Indonesia travel guide
Indonesia is an archipelago of thousands of islands, and a single trip can take you from temple sunrises in Java to terraced rice fields in Bali, from Komodo dragons in Flores to coral reefs in Raja Ampat. The scale of variety is hard to match. Java brings Jakarta, Yogyakarta with Borobudur and Prambanan, and volcano country around Bromo and Malang. Bali is the island of temples, beaches and the artistic village of Ubud, with Lombok and the Gilis a short hop east. Sumatra offers Lake Toba and Padang's food, Sulawesi has Makassar and Manado's diving, and eastern Indonesia opens up Labuan Bajo and Raja Ampat, each with its own food, language and landscape. The drier months from April to October suit most of the main routes, though conditions vary by island and it pays to check the season for each stop. Indonesia suits divers, culture lovers, families and adventurers. Plan the itinerary city by city with Zippy Trips.
Capital: Jakarta.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Visa on arrival.
Before you go to Indonesia
- Currency
- IDR Rp
- Emergency number
- 112 / 110
- Plug type
- Type C, F
- Tap water
- Drink bottled water
- Tipping
- Optional
- Bargaining
- Common
- eSIM
- Available
- Card networks
- Visa, Mastercard
- ATM fees
- Rp 25,000-50,000 per withdrawal
Cities in Indonesia
- Jakarta The political and economic capital of Indonesia and one of the world's largest megacities by urban population. Jakarta is a high-energy…
- Yogyakarta Cultural Heart of Java — a charming city of ancient temples, traditional batik, university energy, and gateways to Borobudur and Prambanan.
- Bandung The creative capital of West Java, sitting at 768 m elevation in a volcanic basin that keeps temperatures a refreshing 5–7°C cooler than…
- Surabaya Indonesia's second-largest city and the industrial and maritime powerhouse of East Java. Surabaya's vast Tanjung Perak seaport handles a…
- Ubud Cultural Heart of Bali — an artistic village of rice terraces, temple complexes, traditional crafts, and spiritual retreats.
- Medan The largest city in Sumatra and the multicultural gateway to the island's north. Medan is where Batak, Minangkabau, Javanese, Chinese, and…
- Makassar The largest city in eastern Indonesia and the maritime gateway linking Java and Bali to Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua. Makassar's Bugis…
- Manado Gateway to Wallacea — capital of North Sulawesi, known for world-class diving, colorful marine life, and friendly locals.
- Palembang Historic capital of the Srivijaya Empire — a riverside city on the Musi known for the iconic Ampera Bridge, songket textiles, and pempek…
- Lombok West Nusa Tenggara's main island — known for the Gili Islands, turquoise waters, pristine beaches, Mount Rinjani treks, and a more…
- Semarang The capital of Central Java and a historic port city where Chinese, Javanese, and Dutch layers of history are unusually well-preserved. The…
- Banjarmasin The City of Rivers — a sprawling city known for floating markets, riverside dwellings, and as a gateway to Borneo interior.
- Bali The Island of Gods — a paradise of terraced rice paddies, spiritual temples, pristine beaches, and a perfect blend of culture and tourism.
- Labuan Bajo Gateway town to Komodo National Park on the western tip of Flores — harbour, LBJ airport, dive operators and hillside sunset bars; the base…
- Malang Malang is East Java's second-largest city, perched at 450–800m altitude in a volcanic highland basin. Known for its Dutch colonial…
- Denpasar Bali's Capital City — a bustling urban center with markets, museums, and as the entry point to Bali tourism.
- South Tangerang The most affluent planned satellite city in the Jabodetabek corridor, built around the landmark BSD City (Bumi Serpong Damai) township —…
- Bekasi Indonesia's second-most populous municipality and the eastern anchor of the Jabodetabek megacity. Once a satellite suburb, Bekasi has grown…
- Tangerang The western gateway of greater Jakarta and home to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport — Indonesia's busiest air hub, handling over 60…
- Depok A university city and residential satellite directly south of Jakarta, anchored by the sprawling red-brick campus of Universitas Indonesia…
- Flores Island of Wonder in East Nusa Tenggara — gateway to the Komodo dragons via Labuan Bajo, with the tri-coloured Kelimutu crater lakes,…
- Padang West Sumatra's Port City — known for culinary traditions, beach resorts, and as a gateway to Mentawai surfing islands.
- Jambi Gateway to Sumatra Eco-Tourism — a riverine city known for wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and river adventures.
- Pekanbaru Sumatra's Oil City — a modern city known for oil industry heritage, mosques, and gateway to Riau island attractions.
- Raja Ampat Remote archipelago off West Papua with the planet's richest coral-reef biodiversity and karst-island seascapes.
- Bintan Resort island in the Riau Archipelago, famed for white-sand beaches and luxury resorts a ferry-hop from Singapore.
- Sorong Port city and gateway to Raja Ampat, West Papua. Domine Eduard Osok Airport (SOQ) is the main flight hub for Raja Ampat, with a short…
Frequently asked questions about Indonesia
- Do Indian citizens need a visa for Indonesia?
- Visa on arrival. Stay: 30 days, extendable once. Fee: USD 35 (approx. IDR 500,000). Processing: Usually 24-48 hours. Apply: Before departure. Apply only on the official portal, evisa.imigrasi.go.id.
- What currency is used in Indonesia?
- The currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (Rp). ₹1 is about 190 Rp.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in Indonesia?
- Accepted card networks: Visa, Mastercard. Typical ATM fees: Rp 25,000-50,000 per withdrawal. Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- Should I tip in Indonesia?
- Tipping in Indonesia: optional. Typically about 10% in restaurants.
- Is tap water safe to drink in Indonesia?
- Drink bottled water.
- What plug type does Indonesia use?
- Indonesia uses Type C, F plugs.
- What is the emergency number in Indonesia?
- Emergency: 112. Police: 110. Ambulance: 118. Tourist helpline: 1500-304.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in Indonesia?
- SIM and eSIM available in Indonesia.
- What is the capital of Indonesia?
- The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta. Time there: IST + 1 h 30 min.