Human settlement has a very long prehistory in Indonesia. Remains of Homo erectus have been found on Javaespecially Sangirannear Solodating back to as early as 1.81 million years ago. The most famous prehistoric human remains excavated in Indonesiaknown as Java Manwere discovered in 1891 and are estimated to date back 1.66 million years. A wave of Austronesian immigrants migrated around 2500 BCE to 1500 BCE. This Neolithic group of peopleskilled in open-ocean maritime travel and agricultureis believed to have quickly supplanted the existingless technologically advanced population.

From this point onwarddozens of kingdoms and civilisations flourished and faded in different parts of the archipelago. Some notable ones include The Buddhist Srivijaya on SumatraPeninsula Malaysia and Singapore in the 8th century from its capital that is now Palembangwhile the Hindu Majapahit's territory included a large portion of what is now IndonesiaSingapore and Malaysiaruled from its capital: the Hindu-Buddhist archaeological site of Trowulan. Many templesmost notably Prambanan and Borobudurwere built during this era. When Islam became ascendant on Java in the 14th century through trade with the Arabskingdoms were sporadically established around the country with the king being called a sultan. One of the most notable was the Malacca Sultanatewhich although based in Malacca in what is now Malaysiaalso included parts of Sumatra and the Riau Islands among its territories.

The first Europeans to arrive (after Marco Polo who passed through in the late 1200s) were the Portuguesewho were given permission to erect a godown near present-day Jakarta in 1522 following attempts to monopolise the spice trade from the Spice Islands. But by the early 17th centurythe Dutch had pretty much taken overand the razing of a competing English fort in 1619 secured their hold on Javaopening the opportunity for 350 years of colonisationincluding a genocidal campaign in the Banda Islandswhere the locals had the temerity to try to break the Dutch monopoly on the spice trade and sell to the English. In 1824the Dutch and the British signed the Anglo-Dutch Treaty which ended a short period of British administration (during which Stamford Rafflesfounder of Singaporealso presided over the re-discovery of the stupendous monuments of both Borobudur and Prambanan) and divided the Malay world into Dutch and British spheres of influence. The Dutch ceded Malacca to the Britishand the British ceded all their colonies on Sumatraparticularly Bencoolen (Bengkulu in Indonesian) to the Dutch with the line of division roughly corresponding to what is now the border between Malaysia and Indonesia.

As with most coloniesIndonesia was exploited for manpower and natural resources. Various nationalist groups developed in the 19th and 20th centuriesand there were several disturbancesquickly put down by the Dutch. Leaders were arrested and exiledand some of the Dutch were particularly nasty when dealing with locals; howeverthe Netherlands did provide some infrastructureeducation and a national languageamong other things.

The Japanese conquered most of the islands during World War IIand behaved even more brutally than the Dutch had and were guilty of numerous wartime crimes. Sukarno and Suhartofuture leaders of Indonesiacollaborated with the Japanese occupiersin exchange for gaining valuable military and leadership experience. In August 1945in the post-war vacuum following the Japanese surrender to allied forcesthe Japanese still controlled the majority of the Indonesian archipelago. The Japanese agreed to return Indonesia to the Netherlands but continued to administer the region as the Dutch were unable to immediately return.

On 17 August 1945Sukarno read the Proklamasi Kemerdekaan (Declaration of Independence) on behalf of the Indonesian peopleand the Panitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia (Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Freedom) moved to form an interim government. A constitutiondrafted by the PPKIwas announced on 18 August and Sukarno was declared President with Mohammad Hatta as vice-president. The PPKI became the Central Indonesian National Committeewhich acted as the interim governing body. The new government was installed on 31 August 1945. The Dutchhoweverinitially fought several bloody wars in an effort to hold on to their colony. After reaching a military stalemateunder international pressurethe Dutch would eventually withdraw their forces and recognise the independence of Indonesia on 27 December 1949. The Dutch wouldhowevercontinue to hold on to their territory on New Guineawhich would only become a part of Indonesia in 1963.

Sukarno would be overthrown by Suharto in a coup in 1967. Although Suharto's regime ushered in a period of stability with rapid development and economic growththe country would also suffer from widespread corruptionnepotism and severe restrictions on freedom of speech under his iron-fisted rule. Under SuhartoIndonesia would send its military into the Portuguese colony of Timor-Leste in 1976incorporating it as a province of Indonesia until 1999.

During the Asian economic crisis of 1997the value of the Indonesian rupiah plummetedhalving the purchasing power of ordinary Indonesians. In the ensuing violent upheaval in 1998there were riots and ethnic purges that mostly targeted ethnic Chineseprimarily in and around Jakarta. Lootingrape and murder of many Chinese occurred and it is still unclear how many victims there were. Many cases remain unsolved. In additionsectarian violence and armed secessionist movements re-erupted in other parts of the countrythe most notable ones being the Aceh independence movementand clashes between the Christian and Muslim communities in Ambon. Suharto became a major target for those who sought to reform Indonesia andafter the period known as ReformasiSuharto was brought down and a more democratic regime installed. Suharto's fall also led to an independence referendum in Timor-Lestein which an overwhelming majority voted for independence. Although marred by violence perpetrated by the Indonesian military and paramilitary groups loyal to Indonesiathe Indonesian government grudgingly accepted the resulteventually withdrawing its military in favour of an Australian-led United Nations peacekeeping force in 1999. This arrangement would hold until Timor-Leste formally declared independence in 2002.

Free and public general elections are now held every 5 yearsand despite its infancy in democracythe world has looked at Indonesia as a role model where democracy and religion go hand-in-hand. In 2022then-President Joko Widodo announced that Indonesia will move its capital from Jakarta to a new purpose-built city in East Kalimantan called Nusantaranear the existing city of Balikpapan. It is hoped that this will ease the perennial congestion and strain on public infrastructure in Jakartaand also reduce the developmental inequality between Java and Indonesia's other islands.

Despite 50 years of promoting Bhinneka Tunggal Ika ("Unity in Diversity") as the official state mottothe concept of an "Indonesia" remains artificial and the country's citizens divide themselves amongst a vast slew of ethnicitiesclanstribes and even castes. If this isn't enoughreligious differences add a volatile ingredient to the mix and the vast gaps in wealth reinforce a class society as well. On a purely numerical scalethe largest ethnic groups are the Javanese (45%) of central and eastern Java who are the dominant ethnicity across the nationthe Sundanese (14%) from western Javathe Madurans (7.5%) from the island of Maduraand Coastal Malays (7.5%)mostly from Sumatra. This leaves 26% for the Acehnese and Minangkabau of Sumatrathe Balinesethe Iban and Dayaks of Kalimantanand a bewildering patchwork of groups in Nusa Tenggara and Papua — the official total is no less than 3,000. The jungles of Papua are also home to some of the last uncontacted peoples of the world.

For the most partIndonesia's many peoples co-exist happilyhowever ethnic conflicts do continue to fester in some remote areas of the country. The policy of transmigration (transmigrasi)initiated by the Dutch but continued by Suhartoresettled JavaneseBalinese and Maduran migrants to less crowded parts of the archipelago. The new settlersviewed as privileged and insensitivewere often resented by the indigenous populace andparticularly on Papuathis has sometimes led to violent conflictbut nowadays are relatively rare.

One particularly notable ethnic group found throughout the country are the Indonesian Chineseknown as Tionghoa or the somewhat derogatory Cina. Numbering around 7 millionthey make up less than 3% of the populationbut represent the second-largest ethnic Chinese community outside of Chinabehind only the Thai-Chinese. Chinese immigrants were encouraged to settle in the then-Dutch East Indies by the Dutchalthough they were treated as second-class citizenseffectively middle managers between the European rulers and the rest of the population. After the departure of the Dutchmany Indonesian Chinese worked as shopkeepers and moneylendersbut a very wealthy subset of the community has wielded enormous influence in the locally owned economic sectorwith one famous — if largely discredited — study of companies on the Jakarta Stock Exchange concluding that as many as 70% of its companies (andby extensionthe country) were controlled by ethnic Chinese. They have thus been subject to persecutionwith Chinese forcibly relocated into urban areas in the 1960sforced to adopt Indonesian names and bans imposed on teaching Chinese and displaying Chinese characters. Anti-Chinese pogroms have also taken placenotably in the 1965-66 anti-Communist purges after Suharto's coup and again in 1998 after his downfallwhen over 1,100 people were killed in riots in Jakarta and some other major cities. Howeverthe post-Reformasi governments have repealed most of the discriminatory legislationand Chinese writing and Chinese festivals have made a reappearancewith the Chinese New Year having been declared a public holiday nationwide since 2003. Although anti-Chinese sentiment continues to persist in certain population segmentsthe Indonesian Chinese today officially have the same rights as all other Indonesian citizens. Todaywhile most of the ethnic Chinese in Java only speak Indonesianvarious Chinese dialects such as HokkienTeochew and Hakka continue to be widely spoken amongst the ethnic Chinese communities in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

There is no one unified Indonesian culture per seas the country is made up of many diverse ethnic groups and variations across geographical areas. Prepare to be surprised as you jump between islands! The tall roofs of Sumatran traditional residences are different from the long houses of Borneo and a cluster of structures in a Balinese home.

