge of the Javan rhinoceros, one of the rarest mammals on the planet. You almost never see it, but the forest, the wild beaches, and the boat trips to Peucang Island are well worth the journey. Offshore, the Anak Krakatau volcano still smokes in the Sunda Strait.

Pangandaran (Java)

On the south coast of West Java, Pangandaran is the favorite seaside resort of Indonesians themselves. People come here for beginner surfing, the Pananjung nature reserve, where deer and monkeys live in the wild, and the Green Canyon, a river with green waters that you travel up by boat and then by swimming between two rock walls.

The Karimunjawa Islands (Java)

Located about 90 kilometers off the north coast of Central Java, this archipelago has been protected by a marine national park since 1999. White sand beaches, snorkeling on sparsely populated reefs, and a village atmosphere: it's the equivalent of the Gili Islands without the crowds. It is accessible by ferry from the port of Jepara, taking two to four hours depending on the boat, with departures only a few days per week.

Harau Valley, the Mentawai Islands, and the Banyak Islands (Sumatra)

Near Bukittinggi, in western Sumatra, the Harau Valley features vertical cliffs, waterfalls, and rice paddies, far from any organized tour circuit. Off the west coast, the Mentawai Islands are a legendary surfing destination, accessible by boat from Padang, where the Mentawai people preserve their traditions, including tattooing. Further north, off the coast of Aceh, the Banyak Islands archipelago brings together dozens of nearly deserted islets, offering beaches, snorkeling, and nights in bungalows.

Gili Asahan and the "secret Gilis" (Lombok)

In southwest Lombok, Gili Asahan, Gili Nanggu, and their neighbors offer the same crystal-clear water as the northern Gilis, but without the bars or party boats. Only a few accommodations, snorkeling right from the beach, and true silence in the evening.

The Banda Islands (Moluccas)

Long the world's sole source of nutmeg, this small archipelago was the subject of wars between European powers: in 1667, the Dutch obtained the island of Run in exchange for another island, Manhattan. Colonial forts, nutmeg plantations, and some of the most beautiful diving spots in the eastern part of the country remain, at the foot of the Gunung Api volcano.

And Mount Merapi?

Mount Merapi, north of Yogyakarta, is featured in many rankings of places to visit for its ascent. However, it is forbidden: the volcano has been at alert level 3 out of 4 since November 2020, and the national park confirmed in 2026 that the climb to the summit remains closed for an indefinite period. You can, however, traverse its slopes by jeep during "lava tours" departing from Yogyakarta, outside of the restricted zone.

As for Lorentz National Park and the Baliem Valley in Papua, they remain formally advised against for travelers, as explained above.

The must-see places in Indonesia for a first trip are Borobudur temple, sunrise at Mount Bromo, the Ubud rice terraces, the Gili Islands, and Komodo National Park. For a second visit, the orangutans of Tanjung Puting, Toraja country, and Raja Ampat are among the highest-rated locations by travelers. Here are the 20 locations from this article at a glance, including the island and the recommended duration for each.

Places don't tell the whole story: in Indonesia, people also come for what they do there. Here are the activities that appear most often in travelers' stories, and the best places to discover them.

Hiking and volcano climbing

Indonesia is among the countries with the most active volcanoes in the world, and hiking there often means catching the sunrise at the summit. Three climbs stand out: Mount Bromo, accessible to everyone; Mount Kawah Ijen and its blue flames at night; and the two-to-four-day Rinjani trek, reserved for experienced hikers. In Bali, the ascent of Mount Batur takes place before dawn, in small groups, accompanied by a local, to watch the sun rise over the lake and Mount Agung.

For flat walks, the Jatiluwih rice terrace paths, the ridges around Ubud, and the villages of Flores offer half-day strolls. Leave early: from 10 a.m., the heat makes the effort strenuous.

Surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving

Surfing can be enjoyed year-round somewhere in the archipelago. Beginners take their first lessons in Canggu or Kuta Lombok, experienced surfers aim for the waves of Uluwatu, south of Bali, and the Mentawai Islands, off the coast of Sumatra.

Underwater, you don't need to be a diver to be mesmerized. In the Gili Islands, turtles swim just a few meters from the shore. In Nusa Penida and Komodo National Park, manta rays can be observed while snorkeling from a boat. Scuba diving enthusiasts will find the best spots and their seasons below.

Observe the wildlife

It is one of the rarest travel experiences. You can observe the Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard, accompanied by a ranger, and orangutans in their natural habitat in Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, or in Tanjung Puting, Borneo. Along the rivers of Kalimantan, proboscis monkeys, these long-nosed primates, reveal themselves at sunset. In Raja Ampat, certain morning excursions allow you to catch a glimpse of birds of paradise.

