The Best Places to Visit in Indonesia
Indonesia is one of the most popular backpacker destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why once you get there. The country has so much variety that every island can feel completely different from the last. You can be surfing and partying in Bali, then a few days later hiking volcanoes in Java or relaxing on tiny tropical islands with almost no traffic at all. Indonesia has become so popular because it’s relatively affordable, full of unreal scenery, and has a massive backpacker culture that makes it really easy to meet people while travelling around. There’s always a lot happening here, and with thousands of islands spread across the country, it feels like you could literally travel for months.
Capital: Jakarta
Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
Language: Indonesian
When to visit: May to October
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1) Bali
Bali is Indonesia’s most famous island, and while it can be very touristy in places, there’s obviously gonna be a reason so many people end up loving it. The island is very large and it’s really easy to travel around while still feeling exciting and full of energy. Bali is extremely social for backpackers and digital nomads, so it’s one of the easiest places in Southeast Asia to meet people and settle into travel life. For a lot of travelers, it’s also the first introduction to Indonesia since it’s where most international flights arrive.
Things to do:
Bali is the kind of place where most people move around instead of staying in one spot the whole trip because every area feels different. A lot of backpackers start in Canggu, mainly because it’s social and close to the beach. The whole area revolves around surfing, sunset, and nightlife, and you’ll spend a lot of time just drifting between the beach and whatever is happening that night. Batu Bolong is the main beach around here, and even if you don’t surf, it’s still the place everyone ends up hanging around by sunset. From there, most people head inland to Ubud, which feels completely different. This is the jungle and rice terrace part of Bali, and honestly just driving around the area is half the experience. You’ve got places like the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, waterfalls hidden around the jungle, and temples everywhere. The Sacred Monkey Forest is right in town too, and you’ll probably end up there at some point whether you planned to or not. Down south, Uluwatu is where you go for the cliffs and beaches Bali is famous for. The coastline here is unreal, especially around places like Padang Padang Beach, Bingin Beach, and Uluwatu Temple sitting right on the edge of the cliffs above the ocean. Sunset is a huge thing around here because almost every viewpoint looks ridiculous once the light starts hitting the cliffs. There is a load of different places around Bali cause the island is huge, but these are the main ones. Consider renting a scooter to explore!
How to get there:
Denpasar Airport (DPS) has direct international flights into Bali from a huge number of places across Asia and Australia.
You can travel from place to place on the island with shuttle or scooter.
2) Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is very popular amongst travelers, as it’s just off the coast of Bali and easily reachable. The island became famous because of the insane cliffs and bright turquoise water, but in person it honestly feels even wilder than the photos. There is so many viewpoints to visit so you can spend a good bit of time here getting around.
Things to do:
For things to do in Nusa Penida, most of your time is spent driving between beaches and viewpoints because the scenery here is the main attraction. The biggest highlight is Kelingking Beach, which you’ve definitely seen on social media because the view is crazy special. On the east side, Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach are also must-sees, and some of the best coastal views on the island. Another popular stop is Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong, where the coastline forms a natural rock arch and tidal pool right beside the ocean. A lot of people also do snorkeling trips around the island, especially to Manta Point, where you can sometimes swim with manta rays.
How to get there:
From Bali, fast boats run daily over to Nusa Penida from places like Sanur, Padang Bai, and Serangan.
3) Komodo
Komodo, or technically Komodo National Park if we’re talking about the whole thing, is one of the most insane places to see in all of Indonesia. It’s a chain of rugged islands east of Bali, famous for the Komodo dragons but honestly just as impressive for the scenery itself. I don’t really have a good set of words to describe the views here, it’s just amazing.
Things to do:
For things to do in Komodo National Park, most people base themselves in Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores, since that’s where all the boat trips into the national park leave from. It’s a small harbor town with a really social backpacker vibe and amazing sunsets over the water. The biggest highlight is visiting Komodo Island or Rinca Island to see the Komodo dragons in the wild with local guides walking you through the dry jungle trails. Another must-do is hiking up Padar Island, which has one of the most famous viewpoints in Indonesia overlooking the curved bays and islands below.
How to get there:
Komodo International Airport (LBJ) has a lot of domestic flights coming in, and gets you to Labuan Bajo.
4) Gili Islands
The Gili Islands are a group of tiny tropical islands sitting just off the coast of Lombok, and they are very very popular for backpackers, with the most famous being Gili Trawangan. The beaches are serene here and I like it because depending on what you want, you have different islands to pick from.
Things to do:
There are 3 main islands, so I’ll go through each so you know what to expect. Gili Trawangan (Gili T) is the busiest and most social island, so this is where most backpackers stay. Days are usually spent snorkeling, diving, biking around the island, and hanging out on the beach, while nights are a lot livelier with beach bars and parties along the main strip. Turtle snorkeling is one of the biggest things to do here. Gili Air is more relaxed but still has enough going on. It’s probably the best balance between social and peaceful, and a lot of people come here for same stuff as Gili T, but with slower island days without the party scene being too intense. Gili Meno is the quietest island and feels way more remote. Most people come here to just completely switch off. You can hop around all 3, and I’d recommend getting in with any hostel events and just taking advantage of the beach.
