Indonesia Travel Guide Best Places to Visit & Top Islands
From Bali’s rice terraces and temples to Komodo’s dragons and Bromo’s smoking crater, this Indonesia travel guide covers the best islands, top tourist spots, and things to do across the country’s 17,000 islands
POPULAR TOURIST PLACES IN INDONESIA
- Bali
- Yogyakarta
- Lombok
- Komodo Island
- Jakarta
- Mount Bromo
- Raja Ampat
- Gili Islands
- Sumba
- Lake Toba
WHY VISIT INDONESIA
Indonesia’s scale is the whole point — over 17,000 islands mean the country can be a beach trip, a volcano expedition, a wildlife encounter, and a cultural deep-dive all in the same itinerary, which is exactly why it shows up on so many Southeast Asia vacation and honeymoon lists. Bali remains the easiest entry point and the subject of most Bali Indonesia travel guides on their own, with rice terraces around Ubud, surf breaks at Kuta and Uluwatu, and temples like Tanah Lot drawing most first-time visitors — among the best places to visit in Bali for a first trip. From there, Yogyakarta offers Borobudur and Prambanan, two of Southeast Asia’s great ancient temple complexes and among the country’s most significant historical places and famous landmarks, while Komodo Island delivers something Bali can’t: the only wild population of Komodo dragons on earth, alongside Pink Beach and some of the region’s best diving — reason enough for its own dedicated Komodo Island travel guide. Add Mount Bromo’s sunrise crater views, a highlight of most volcano tours in Indonesia, and Lombok’s quieter version of Bali next door, and Indonesia suits both first-timers who want Bali done well and repeat visitors ready to island-hop further east — solo travelers, honeymooners, and families alike.
Six essential experiences
Bali Temples & Rice Terraces
Tanah Lot's sea temple, Ubud's Tegallalang rice terraces, and the Monkey Forest anchor Bali's cultural core — the essential stops for anyone researching things to do in Bali, all within easy reach of each other.
Borobudur & Prambanan
Yogyakarta's ancient temple complexes — the world's largest Buddhist temple and a major Hindu site — best visited at sunrise before the crowds, and the top answer to "things to do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia."
Komodo Dragons & Pink Beach
The only place on earth to see Komodo dragons in the wild, paired with a boat trip to Pink Beach and Padar Island's viewpoint — the centerpiece of most things-to-do lists for Komodo Island.
Mount Bromo Sunrise
A pre-dawn jeep ride to watch the sun rise over an active, smoking volcano — one of Indonesia's most iconic experiences and the anchor of nearly every Mount Bromo travel guide.
Gili Islands & Lombok
Car-free islands off Lombok's coast for snorkeling with turtles and a slower pace than Bali's busier beach towns — among the best islands in Indonesia for a quieter add-on trip and a common answer to "things to do in Lombok."
Indonesian Cuisine
Nasi goreng, satay, and gado-gado are everywhere and cheap — street food and warungs (local eateries) are as central to the trip as the sights.
Practical details
Plan your visit
Best time to visit Indonesia
May to September is Indonesia’s dry season and the best window for most of the country, including Bali, Lombok, and Komodo. The wet season runs November to March with short, heavy afternoon showers rather than all-day rain — July and August are the busiest and most expensive months.
Getting around
Domestic flights connect Bali (Denpasar) to Yogyakarta, Lombok, and Komodo (via Labuan Bajo) in one to two hours. Ferries and speedboats link nearby islands like the Gilis; within Bali and Yogyakarta, private drivers or scooters are the standard way to get around.
Where to stay
Bali has the widest range, from Canggu hostels to Uluwatu cliffside villas and Nusa Dua resorts — everything from budget travel to genuinely luxury Indonesia stays. Komodo trips are usually based in Labuan Bajo, with multi-day boat tours a popular alternative to a single hotel base. Book Komodo and Bromo tours ahead, as both run on fixed early-morning schedules. Solo travelers and budget-conscious visitors will find Indonesia among the cheaper places to visit in Southeast Asia outside of Bali’s resort areas specifically.
Continue exploring
From the journal
Latest Indonesia guide
A deeper dive into planning your trip — islands, volcanoes and top spots.
Frequently asked questions
Indonesia is best known for Bali’s beaches and temples, Komodo dragons, active volcanoes like Mount Bromo, and being the world’s largest archipelago at over 17,000 islands.
Most international visitors fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali (Denpasar) or Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, with onward domestic flights to other islands.
Ten days covers Bali well with a Komodo or Yogyakarta add-on. A week suits Bali alone; two weeks or more allows a fuller loop through Lombok, Komodo, and Mount Bromo.
May through September, during the dry season, when conditions are best for beaches, hiking, and island-hopping across most of the country.
Bali’s south (Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud) and Komodo’s main sites draw heavy crowds, especially in July and August. Islands like Sumba, Belitung, and the Banda Islands remain far quieter for travelers seeking less-visited spots.