Country guide
Indonesia is between 13,000 and 17,000 islands spread across 1,904,569 km2, the largest archipelagic state in the world, so the question is never what to see bu...
Photograph · Thomas Fuhrmann · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Indonesia is between 13,000 and 17,000 islands spread across 1,904,569 km2, the largest archipelagic state in the world, so the question is never what to see but which island to fly to. Over 280 million people live in its 38 provinces and more than half of them on Java alone, the most heavily populated island anywhere and the one carrying Jakarta, the world's most populous city. Sumatra, Sulawesi and the Indonesian portions of Borneo and New Guinea are each a separate trip, across wilderness supporting some of the highest biodiversity on earth. The gaps between them are measured in flights, not in drives.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Gunawan Kartapranata · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photograph · trezy humanoiz from Denpasar, indonesia · CC BY 2.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
27 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
Museum Seni Neka
The Neka Art Museum, known locally as Museum Seni Neka, is an art museum located in Ubud, within the broader Denpasar region of Bali, Indonesia.
Museum Seni Agung Rai
The Agung Rai Museum of Art, known locally as Museum Seni Agung Rai, is an art museum located in Ubud, within the broader Denpasar metropolitan area of Bali, Indonesia.
Museum Nasional Indonesia
The National Museum of Indonesia, known locally as Museum Nasional Indonesia, stands as one of Jakarta's most prominent cultural institutions. Located in Central Jakarta, it houses extensive collections representing Indonesia's archaeological, historical, ethnographic, and geographical heritage.
Museum Sejarah Jakarta
The Jakarta History Museum, locally known as Museum Sejarah Jakarta, is a museum housed in the former Stadhuis of Batavia, the colonial town hall of Dutch East India Company era.
Museum Bali
The Bali Museum is a provincial museum located in Denpasar, the capital city of Bali, Indonesia. It stands as one of the island's oldest museums, established during the early twentieth century.
Museum Bahari
The Maritime Museum, known locally as Museum Bahari, occupies a historic site in Jakarta's old Sunda Kelapa harbor area. The museum celebrates Indonesia's seafaring traditions and maritime heritage in a city shaped by centuries of ocean trade.
Ten to fourteen days is enough for Bali plus one nearby island or for a focused Java route, not for the whole archipelago. Every added island introduces an airport or harbour transfer, so choose regions first and count transfer days before assigning sightseeing.
Indonesia Immigration’s official eVisa service is the source for passport eligibility, visa class and stay conditions. Complete any required arrival formalities through government channels and verify the authorised entry point; a Bali-focused commercial site is not evidence of national admission rules.
Flights bridge distant islands, Java has useful rail corridors, and ferries, buses or local boats complete many regional legs. Check the licensed operator and weather before sea travel, and leave recovery time when an island connection precedes an international departure.
Dry-season timing varies across Indonesia, although much of Java and Bali is commonly easier from roughly May to September. Sumatra, Sulawesi and eastern islands can follow different rainfall patterns, so select dates for the chosen islands rather than the country name.
Indonesia uses the rupiah, and large IDR figures make digit checking important. Keep cash for markets, drivers and smaller islands, use bank-linked machines where available, and confirm whether an accommodation or boat quote includes taxes and local charges.
The recorded emergency contacts are 112 where available and 110 for police; electricity is Type C and F at 230 V. Tap-water safety is Not recorded, so rely on local official or accommodation guidance and verify emergency coverage on remote islands.
