In a nutshell
- Planning a trip to Indonesia? Amazing choice — but there are a few things you should know before you pack your bags.
- In this article we cover all the essential Indonesia travel tips: from getting there and entry requirements to costs, safety, and getting around.
- We also share honest advice on food, religion, internet, and vaccinations — all based on our own experiences traveling through the country. Let’s go!
Is a Trip to Indonesia Worth It?
Absolutely! Indonesia is a wonderful travel destination in Southeast Asia.
The great thing about Indonesia is that the country consists of 17,508 islands — and each one is different. There’s always something new to discover: towering volcanoes, dream beaches, temple complexes, mosques, waterfalls, and so much more.
On top of that, Indonesia is a safe country to visit and incredibly affordable — perfect for backpackers!
The 11 most beautiful attractions in Indonesia
Indonesia on a Map
To give you a better sense of where Indonesia is located and which islands belong to the country, we’ve put together a map for you.
Getting to Indonesia and Entry Requirements
There are no direct flights from most Western countries to Indonesia. You’ll almost always have one stopover — for example in Malaysia, Singapore, Doha, Dubai, or Bangkok. We particularly recommend a stopover in Singapore.
Most connections go to Denpasar on Bali or to Jakarta on Java. The total flight time is around 15 hours, split across two flights.
To enter Indonesia, you’ll need a few documents:
- Passport (must be valid for at least six months upon entry)
- Visa for Indonesia (valid for 30 days and extendable for another 30 days)
- Health declaration (fill out no earlier than three days before arrival)
- Customs declaration (fill out no earlier than three days before arrival)
Important: Entry requirements can change quickly. Always double-check with your country’s official foreign travel advisory before you go.
You can apply for your visa in advance online (e-visa) or purchase it at the airport on arrival (Visa on Arrival). It costs 500,000 IDR (approximately 30 euros).
If you want to extend it, you can do so at any “Kantor Imigrasi” immigration office in Indonesia — or online if you applied for the e-visa.
Our tip: Go for the e-visa. It speeds up the entry process at the airport and makes extending your stay much easier too.
Currency and Costs for a Vacation in Indonesia
The official currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). 1 euro is worth approximately 17,000 IDR. A handy rule of thumb: 100,000 IDR is about 6 euros.
Indonesia is a very affordable place to travel. Prices do vary depending on the island, though. Tourist hotspots like Bali are a bit pricier than lesser-visited destinations like Sumatra.
Here’s a rough idea of what things cost in Indonesia:
- Basic double room: 15 euros per night
- Dinner at an Indonesian restaurant: 4 euros (including a drink)
- Coffee: 1 euro
- Scooter rental: 5 euros per day
- Soft drink at a kiosk: 50 cents
Indonesia is a cash-based country. Accommodations, restaurants, and entrance fees often only accept cash — so always make sure you have enough on hand.
We always withdrew money from BNI ATMs, since we didn’t get hit with any fees using our no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards.
We’ve also put together a dedicated article on travel costs in Bali if you want a deeper breakdown.
Accommodations in Indonesia
Where to stay in Indonesia is generally more basic than what you might be used to at home. You can choose between a few different options:
- Homestays: simple rooms with a bathroom in a local’s home.
- Hostels: shared-room accommodations popular with backpackers.
- Hotels: the most comfortable option — closer to what you’d expect back home.
We strongly recommend always booking a room with air conditioning — Indonesia is seriously warm year-round.
Book hotels in Indonesia on Booking.com
Also worth knowing: bathrooms are set up differently from what you’re probably used to. Most of the time there’s no separate shower stall — just a showerhead in the middle of the bathroom, which means the toilet area often gets wet.
Most places do provide toilet paper — though in Indonesia it’s more common to use a water spray hose next to the toilet.
Important: Toilet paper goes in the trash can — not in the toilet.
We’ve written dedicated hotel recommendation articles for several destinations in Indonesia:
Getting Around in Indonesia
How you get around in Indonesia depends a lot on which island you’re on. The most common way locals travel is by scooter, and you can rent one pretty much anywhere.
Note: In Indonesia, traffic drives on the left.
On Bali and Lombok, for example, there’s virtually no public transportation. Besides taxis, shuttle buses, and scooters, your options are limited.
Java, on the other hand, has a solid network of trains and buses. We’d recommend the train — they’re really comfortable. You can book tickets on Traveloka.
On Sumatra, buses are the main way to get around. As you can see — it’s worth researching each island individually before you arrive.
Our full travel guide for Bali
Our travel tips for Lombok
Our travel tips for Java
Time Zones and Climate in Indonesia
Time Zones in Indonesia
Indonesia spans three time zones with no daylight saving time. Here’s how they break down by island:
Sumatra, Java (+7)
This zone is UTC+7. During Central European winter, it’s 6 hours ahead of CET; during summer, the difference drops to 5 hours.
Bali, Lombok, Sulawesi, Flores (+8)
This zone is UTC+8. During Central European winter, it’s 7 hours ahead of CET; during summer, the difference is 6 hours.
Papua, Timor, Maluku (+9)
This zone is UTC+9. During Central European winter, it’s 8 hours ahead of CET; during summer, the difference is 7 hours.
Climate in Indonesia
Indonesia has a tropical climate — warm year-round with very little temperature variation. Expect around 30°C (86°F) most of the time.
There are two seasons: dry and rainy. In most parts of Indonesia, the rainy season runs from November to April and the dry season from May to October.
