Looking to visit Indonesia? You’re in for a treat! From travel tips and guides to Indonesian itineraries, get everything you need to know about visiting Indonesia just below.
Currency: Indonesian rupiah
Language: There are over 300 different languages spoken throughout Indonesia but Javanese is the language spoken most widely followed by Sundanese, Maduranese, and Bahasa. We’ll get to a few key phrases for you to learn just below!
Visa: Upon arriving in Indonesia, tourists get a 30-day tourist visa on arrival (VOA) that can be extended (up to 60 days in total). The cost of the VOA and e-VOA (electronic visa on arrival) is 500,000 IDR or about $35 USD. To pay for your VOA at the airport, we recommend you bring and pay in cash.
Please check the exact visa details for your country of origin prior to departing for Indonesia.
Getting Around Indonesia: Between overland travel (buses & trains), flying, and traveling by boat, there are many ways to get around Indonesia. To get between the islands, like Sumatra to Java, flying will be your best bet. If you are looking to get from Bali to Lombok, traveling by boat is great! And finally, if you’re traveling from Yojokarta to Mount Bromo, the bus and train is the way to go.
For booking transportation, check out 12GoAsia to check out the latest timetables and prices.
Safety: In general, Indonesia is a very safe place to visit and explore. The people are friendly and welcoming. However, with any place you travel to and even in your hometown, things can happen and go wrong. Pickpocketing and theft are among the top issues tourists experience when visiting Indonesia
Below are some safety tips we used when traveling through Indonesia:
Keep valuables out of sight and safely secured – i.e. your wallet and cell phone are not in your back pockets
Don’t drape your purse or backpack over just one shoulder. Place your purse across your body and wear your backpack on both shoulders. You don’t want a thief running by to knab your belongings
Don’t get close to strays or monkeys – rabies is a very real thing
A great thing to always have with you is travel Insurance. When we spent 2 months in Indonesia, we had travel insurance through World Nomads. Covering things like medical bills and theft, having travel insurance has definitely come in handy for us a time or two.
Essential Phrases: Even if you are not fluent, it’s always nice to know a few words of the local language.
Terima kasih: Thank you
Sama-sama: You’re welcome
Permisi: Excuse me
Selamat tinggal: Goodbye
Top 10 Experiences To Have In Indonesia
While there is loads to see, do, and experience in Indonesia, the below list is definitely our top 10 favorite things we did during our time in Indonesia.
Chase orangutans in Sumatra
Visit the largest Buddhist temple in the world, Borobudur
Look for Komodo Dragons in Komodo National Park
Scuba dive with Manta Rays in Flores
Island hope the Gili Islands
Chase waterfalls in Bali
See the sunrise from Mount Bromo and Ijen
Sail from Lombok to Flores
Hike to the top of Mount Rinjani
Swim in the caldera of a supervolcano, Lake Toba
If you like taking tours or would like a local guide to take you around, there are amazing Indonesian tours and experiences to check out. Definitely make your reservations ahead of time to lock in your unforgettable experience in Indonesia!
Places To Stay In Indonesia
Whether you are looking for luxury hotels in the big cities, quaint lodgings in the jungle, or a beachfront accommodation, Indonesia really has something for everyone!
For us, we use booking.com to reserve our stays, not only in Indonesia but throughout Asia and the world.
Indonesia Travel Guides
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