The world's largest archipelago and fourth most populous nation — 17,000 islands spanning Balinese Hindu temples, Komodo dragon islands, Borneo orangutan forests, and Javanese royal courts.
- Capital
- Jakarta
- Population
- 284,438,782
- Area
- 1,919,440 km²
- Languages
- Indonesian
- Currency
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
- GDP
- $1,429,743M
Good to know
Driving side
Left
National dish
Tumpeng Sate,Soto,Nasi goreng
Annual visitors
4,053,000 (2020)
Safety
Very low (0.3/100k)
Big Mac
$2.52
Avg temp
26.0°C
Religion
Islam
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 113
Travel guide
Indonesia is a huge archipelago of diverse islands scattered over both sides of the Equator between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. With extensive (but rapidly diminishing) rainforests on its 17,000 islands, Indonesia is nicknamed The Emerald of the Equator. Indonesia's best known tourist destination is Bali, but with 6,000 inhabited islands, tourists have a wealth of diversity to explore. Indonesia is one of the most exotic countries you will ever visit. Indonesia markets itself as Wonderful Indonesia, and the slogan is often quite true. It has a diversity of culture with more than 900 tribes and languages and food, while its enchanting nature, mostly outside of Java, and the friendliness of the people in most areas will entice you to stay as long as you want. Today, some senior citizens from Europe stay for months in Indonesia to avoid the winter.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Indonesia
Best time to visit
Bali and Java: dry season April–October is best. Bali peaks July–August. Lombok and Gili Islands: May–September. Papua and Borneo: year-round but February–March can be wet. Komodo Island: April–June best for diving.
Visa
Citizens of 169 countries including US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia receive a 30-day Visa on Arrival (USD 35) at major airports, extendable once for 30 more days.
Highlights
Located on the island of Java, the magnificent Borobudur temple is the world's biggest Buddhist monument you must visit at least once in your lifetime. The area is surrounded by beautiful scenery of Central Java’s nature that you can only find there. The temple sits majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. Built during the reign of Syailendra dynasty, the temple's design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region. However, there are enough indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian. This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO's help in the 1970s.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (13)
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Major cities
Bali
The Island of the Gods — a paradise of terraced rice fields, ancient Hindu temples, surf breaks, and world-class spa retreats.
Jakarta
Indonesia's massive capital — a city of contrasts where gleaming malls tower over historic Dutch colonial districts.
Lombok
Bali's quieter neighbor — the pristine Gili Islands, Rinjani volcano trek, and the still-uncrowded southern beaches.
Yogyakarta
Java's cultural capital, gateway to Borobudur and Prambanan, with a thriving batik tradition and Merapi volcano nearby.
Komodo Island
Home to the Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard, and pink sand beaches in one of Indonesia's most dramatic national parks.
Raja Ampat
The world's greatest marine biodiversity hotspot in West Papua — 600 coral species, 1,500 fish species, and above-water karst formations.