Most of the exported cultural heritage comes from the islands of SumatraJavaBali and Lombokwhose frameworks are provided by the former Majapahit kingdom. Perhaps the most distinctively "Indonesian" arts are wayang kulit shadow puppetrywhere intricately detailed cut-outs are used to act out scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana and other popular Hindu folk storiesand its accompaniment the gamelan orchestrawhose incredibly complex metallic rhythms are the obligatory backdrop to both religious ceremonies and traditional entertainment. Indonesia's world-famous batik clothing pattern and keris daggers are culturally intertwined with the Malaysand Arabic culture has also been adopted to varying degrees thanks to Islam. Let's not forget the impact of Buddhismthe Portuguesethe Englishthe Japanesethe Chinese andof coursethe Dutch. Words from these can be found in Indonesian as well as in ethnic languagesand ethnic languages spill over into Indonesianbut only rarely have a national dispersion.

The process of standardisation of language and culture in Indonesia has made headway as communications between villages and islands have become easierand many areas that use to use only local languages now use Indonesiantoo. Yet regional cultures remain strong in many areasand probably will be for the foreseeable future. For the visitor to Indonesiathe regional diversity is a wonderful thingas cultures as different as those of FloresBaliSundaMinangkabau and the Toba Batak country can be experienced on a single tripwith adequate time and planning. The variety of culturalhistorical and religious sites and experiencesthe vast array of traditional handicraftsand the variety of activities one can experience in Indonesia are truly amazing.

One interesting cultural experience is the Baduy settlement in the province of West Javaa Sundanese community that chooses to reject modern technology and all its trappingseven deodorants! Visitors are welcome with restrictions they must adhere to. Culture hounds will find Ubuda city on Bali to be an excellent place to gobut there are so many cultural hotspots in Indonesia that it's almost impossible to make a list.

Suharto's ban on Western imports like rock'n'rollwhile long since repealedled to the development of indigenous forms of music like dangduta sultry form of pop developed in the 1970sand the televised pelvic gyrating "ngebor" of singer Inul Daratista in 2003 was nearly as controversial as Elvis once was. Modern pop music has gained ground in the new centuryand a few artists have made attempts to promote their masterpieces internationallywith some success especially in neighbouring Malaysia and Brunei. Anggun Cipta Sasmi is a talented Indonesian singer who became famous in France after her single La neige au Sahara became a top hit on the summer 1997 European charts. Agnes Monica is an energetic danceractress and singer who performed duets with international artists and gained fame.

While many Indonesian films were low-budget B-rated moviesquality has increased since the turn of the century. Daun di Atas Bantal (1998) won the "best movie" award at the 1998 Asia Pacific Film Festival in TaipeiTaiwan. The RaidRedemption (Indonesian: Serbuan Maut) was released in 2011 at the Toronto International Film Festival to international acclaimfeaturing a local Pencak Silat artist Iko Uwais who has since played roles on Hollywood movies.

Indonesian literature has shown considerable domestic success as themes became more liberal and freedom of speech was expandedbut few examples have made its way onto the world stage. Torch-bearer Pramoedya Ananta Toer's works were long-banned in his own homelandbut the post-Suharto era has seen a small boom. One notable example is Ayu Utami's Samanbreaking both taboos and sales records right in the midst of Soeharto's fall. Perhaps the best example would be Andrea Hirata's Laskar Pelangi (2007): both the series of books and the movies are praised in Indonesia and around the globe.

Probably the most important (although not universal) cultural feature present in most of the archipelago that you should be aware of is that of "face" or "honour," which stems from the principle of harmony. Harmony is considered so important that religious prohibitions on lying take a back seat to protecting someone's honourwhich can be looked down on by foreigners. Harmony issimply putthe effort to maintain peaceful co-existence and pleasant relationships. The harmonious organisation of society is in fact the fundamental basis of wayang kulit plots and performancesand those of related traditional dramasalthough some of these traditional values have been somewhat weakened in the process of transition from kingdoms through dictatorship to today's more democratic form of government. Neverthelessconflict resolution is handled much differently from the way many foreigners might expect - don't expect that things will be done the way you are accustomed to.

It is expected that people here have a religionespecially since the first principle of the Pancasila ("five principles") is: Ketuhanan yang Maha Esaroughly translated as "There's only one god," so don't feel offended if someone asks you about your religious beliefs. While you may exercise your right of religion (or not believing in one) at least privatelymaking disparaging remarks about any of the official religions is frowned upon as many Indonesians take pride in their religion by observing most or all of the customs tied to their belief. The law also protects anyone from doing so and you don't want to be prosecuted.

Roughly 88% of the population of Indonesia state their religion as being Islamwith nearly all of them following the Sunni branchmaking it numerically by far the largest religion in the nation and Indonesia the largest Muslim-majority country in the world. NeverthelessIndonesia is officially a secular statewith all the state-sanctioned religionsat least theoreticallygiven equal status under Indonesian law. Although religious orthodoxies do vary across the Indonesia archipelagothe strict observance of Islamic dress codes apparent in some countries is generally absent. In larger Javanese cities veils and overt manifestations of faith are exceptions rather than the rule. In some regional areas and the devout state of Acehthings can be considerably stricter. Do not be surprised if you can hear a chant of the azan without seeing a mosqueas that is commonly done by loudspeakers to call everyone to pray. Work paces may slow down on Fridays at midday as the males get down to pray at the mosques.

Despite being nominally Muslimmany local folk stories and customs which are HinduBuddhist or animist in origin are faithfully preserved by much of the population.

The other five state-sanctioned religions are Protestantism (5%)Roman Catholicism (3%)Hinduism (2%)Buddhism (1%) and Confucianism (1%). Hindus are concentrated on Baliwhile Christians are found mostly in parts of North SumatraMalukusome parts of JavaPapuaNorth SulawesiEast Nusa Tenggaraand Kalimantan. Buddhismon the other handis mainly practiced by the ethnic Chinese in the larger citiessuch as Medan and Pontianak. There are also some people in various parts of the country who practice traditional animist religions exclusivelyand many Indonesians practice a form of Islam or Christianity that is syncretised with animistic and Hindu beliefs that their ancestors had previously followed. In Javathis syncretic belief system is called Kejawenand while it is popularit is condemned by the more strictly orthodox practitioners.

Indonesian national law decrees that all citizens of the Republic must declare their religion and that the declared religion must be one of the six that are officially sanctioned by the state. This results in obvious distortions. For examplemany animist practitioners notionally call themselves MuslimHinduor Christian for the benefit of the state bureaucracy. There are occasional attacks against places of worship (mosques and churches) linked to extremist groupsand a record of outbreaks of violence between different religious groups in the Maluku islands. While it is always a good rule of thumb to follow the latest developments on this topicthis should not deter from visiting the country.

Since November 2017the constitutional court has agreed that traditional beliefs are recognised and can be stated in an electronic ID card.

Multicultural Indonesia celebrates a vast range of religious holidays and festivalsbut most celebrations are effectually limited to small areas (e.g. the Hindu festivals of Bali). All Indonesiansregardless of religionget a day off for all these public holidays:

• 1 January: New Year's Day (Tahun Baru Masehi)
• A day between mid-January and mid-February: Tahun Baru Imlek (Chinese New Year). Festivals are mainly isolated to Chinese populated areas.
• A day in March: Nyepi (Hindu New Year). It is not advisable to be in Bali on this day. Effectively the whole island shuts downeven the airport & seaports. Non-observers at the very least are discouraged from mingling outdoors.
• A Friday in March or April: Wafat Isa Al-Masih (Good Friday). The Catholic communities at Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara conduct The Way of the Cross at Holy Thursdayan attraction worth seeing.
• 1 May: Hari Buruh Internasional (International Labor Day)
• 1 June: Hari Lahir Pancasila (Pancasila Birth Day). This is a patriotic celebration to celebrate the birth of the country's philosophical foundation.
• A Thursday in May: Kenaikan Isa Al-Masih (Ascension of Christ Day14 May 2026)
• A day in May or June: Waisak (Vesak Day). Some Buddhist monks conduct a pilgrimage tour to the famous Borobudur Temple.
• 17 August: Hari Kemerdekaan (Independence Day). Flag hoisting at homes and in most communitiesIndonesian traditional games with prizes!
• 25 December: Hari Natal (Christmas Day)

Muslim holidays are movable by 11 days earlier each year:

• Tahun Baru Hijriyah (Islamic New Year)
• Maulid Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad)
• Isra Miraj (Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad)
• 2 days of Idul Fitri holiday (Eidend of the 30-day Ramadan fasting period)

A day before or after select public holidaysincluding a couple days around the Idul Fitri periodare additionally designated as bank holidays.