Golden rule everywhere: keep your distance, never feed the animals, and choose guides who respect these principles.

Culture, temples and shows

Indonesian culture is something to be experienced as much as it is to be visited. In Bali, the traditional kecak dance is performed at Uluwatu Temple at sunset, facing the ocean. At Prambanan, the Ramayana ballet is performed outdoors during the dry season, with illuminated temples as a backdrop. In Yogyakarta, witness a wayang shadow puppet performance and step into a batik workshop, a textile art inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

A cooking class in Ubud, including a morning market visit, is also one of the best ways to understand Balinese gastronomy and daily life, between offerings placed in front of every house and village ceremonies.

What to do in Indonesia with family?

Indonesia is very easy to travel with children, provided you limit the number of island changes. Bali offers a concentration of suitable accommodations, calm beaches in the southeast, and walks through the rice paddies. The Gili Islands, with no cars or scooters, are explored by bicycle and offer snorkeling with turtles directly from the beach. On Java, the train and visiting Borobudur are hits with older children.

Leave aside, however, multi-day treks, long boat crossings, and isolated regions. Keep an eye on your bags and glasses when facing temple macaques: they are experts at snatching things.

The country is at the heart of the Coral Triangle, and diving is one of the top reasons to visit: crystal-clear waters, intact corals, and marine life that attracts divers from all over the world. Seasons vary by location, allowing for diving all year round by simply changing regions.

In Tulamben, on the east coast of Bali, the USAT Liberty shipwreck rests just a few meters from the shore and can also be visited while snorkeling. In Bunaken, the drop-offs plunge steeply right next to the beach.

The quality of the centers is inconsistent. Check the condition of the equipment, the size of the blocks, and the availability of oxygen on board before paying. Regarding swimming, many beaches are not supervised and currents can sweep away even excellent swimmers: always ask the locals before getting into the water.

The classic mistake of a first trip is wanting to see everything. The country spans three time zones: every island change costs at least half a day. It is better to experience two islands thoroughly than to skim over five. Here are four itineraries that work, to be adapted to the length of your stay and your road trip pace.

10 days: Bali and the Nusa islands, or Yogyakarta and Bali

With ten days, stay within one area. Relaxation option: Ubud for three days, North or East Bali for two days, then the Nusa Islands and an end of stay in the South. Culture option: fly to Yogyakarta for Borobudur and Prambanan, then fly to Bali for the second half of the trip.

2 weeks: from Java to Bali via volcanoes

It's the itinerary that best summarizes the country. Yogyakarta and its temples for four days, train towards the east, sunrise at Bromo, overnight at Ijen, ferry to Bali, then Ubud and a few days of beach to finish. You alternate between culture, hiking, and relaxation without ever having to fly between the two islands.

3 weeks: add Lombok, or head towards Flores

With one more week, there are two choices. Towards the near east: fast boat to the Gilis, then Kuta Lombok, with Rinjani for avid hikers. Towards adventure: flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo, cruise through Komodo National Park, then crossing Flores to Kelimutu.

Here is the first of these two road trips, day by day, from Yogyakarta to Lombok without flying between the islands:

1 month: the classic, plus an island with character

One month corresponds to the maximum duration of a visa on arrival without extension. Keep the Java, Bali, Lombok trio for three weeks, then add a themed week: Sumatra for the jungle and Lake Toba, Sulawesi for the Toraja country, Kalimantan for the orangutans of Tanjung Puting, or Raja Ampat if diving is your priority.

Extending your trip to a neighboring country? Many flights pass through Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, and Thailand is an easy addition: we have listed what to do in Thailand in a similar article.

Located near the equator, the country has a tropical climate with only two seasons. In Bali, the average temperature hovers around 26 degrees all year round. The dry season, from May to October, is the best period for Java, Bali, Lombok, and Flores: stable weather, calm seas, and the ideal time for hiking. The rainy season extends from November to April, peaking in January.

July and August combine beautiful weather and crowds: prices soar in Bali, the Gilis, and Komodo. May, June, September, and October offer the best compromise. June has an extra advantage: everything is still green after the rains.

The wet season remains manageable. Showers mostly fall in the late afternoon or at night, and the rice paddies are at their most beautiful. However, avoid long boat crossings between January and March, the period of tropical storms. Also keep in mind Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, generally in March: for 24 hours, all movement in public spaces is prohibited in Bali, including for travelers.

