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The 10 best places to visit in Indonesia

Dec 10, 2023 • 7 min read

Indonesia is how you've always imagined Asia – jungles, rice terraces, beaches, coral reefs and volcanoes © Martin Puddy / Getty Images

Few destinations can beat Indonesia  in terms of variety.

One day, you're strolling beneath the glistening skyscrapers of a modern city; the next, you're in a traditional hilltop village scoffing down steaming gado-gado (tofu, tempeh, vegetables slathered in a creamy peanut sauce).

From climbing the freezing-cold summit of a puffing volcano to beating through tropical rainforests in search of orangutans or tigers, Indonesia offers unparalleled opportunities for adventure. Where else can you salute the sun at sunrise and then surf a world-class barrel back to a virgin beach at sunset?

Roughly half of all international tourists land in Bali , but the nation is so much more than this one enticing island. From Java , Sumatra and Sulawesi to the frontier islands of West Papua (shared with Papua New Guinea) and Borneo (shared with Malaysia and Brunei), here are the top places to visit on a trip to Indonesia.

1. Jakarta, Java

Best city for art and history .

There’s no better place to get to grips with this vast and complex nation of 273 million people than its capital, Jakarta . Home to more than 10 million residents, it’s chaotic, traffic-clogged and sprawls over nearly 700 sq km (270 sq miles). It’s also home to the nation’s finest restaurants, wildest nightclubs and best museums.

Take time to browse the collections in the Museum Nasional (for history), Galeri Nasional (for classical art) and MACAN (for modern and contemporary art). From the Dutch colonial buildings of the Kota Tua neighborhood to the modern skyrises of the Golden Triangle, the city is both a study in contrasts and a crossroads of cultures, classes and cuisines.

2. Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan, Borneo

Best place to see orangutans.

If you want to see orangutans, the island of Borneo is the last place on earth (other than a few spots in neighboring Sumatra) where these great apes still thrive. Travelers looking for surefire sightings of orangutans head to Tanjung Puting National Park , a coastal tropical swamp forest that looks today like much of southern Borneo looked a few decades ago.

Most visitors hire liveaboard boats to travel up the Sekonyer River to feeding stations in the rainforest and Camp Leakey, the iconic rehabilitation center deep in the jungle where these auburn-haired 'men of the forest' live out a serene, semi-wild existence.

3. Raja Ampat, West Papua

Best place for snorkeling and diving.

Raja Ampat was once an under-the-radar destination visited only by intrepid scuba divers, but the whispers about this enticing island group have now reached a fever pitch. Off the coast of West Papua, the archipelago is a picture-perfect vision of paradise. Its lumpy green isles are blanketed in rainforests, dotted with languid lagoons and surrounded by warm turquoise seas at the vibrant heart of the Coral Triangle – an area of ocean with some of the greatest marine biodiversity on earth.

Raja Ampat's prismatic birds-of-paradise, which dance through the trees each morning at sunrise, informed the theory of evolution through natural selection, first developed by Charles Darwin’s less-appreciated contemporary, Alfred Russel Wallace. The British naturalist's restored hut is a popular attraction on the island of Gam. In addition to the dive lodges on Waigeo and Misool, many visitors sleep in homestays on virgin beaches, offering a chance to learn more about West Papua's distinctive culture.

4. Ubud, Bali

Best city for wellness and culture.

Rice paddies tumble down palm-lined hills, gamelan music fills the air, and floral offerings fill the streets in Bali’s most alluring (and on-trend) city, Ubud . By day, you can take a motorcycle out to the Monkey Forest for simian encounters, pop into the Yoga Barn for an ashtanga session, ogle the art at the Agung Rai Museum or shop for word-class beauty products, woodcarvings and batik textiles downtown. After dark, many people attend evening performances at local temples, where visitors are hypnotized by the beauty of courtly Legong ballets or wild Kecak fire dancing. Be careful! Many foreigners come to Ubud for a few days and end up staying a few years.

5. Komodo National Park, Nusa Tenggara

Best place for surprising wildlife encounters.