The most significant time of the year is the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. During this 30 lunar day periodMuslims refrain from passing anything through their lips (fooddrinksmoke and even medicine) between sunrise and sunset. People get up early to eat sufficient for the day before the sunrise (sahur)go to work lateand take off early to get back home in time to break the fast (buka puasa) at sunset. This activity usually starts with a small snack of something sweetfollowed by a completeand snacking until bedtime. Theoreticallypeople are not supposed to eat excessively during this time because the point of the fast is to know what it's like to be extremely poorbut some Muslims don't abide by this. Non-Muslimsas well as travelling (musafir)ill or menstruatingand engaged in heavy labour (buruh or kuli) Muslims are exempt from fastingbut it is polite to refrain from eating or drinking in public. Many restaurants closebut those that stay open through the fasting time maintain a low profileoften with curtains covering the windowsbut in strict Islamic areasthe vendors totally close and open only near break fast. All forms of nightlife including barsnightclubskaraoke and massage parlors normally close by midnightand (especially in more devout areas) quite a few opt to stay closed throughout the month. Business travellers will notice that things move at an even more glacial pace than usual andespecially towards the end of the monthmany people will take leave. If you are with Indonesiansthey may not say anything out of politeness if you eat or drink in front of thembut you really should at least ask permission first and preferably avoid it unless it is openly and clearly encouraged.

The climax at the end of the month is the two days of Idul Fitri (Indonesian: Lebaran)when pretty much the entire country takes a week or two off to head back home to visit family in a ritual known locally as mudikmeaning "to go home". This is the few times of the year when Jakarta has no traffic jamsbut the rest of the country doeswith all forms of transportation packed to the gills and travel time can easily treble being the norm. All government offices (including embassies) and many businesses close for a week or even twoand travelling around Indonesia is best avoided if at all possible.

Upon arrival and disembarking from the aircraftyou'll immediately notice the sudden rush of warmdamp air. Indonesia is a warm place. It has no springsummerautumn or winterjust two seasons: rainy and dryboth of which are relative (it still rains during the dry seasonit just rains less). While there is significant regional variationin most of the country (including Java and Bali) the dry season is April to Octoberwhile the wet season is November to March. In many areasrain falls like clockworkbut global warming has made the seasons less predictable. One benefit of the rainy season is that the regular rainfall washes clean most of the mosquito habitatsespecially at the foothills. While locally torrential rains are commonthe country rarely suffers from typhoons.

Droughts are a major problem in certain parts of Java and other islands during the dry seasonand water becomes a serious issuebut bottled drinking water is always available even in the rural areas. Smog from bush or forest fires frequently blankets many areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan in the middle of the dry seasonusually in JuneJuly and Augustand sometimes airports are closed for a day or two as a result. Alsowhen it is dry in one areait may still be wet in another.

Temperatures in most places are about 26–32 °C (80–90 °F) during the daywith little fluctuation from day to day; nights may be cooler by a few degrees. The dry season south of the equator is cool because of the cold southern hemispherealthough the difference can be less noticeable. It is also advisable to bring a jacket for visiting the highlandsas temperatures will naturally be coolerand there are even a few snow-covered peaks above 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in Papua. You may be amused to see people donning hatsglovesjackets or even winter coats when the temperature dips just a little bitand people usually wear them on their motorcyclesalthough more often to keep their skin from getting darker.

Indonesia stretches a long way from west to east and is thus divided into three time zones. Due to the country's equatorial locationsunlight duration is pretty consistent throughout the yearso there is no daylight saving time.

• UTC+7 Western Indonesian Time (WIBWaktu Indonesia Barat): SumatraJavawest/central Kalimantan
• UTC+8 Central Indonesian Time (WITAWaktu Indonesia Tengah): BaliSouth/East/North KalimantanSulawesiNusa Tenggara
• UTC+9 Eastern Indonesian Time (WITWaktu Indonesia Timur): MalukuPapua

• Indonesia Travel website

For further informationincluding a list of eligible countries and point of entries to be granted a visa-free entryplease see the Visa and Immigration Policies from the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia.

Visa waiver and visas on arrival

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Citizens of all ASEAN countries who are going for leisuretransitor business are allowed to stay in Indonesia for up to 30 days without a visa. This visa waiver cannot be extendedtransferred or converted to any other kind of visanor does it allow one to work in Indonesia. They may enter Indonesia through any official port of entry.

Visitors from 77 other countries or those who want to stay for more than 30 days may buy a visa-on-arrival (VOA) for Rp 500,000 (around US$33)only payable in cash (in the local currencyUS dollars or euros). This visa is also valid for 30 daysbut can be extended one time for another 30 days without a local sponsor. eVOA can be extended easily online. They may only enter Indonesia through specific ports of entry; entering through any other port of entry requires a visa in advance.

Everyone else needs a visa in advance.

All arriving international passengers are required to undergo luggage screening including their hand luggageregardless of whether you declare your items or not. Each household must fill out a customs declaration form that they must surrender to the customs before luggage screening.

Food itemsespecially raw fruitsmust be declared and undergo quarantineas are vegetables and agricultural products. Packaged foods are usually let through. Customs officials will usually let you know if any items must have duty paid or if your food must be under quarantine.

Besides your personal effectswhich will go home with youyou are allowed to import individual gifts with an accumulating value of up to $500 or up to $1000 per family. To avoid or reduce paying the duty for importing more than the allowed amounttravellers would usually cut off the price tag of the most expensive stuff they wish to carry and use them as they arrivein order to be assumed that it is theirs. You may also import limited quantities of tobacco and alcohol products duty-free:

• Up to 200 cigarettes (one carton) or twenty-five cigars or up to 100 grams of loose tobacco products such as snuff (or a proportional combination thereof.)
• Up to one litre of alcohol and perfume.

If you intend on using your mobile phone with an Indonesian SIM card – other than expensive ones for tourists – or if you bring one as a giftyou need to declare it at customsunless it has been used on an Indonesian network before 15 April 2020: fill in the preliminary registration form at the customs website beforehandprint out the QR code that you will getand present it at the customs checkpoint upon arrival in Indonesia. Customs will complete registration and assess any applicable duties. The duty-free allowance is two devices valued at US$500 total. Any declared value above that amount will be taxed at 40% (30% if you have an Indonesian tax ID). If your phone is expensivecheck the price differences and whether you could use a cheaper one for the Indonesian SIMs. Declarations made after arrival will result in the entire value of the device being taxed. While it is not a violation of the law to not declare phones for personal usemost non-tourist Indonesian service plans are off-limits for undeclared phones.

Any money transported in and out of Indonesia that exceeds Rp100,000,000 (100 million rupiahs) or its equivalent in other currencies must be declared.

Indonesia has very strict drug laws: bringing them into the countryeven for personal consumptionwill result in prosecution and shaming on national television at best and death penalty at worst. If you are required to take methamphetamineyou must bring a doctor's prescription with you.

Most visitors to Indonesia arrive at Ngurah Rai (DPS ^IATA) in Bali or Soekarno-Hatta (CGK ^IATA) in Jakarta. Many airports in secondary cities such as BandungYogyakartaSurabayaand Medan also have international flights from Singapore and/or Malaysiawhich can be interesting and convenient entry points into Indonesia.

Travel to Indonesia from the Americas can take as little as 20 hours and requires at least a transit to East AsiaEuropeor the Middle East. Travel from most of Europe will take less than 20 hours. While there are direct flights to Jakarta from AmsterdamLondonand Istanbulfor other cities at least a transit is required. Australiathoughis just 4–7 hours away. There are several flights from various cities in the Middle East to Indonesia. There are also short flights from Indonesian cities to nearby Malaysian citiessuch as from Pontianak to KuchingTarakan to Tawauand Pekanbaru to Malacca.

Garuda Indonesia☏ +62 21 2351-9999the Indonesian flag carrierflies to several cities in Southeast AsiaEast AsiaAustraliaSaudi ArabiaAmsterdam in Europe. The airline also has extensive code-sharing agreements (Sky Team) and this assists in providing quite good flight frequencies from airports in countries near Indonesia.

The cost of flying to Indonesia from within Southeast Asia and the Pacific region has reduced with the inception of low-cost carriers. Air Asia Group flies to major Indonesian destinations from MalaysiaThailandand Singapore. Lion Air in addition to its full-service subsidiary Batik Air flies also has multiple daily flights to SingaporeSaudi Arabiaand Malaysia. Garuda Indonesia's low cost subsidiaryCitilink are also making inroads with direct flights to southeast Asia in addition to Perth in Australia.

Ferries connect Indonesia with SingaporeMalaysia and the Philippines. Most connections are between ports in Sumatra (mostly in Riau and Riau Islands provinces) and those in Peninsular Malaysia and Singaporealthough there is also a ferry service (Indomaya Express) between Malaysia's Sabah state and East Kalimantan on Borneo. Onward boat connections to Jakarta and other Indonesian islands are available from these ports. See the pages for each city for more details.

