Walk the Tegallalang rice terraces
Bright green paddies stepping down the hillside near Ubud, best visited early before the tour buses arrive.
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Southeast Asia
Things to do in Indonesia
Volcanic peaks, terraced rice paddies, and a spiritual pace of life on Bali.
Explore Indonesia on the map →Budget$$
Best for10-14 days
CapitalJakarta
VisaVisa on arrival or e-visa, around $35 for most nationalities
CurrencyIndonesian rupiah (IDR)
LanguagesIndonesian; Balinese and other regional languages
InternetGood in Bali and cities, patchy on remote islands
Typical lodging$20–$55/night
Driving sideLeft
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type C/F plug)
Time zoneUTC+7 to UTC+8
Emergency numberVaries by country. Save the local number on arrival.
Dialing code+62
★★★★★ Beaches★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Adventure
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or purified water only. Not customary. Rounding up is common.
Indonesia is the largest archipelago nation on Earth, spanning over 17,000 islands and three time zones, and sits on the Ring of Fire with more active volcanoes than any other country. Bali alone runs on a Hindu calendar and temple system found nowhere else in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
When to go
Dry seasonApril–October
The most reliable window island-wide: sunny days, calmer seas for island-hopping, and the busiest, most expensive months in Bali.
Wet seasonNovember–March
Short, heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain, with lush landscapes and noticeably thinner crowds and lower prices.
Surf seasonMay–September
The best swells hit Bali's south coast and Sumbawa during the dry season, drawing surfers from Uluwatu to G-Land.
Komodo sailing seasonApril–June, September–November
Shoulder months avoid both the roughest seas and the peak-season liveaboard crowds around Komodo and Flores.
20 things to do
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Wildlife & nature
4Dive with manta rays at Nusa Penida
Manta Point's cleaning stations draw reef manta rays close enough to a small boat for a genuinely reliable sighting.
See Komodo dragons on Komodo Island$40
The only place on Earth to see the world's largest living lizard in the wild, on a ranger-guided walk through its native savanna.
Chase waterfalls at Sekumpul
A cluster of multi-tiered waterfalls in north Bali, reached by a jungle trek that keeps the crowds thinner than the south coast.
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Culture & history
4Visit a sunset temple ceremony at Uluwatu
A clifftop temple with ocean views and a traditional Kecak fire dance performed as the sun drops.
Wander Ubud's markets and Monkey Forest
Woodcarving stalls, a jungle sanctuary of long-tailed macaques, and Ubud's reputation as Bali's cultural and wellness hub.
Visit Borobudur at sunrise
The world's largest Buddhist temple, a stepped pyramid near Yogyakarta best seen as mist clears off the surrounding volcanoes.
Explore the Prambanan temple complex
Java's largest Hindu temple compound, soaring stone spires built within a century of Borobudur but in a completely different style.
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Food & markets
2Eat at a local Balinese warung
Babi guling (spit-roast pig) and nasi campur from family-run warungs, usually better and cheaper than anything on a resort menu.
Tour a coffee plantation for kopi luwak
Highland farms growing Bali's civet coffee alongside cacao and clove, with tastings included on most tours.
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Adventure & outdoors
6Watch sunrise at Mount Batur
A pre-dawn hike up an active volcano rewarded with a sunrise view over Bali's central highlands.
Surf beginner breaks at Canggu
Warm water, forgiving waves, and a strip of beach bars for the recovery afterward.
Climb Mount Bromo for sunrise
A pre-dawn jeep and short hike to a viewpoint over Java's smoking volcanic crater and the surrounding sea of sand.
White-water raft the Ayung River
Jungle-lined rapids outside Ubud, with waterfalls and rice-terrace views along the banks between the whitewater sections.
Surf the reef breaks of Uluwatu
World-class barrels along limestone cliffs, with a lineup that ranges from mellow to genuinely advanced depending on the break.
Trek Ijen Crater for the blue fire
A midnight hike to a volcanic crater where sulfuric gases combust into an electric-blue flame, visible only in full darkness.
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Coast & water
2Snorkel Pink Beach in Komodo National Park$40
Sand tinted rose-pink by crushed red coral, with reef snorkeling right off the shore.
Island-hop the Gili Islands
Three tiny, car-free islands off Lombok with reef snorkeling, hammock-paced days, and turtles often visible from the shallows.
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Slow days
2Take a sunrise yoga class in Ubud
Rice-field and jungle studios across Ubud built an entire wellness industry around Bali's slower pace of life.
Watch sunset from Seminyak's beach clubs
Bali's polished stretch of beach clubs and infinity pools, the counterpoint to Ubud's rice-terrace calm.
Common questions
▾Is Indonesia safe to visit?
Bali, Lombok, and the main tourist circuits see heavy travel and are generally safe with normal precautions. Petty theft and traffic are the realistic risks, not violent crime. Check current advisories for more remote regions before venturing off the well-traveled islands.
▾Do I need a visa for Indonesia?
Most visitors can get a visa on arrival (around $35) or apply for an e-visa in advance, both valid for 30 days and extendable once. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm before you fly.
▾Is Bali the same as Indonesia?
No. Bali is one island among more than 17,000 that make up Indonesia. It's the most-visited by far, but Java, Lombok, the Gilis, Komodo, and Sumatra are entirely different islands with their own character, often just a short flight or ferry away.
▾How many days do you need in Indonesia?
A week covers Bali comfortably. Ten to fourteen days lets you add Nusa Penida, the Gilis, or a Komodo boat trip. Java's temples (Borobudur, Prambanan, Bromo) are worth another three to four days if it's your first visit.
▾When is the best time to visit Indonesia?
April through October is the dry season across most of the archipelago: the most reliable window for island-hopping, diving, and Komodo boat trips. November through March brings short daily downpours but lusher scenery and lower prices.
▾Is Indonesia expensive?
It's generally affordable, local food, scooters, and guesthouses cost little, but villa stays, dive trips, and Komodo liveaboards can push a trip firmly into mid-range territory. Bali costs noticeably more than Java or Sumatra.
▾How much does it cost to visit Komodo National Park?
As of 2026 the park uses a single bundled ticket per route rather than itemized fees: around 650,000 IDR (about $40) per person for the Komodo Island route, or 900,000 IDR (about $55) for the Rinca Island route, both covering park entry, ranger access and the main sites on that route. Booking in advance is mandatory for everyone, Indonesian citizens included, so this isn't a walk-up ticket.