Read all our tips on the best time to visit here:
Language and Communication in Indonesia
The official language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia.
It’s actually not that hard to pick up the basics, since it uses the same alphabet as English and almost everything is pronounced the way it’s written.
In tourist areas, many people also speak some English — so you can get by reasonably well. That said, don’t expect in-depth conversations outside of the main traveler hubs.
Safety in Indonesia
Indonesia is a safe country to travel in. The crime rate is low, and we felt comfortable at all times — and never heard of anything happening to other tourists either.
That said, it’s always smart to keep a close eye on your bags and valuables, just as you would anywhere.
The biggest thing to watch out for is traffic. In large parts of Indonesia, it’s absolute chaos. Whether you’re crossing the street on foot or riding a scooter, always look carefully in both directions.
Indonesia also sits in a seismically very active zone. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tropical storms are not uncommon — but early warning systems are in place, so tourists don’t need to be overly concerned.
All our tips on safety in Indonesia
Religion in Indonesia
Religion plays a very important role in Indonesia — and you’ll notice this throughout your travels.
The vast majority of the Indonesian population is Muslim (close to 90 percent). In many cities, calls to prayer ring out from loudspeakers five times a day.
Be prepared for the possibility that early-morning calls to prayer may wake you up — this happened to us several times on Java.
The second-largest religion is Christianity, with Protestants and Catholics together making up about 10 percent of the population.
The oldest religions in Indonesia are Hinduism and Buddhism. Today they make up only a small minority — except on Bali, where Hinduism is the dominant religion.
The different faiths coexist peacefully — a powerful symbol of this is the fact that in Jakarta, the grand Istiqlal Mosque stands right next to the Catholic cathedral.
Diseases and Vaccinations for Indonesia
There are no mandatory vaccinations for Indonesia — the only exception is if you’re arriving from a yellow fever zone, in which case proof of vaccination is required.
Recommended vaccinations typically include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Dengue fever, Typhoid, Rabies, and Japanese Encephalitis. Before your trip, make an appointment with your doctor or a travel health clinic to get personalized advice.
Malaria is also present in Indonesia, though the risk is high only in West Papua and western Sumba. In popular travel regions like Bali, Lombok, Flores, and Java, the risk is low.
Regardless, always protect yourself from mosquito bites — wear long clothing and use a good insect repellent.
Stomach issues and food poisoning are also not uncommon. Tap water in Indonesia is not safe to drink — and always ask whether ice cubes are made from filtered water too.
We also recommend sticking to busier food stalls and following the classic rule: “boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.”
SIM Card, Internet, Outlets in Indonesia
For your trip to Indonesia, we’d strongly recommend picking up a local SIM card. That way you’re not dependent on Wi-Fi and always have data when you need it.
Most restaurants, shops, and accommodations do offer Wi-Fi — but the quality varies a lot. Outside of Bali, it’s often pretty slow.
You can buy SIM cards at the airport and in small shops. Ask at your accommodation where the nearest one is. The most well-known provider is Telkomsel.
As for power outlets — most standard plugs fit Indonesian sockets, so you may not need a travel adapter at all. That said, bring one just to be safe.
Food and Drink in Indonesia
Honestly, the food in Indonesia is tasty — but it can get a bit repetitive.
Especially in less touristy areas, the dishes tend to be pretty similar: rice, noodles, chicken, and vegetables — morning, noon, and night. That was our experience, at least.
In tourist areas, you’ll also find plenty of Western food like burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more.
Here are a few classic Indonesian dishes to know:
- Nasi Goreng: fried rice with vegetables and chicken (vegetarian or seafood versions are often available too).
- Mie Goreng: the same as Nasi Goreng, but with fried noodles instead of rice.
- Sate Ayam: grilled chicken skewers with peanut sauce.
- Nasi Campur: translates roughly to “mixed rice” — and that’s exactly what it is: rice served with vegetables, chicken, and various sides.
- Bakso: soup with meatballs.
- Soto Ayam: chicken soup.
- Mie Ayam: noodles with diced chicken.
- Martabak: a sweet stuffed pancake — a super popular dessert.
Heads up — it’s spicy! Indonesian food is seriously hot. The chili sauce is usually served on the side — go easy on it. When ordering, it’s always worth asking whether the dish is already spicy.
Self-catering doesn’t make much sense in Indonesia. There are only a few large supermarkets, and eating out is just as cheap anyway.
You’ll find small convenience stores like Alfamart or Indomaret on practically every corner — but they mostly carry instant noodles, drinks, and snacks.
More Travel Tips for Indonesia
Here are a few final pointers for your trip to Indonesia.
Taking Photos with Locals
In less touristy areas, locals will often ask if they can take a photo with you. We were even interviewed and filmed on a few occasions.
As a foreigner, you stand out, and people are genuinely thrilled to take a photo with you. Everyone we met was incredibly friendly — so we were always happy to say yes.
Public Restrooms in Indonesia
Public restrooms in Indonesia are pretty basic. Especially in rural areas, instead of a flush, you’ll often find a bucket of water next to the toilet that you scoop into the bowl yourself.
Toilet paper and a sink are often absent too — though you can ask for toilet paper if you’re paying to use the facilities, and water for washing your hands will usually be provided on request.
You typically pay 2,000–5,000 IDR to use public restrooms.
Taking Off Your Shoes
In Indonesia, it’s customary to take off your shoes before entering a room. We’d recommend getting into this habit for hotel rooms as well. Locals usually won’t say anything if you don’t, but it’s an important part of the culture.