Ferries have different classes of seatswith the most expensive (and cleanest) section on top with comfortable seats and windows for a nice frontal viewfollowed by second class behind that in a separate room that is more cramped and dirtier with less comfortable seatingand third class is usually on the lower decks and is the worstalthough different ferries may have their own organisation.

From Singapore

• Frequent ferries to/from the various ports of Batam (SekupangBatu AmparNongsaMarina Teluk Senimba and Batam Centre).
• Frequent ferries from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Tanjung Pinang, Nongsapura and Bandar Bintan Telani Lagoi (Bintan Resorts) on Bintan.
• Several ferries daily to Tanjung Balai in Karimun Island from Harbourfront.

From Peninsular Malaysia

• Daily ferries go from Port Klang near Kuala Lumpur to Dumai in RiauSumatra and Tanjung Balai Asahan in North Sumatra.
• Daily ferries between Port DicksonNegeri Sembilan and Dumai in Riau provinceSumatra.
• Daily ferries link Malacca with Dumai and Pekanbaru in Riau provinceSumatra.
• Frequent ferries go from Kukup in Johor to Tanjung Balai* on Karimun Island in the Riau Islands.
• Frequent ferries link the Johor Bahru with Batam and Tanjung Pinang on the Island of Bintan.
• Regular ferries link Puteri Harbour in Johor with Tanjung Balai* Karimun.
• Regular ferries link Tanjung Belungkor in Johor with Batam.
• Regular ferries link Hutan Melintang in Perak with Tanjung Balai Asahan in North Sumatra.
• Regular ferries link Bengkalis with Malacca and Muar in Johor.

From SabahMalaysia

• Daily ferries link Tawau with Tarakan in North Kalimantan province on Borneo.

Visa-free/visa-on-arrival is available at Tawau but not Tarakanwhere you will need a visa in advance.

To increase tourist visitsthe government has simplified procedures for entry by yacht. If you enter by yachtyou need only 3 days' notice to get a permit for 30 days' visitand this can be extended for another 30 days. Yachters may arrive at the ports in JakartaBatamBangka Belitung and Kupang.

From Timor-Leste: The main crossing is at Mota'ain between Batugade in Timor-Leste and AtambuaWest Timoron the main road between Kupang and Dili. Another border crossing exists on the south coast of the island between Salele and Motamasin. There is also a border crossing at Sacato/Wini from the Timorese exclave of Oecussi.

From Malaysia: There are three official border crossings with Malaysiaall between West Kalimantan and Sarawak; Entikong-Tebedu on the Kuching-Pontianak roadAruk-Biawak on the Kuching-Singkawang roadand the more remote Lubok Antu-Nanga Badau crossing. There are also numerous unofficial crossings used by locals in the border regionbut as a foreigneryou are highly advised not to use them to avoid any legal issues.

From Papua New Guinea: The only recognised crossing into Indonesia is at Wutungbetween Vanimo in Sandaun Province in Papua New Guineaand Jayapurathe capital of Indonesian Papua. PNG border officials are known to regularly not show up for workespecially on market days when they will often be out drinking instead; when this happensyou will not be able to cross the border legallyso make sure you have made contingency plans before attempting this.

Indonesia's vast area and lack of fixed links between islands mean that the only rapid means of long-distance travel within Indonesia is by air. State-owned carrier Garuda Indonesia is a full-service airline and thus usually comes out as the most expensivebut offers seamless connection between its extensive domestic networks and international flightsand has the best safety record of the lot. Lion Air is a low cost carrier (LCC) that has plenty of flights to a specific destinationthough major delays occur sporadically. Wings Air is a subsidiary of Lion Air is also a LCC. Other low-cost competitors include Citilink< about="#mwt106" data-mw='{"name":"templates","attrs":{"src":"Dead link/s.css"},"parts":[{"template":{"target":{"wt":"Dead link","href":"./Template:Dead_link"},"params":{"date":{"wt":"April 2024"},"bot":{"wt":"InternetArchiveBot"}},"i":0}}]}' data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r5167228" id="mwAv4" typeof="mw:Extension/templates mw:Transclusion">.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}^{[dead link]}Garuda Indonesia's subsidiaryand Indonesia AirAsiaa subsidiary of Malaysia's AirAsia.

Sriwijaya Air^{[dead link]} is one of the provides a middle-of-the-road service between full fare and low cost carrierwith more spacious leg room compared to low cost carriersand also has modest on board meals. Routes for a few less popular destinations are usually served by Air FastSusi AirTrigana^{[dead link]}and Wings Air (a Lion Air subsidiary)operates mostly propeller aircraft to smaller airports. If you really get off the beaten tracke.g. Papuathere are no scheduled services at alland you'll need to charter a plane or seek rides with missionaries or mining company workers.

Prices are low by international standardshowever their ranges are capped by the government. Many airlines tend to decrease their price a week before flight if the plane is not full enough up to the bottom price limit - so you may try that and get a cheaper fareif you're not on a tight schedule and do not need to go during a public holidaya weekend or Monday morning. When travelling off the beaten trackit may assist to reconfirm early and oftenas frequencies are low and paid-upoccasionally even checked-in passengers are bumped off with depressing regularity. Be sure to arrive at the airport by 90 minutes before your low-cost flight departsin line with regulations noted on the ticketand 45 minutes before your full-service airline flight departs. Due to the aviation boomairports have not been able to keep up with the air traffic. While many airports have been renovated and refurbished by adding gates and expanding the terminal buildinga lot of them still have only one runway that the aircraft must backtrack to take offsometimes delaying subsequent departures & arrivals. Regarding baggagetypically only 7 kg (15 lb) of carry-on baggage is freeand the rest must be in checked baggagewhich incurs an extra charge.

A few airlines also enable passengers to pay their ticket fares in cash at minimarts by showing their ticket or confirmation number.

Indonesia is all islands and consequently boats have long been the most popular means of inter-island travel. Ferries may take you on long trips lasting days or weeksor short jumps between islands for several hours. Howevernot all destinations are served daily. Some destinationssuch as Karimunjawa from Semarang and the Thousand Islands from North Jakartaoffer yacht serviceswhich are fastersafer and more comfortable. The prices areof coursehigher.

The largest company is the state-owned PELNI^{[dead link]}whose giant ferries visit practically every major inhabited island in Indonesia on lengthy journeys that can take a week from end to end. PELNI uses European-built boatswhich are large enough to deal with rough seas and have a good safety record. Ship capacity varies from 1000 to 3000 passengers. PELNI ferries were once notorious for their overcrowding but this is no longer an issue since the company began a policy of place-numbered tickets. All fares include 3 very basic meals per day.

Most PELNI ships today have only a single classekonomi. Only two vesselsthe KM. Keludoperating between Jakarta and Medanand KM. Sinabungoperating between Surabaya and Jayapuraretains the traditional fare configurationconsisting roughly of:

• 1st classaround US$40/day: two beds per cabinprivate bathroomTVaircon
• 2nd classaround US$30/day: four beds per cabinprivate bathroomaircon
• Ekonomiaround US$15/day: bed in a dormitory

For those with timetravelling in PELNI ekonomi class is the cheapestgreenest and most authentic way to see Indonesia. Most Western tourists will also find the experience deeply uncomfortable. Dormitory accommodation is invariably dirtysometimes unbearably hotwith blaring musicscreaming babiesbright strip-lighting day and nightand toilets that are best left unvisited. Since the removal of 1st and 2nd classPELNI has become the domain of poorer Indonesians alone. Foreign tourists are now vanishingly rare and will be the centre of attention for all other passengers. This is an authentic experience which only the hardiestmost open-minded and gregarious travellers should attempt.

In addition to PELNI's slow boatsASDP runs fast ferries (Kapal Ferry Cepatrather amusingly abbreviated KFC) on a number of popular routes. They also run a fleet of inter-island car ferriesparticularly in Nusa TenggaraMaluku and Kupang (Timor). Both PELNI and ASDP tickets can be booked via travel agents and at their respective officesusually situated near ports.

A private ship companyDLU also has class services like PELNI with bigger ships because it can carry vehicles such as cars and even trucks and has a range of routes to all the archipelago.

Last but not leastthere are also countless services running short island-to-island hopsincluding between Merak in Java to Sumatra's Bakauheni (hourly)Java and Bali (every 15 min) and Bali and Lombok (near-hourly). In generalschedules on these short-hop services are notionalcreature comforts sparse and safety records poor. Try to check whatif anysafety devices are on board and consider postponing your trip if the weather looks bad. As maintenance is poor and overloading is commonsinkings are all too common on ferries run by smaller companieswith reports of such each yearso try to stick to the larger ones if possible.

Food on ferries varies from bad to inedibleand journey times can stretch well beyond the scheduleso bring along enough to tide you over even if the engine stalls and you end up drifting for an extra day. If you have trouble with motion sicknessbuy some medicine such as Dramamine or Antimo.

Ferries have different classes of seatswith the most expensive (and cleanest) section on top with comfortable seats and windows for a nice frontal viewfollowed by second class behind that in a separate room that is more cramped and dirtier with less comfortable seatingand third class is usually on the lower decks and is the worst. Different ferries may have their own organisation. Of coursevehicles are housed below on the main deck.

