Ultimate Indonesia Travel Guide
Everything you need to know before travelling to Indonesia
General Information
Currency
Indonesian Rupiah
IDR
Capital
Jakarta
Location
South-East Asia
Language
Bahasa Indonesia
Best time to go
May - October
Indonesia is my all-time favourite country to visit!
It has everything to offer. Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, with over 17.000 islands. There is a lot to see, with a surface area of over 1.9 million km². The people of Indonesia make your visit unforgettable. They are very polite, kind, helpful and will always welcome you with open arms. You will never get tired of the local cuisine of Indonesia, with it’s famous dishes such as, Mie Goreng, Nasi Goreng and Gado Gado.
Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country in the world.
Over 87% of the population is Muslim. Some parts of Indonesia the Muslims are very strict, North Sumatra. A little over 7% of the population is Protestant, mostly located in Papua and North Sulawesi. 3% of the population is Catholic, mostly located in East Nusa Tenggara. A little over 2.5% of the population is Buddhist or Hinduist, mostly located on Bali. Indonesia doesn’t recognize agnosticism or atheism. Which means everyone believes in one religion.
Indonesia is known for its wildlife, magnificent nature, cultural diversity and a paradise for relaxation and adventure.
Spot wild orangutans in Kalimantan and Sumatra or the Komodo Dragon in Komodo. Hike up summits and volcanoes to see the best sunrises, see endless riceterraces or go on a jungle trekking. There are enough different kinds of nature in Indonesia. Learn about different cultures and native tribes. Relax on many tropical white sand beaches. Do all kinds of outdoor activities.
Language
Bahasa Indonesia
Information
Bahasa Indonesia is the national language of Indonesia. Spoken by almost all Indonesians. It is considered one of the easiest languages to learn, since it uses the Latin alphabet, has no verb conjugations and no grammatical genders.
There are over 700 recognized regional languages in Indonesia. The three biggest regional languages are Javanese (Jawa) spoken by 80+ million people, Sundanese (Sunda) spoken by 40+ million people and Madurese spoken by around 15 million people.
Learn the basics of Bahasa Indonesia
English
Bahasa Indonesia
Words
Hello
Good Morning
Good Afternoon
Good Night
Good Bye
Please
Thank You
You're Welcome
Yes
No
Excuse Me
Sorry
Hello
Good Morning
Good Afternoon
Good Night
Good Bye
Please
Thank You
You're Welcome
Yes
No
Excuse Me
Sorry
Phrases
How are you?
My name is ...
How much is this?
Where is ...?
I don't understand
Apa kabar?
Nama saya ...
Berapa harganya?
Di mana ...?
Saya tidak mengerti
Best itineraries
Best time to travel to Indonesia
Popular destinations
General Tips
Cash is still king in Indonesia. Make sure to always carry some cash with you. There are a lot of ATM’s in Indonesia to get your cash. For some ATM’s there are fees you need to pay for withdrawing money. Tip: withdraw a lot of money at once, to avoid paying more.
ATM's with no fees:
- BNI
- BCA
- Mandiri
- CIMB
ATM's to avoid:
- Commonwealth
- Maybank
- Danamon
- HSBC
- BRI
It is useful to have access to mobile data through a local physical simcard or e-sim. In Indonesia the best company to get your simcard or e-sim is Telkomsel. At most international airports they have a desk where you can get a simcard.
When you visit Indonesia during the wet, rainy, monsoon season, make sure to take a rain jacket with you!
Blogs about Indonesia
Fun facts
Mt. Bromo, Java
Indonesia is the country with the most active volcanoes in the world. Located on the Ring of Fire, there are volcanoes everywhere in Indonesia.
Indonesia is home to the biggest crater lake on the planet. Lake Toba located on Sumatra is 1.145 km², with a length of +/- 100km and a width of 30km.
Lake Toba, Sumatra
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Indonesia is located right in the middle of the Coral Triangle. Because of that is offers the most biodiverse marine ecosystem on the planet.
Bunaken, Sulawesi
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