Indonesia is made up of more than 17000 islands and this country offers a kaleidoscope of colors, smells, music, cultures, exotic wildlife, beaches and spectacular destinations.
Everyone has heard of Bali right? This is possible the most world famous destination in Indonesia, but there are so many other places which you should add to your travel itinerary.
Whether you are planning an epic backpacking adventure, seeking something more luxurious, considering a honeymoon or even if you are planning a trip with your family, you can find amazing locations throughout Indonesia perfect for all types of travellers.
View our guide to the best places to must see locations in Indonesia and top tips how to get around, where to stay and also how to stay safe and avoid scams.
1. Bali & Ubud
The beauty of Bali deserves an endless time to be understood and enjoyed: full of culture, myths, party, surf and nature.
There are so many beautiful places in Bali, and also things to do for every type of traveller. If you are looking for parties and ‘good vibes’ go to Kuta, Canggu, for endless sunset party; to get deep in the real Balinese life spend a week in Ubud among temples, enjoy the hipnótico Bali dance in the Ubud Palace and have a walk in the rice fields near; for the lovers of nature and sport there are plenty of trekking on Gunung Agung (the Holy Mountain for balinese people).
Everywhere in Bali you can get a double room with bathroom and breakfast for 100.000-150.000 rupiah, about eating people will try to charge you more just because you are foreigner, go eating next to schools or little warung in the street for cheap and enjoyable food but always ask about the price before.
Renting a bike is the easiest way to explore Bali and see some of the most beautiful places on earth, never forget to drive safely, the police is more likely to stop a foreigner and desperately try to give a fine… usually a banknote of 100.000 rupiah is a win-win solution.
The south part of Lombok is known for good waves for surfing, people from all over the world gather here. Rent a bike for 50-70.000 rupiah per day and enjoy the coasts beautiful breaks. Kuta is a nice and chilled place, with good bars and cheap hostel (around 10$ double room with bathroom).
2. Komodo Island
Starting from Labuan Bajo, on the west edge of Flores, one of the main attraction is the Komodo dragon, is a species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Padar and it can grow up to 3 meters length.
For 800.000 rupiah (80$) a lot of tourist’s offices offer a 1 day trip to Komodo Island, Pulau Padar with a stunning view from the top of it, a jump in the clear water next to pink back and on the manta point where it is easily possible spot these elegant animal and swim with them. Lunch is included, is it possible to chose between vegetarian and non, the boarding time it is usually around 6am.
3. Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo is now starting to get touristy so the prices are a little bit higher than the average; a double room with a shared bathroom in a budget hostel is 150.000 rupiah (15$). The main source of this fisherman’s village is, obviously, the sea, don’t lose the chance to eat squid ( “cumi” in Indonesian), shrimps, octopus and more others for 80.000 rupiah (8$) for two people near the fisherman harbour.
4. Mataram
Going to Mataram, from Labuan Bajo can be a long journey but the scenario it is worth it; it takes about 24 hours two ferries and two buses to reach Lombok passing through the green Sumbawa; if you don’t fancy the long journey flights are available too.
The bus ticket is around 350.000 rupiah, meal are not included but in Sape’s Harbour you can have nasi campur (rice, vegetable and meat) for 10-15.000 rupiah (1$). You will reach the west part of Sumbawa in the early morning, enjoy the colors of the sunrise from your ship.
Mataram is a nice and clean city with some traditional market and temple, if you plan to stay more time in Kuta you can ask your driver to stop you in Praya and from there you can easily reach Kuta trough Sengkol.
5. The Gili Islands
In the North of Mataram, just in a few kilometers from the coast, there are three little islands: the Gili’s. Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan which are now discovering the spotlight.
Gili Air is a quite place with few bars offering some nightlife, Gili Meno is the smallest one popular for honeymoons and family holidays. But if you are backpacking there are two hostels that will make you not leave the island.
Gili Trawangan is a must for anyone looking for party all day long. Clear water and coral reef is what all these islands are offering. From Kuta with 150.000 rupiah (15$) there are transport (shuttle and boat ticket) for whatever the chosen island is.
The prices are a bit more expensive for food and hotel but it is still possible to find something ‘on a budget’, in high season is better to book in advance.
Getting to and from the Gili’s is fairly easy, for 400.000 rupiah you can catch a daily boat from the Gili’s to Bali, or if you are going to Ubud the transport from Padang Bai is included but you will need to clarify this when making a transport reservation.
6. Jawa
Jawa is Indonesians most populated island with around 150 millions of people, the majority of them is Muslim, the island has been the cultural, political and economical centre for centuries.
As a tourist you need to be cautious of scammers, as there is a high concentration of them in Jalan Malioboro, the main street for mall, food and souvenirs, or just to have a walk and listen to gamelan music that is always played from street artists. In the night near the Alun-alun the street food market takes place, have a walk and enjoy the fresh breeze.
Eating is cheap, as in all Jawa, starting from 6000 – 8000 rupiah you can have Bakso, one of the special dish in the area, or nasi gudeg known as local food from Jogja, made from young jackfruit cooked with santan and kluwak for 2 hours in a big pot. Santan is water got from extract coconut and kluwak is local flavor. Don’t forget the Satay (lamb meat on a stick) in peanuts sauce, for dessert grab a pack of Bakpia, a sort of biscuit made of green beans and flavors, about them there’s no certain data about how it was came. But, mostly people believe its combination of Chinese and Javanese culture.
Most of the hotels and hostel are located in Jalan Paris, here you can grab a beer in a pub in the night, get lost in the narrow streets and admire the graffiti on the wall, often made by the students of the universities. A budget hotel is 100.000-150.000 rupiah per night, walking to the city centre is a nice way to discover the city otherwise go for a rickshaw for no more than 50.000 rupiah.
7. Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is an important and glorious city in Jawa. Getting here is easy, a new railway station connects Yogyakarta with all Jawa.
The city is well connected to Bali with night buses for 250.000 – 300.000 rupiah, or with flights of 30min from 500.000. Yogyakarta, or Jodja, has a lot to offer: Prambanan is an indù temple is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Transformer (Shiva); Borobudur is an UNESCO heritage site, a Buddhist temple in the North of the city; if you plan to visit both of them is it possible to have a discount and pay only 560.000 rupiah otherwise the standard price is 350.000 each (with KITAs or student card there is a discount too but don’t forget your passport or student card).
If you have never heard about batik before Yogyakarta is the right place to know everything about this practise. Batik is a “resist” process for making designs on fabric. The artist uses wax to prevent dye from penetrating the cloth, leaving “blank” areas in the dyes fabric. The process, wax resist then dye, can be repeated over and over to create complex multicolored designs.
A lot of people will ask you to follow them in some batik shops, don’t. It is difficult to find a real batik shop, you have to be really aware of what can happen in Yogya: people approach you with an excuse invite you to a batik shop offer you a tea and try to sell you something, usually that is not real batik but just a stamp and a lot of them says that is a show room for the university’s students, that not true either. It is not impossible but a challenge to find a quality products for a good price.
8. Borneo
Borneo is the largest island in the world and home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on the planet. The main attraction here is the exotic orangutans, and seeing them in the wild is a magical experience.
Indonesia is one of the most beautiful destinations to go in south east Asia, this is the biggest archipelago in the world and we hope our guide has given you some ideas for where to see. Now go see this stunning country for yourself.