You may get hassled by people on board trying to extract extra money under some dubious excuse. Feel free to ignore themalthough on the upsideit may be possible to bribe your way to a better class of accommodation.

In some placeseven smaller boatssuch as outriggersglass-bottom boatssailboatsmotorboats and fishing boatsmay be the only form of transport availableand prices can vary from a small amount to tens of dollars. Be prepared by finding out the prices and routes ahead of time and always haggle. Some of these boats can be rented out for fishingsnorkelingscuba diving and touring.

With more than 17,000 islandsIndonesia can be considered a paradise for a yacht journeyalthough be aware that there are pirates near the border of the Southern Philippines. Typically no typhoons occur in this region and the maximum wave height is only 2.5 metres for the inner seas of the countrysuitable for even a small yacht. The worst season is from December to February.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia^{[dead link]}☏ +62 21 121the government-owned train companyruns trains across most of Java and some parts of Sumatra. The network was built by the Dutchbut the lines have only been revitalised then expanded since Independence. Maintenance quality is acceptableand derailments and crashes occur rarely. As railroads are state-run companiesthe customer service is polite but not always interested in pleasing the customer in the case of a problem.

Java has by far the best railway networkwith trains connecting the capital cityJakartawith other main cities such as SurabayaSemarangYogyakarta and Solo. In particularIndonesia's (and Southeast Asia's also Southern Hemisphere's) first high-speed railway (Kereta Cepat)a Chinese-built line from Jakarta to Bandung somewhat cringily named Whooshopened in 2023 andrunning at up to 350 km/hconnects the two cities in as little as 30 minutes. There are plans to eventually expand the line across Javabut for now there are only ordinary trains onward from Bandung to Yogyakarta and Surabaya. Bali has no railway linesbut there are trains to Banyuwangiconnecting with ferries to the island. Generallythe trains travel through scenic areasand travellers not in a hurry should consider the length of the journey and the scenery as a bonus to their travelsalthough some slums are built around tracks. Commuter trains have no reserved seating and unlimited standeesso they can be crowded; beware of pickpockets. Other intercity trains have reserved seats and require passengers to check in before boarding; passengers are at low risk from theft on such trains.

Sumatra has train lines in Aceh and Medan in North SumatraWest SumatraLampung and South Sumatra. These are unfortunately not connected - travelling cross-island by train is not possible - and run less frequently than in Java.

Class of service

[edit]

While all trains are air-conditionednot all of them are properly designed to accommodate persons with certain disabilities and senior citizens. On every train excluding commuter trainsyou can also purchase food either on board or at the time of booking.

• Eksekutif Luxury class has eighteen flat-reclining seats with features and services not unlike a business class in airplanes.
• Eksekutif class has assigned seating only and you should be prepared with full-length clothes as the temperature is usually rather low (perhaps 18°C). These trains feature paired reclining seats with foot rests (andfor a group of fouryou can have the paired seats turned to face each other)televised entertainment (when the TV isn't broken and the signal is good) and you can ask for blankets and pillows during the trip.
• Bisnis class has a bit similar seats with "Ekonomi" but with forward-facing seats and more comfortable seats than typical economy class.
• Ekonomi Premium class has a much nicer car than the Ekonomi class and a slight reclining seat. Seat configuration is 2-2.
• Ekonomi classes are also available for the most budget-conscious traveller. Cheaper prices usually get older coaches (with 3-2 config) with air-conwhile more costly prices usually got newer coaches (with 2-2 configurations). Both older and newer coaches are using face-to-face seats in the middle section of the car.

Commuter trains have sideways seating with poles and hand straps for standing passengers andduring peak hourscan be very crowdedalthough they are usually air-conditioned and usually have cars at either end for women only.

Train stations are guarded by train policewho wear drab uniformsbut there may also be regular police orrarelymilitary personnel.

Tickets can be purchased 30 days in advancealthough a limited number of Ekonomi and Ekonomi Premium classes will usually still be available at the last minute. An exception is the very busy Eid-Al-Fitr season when the tickets are sold out in minutesdue to extremely high demand. Online ticket reservation is available on the official website.

Sometimesdiscounts are offered for particular linesbut you have to order well in advance to get them. Senior citizens ages 60 and above are eligible for a 20% discount. Be sure to check that your ticket is correct before you leave the ticketing window. You can also buy tickets at minimarts and post offices and won't be charged for the administration feebut they don't sell reduced fare tickets. Payment with a debit/credit card is possible with a minimum payment of Rp50,000.

The ticket reservation from the official PT Kereta Api website and mobile app is only available in Indonesian. A common problem shared with many booking services was the rejection of foreign-issued credit cards used for payment. An alternative way to reserve your train ticket is through the booking portal tiket.comwith an English language interface and fewer glitches with payment. Passengers can also buy a ticket or check-in at kiosks (12 hours to 10 minutes before departure) in front of the station.

Larger train stations usually have multiple platforms and regular service to many citiesbut the smallest stations only have infrequent stops and one platform. Be sure to ask in advance which platform you'll need to go to. While you are waitingmost stations have stores and restaurants where you can buy food and drink to be consumed on board before boarding. After the boarding gatethere are only limited food stalls. The boarding gate closes 3 minutes before the train's departure. Previouslyvendors (asongan) would jump on the train and hawk their wares until the train started to leave. This was intrusive and noisyalthough certainly convenient for passengers and vendors alike. As of 2016vendors are not allowed on the trainbut in small stationsmany still block the entrances to the cars while they call out to passengers inside. But with more express trainsthe vendors are relatively diminishing.

Toilets vary between squatting toilets or sit-down toilets without proper seats and the indicator lamp can be seen from your seat. Most executive trains have bidets to wash your posterior and a sinkand using a squatting toilet can require a balancing act. Bring your own (wet) tissuebecause if availablethe tissue maybe is not in the normal condition. The toilets generally release directly onto the tracksso using them while at a station is forbidden.

Passengers travelling in groups (preferably about 20 people) can charter a special train car with traditional decorationbetter toilets and lounging seatswith a tailored itinerary for selected destinations.

The use of luxury long-distance buses is a new trendvery comfortable with air suspension and can stop wherever you want. Most services depart in the afternoon or evening and arrive the following morning at their destination. The term "luxury" means that there are limited reclining seats with ample leg and a footrest and/or leg rest and get one dinner or supper. Some buses have a personal 10" display and some even have beds. When travelling by bus from Banda Aceh in Sumatra to Balithe bus company can arrange the ferryand include the fare in the bus ticket.

Inter-city buses are often run by cooperatives of drivers or by private companies (of which there are many of both) and follow specific routes - but they may deviate from their route if you askusually for a little bit extra. They can be either luxurious or deteriorating; in some placessuch as Bali and Kupangbus drivers take a great deal of pride in their vehicles by decorating them and taking good care of them. A bus ticket will usually cost about Rp75.000 for an economy van (6 people) or Rp150.000 for an executive class coach (up to double-decker size). They can pick you up at a spot near their depot or terminal for free if you can't get to their designated departure point. In case of mealtimethe bus will get off at a rest stop where everyone is expected to dine at the same restaurant; some bus companies may have included the meal cost in your fare.

It is possible to charter buses. The air-conditioned chartered buses can be rented with their drivers for a tourist group andin factany size city bus will take on a charter assignment if the money is right. Indonesian bus companies offer intercity (antar kota) and inter-province (antar propinsi) routes. The inter-province routes usually include transportation to other islands mainly between Java and Sumatra and Java and Bali. In several citiesthe government offers its own lineDAMRIwhich comes in medium and large sizes and is always air-conditionedand tends to be in better condition.

On occasionthere are reports of drivers and conductors colluding with criminalsbut this usually happens at night or in desolate places. There are also reports of hypnotists robbing people of their possessionsand street vendors selling drugged beverages and drinks to waiting for passengers at stops and terminalswho then become victims of crimes. Longovernight journeys are particularly dangerous. Guard your bags like a hawk. In the wilder parts of the country (notably South Sumatra)inter-province buses are occasionally ambushed by bandits.

There is a way to reserve a bus ticket through the booking portal like Travelokawith an English language interface option. Passengers can buy a bus ticket from multiple bus operators to many cities in JavaSumatraKalimantanand Lombok. Otherwisewalking up to an inter-city bus terminal or a bus depot for a last-minute reservation is still feasible.

There can be many intra-city bus systemsdepending on the city. Angkot is the staple for all major cities where passengers sits sideways on a minivan. Buses and BRTs can be found in larger cities. Howeverif you see a bus that's of poor quality (deteriorating paint & dusty windows)it is advised not to ride them as their safety standard is compromised.

Ride-hailing for both cars and motorbikespowered by smartphone appshas quickly become popular in more than 200 Indonesian cities. Locally owned Go-jek and Malaysian-owned Grab divide up the market between them. GoJek tends to have lower prices than Grabbut it helps to compare. Both apps allow payment by cash or international credit cardsas well as local payment methods. There are some other regional operatorsespecially in the motorcycle-sharing sectorincluding Shejek who only accept female customers.