How to get there:
You can take a boat from Bali, from places like Padang Bai, Sanur, and Serangan over to the Gilis. Otherwise, from Lombok too.
5) Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is considered to be the cultural heart of Java, and it is NOT a beach destination unlike most of this list is. Instead, it’s a place filled with busy life, and of course so much history. Most travellers come here because it’s the main base for visiting some of the most famous temples in Southeast Asia
Things to do:
In terms of in the city, get out to the markets, specifically the ones around Malioboro Street. You can also check out the Sultan’s Palace and basically walk round everywhere checking out the local life. But then outside the city, you have the two main attractions which are Borobudur, which is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and Prambanan, a massive Hindu temple complex with huge stone towers and carvings. A lot of people also do sunrise trips to Mount Merapi, the huge active volcano sitting just outside the city.
How to get there:
Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) has domestic flight connections, plus a couple international ones too.
You can also reach Yogyakarta overland from places like Jakarta or Bali via long-distance trains or buses.
6) Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park
Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is yet another one of Indonesia’s incredible natural places, home to Mount Bromo, an active volcano surrounded by some inactive ones too. It requires early mornings to experience it, and the air is cold but like just look at the photos it’s so worth it.
Things to do:
Most people base themselves in Cemoro Lawang, which sits right on the edge of the volcanic caldera and makes it easy to reach everything early in the morning. The main highlight is the sunrise viewpoint at places like Penanjakan 1 or King Kong Hill, where you watch the sun come up over the whole volcanic landscape. After sunrise, you can head down into the Sea of Sand, a massive open volcanic plain, and make your way to the base of Mount Bromo itself. From there, you climb the long staircase up to the crater rim, where you can actually look straight into the active volcano.
How to get there:
Most people first travel into East Java via Juanda International Airport (SUB) in Surabaya, or they get to Malang. From Surabaya, you can take a bus to Probolinggo then a bus to Cemoro Lawang. From Malang, you can take a jeep or shuttle. If it’s complicated for you, book a guided tour.
7) Lombok
Lombok is one of the main islands in Indonesia, sitting just east of Bali but feeling noticeably quieter and more raw in comparison. Everything is spaced out more and the whole island feels less built up, but you still have a lot of great surf towns to stay at. Once you leave the main areas, it quickly turns into rice fields, jungle, and small villages. The location is good, being close to the Gili Islands.
Things to do:
For things to do in Lombok, most of it naturally revolves around getting out into the landscape because the island feels built for that. Down in the south around Kuta Lombok, you’ve got surf beaches with long stretches of sand where you can spend the day in the water or just moving between different coves with not much else going on in between. The big highlight though is Mount Rinjani, which is one of the most intense and rewarding hikes in Indonesia. The multi-day trek takes you up through jungle, then above the clouds to the crater rim where you get sweeping views over the lake and surrounding volcanoes. It’s tough, but it’s what a lot of people come to Lombok for.
How to get there:
Lombok International Airport (LOP) has regular flights from Bali, plus other places in Indonesia.
You can also take a boat from Bali too.
8) Sumatra
Sumatra is the massive, westernmost main island of Indonesia, and it’s huge, covered in dense rainforest, volcanoes, lakes. Obviously, it’s best known for the nature and animal spotting, and people go deep into the jungle to try and see wild orangutans. It can take a lot of time to travel around because the island is so big.
Things to do:
You’ll usually start around Medan, which is the main entry point. There isn’t much there, but you can move on to the big highlight which is Bukit Lawang, a place all about jungle trekking in Gunung Leuser National Park. The main experience here is guided hikes through dense rainforest to see wild orangutans, plus river tubing back down through the jungle after the trek. Next is Lake Toba, where you base yourself on Samosir Island in the middle of the lake. Here it’s more about slower travel. exploring Batak villages, viewpoints over the crater lake, and stuff like that. If you head further west, you get more off-grid areas like Mentawai Islands, which are known for world-class surfing and remote island life, or the west coast around Padang, which is more of a gateway for surf trips and nearby beaches.
How to get there:
You can fly to Medan, served by Kualanamu International Airport (KNO). From there you can bus or shuttle around Sumatra.
9) Jakarta
Of course, we can’t miss the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta. It’s one of the most populated and congested cities in the world, and is extremely busy. The scale is massive, and it’s just kind of a thing to experience in its own. Nearly 42 million people live here, and the city is located on the far west side of Java.
Where is it:
Start in Kota Tua, where you can walk around Fatahillah Square, rent one of the old bikes, and check out the old Dutch buildings like the Jakarta History Museum. Then, head over to Monas (National Monument) in Merdeka Square. You can go up the tower for a view over the insane sprawl of the city, especially clear on a good day when you realize just how massive Jakarta actually is. For something more modern, go to Grand Indonesia or Plaza Indonesia. Even if you’re not into malls, they’re basically a big part of Jakarta life and good for escaping the heat. Food-wise, head to Glodok, which is Jakarta’s Chinatown, for street food, temples, and busy alleyways packed with small stalls. Another good night area is Jalan Sabang, where the whole street turns into food stalls in the evening and you can just move between satay, noodles, and local dishes.
How to get there:
Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK) is a big airport with flight options all around Asia.
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