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
Pura Agung Besakih, known in English as Besakih Great Temple, stands as the largest and holiest temple complex in Bali. Perched on the southwestern slopes of Mount Agung, it serves as the spiritual centre for Balinese Hinduism.
Puri Saren Agung
Puri Saren Agung, known internationally as Ubud Palace, stands as a historical royal residence in Ubud, a town within the greater Denpasar region of Bali, Indonesia.
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is a significant Shaivite water temple in Bali, Indonesia. The temple complex sits on the shores of Lake Beratan in the mountains near Bedugul.
Pura Taman Ayun
Taman Ayun Temple, known locally as Pura Taman Ayun, is a Balinese Hindu temple located in Mengwi, Badung Regency, approximately eighteen kilometers northwest of Denpasar.
Galeri Nasional Indonesia
The National Gallery of Indonesia, known locally as Galeri Nasional Indonesia, is a prominent art institution in Jakarta. It serves as a major venue for Indonesian and international art exhibitions, cultural events, and educational programs.
Pantai Sanur
Sanur Beach, known locally as Pantai Sanur, is a coastal stretch on the southeastern side of Bali, Indonesia. It lies within the city of Denpasar and represents one of the island's earliest developed beach resort areas.
Pantai Kuta
Kuta Beach, known locally as Pantai Kuta, is a coastal area on the western side of Bali's southern peninsula. It lies within the administrative boundaries of Badung Regency, near Denpasar, the provincial capital.
Taman Budaya Garuda Wisnu Kencana
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is a cultural park in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. The park is known for its large statue of the Hindu god Vishnu riding the mythical bird Garuda.
Tirta Gangga Water Palace is a former royal palace in eastern Bali, Indonesia. The name means Water of the Ganges, referencing the sacred Indian river.
Pura Lempuyang Luhur is one of Bali's oldest and most sacred Hindu temples, occupying a significant position among the island's religious sites. It belongs to the Sad Kahyangan Jagad, the six sanctuaries of the world that form Bali's spiritual pillars.
Pura Gunung Kawi is a significant archaeological temple complex located in the Tampaksiring area near Denpasar, Bali. The site features ancient rock-cut shrines carved into cliff faces, dating from the 11th century during the Udayana dynasty.
Pantai Seminyak
Seminyak Beach, known locally as Pantai Seminyak, is a coastal area on the western shore of Bali, Indonesia.
Jimbaran Beach, known locally as Pantai Jimbaran, is a coastal area located on the southwestern side of the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali, near Denpasar.
Pura Goa Lawah
Pura Goa Lawah is a Balinese Hindu sea temple of significant religious importance, located near the village of Pesinggahan in Klungkung Regency, east of Denpasar.
Taman Safari dan Bahari Bali
Bali Safari and Marine Park is a zoological attraction located in the Gianyar Regency area near Denpasar, Bali. The facility combines wildlife conservation, animal exhibits, and entertainment programming.
Pantai Padang Padang
Padang Padang Beach, also called Pantai Padang Padang, is a small cove on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula in the Pecatu area. Limestone cliffs frame the sandy shore and give the beach a more enclosed character than the peninsula’s open coastal stretches.
Pantai Bingin
Bingin Beach, known locally as Pantai Bingin, is a coastal area on the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali. The beach sits below a steep limestone cliff and features a stretch of sand with direct Indian Ocean exposure.
Pantai Balangan
Balangan Beach, known locally as Pantai Balangan, is a coastal area located on the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali, within the broader Denpasar region.
Monumen Nasional
The National Monument, or Monas, is Jakarta's principal independence memorial, rising from the centre of Merdeka Square. Its 132-metre obelisk culminates in a gold-covered flame symbolising the continuing spirit of the Indonesian people.
Taman Monas
Merdeka Square, known locally as Medan Merdeka, is a vast public square in central Jakarta. It ranks among the city's most significant visitor destinations and serves as a major civic and symbolic space in Indonesia's capital.
Monumen Selamat Datang
The Selamat Datang Monument, known locally as Monumen Selamat Datang, stands as a prominent landmark in central Jakarta.
Masjid Istiqlal
Istiqlal Mosque, known locally as Masjid Istiqlal, stands as Indonesia's national mosque and one of the largest mosques in Southeast Asia. Located in central Jakarta near Merdeka Square, it was constructed to commemorate Indonesian independence.
Monumen Bajra Sandhi
The Bajra Sandhi Monument, known locally as Monumen Bajra Sandhi, stands as a significant memorial in Denpasar, Bali. This monument commemorates the struggles of the Balinese people throughout history.
Lapangan Banteng is a historic public square in central Jakarta, Indonesia. The site holds colonial-era significance as a former military parade ground during Dutch administration.
Taman Suropati is a public park located in the Menteng district of central Jakarta, Indonesia. The park occupies a triangular plot formed by the convergence of three major roads.
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.