While most motorbike drivers wear a uniform jacket of the respective companiessome don't so as not to provoke conventional taxis. License plates are in most cases the same as shown in the app; if notusually the driver will tell you beforehand or call out your name at the arranged pick-up spot. If in doubttell you name so they can verify you're the riderask for their nameor tell them from their face. Only one passenger at a time for a motorbike; if travelling as a groupcompare the prices between ordering a multitude of them or just order a single car - the latter can usually fit up to 4 peoplewith larger cars can fit up to 6 people but are usually more expensive.

As most drivers speak limited Englishit is worth spending some time to learn enough Indonesianor other relevant regional languagesto talk to the driver who may call or chat you to ask your precise location and how to identify you.

There have been tensions between conventional taxis (both car and motorbike) and ride-hailing servicesand drivers may be unwilling to pick up in certain placesespecially near taxi ranks. If you insist on ordering onetry walking a bit further away from where it's prohibited. Most drivers may already know this and will simply ask you to do so.

In addition to passenger servicesboth Gojek and Grab can be used to deliver food from partner restaurants to your place or to ship items to another place. The former can also be used to order Bluebird taxis. Payment can be made by cashalthough using their dedicated E-Wallet earns you discounts.

Ride-hailing rides are almost always free of misunderstandings or scams. Howeverwhile it is possible to rent a grab car by the hourthis provides more scam surface for a dishonest driver to exploit. Don't take one to a remote locationor you may be shaken down by a driver who turns off the app or whoonce you have reached a location where it would be hard for you to say nosimply demands more cash off-app. In spots where tourists wait for Grab carsscammers may approach you and tell you they are your Grab driver. Real Grab drivers do not ordinarily get out of the car and wander around looking for customers. Keep your phone screen hiddenask the driver's nameand check the license plate.

In many parts of Indonesiasuch as Bali and Yogyakartait is possible for tourists to rent a motorcycle to get around. Prices are usually around Rp60,000-80,000; negotiate a price and seek a discount for longer rental periods. An automatic is normally provided. Engine capacity will be in the range of 110cc to 125cc. Be sure to check over the vehicle first and confirm that it has a current Surat Tanda Nomor Kendaraan (STNKwhich is proof of registration and legality).

People who rent the motorcycles may be unconcerned with whether or not you have a driver's licensehoweverto ride a motorcycle in Indonesiaa current home nation issued driver's license of the appropriate class must be carriedplus an International Driver's Permit (IDP) of that same class. There are no exceptions to this unless you are holding an Indonesian Surat Izin Mengemudi (SIM C)which is the local license for a sepeda motor (motorbike). Careful consideration must be given to being provided with a SIM C if not also possessing an appropriate home-issued license and IDP. Many travel insurance policies may only acknowledge responsibility if you possess an applicable home issued licensewith the fully matching IDP. A 'moped' classification or endorsement is not sufficientit must be a full license.

By lawhelmets are required to be wornso make sure they provide them for you. Having an accident while not wearing one will also likely void your travel insurance policyor provide some serious policy complications if making a claim. It is also required have your headlamp and tail lamp illuminated at all times.

Be sure to drive defensively as most road users are quite reckless and an astounding number of the visitors to Indonesian hospital emergency rooms and morgues were only recently sitting on a motorbike.

For budget travellerthis is recommended way to go as cheap local options may be not available or hard to get in many regions (BaliLombok) and only leave more expensive tourist bus and tours. Without ityou are less likely to be able to explore as freely as you would want.

Several motorcycle rental companies offer point-to-point serviceswhere you can pick up a bike from one locationand drop it off at another. For examplepicking a bike up from Yogyakarta (Java) and dropping it off as far away as Maumere (Flores). This means you can take the bike on a one-wayinter-island journeywhich includes riding through islands such as Java-Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa-Florestaking the ASDP car ferry between islandsand dropping the bike in cities where the rental company has an office. The trans-Flores route is particularly popular. Obviouslythis type of rental is more expensive.

For a group of two to four peoplea conventional taxi may be the best choice for relatively short journeys. Taxi fares in Indonesia are relatively cheap and relatively uniform across the country. The flagfall is among Rp7,000 and Rp 8,500 and subsequent kilometre is among Rp 4,000 to Rp4,500but rises higher if you are trapped in a traffic jam (when the taxi stop due to traffic jamit will cost about Rp45,000/hour). Despite the price schememostly you are still required to pay a minimum fare if you are going for short distances or booking by phoneusually indicated by the respective companiesbut usually Rp25,000 and stated on the dashboard. Most people recommend the company Blue Bird taxis for their convenient bookingpolite drivers and safe driving. Blue Bird Taxis are available in many of the main cities and when Blue Bird existall (other) taxies run its meter well. In the other cities Blue Bird does not servesome taxi drivers are naughty: they use the meterbut will still charge you more (sometimes more than twice the normal rate)claiming their stated price is common. Ask first before you get into the taxi'sesuai argo tidak' <sesoowhy argo teadah> (pay same with the (argo)meter or not).

In every major city in Indonesiataxis are abundant even in rush hours. Nowadays with abundant taxis and traffic jamsthe taxi drivers prefer to wait order by phone calling through call centre or receive order directly from a customer through EasyTaxi or GrabTaxi apps using their smartphones and are known as online taxis. The nearest driver will pick you up. Only qualified taxi companies and drivers are allowed in the system and all is monitored by GPS from their HQ.

Most conventional taxis are sedans or multipurpose vehicles with 1.5L engines. Most online taxis use city cars or multipurpose vehicles with smaller engines. As a resultregular taxis are more comfortablehave more leg room and are more spacious. Howeveronline taxis charge only 2/3 of the tariff of a regular taxi tariff; their drivers are usually more educated than regular taxi driversand many online taxi drives own the cars they drive. And they're much less likely to behave inappropriately than regular taxi drivers.

Angkot (acronym for angkutan perkotaan or 'city transport') is a type of public minivan that is available in all cities and large townsand often in rural areas (then sometimes called angdes'village transport'). They follow a fixed route (usually marked by a colour or number)but there is no fixed schedule and there are no fixed stops. To get onsimply raise your hand. To get offsimply shout "Kiri!" to the driverso he will pull over on the left (Indonesian: kiri) side of the road. The price within a city is usually Rp2,000 to 5,000. It is best to ask a local which angkot route to takeand how to recognise the location you want to get off.

Less common than the becakand found only practically in Jakarta city is the Indian- bajaj (BAH-jai) three-wheeler auto rickshawnow upgraded to run on CNG and thus quieter than the old petrol rattletraps. The driver sits in front and the passengers (up to 3 small adults) in the back. The cabin is covered by a canvas roof and there is a windshield andwhile doors don't have windows and are half-heightthe sides and back of the roof may have soft plastic windows. You may ask the driver to take you somewhere else for an extra feeand they may be willing to take you on a viewing and/or shopping tour for even more money. If you take a shopping tourthey will generally guide you to specific venues with which they have informal agreements that give them extra income from your purchasesor perhaps a free meal.

As with most small forms of transportcommunication and haggling skills are importantand it is best to know the price before talking to a driver.

Ojek (OH-jeck) are motorcycle taxis. They're dangerousoften uncomfortablecan only take one passenger and not much luggagebut they're cheap and can weave through trafficmaking them very popular. Traditional ojek that wait at a fixed point (ojek pangkalan) outside a market or station have a negotiated fare system. Communication and haggling skills are importantand it is best to know the going rate for a trip before you talk to a driver. The price is Rp10,000 to Rp15,000 for four kilometresbut negotiating is important. Some drivers will agree to a price but then try to extort additional money at the end of the journey by claiming it is common to pay more than the agreed priceand acting angrily. The threat of violence is lowthe aim is more to humiliatebut do be wary.

In some areasojek may be the only public transportation available. Getting off the main road into rural villagesfor exampleif the road condition is too poor for cars or buses. You do not have to go too far out of the big cities to experience this. Prices may be a little high due to the monopolybut rural drivers may be more honest than in big cities.

Ride-sharing apps have revolutionised the ojek industrystarting with Go-jek and now adopted by other providers such as Grab. Easily spotted by their green vestsprices are competitivefares are transparent and there is an opportunity to complain if service is poor. The minimum charge is between Rp 7,000 and Rp 12,500 and additional charges are no more than Rp3,000 per kilometre. One effort to fight back has been ojek argo which uses taxi meters.

The becak ("BEH-chahk") is a colourfully decorated tricycle (pedicab) transportation mode for short distances such as residential areas in many cities. The passengers' seat can be covered by a convertible- canvas or plastic roofand they sometimes add a sheet of clear plastic in front during rainstorms. In some areasthe driver is sitting behind the passengerbut in some areas (like Medan) the driver sits to the side . Some drivers have started to outfit their becak with small motors.