On-site, the median daily budget for travelers is €37 per day per person, according to the same survey, which also tracked their spending. This budget covers accommodation, meals, transport, and activities. It does not include international flights, visas, or souvenirs. For 15 days, plan for approximately €555 per person on-site, and around €1,100 for one month.

Accommodation and meals remain inexpensive in most regions. Three things drive up the cost: domestic flights when you visit multiple islands, diving and cruises in Komodo or Raja Ampat, and South Bali, which is significantly more expensive than the rest of the country. Conversely, Java, Sumatra, and Flores remain very affordable.

The currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR). According to the European Central Bank rate on September 18, 2026, €1 is worth approximately 20,400 IDR. Many payments are made in cash. Cards are accepted in shops in tourist areas and ATMs are plentiful in large cities, but much less so on the smaller islands: withdraw cash before boarding for the Togian Islands or Raja Ampat.

To prepare for a trip to Indonesia, proceed in order: choose the season and the duration of your stay, check entry formalities, get insurance, and then book what sells out fast. The previous sections help you with the season and budget; here is the rest.

Visa and entry formalities

The rules depend on your nationality: check them on the official Indonesian immigration website before booking. For many travelers, including French nationals, here is the current framework.

• Visa on Arrival (VOA): paid, valid for 30 days, single entry, for tourism, transit, or family visits. It can be extended once, for an additional 30 days, at the local immigration office. It can also be requested online before departure, in an electronic version.
• Passport: valid for more than six months on the date of entry, with blank pages, and in very good condition. Travelers are turned away every year due to a damaged passport.
• Exit ticket: a return ticket or proof of departure from the territory may be required.
• All Indonesia Form: this online declaration combines customs and health requirements. It must be completed within 72 hours before arrival and generates a QR code to present at the airport.
• Bali tourist tax: 150,000 IDR, which is approximately €7, for every entry to the island since February 14, 2024. It is paid online on the Love Bali website or app.
• Overstaying: the fine is one million rupees per day, approximately €50, and must be paid before you can leave the country.

One last point concerns your phone. Indonesia registers foreign devices via their IMEI number. For a stay of less than 90 days, you don't need to do anything. Beyond that, the device must be declared to customs: we detail the procedure in our article on the SIM card in Indonesia.

Travel and health insurance

A travel insurance policy that covers medical expenses and repatriation is indispensable. The best-equipped hospitals are located in major cities and in Bali, and an evacuation from a remote island is very expensive. Make sure it also covers diving and riding a scooter if you plan to do so.

Regarding health, consult your doctor or an international vaccination center a few weeks before departure. Bring an effective mosquito repellent: dengue is circulating throughout the archipelago, in both cities and the countryside.

What to book before you leave

• The entry ticket to the Borobudur structure, which has limited time slots each day.
• Domestic flights and accommodations in the Gilis, Nusa Penida, and Labuan Bajo if you are traveling in July or August.
• A cruise in Komodo National Park and the Rinjani trek, with a renowned local agency.
• Your mobile connection: an eSIM installed before departure, your Google Maps downloaded offline, and a Grab or Gojek account already created.

The country is welcoming and travelers move around without particular difficulty, provided that a few rules are respected. Some are matters of politeness, while others fall under the penal code.

• Touching drugs, even once. Possession is punishable by prison starting from 0.2 grams, regardless of the substance, and trafficking is punishable by the death penalty. There is zero tolerance, even in Bali's party venues.
• Drinking artisanal alcohol. Adulterated arak, sold in Bali and Lombok, causes blindness and deaths every year. Stick to sealed bottles.
• Entering a temple in beachwear. Shoulders and legs covered, sarong tied at the waist. In the province of Aceh, in northern Sumatra, which applies Sharia law, cover arms and legs at all times.
• Ignore Nyepi in Bali. The day of silence is mandatory for everyone. Failure to respect religious rites can lead to expulsion.
• Rent an appropriately sized scooter without a license. An international driving permit is mandatory, a helmet is vital, and night riding is discouraged. Without a valid license, your insurance won't cover anything.
• Heading to a volcano without checking first. About twenty volcanoes are under surveillance, on a vigilance scale of 1 to 4 published by the Indonesian volcanology center. Respect the closed perimeters.
• Boarding an overloaded boat. Shipwrecks are frequent on poorly regulated routes. Choose a reputable company and turn back when the sea is rough.
• Letting your visa expire. Immigration makes no exceptions at the airport.

Plane, train, ferry, speedboat, scooter, or car with a driver: there is no shortage of means of transport, but every trip between two islands requires preparation. Flying is the most efficient way whenever you change regions. Domestic flights connect Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Denpasar, Lombok, Labuan Bajo, Medan, Makassar, Manado, and Sorong, often with a layover in Jakarta or Makassar for the eastern part of the country. Prioritize well-established airlines.