Dragons really do roam the earth at this sprawling national park , covering the three arid islands – Komodo, Padar and Rinca – that provide shelter for the world’s largest lizards. Komodo dragons are ancient-looking creatures that can grow up to 3m in length and weigh up to 70kg. Sadly, there are fewer than 1400 of these fork-tongued giants left in the wild. The chance to see them lures thousands of visitors each year, many of whom arrive on a boat tour en route from Lombok to Flores , stopping along the way to snorkel or dive off the coast of Sumbawa .

6. Borobudur and Yogyakarta, Java

Best place for indonesian history.

Peru has Machu Picchu, Cambodia has Angkor Wat, and Indonesia has Borobudur , a nine-tiered temple from the 9th century that clocks in as the largest Buddhist structure in the world. Emblazoned across its walls are some 2672 intricately-carved bas relief panels featuring Buddhist legends and scenes of daily life in Java, as well as 72 distinctive, perforated stupas and more than 500 Buddha statues.

This colossal World Heritage Site lies amid sprawling rice paddies near Yogyakarta , an important education center and a hub for classical Javanese art forms, including batik-making, wayang puppetry and silversmithing. Yogya, as the city is known locally, is fiercely independent and still headed by a resident sultan, whose walled palace complex is the city’s top attraction.

7. Tana Toraja, Sulawesi

Best place for cultural traditions.

The jungle-clad hills and rugged granite cliffs of Tana Toraja would be enough of a lure for most places, but the big draw of the central highlands of Sulawesi is the Torajan people themselves. The inhabitants of this fascinating region maintain traditions that mark them apart from other Indonesians, living in villages of elaborately decorated houses with intricately carved walls and boat-shaped roofs.

Many rituals here revolve around death and the afterlife. The bodies of the deceased remain in the homes (and lives) of their relatives for months or even years after they pass – for Torajans, death is viewed as a gradual and social process, and locals are generally comfortable sharing these unusual traditions with visitors.

8. Kerinci Valley, Sumatra

Best place for hiking.

Southeast Asia’s tallest volcano, Gunung Kerinci – a 3805m (12,484ft) monster – lords over this remote highland valley on Sumatra , which has become one of Indonesia’s top spots for adventure travel. You can climb to the summit of this active volcano, swim beneath cascading waterfalls or search dense jungles for gibbons and langur monkeys.

Much of the land here is protected as Kerinci Seblat National Park, which is two times the size of Bali and protects more forest than all of Costa Rica’s national parks combined. At 13,791 sq km (5325 sq miles), Kerinci Seblat is the last large refuge for the critically endangered Sumatran tiger, which survives here in greater numbers than anywhere else on the planet.

9. Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Java

Best place for beautiful indonesian views.

You don’t have to look far in Indonesia to find a volcano, but Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java contains a whopping five volcanoes right next to each other. These conical peaks are dotted around a lunar landscape that has sprung from the ancient Tengger caldera.

The most striking site is smoldering Gunung Bromo, which rises 2329m (7641ft) out of a crater that is almost 10km (6 miles) across, surrounded by the nation’s only erg (dune sea). Most visitors time the trek to the summit to arrive at dawn to view the crater and volcanoes at their ethereal best.

10. The Gili Islands, Lombok

Best place for beach parties.

These tiny dollops of coral and sand off the coast of Lombok carry an outsized reputation thanks to their crystalline turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, ambitious vegan and health food restaurants, renowned freediving schools and epic beach parties. The Gilis started out as a boho backpacker destination, but the islands now cater to all types of travelers, with everything from backstreet hostels to luxurious beachfront cabanas (beach huts). 

Gili Trawangan (aka ‘Gili T’) is the largest and most developed of the islands, with a main drag that heaves with shops, massage parlors and cafes. Gili Meno is the smallest and most traditional island, while Gili Air offers the best of both worlds and is a lively hub for yoga tourism.

This article was first published Apr 21, 2022 and updated Dec 10, 2023.

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50 Indonesia Pictures That Will Make You Want To Travel

Even after taking thousands of Indonesia pictures during our travels, I still don’t feel like I can capture the raw beauty of this Southeast Asian country.

‘Wonderful Indonesia’ is home to many spectacular islands, beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls, ancient temples, and so much more — and they’re usually great for photos!