Good communication and haggling skills are important to assure you get to your destination and to prevent getting overcharged on these rides. Some sly drivers try to get some more money out of you after you've reached your destinationensure you know how much it costs beforehand. You can hire a group of becak if you're in a groupor you can even hire them to transport belongingsblocks of icegroceriesbuilding materials etc. You may ask the driver to take you somewhere else for an extra feeand they may be willing to take you on a viewing and/or shopping tour for even more money. If you take a shopping tourthey will generally guide you to specific venues with which they have informal agreements that give them extra income from your purchasesor perhaps a free meal.

There are no becak in Jakarta or Bali. Insteadthe motorised bajaj (BAH-jai)somewhat similar to the Thai tuk-tukserves the same function. In other provinces (e.g. North SumatraAcehGorontalo) you can also find motorbikes with sidecarsknown as bentor or bemo (short for becak bermotor). The latter can be called on-demand the same way as the ride-sharing apps (see above).

Becak is the most expensive form of public transportand nowadaysit's rarely used except by elderly women who are carrying goods from traditional markets; the younger would take ojek if they are carrying fish or other smelly productsor otherwise use angkot. In some cities such as Yogyakartathe use of the becak has diminished so muchthey are used almost exclusively by tourists.

Indonesia's larger cities are remarkably pedestrian-hostileso travel on foot is best avoided except for short distances. Proper sidewalks are rare and often packed with obstacleswhile walking on the road means constantly dodging crazy traffic. Follow the crowd at marked crosswalks or use overhead bridges when possible.

Horsecarts are called delman (DEL-mahn)dokar (DOE-car) or andong (AHN-dong) depending on where in Indonesia you areand the shape of the vehicle. Not available everywherebut are more common than one might think. In some placessuch as Gili Air (Lombok) where motorised vehicles are both impractical and forbiddenthey are the only form of transportbut you can also find them in large cities like Jogjakarta. They generally follow a specific route but you may ask the driver to take you somewhere else for an extra feeand they may be willing to take you on a sightseeing or shopping trip for even more money.

If you take a shopping tripthey will generally guide you to specific venues with which they have informal agreements that give them extra income from your purchasesor perhaps a free meal.

As with most small forms of transportcommunication and haggling skills are importantand it is best to know the price before talking to a driver.

The horses are not always very well cared-for and may be in poor physical condition.

Indonesia is home to 167 active volcanoesfar more than any other country. Don't let this fact scare youthoughas most are dormant and what you see is most often their topography rather than spewing smoke. Some of the more accessible mountains for visitors are in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and the Ijen Crater in East JavaMount Rinjani in Lombok and perhaps easiest of allMount Baturand Mount Agungits neighbour in Bali.

Hardly surprisingly in the world's largest archipelagobeaches are significant attractions. Aside from the obvious like Bali and Lombokthere are wonderful beaches in off-the-beaten-track locationsespecially in MalukuNusa Tenggara and Sulawesi. In a nation of 18,000+ islandsthe options are almost endless.

Indonesia is within two wildlife regions; the west is part of the Indomalayan regionand the east is within the Australasian region. The country has some of the largest remaining tracts of tropical forest anywhere in the worldand these support an incredibly diverse wildlife from orangutans and other primates to critically endangered Javan rhinoceros and Sumatran tigersand an extraordinarily wide range of bird species. Forest areas recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites are Ujung Kulon National Park in West Javaand three huge parks in Sumatrawhich together constitute the Tropical Rain Forest Heritage of Sumatra: Bukit Barisan Selatan National ParkGunung Leuser National Park and Kerinci Seblat National Park. Sadlythe forests of Kalimantan are disappearing at an alarming clip due to illegal logging.

Unfortunatelyin more populated areaseven nearby forestssuch as much of Javabird species are disappearing at an alarming rate due to the bird trade. Birds are a major source of income for poor trappersand the birds are sold to people in citiesmost of which spend the rest of their days in individual cages. Most commonly seen are finchessparrowsswallows and certain other birds that are of lesser interest to pet bird owners. The various species of burung Cendrawasih (bird of paradise) of Papua are mostly endangered. Snakes are also in serious decline in many places due to a knee-jerk reaction to any snake: "Kill it!" Yetyou can see scorpionswhip scorpionsspidersmole crickets (which make a terribly louddroning sound at night)many butterflies and mothsthe elusive and rare squirrelcertain types of monkeysgeckosincluding the Tokek (TOE-kay: Tokay gecko) and a variety of cicak (geckos)as well as the undesirable miceratsshrewscockroachestermitesandin numbers that may boggle your mindants of various sizes and shapes and personalities. Indonesia is paradise for those who want to study arachnids and insects. Bali sports a nice butterfly parkas well as Turtle Island. 6 of 7 kinds of turtles can be found in Indonesia sea water and even 4 kinds of turtles can be found only in Kampung Penyu (Turtle Village) in Selayar IslandSouth Sulawesi.

Further eastKomodo Island is the home of the remarkable Komodo dragon and a very diverse marine life. Close to the very eastern limit of Indonesiathe remote Lorentz National Park in Papua has a permanent glacierand is the single largest national park anywhere in Southeast Asia.

Indonesia is home to several beautiful scuba diving and snorkelling spots in many different placessuch as BaliLombokNusa Tenggarathe Thousand Islands north of JakartaBunakenSelayar Islandsand Raja Ampat. Indonesia is also famous for surfingnotably Balithe south coast of Java including Cimaja and Pangandaranand the Mentawai Islands.

Indonesia is particularly rich with places to visitsome of which are quite old and many still have significant importance for locals. You could spend your life exploring Indonesia and still not see them all!

Borobudur in Central Java is the world's largest Buddhist monumentdating from the 8th centuryand nearby Prambanan within Yogyakarta is a remarkable Hindu monument dating from just a few years later. You'll notice how the architecture is very different compared to the shrines at where the religions come frommainly because of the assimilation with the Javanese culture. Those twotogether with the charm of Yogyakarta and Soloformer kingdomsmake for a popular cultural combination in Central Java. It is said that if you can touch a Buddha's hand within one of the "stupa" near the top of the templeit will give you luckalthough such action is frowned upon by the park authorities. Prambanansadlywas damaged by an earthquake some years ago and repairs have been stalled by lack of funds. Many sites in Indonesia suffer from this problem and are damaged by graffiti and litteringgenerally by locals.

Demak on the north coast of Central Javais the home of one of the oldest mosques in IndonesiaMasjid Agung (lit. "Great Mosque")as well as Sunan Kalijaga Cemetery. Nearby Semarang is home to several BuddhistHindu and Confucian templesas well as mosques and churchesand nearby Bandungan offers the historic Gedung Songo (lit. "9 Buildings") temple complexwhich has 9 Hindu shrines in itas well as various activities for families and hikers to enjoy. In additionit offers Old Semarangthe original part of town with many Dutch-era buildings; Lawang Sewu (lit. "1,000 doors")is located at the Tugu Muda roundabout intersection (which is also home to a museum and a government office)is a large complex of Dutch buildings featuring stain glass windows and numerous doors which was used by the militarythe Japanese during their World War II occupation of Indonesiaand prior to that the Dutch as the office of the railway systemprisonhospital and barracks. SupposedlyLawang Sewu is haunted with over 30 different supernatural beings but you must be very talented to see even one after surveying the entire grounds from the foundation to attics and water towers!

Still in Central Javathe Dieng Plateau is home to the oldest extant temples in Indonesiapredating Borobudur by some 100 years andjust north of Solothe Pithecanthropus Erectus aka "Java Man" archaeological excavation at SangiranTrinil - Ngawi Regency is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In such a vast archipelago it is hardly surprising that there are some very distinct and unique culturesoften contained in relatively small areas. Sumatra has noticeably distinct differences between the patriarchal Batak and the matrirchal Minangkabau or the Sundanese and Javanese wayangs in Javadespite both being separated less than 200 kilometres away! Bali has a unique Hindu cultureadorned by beautifully kept temples (pura)and a seemingly endless procession of colourful ceremonies. Some of the better known are the mother temple at BesakihPura Ulun Danau Bratanand Pura Uluwatu. A unique templeTanah Lotis situated on an island right off the coast and is reached by an elevated land bridge. In the north of Baliyou can find small villages of the original Balinesethe Bali Aga (A-geh)as well as Trunyan island where the dead are buried above ground yet the smell of corpses is absent.

Further eastSumba is home to one of the few remaining megalithic cultures anywhere on earth. Many of the tribes there still live in small kingdomsalthough this practice is starting to disappear. In Sulawesithe Tana Toraja region is famous for spectacular animist burial rites. Visiting the vast hinterland of Papua in the far east of the country requires considerable planningan awful lot of moneyand a tolerance for extremely challenging conditions. Howeverfor those who want a true wilderness experience and the opportunity to witness first-hand cultures that have had very little contact with the outside worldit is hard to think of a better option anywhere on earth.

Indonesia is largely Muslimbut across the archipelagic countryit includes a collection of sites from many sultanates dating to pre-Dutch colonial rule.

