Indonesia Trip Planning | The Ultimate Guide for [2024]

Welcome to the guide for your Indonesia trip planning.

In Indonesia, you can be sure to find something that would feed your travel style and choices. Not sure where to go or how to plan your itinerary? Look at our top places to visit in Indonesia or Indonesia’s highlights before deciding and planning. Or, if you haven’t even decided whether Indonesia would be your next travel destination, then see why you should visit Indonesia.

This is a comprehensive guide to planning your trip to Indonesia. We will walk you through where to start planning, where to go, what to do, where to stay, and more! For specific location guides, click here.

First time in Indonesia?

Introduction to Indonesia

Indonesia comprises approximately 17,000 islands and is one of the largest countries in Asia, both in size and population.

It has 34 provinces but can be loosely divided by area of interest to regions Java, Sumatra, Bali, Lombok, Flores, Kalimantan, Maluku, Sulawesi, and Papua.

Known as Wonderful Indonesia, it has a lot of places of interest to offer, ranging from tourist attractions and shopping to nature and adventures.

Weather in Indonesia

Indonesia is a tropical country along the equator with two distinct climates: the wet and dry seasons. Temperatures range in Jakarta from 26C to 30C. Average annual rainfall from lowland of 1,780 millimeters to highland of 6,100 millimeters.

Best Places to Visit and Top Things to Do in Indonesia

What are the must-visit places in Indonesia? What are the things to do in Indonesia? What are the places to visit and not be missed tourist attractions? Looking for off-the-beaten tracks of, say, the famous Bali? What is the best Indonesian food to try?

You can find it all here in our recommended Top lists of must-sees and to-dos and the best of what Indonesia offers.

More must-visit places and things to do in Indonesia

Indonesia Travel Itineraries

Looking for planning ideas for your itineraries in Indonesia? Look no further, as here are some of our recommended itineraries for Bali, Jakarta, and the rest of Indonesia so that you do not miss out on the must-visit places and things to do on your trip.

More Indonesia Itineraries

Best Indonesia Accommodation

Finding a place to stay during a holiday is integral to travel planning. In Indonesia, you will find yourself spoilt with choices of accommodation. Luxurious hotels, resorts, mid-range fancies, affordable comforts, budget hostels, and authentic homestays.

Here, you will find our recommendations for accommodations in all ranges all over Indonesia, such as Bali, Java, and everywhere else.

More Indonesia Accommodations

Entry requirement

Visitors must possess a valid passport with a minimum of six months validity. Selected countries do not need a Visa to visit, while the rest are usually granted visas on arrival, except in a few countries; please refer to our Visa Requirement for further information.

Money / Currency

The unit of currency is Indonesian Rupiah (Rp) (IDR). Foreign currencies can be converted at banks and money changers. ATMs are available easily here.

I suggest getting a Wise travel money card before your trip. With this card, you can withdraw cash in any currency at the market rate, with a minimal fee. There are no ongoing account keeping fees, and certain ATM withdrawals may be free of charge. 

By simply loading your Wise card with your home currency, you gain the flexibility to spend in Rupiah in Indonesia and any everywhere else in their local currency.

Electricity

The voltage used throughout Indonesia is 220 volts / 50Hz, similar to Australia and European countries with a power plug type of 2-pin. Check out Indonesia’s electricity and power plug example.

Indonesia SIM Card for Tourist

When traveling to Indonesia, you can purchase a prepaid SIM card from Telkomsel, XL Axiata, Indosat Ooredoo, or 3 (Tri). Make sure to bring your passport for registration. SIM card options include regular, micro, and nano sizes.

->Buy Axiata SIM Cards in advance for pickup at Jakarta Airport * or Bali Airport *.

Activation requires providing your passport details. You can choose from various packages offering data, local minutes, and SMS for daily, weekly, or monthly use. Internet coverage is generally good in urban areas.

Top-up options are available online, at convenience stores, or through provider apps. Prices vary, so compare packages. Telkomsel is known for its comprehensive coverage.

Alternatively, you can purchase an eSIM install it in advance, and activate it once you arrive.  All the information about eSIM Indonesia is in this post. Don’t forget first to check if your mobile phone is eSIM compatible.

Getting to Indonesia

Flights

The main gateway to Indonesia is Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) Airport. Other popular international airports are Denpasar’s (Bali) Ngurah Rai (DPS), and Surabaya’s Juanda Airport. Many international airlines fly to Indonesia, and their national carrier Garuda Indonesia, also covers many countries.

Sea

The main entry point by sea is from Singapore to Batam and Bintan. Ferries from Malaysia is now to Dumai or Pekanbaru in Riau, Sumatra.

Overland

From East Timor is between Batugade and Atambua, West Timor. From Malaysia is from West Kalimantan and Sarawak, Malaysia to Entikong-Tebedu. Papua New Guinea is between Vanimo in Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea, and Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia.

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-> Find the cheapest flight options that suit you via Omio.com * or 12Go.asia *

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How to get around in Indonesia

Air

Being of many islands, Indonesia has a good network of domestic airlines to move around with. Check out our local Indonesian airlines’ list.

Land

While on land, most places are connected by buses, with Java the only island well connected by train. See bus travel or train travel in Indonesia for more information. In a smaller vicinity, one can take the car, becak, ojek or angkot.

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-> For booking train tickets online in advance, we recommend using tiket.com. *

-> For bus rides, we recommend easybook.com *.

-> In a less crowded places like Bali, one can opt to rent a car instead via Rentalcars *.

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Sea

By sea, one can take the pelni boats but at one’s own discretion, which will also take considerable time. See boat/pelni travel in Indonesia for more information.

Travel Stories to Inspire Your Indonesia Trip Planning

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