Indonesia travel guide

Uluwatu Temple

Bali

Clifftop sea temple with sunset Kecak fire dance

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

Bali

Classic terraced rice fields north of Ubud — go early

Tanah Lot

Bali

Temple on a sea rock, famous at sunset

Borobudur

Central Java

The world’s largest Buddhist temple; climbing the monument now needs a special ticket and guide

Prambanan

Yogyakarta

9th-century Hindu temple complex, with Ramayana ballet in the dry season

Komodo National Park

East Nusa Tenggara

Komodo dragons, Padar Island viewpoint and pink beaches

Mount Bromo

East Java

Sunrise over a smoking volcanic crater

Lake Toba

North Sumatra

Huge volcanic lake with Batak culture on Samosir Island

Jakarta

Sprawling capital: Kota Tua old town, the National Monument (Monas) and huge malls

Guides in Jakarta →

Denpasar

Bali’s capital and gateway to Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur and Ubud

Guides in Denpasar →

Yogyakarta

Javanese cultural heart — the Sultan’s Kraton, batik and nearby Borobudur and Prambanan

Guides in Yogyakarta →

Ubud

Bali’s inland arts town of rice terraces, temples and dance performances

Guides in Ubud →

Bandung

Cool highland city with volcano craters and tea plantations

Guides in Bandung →

Labuan Bajo

Harbour town on Flores and the base for Komodo National Park boat trips

Guides in Labuan →

✈️ Bali — I Gusti Ngurah Rai International (DPS)

• Official airport taxi counters with fixed zone fares
• Ride-hailing apps (Grab, Gojek) from designated pick-up points
• Pre-booked hotel or villa transfer — traffic to Ubud and Canggu is slow

✈️ Jakarta — Soekarno–Hatta International (CGK)

• Airport rail link to BNI City and Manggarai stations in central Jakarta
• DAMRI airport buses to city districts
• Official taxis (e.g. Blue Bird) from marked ranks

✈️ Yogyakarta — Yogyakarta International (YIA)

• Airport train to Yogyakarta Tugu station
• DAMRI shuttle buses into the city

🚆 Getting around

• Domestic flights are the practical way between islands
• Grab and Gojek apps for cars and motorbike taxis in cities and much of Bali
• Fast boats from Bali (Sanur, Padang Bai) to Nusa Penida, Lombok and the Gilis — choose reputable operators and check weather
• Java has good intercity trains (KAI) — Jakarta’s Whoosh high-speed train runs to Bandung

🙏 Culture & etiquette

• Wear a sarong and sash at Balinese temples, and cover shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
• Don’t step on canang sari offerings on Bali’s pavements
• Use your right hand to give, receive and eat; don’t touch people’s heads
• Don’t point with your finger or feet — gesture with your thumb
• On Nyepi (Bali’s Day of Silence) everyone, including tourists, must stay indoors

📍 Places, scams & seasons

• Methanol poisoning from bootleg spirits (arak) has killed tourists — avoid cheap cocktails and unlabelled spirits
• Strong rip currents on many Bali beaches — swim between the flags
• Active volcanoes can close areas or airports — follow local alerts
• Check the UK Foreign Office or your government’s advisory for current warnings

⚖️ Laws & restrictions

• Drug laws are extremely strict — trafficking can carry the death penalty
• Bali has rules of conduct for tourists: respect temples, dress decently away from the beach, and don’t climb sacred trees or structures
• Riding a scooter without a valid licence (with motorcycle category) and helmet risks fines and voids travel insurance
• Sex outside marriage and unmarried cohabitation were criminalised in the 2023 criminal code (in force 2026), though prosecution requires a complaint by a close family member
• Overstaying a visa brings fines and possible detention

💬 Words & topics to avoid

• Avoid criticising religion, the President or national symbols
• Don’t raise your voice — losing your temper causes loss of face
• Address people politely as Bapak (sir) or Ibu (madam)

Bali

Seminyak or Canggu (beach, cafes), Ubud (culture, rice fields), Sanur (calm, families), Uluwatu (surf, cliffs), Nusa Dua (resorts)

Pick one or two bases — traffic makes long daily drives tiring

Jakarta

Menteng or Central Jakarta (Thamrin–Sudirman), South Jakarta (Kemang, Senopati)

Stay near the MRT line to beat traffic

Yogyakarta

Prawirotaman or around Malioboro Street

Good base for Borobudur and Prambanan

Budget idea

Homestays and guesthouses, especially in Ubud and on the Gilis

Often family-run and include breakfast

Ubud Market

Ubud, Bali

Market stalls and nearby warungs for babi guling and nasi campur

Jalan Sabang

Jakarta

Street-food strip known for satay and late-night eats

Malioboro Street

Yogyakarta

Evening lesehan (sit-on-mats) stalls and gudeg

Kereneng Night Market

Denpasar, Bali

Local night market with cheap Balinese and Javanese dishes

Nasi goreng

Fried rice, often topped with a fried egg — the national favourite

Rendang

Slow-cooked spiced beef from West Sumatra

Satay (sate)

Grilled skewers with peanut or sweet soy sauce

Babi guling

Balinese spit-roasted pork (not halal)

Gado-gado

Vegetables, tofu and egg with peanut sauce

Nasi campur

Rice with a mix of small side dishes

Nyepi (Balinese Day of Silence)

March (date varies)

Bali

Ogoh-ogoh parades

Eve of Nyepi

Bali

Galungan & Kuningan

Every 210 days (Balinese calendar)

Bali

Eid al-Fitr (Lebaran)

End of Ramadan (dates vary)

Nationwide — expect very busy transport

Indonesian Independence Day

17 August

Nationwide

Bali Arts Festival

June–July

Denpasar

Waisak

May/June (full moon)

Borobudur

📱 SIM & eSIM

• Main networks: Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IM3), XL Axiata
• Buy tourist SIMs from official network stores (the airport has them) — your phone’s IMEI is registered for 90 days
• For stays over 90 days, register the phone with customs (Bea Cukai) on arrival, or use an eSIM

📶 Coverage & Wi-Fi

• Good 4G in cities and Bali; patchy on remote islands and in Komodo
• Wi-Fi common in Bali cafes and accommodation

🔌 Power plugs

230V, 50Hz — plug types C and F