In Java, the train is a pleasant surprise: the line crossing the island from west to east serves Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya. Between Java and Bali, the ferry from Banyuwangi to Gilimanuk runs continuously. Between Bali, the Nusa islands, the Gili islands, and Lombok, speedboats depart every day.

In the city, Grab and Gojek apps are used for everything: cars, delivery, and payments. They work with a simple data connection, and the price is displayed before the ride. Create your account before you leave; SMS verification is easier from home. Elsewhere, a driver for the day remains the most comfortable option for visiting multiple sites, both in Bali and around Yogyakarta.

For freedom, many travelers choose to rent a scooter in Bali, Lombok, or Flores. It's practical and inexpensive, but only if you are already used to riding a two-wheeler: narrow roads, heavy traffic in southern Bali, and damaged tracks on the smaller islands. An international driving permit, a helmet, and insurance that covers riding are essential.

Indonesian cuisine changes from island to island, following the flavors and ingredients of each region, with spices, coconut milk, and chili at the forefront, but a few typical dishes will follow you everywhere. Nasi goreng, fried rice served with a fried egg, is the unofficial national dish, along with its noodle cousin, mie goreng. Satay, grilled skewers coated in peanut sauce, can be eaten on the street at any hour.

In Sumatra, taste rendang, beef simmered for hours in coconut milk and spices, a specialty of the Minangkabau country. In Java, gado-gado brings together vegetables, tofu, and tempeh under a peanut sauce, and Yogyakarta's gudeg, made from young jackfruit, is a local institution. In Bali, a Hindu-majority island, babi guling, roasted suckling pig, is the festive dish of Balinese tradition.

Street food is one of the local specialties you shouldn't miss: the night markets of Yogyakarta or Denpasar are perfect for tasting everything in a single evening. Warungs, small family-run restaurants, serve these traditional meals for just a few euros. For sensitive stomachs: drink bottled water and choose stalls with high turnover.

A trip across multiple islands is managed from your phone: Grab and Gojek to get around, Google Maps on the tracks of Nusa Penida, WhatsApp to confirm a driver or a boat, and instant translation at the market. Hotel and cafe WiFi can help you out in Ubud or Canggu, but it won't follow you on the road to Bromo or on a ferry.

The eSIM is the simplest solution. It is a digital SIM card already integrated into your phone: you buy your plan online, you scan a QR code before departure, and you are connected as soon as you land in Jakarta or Denpasar. No airport stands with inflated prices, no passport to present in a shop, no IMEI registration.

The Indonesia eSIM plans from voilà eSIM offer excellent value for money. Here is the pricing table as of September 21, 2026, with the plan suited to each itinerary:

The price shown is the final price: no subscriptions, no automatic renewals. The eSIM is simple to install and the app is easy to use: you track your usage in real time and add GBs in seconds if your itinerary extends. If a setting gets stuck upon arrival, live customer support is available 24/7, regardless of your island's time zone. We show you every screen in our article how to install an eSIM.

For island-hopping, network coverage matters as much as price. The voilà eSIM plan relies on the country's four networks, Telkomsel, XL, Indosat, and Smartfren: your phone automatically adjusts to the best available signal. This is useful in Flores and Komodo, where Telkomsel is the only reliable network. The further you go, towards the Togian Islands or Raja Ampat, the more you should expect outages: download your offline maps before heading out.

The only condition: an eSIM-compatible phone, which is the case for most recent models. Check yours below, or read how to know if your phone is eSIM compatible.

The concept in video:

Local SIM card, your original operator's plan, pocket WiFi: to compare all the options, read our article on Internet in Indonesia.

And if your journey continues towards Singapore, Malaysia, or Thailand, the <a href="https://voilacreators.com/en/esim-southeast-asia/" class="font-semibold underline hover:opacity-80">Southeast Asia regional plan</a\> covers multiple countries with a single eSIM, without the need for reinstallation at every border.

Indonesia rewards those who choose. For a first trip, the Java, Bali, Lombok trio delivers on every promise: Borobudur at dawn, Mount Bromo at sunrise, the rice terraces of Ubud, and an end of stay with your feet in the water in the Gili Islands. Travel between May and October, plan for two to three weeks, and budget around forty euros per day.

If you already know this classic, aim further: Komodo and Flores for the landscapes, Sumatra or Tanjung Puting for the orangutans, the Toraja country for the culture, and Raja Ampat for the dive of a lifetime. In any case, install your eSIM before taking off: you'll be able to order your first Grab as soon as you step off the plane.