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.
47 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
Katedral Jakarta
Jakarta Cathedral, locally known as Gereja Katedral Jakarta, stands as a prominent Catholic church in Indonesia's capital. The neo-Gothic structure serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jakarta.
Suaka Margasatwa Muara Angke
Muara Angke Wildlife Reserve, also known locally as Suaka Margasatwa Muara Angke, is a protected mangrove wetland in North Jakarta. It preserves coastal habitat inside one of Indonesia’s most densely populated metropolitan areas.
Blok M Square is a prominent shopping complex situated in the Blok M district of South Jakarta, Indonesia. The area has historically functioned as a significant commercial and transit hub within the city.
Central Park Mall is a large indoor shopping and leisure destination at Jalan Letjen S. Parman Kav. 28 in Jakarta’s Tanjung Duren area.
Kota Tua Jakarta, or Old Town Jakarta, is a historic district in North Jakarta preserving Dutch colonial architecture from the period when Batavia served as the capital of the Dutch East Indies.
Badung Market, known locally as Pasar Badung, is Denpasar’s principal traditional market and one of Bali’s largest public trading centres. It is an everyday commercial hub as well as a useful place for travellers to encounter Balinese shopping culture.
Mayestik Market, known locally as Pasar Mayestik, is a traditional marketplace in Jakarta. The market occupies a multi-level building structure and serves as a commercial hub for textile and fabric trading.
Pasar Seni Ancol is an art market situated within Jakarta's expansive Ancol coastal recreation complex. The market serves as a dedicated venue for Indonesian artists and craftspeople to exhibit and sell their work directly to visitors.
Tanah Abang Market
Tanah Abang Market, known locally as Pasar Tanah Abang, is one of Jakarta's major traditional markets. It functions as a significant wholesale and retail trading center in the Indonesian capital.
Plaza Indonesia is an indoor shopping and lifestyle complex on Jl. M.H. Thamrin in central Jakarta, near the Bundaran HI commercial corridor. Its character comes from bringing retail, dining, services and indoor public circulation together in one polished city-centre destination.
The Indonesia Science Center, known locally as Pusat Peragaan Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Teknologi (PP-IPTEK), is a hands-on science museum located within Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta.
RUCI Art Space is a contemporary art venue in Jakarta’s creative ecosystem. Unlike a museum built around a permanent collection, it offers a flexible setting for changing artistic presentations and cultural activity.
Taman Situ Lembang is a public park located in the Menteng district of central Jakarta. The park centers on a historic artificial lake, Situ Lembang, which gives the area its name.
Tribeca Park is an urban green space situated within the Central Park Jakarta complex in the city. The park serves as a recreational area for residents and visitors seeking respite from the dense urban environment of the capital.
Proclamation Monument, locally known as Tugu Proklamasi, is a commemorative landmark in Jakarta dedicated to Indonesia’s declaration of independence. It stands within an urban park and functions as both a historical monument and a public gathering place.
Dharma Bhakti Temple, known locally as Vihara Dharma Bhakti, is an active Buddhist temple in Jakarta's historic Glodok district. It serves the city's Chinese-Indonesian Buddhist community and forms part of the cultural character of the Chinatown area.
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.
