Indonesia

Indonesia is an absolutely stunning country offering a diverse landscape that will keep any traveler captivated for months! Lounge on the beautiful beaches of Nusa Penida, explore Java’s many cultural and natural wonders, take a cruise through Indonesia’s lesser known islands, and search for aquatic life at some of the best dive spots in the world!

Yes, Indonesia is generally safe for tourists. However, it's important to be aware of potential risks like petty theft (especially near super touristy areas) and natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Always check travel advisories and follow local safety instructions.

When is the best time to visit Indonesia?

April - October
The best time to visit Indonesia is during the dry season, from April to October. We recommend visiting during the shoulder seasons, as the big attractions will be much less buy during that time.

Do I need a visa to visit Indonesia?

You likely do - most nationalities will need to obtain a visa to visit Indonesia. The good thing is that this process is super easy and you can do it upon arrival. You basically just pay the fee (about $35), and then you're set to go through immigration! There is a website that you can use to apply for the visa ahead of time, but we recommend waiting as we had some issues with the website (it would accept our passport photos), and we heard that this problem is pretty widespread. And since it's so easy to just get a VOA, it's not really worth the time it would take to apply online ahead of time.

What currency is used in Indonesia?

The currency of Indonesia is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR). We recommend paying for pretty much everything in cash because there's a 3% surcharge for using a card everywhere in Indonesia.

How to Get Around Indonesia

I’m not going to lie to you – Indonesia is not the most fun country to traverse. However, the good news is that it’s super cheap! As we made our way across the country, we used a wide variety of transportation methods. On Java, we primarily used trains. It is very important that you book your train tickets at LEAST a day ahead of time, as these trains do sell out.

We also made use of the occasional Damri bus. Damri has buses going all over Indonesia, and can be helpful to get to Borobudur from Yogyakarta as well as to Bali from east Java. We found that not all of their bus routes can easily be found online, so if they have an office in the city that you’re in, we recommend visiting to confirm times.

Other than that, we used ferries and private transfers to get around. We generally tried to stay away from private transfers, but sometimes they really are the best option based on where you’re going, and they’re not horribly priced.

Book your Ferries and Buses on 12Go
If you’re Traveling through Java, Book your Train Tickets with Traveloka