I’ve written travel guides for many of the locations in these Indonesia images, so if you’re looking for more information you can find that by clicking on the links.

Everyone goes to Bali , but there are many other great places to visit and things to do in Indonesia !

Hopefully these Indonesia pictures inspire you to visit this wonderful country!

Blue water and rocky coasts at the Selayar islands.

A scenic waterfall in Java called Curug Cimarinjung.

The mighty Ponot Waterfall in Sumatra is one of the biggest waterfalls in Indonesia .

Drones can be a great way to get Indonesia images. This is the epic and mysterious Gunung Karangetang volcano hiding in the clouds.

Endless green terraces in Majalengka, Java.

Ora Beach views in Seram island . Wonderful Indonesia at its best.

Ora Beach Resort in Maluku

Mount Dukono is an active volcano you can visit in Maluku, Indonesia.

Who says Indonesia beaches aren’t beautiful?

The spectacular crater lake of Kawah Ijen is one of Indonesia’s best sights.

The Mount Bromo volcanoes in Java are another popular tourist destination.

Komodo Island is the only place in the world where you can see Komodo dragons like this in the wild.

This is Indonesia’s famous Pink Beach in the Komodo islands.

A hidden blue pool at Goa Rangko Cave in wonderful Indonesia.

Drone picture of Pulau Karang in Sumatra. See the small lighthouse?

Impossibly perfect beaches on Coral Island ( Pulau Karang ).

One of our favorite sunset photos in the Banyak Islands of Sumatra.

A patchwork of farms and terraces above the Sipiso Piso Waterfall .

Orangutan viewing at Bukit Lawang is one of the best things to do in Indonesia .

Drone view of the Sombori islands from way up.

Labengki is a hidden gem in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Unreal lagoons in Sombori , Indonesia.

Heaven in the tropics. The beaches in Sulawesi are perfect for getting Indonesia pictures.

Blue and turquoise lagoons in Sombori Island .

Tana Toraja kids posing for a photo.

Mount Kelimutu volcanic lakes in Flores. Not one, not two, but THREE volcanic lakes!

A drone shot of Siladen island in Bunaken.

Belitung island hopping scenery from above.

The famous Padar Island viewpoint in Komodo. One of our favorite Indonesia photos.

This pagoda on the lake is one of Bali’s most iconic temples, and you see it in a lot of Indonesia photos.

An ancient 8th century temple in Java called Candi Sewu .

The famous Kelingking Cliff in Nusa Penida island, just a short distance from Bali.

This one is called Tumpak Sewu , and the name means ‘thousand waterfalls’.

Bali is known for its green rice terraces .

The Tanjung Tinggi Beach in Belitung may be a hidden gem, but it’s one of my favorite Indonesia images.

Sekumpul Waterfall is the biggest and best waterfall in Bali.

A drone selfie I took on top of the giant granite boulders of Batu Baginda . See me?

Dutch colonial lighthouse on Lengkuas Island in Belitung.

The white sand beaches in Belitung are perfect for Indonesia pictures.

Lengkuas lighthouse surrounded by lazy palm trees.

The Mount Batur volcano is one of Bali’s most popular hikes.

Drone pic of the famous Tegalalang rice terrace in Ubud, Bali.

A very convincing Komodo dragon statue in Bali.

Dieng Plateau is a spectacular hidden gem in central Java.

Prambanan Temple is like Indonesia’s own Angkor Wat.

Welcome to the jungle. In rural Sulawesi, even the hills have eyes!

Reflections at Rammang Rammang in Sulawesi.

The giant Kabut Pelangi waterfall in East Java.

A little tarsier hiding in a Banyan tree at Tangkoko Nature Reserve .

Wonderful Indonesia!

My camera gear.

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed these Indonesia pictures from our many travels across the country.

Wondering what type of camera, drone, or other gear I use?

I’ve put together a list of My Camera & Travel Photography Essentials to help you get started!  

More Indonesia Photos

If you’re looking for more Indonesia photography, you might enjoy my Indonesia drone video on YouTube!

Want to see more images of Bali and not just Indonesia? Head over to my main gallery of Bali pictures .  

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