• Pontianak to Kuching
• Great Post Road — route across Java Island form west to eastbuilt in the early 19th century.
• Gunung Semeru — a demanding trek up an active volcano

The ten new Balis program was launched by the Indonesian government in 2016. With the goal to further increase tourist arrivals while attempting to stem the overdevelopment and environmental degradation on the island of Balithese ten locations are receiving special infrastructure projects to boost their tourist potential. They are:

• Belitung
• Borobudur
• Labuan Bajo
• Lake Toba
• Mandalika
• Morotai
• Mount Bromo
• Tanjung Lesung
• Thousand Islands
• Wakatobi

See: Diving in Indonesia

Indonesia has some of the best scuba diving spots in the world. Indonesia is at the centre of the so-called Coral Triangle which is home to 5,000 species of fish and hosts 20% of the world's reefs. The beautiful reef formations are a major draw for tourists to places like Bunaken in Northern SulawesiWakatobi in South East Sulawesithe Alor Archipelago (Nusa Tenggara) and Raja Ampat in Papua. While diving off Bali can be a little mediocreNusa Penida and the Gili Islands just to the east of the island offer excellent recreational divingas well as being important teaching centres. Pulau Weh in the Indian Ocean has the best diving in Sumatra.

Indonesia is one of the best places to pamper or rejuvenate yourself. Visiting a spa is a very popular activity for all types of visitors. The soothing natural ingredients and graceful massages are a perfect combination for detoxification. These vary from simply constructed huts to lavish so-called "wellness centres" in the grandest of five star hotels. There is usually an option to suit just about every budget. Bali's beaches and pristine nature is the centre of this activity.

If massage is your thingthere are few places anywhere which offer such high quality for such low prices. Again this could be at a five star hotel or it could be under coconut tree on a quiet beach.

See: Surfing in Indonesia

Indonesia is a premier destination for travelling surfers.

The Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra feature dozens of world class surf spots. Chartering a private boat for up to two weeks is the most popular way to access the island chainhowever there is a public ferry from Padang. Just to the north Nias is equally popular amongst hard-core surfers.

Further eastBali and tiny Nusa Lembongan have some great wavesthe south of Lombok likewiseand for the more adventurousSumbawa offers world class surfing.

All Indonesia's surf beaches are described in the beautifully photographed "Indo Surf and Lingo" surfing guidebook together with comprehensive listings of the best surf camps and surf charter yachts.

Indonesia has more than 100 volcanoes in all areasexcept Borneo and Papua. Many of them can be climbedconditions allowingbut go with a guidetake appropriate clothing for temperatures that may range between 0 and 30°Cand exercise due caution. Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) in Lorentz National Park has become a part of the World Seven Summits.

If the spa treatment doesn't help you unwind enoughyou are never more than a stone's throw away from karaoke in Indonesia. An hour or two unleashing your inner Tom Jones or Mariah Carey will help you cope with anything life can throw at you. Karaoke joints vary according to seediness and selection of songs. There are a number of national chains — Inul ViztaHappy PuppyMasterpiece — that are found in malls and city centres. Patronising those will help you avoid those that are borderline brothels. You'll get a private room with a bell to call someone to take your orders for fried snacksand a sound system with enough reverb to make anyone sound great.

Indonesia's currency is the rupiahabbreviated Rp (ISO code: IDR).

• Bills: Rp1,000 (yellow)Rp2,000 (gray)Rp5,000 (brown)Rp10,000 (purple)Rp20,000 (green)Rp50,000 (blue)and Rp100,000 (red). Three banknote series are in circulation in Indonesiathe 2004 seriesthe 2016 and 2023 series featuring Indonesian national heroes.

While the newcolorful large-denomination notes are easy to tell apartthe smaller notes are all confusingly similar pale pastel shades of yellowgreen and brown and often filthy and mangled to boot. Banknotes issued before 2000 are no longer legal tender.

• Coins: Rp100Rp200Rp500and Rp1,000. Three series of coins are in circulationthe 2003 series featuring birdsthe 2010 Rp1,000 coin and the 2016 series featuring Indonesian national heroes.

Coins have never really caught onpartly because inflation keeps chewing away their value: the largestRp1,000is worth only around US$0.06. You're only likely to encounter these at supermarkets and similar "exact change" placesand even then coins below Rp500 are now rarely seen.

In restaurant menus and casual speechit's not uncommon to drop the final three zeroesso Nasi goreng - Rp 25 actually means 25,000 rupiah.

Living in Indonesia is cheapas long as you're willing to live like an Indonesian. For exampleRp20,000 (roughly US$1.50) will get you a meal on the street or a packet of cigarettes3 km in a taxior three liters of drinking water. A Rp300,000 (US$20) per night hotel room may already include breakfast while Rp8,500 (65 US cents) can get you a liter of gasoline. Prices in larger cities and tourist areas like Jakarta and Bali are often more expensive than smaller ones like Yogyakarta or Bandung; eastern Indonesia tends to be the most expensive because of the difficult and long shipping times. Fuel prices are the same and products sold at supermarkets & department stores do not differ too much.

Fancy restaurantshotels and the like will charge 10% government sales tax plus a variable service charge. This may be denoted with "++" after the price or just written in tiny print on the bottom of the menu.

Tipping is not a universal practice in Indonesia. You will find some areas and businesses discourage it while others encourage it or there may be a neutral viewpoint about it. In popular tourist areasin particular on Java and Balitipping is often hoped for. Tipping is certainly not a requirement in Indonesiabut if you feel you'd like to reward the person who helped you because they did a great jobor they made an extra effort then give it consideration if it is not openly discouraged. You can try asking people but you may not get a very clear answer. It is up to your discretion how much you giveRp10,000 can buy a meal hereand in many occupations people may often struggle to make ends meet. In generalIndonesians themselves do not tip unless the service was exemplary. If you do tipthen ensure you give it directly to the person concernednormally it is done by passing the money folded and in a slightly cupped right hand and placing directly into their own. This is done without flourish as though it were a quick light handshakeand normally without announcementwatch the localsit is normally a quite discreet exchange.

Alsoin some cultures it is traditional to refuse something a few times (3 is a common number) before accepting itbut there are cultural nuances that can let you know whether it's politeness or a rejection of a tip.

Finallykeep in mind that some people deliberately tell stories about how hard their life is in order to get a tip. If the person has offered these tales with little or no promptingand has been quite detailedyou may wish to be cautious.

Bargaining (tawar-menawar) is the norm in most placeseven in what appear to be nice storesso be prepared to negotiate. This is also a way to socialize with the localsso relaxenjoy the process and get some local insights and tips. If you think you're getting a good price based on what you'd pay back home - you're probably paying too much. Try an initial counter-offer of 50-70% off what they offerand then work from there. Clever vendors will ask you to start the biddingwhich puts you at a disadvantage. You can always try walking away to see if they'll cooperate and give you a better price. Howeversupermarkets and malls don't usually allow haggling unless you're buying something very expensivesuch as electronics or a car.

Indonesia has a strong tradition of taking a little something back with youfor family and friends and colleaguesif you have been travelling. This is oleh-oleh (OH-lay OH-lay). It is usually the local specialty food or produces. In Medanit is syrup made from the local passion fruit. In Baliit has traditionally been salak or snakefruit.

More modern oleh-oleh is also providedlike in Surabayathey have super-crispy "almond crispy cheese" cookies. Alsoin Bogorthere is lapis talas cake.

Many places that have not had a specific product to offer have generated onein order to cash in. As a resultthere are a lot of fried crackers and chips on offer.

The vast majority of Indonesian restaurants serve only halal (comply with Muslim restrictions) food. This means no porkrattoad or batsamong others. This includes Western fast food chains like McDonald'sKFCPizza HutBurger KingWendy'sand ethnic restaurants such as Padangese restaurants. The main exception is ethnic restaurants catering to Indonesia's non-Muslim minoritiesespecially those serving BatakManadonese (Minahasan)Balinese and Chinese cuisineso enquire if unsure. Although Indonesia is a Muslim-majority countryMuslims do not form the majority everywhere. If you are in areas mainly populated by other religious groups such as Christians or Hindusmost of the local restaurants and stalls will not be halaland you will need to spend some effort seeking out a halal establishment. A safe bet is to seek out nasi padang restaurantswhich can be found in virtually every Indonesian cityand are almost always halal. Beef is shunned in Balinese cuisine due to the fact that the cow is a holy animal in Hinduism.

Strict vegetarians and vegans will have a tough time in Indonesiaas the concept is poorly understood and avoiding fish and shrimp-based condiments is a challenge. Tahu (tofu aka soybean curd) and its chunkierindigenous cousin tempe (soybean cake) are an essential part of the dietbut they are often served with non-vegetarian condiments. For examplethe ubiquitous sambal chili pastes very often contain shrimpand kerupuk crackers with a spongy appearanceincluding those always served with nasi gorengnearly always contain shrimp or fish. (Those that resemble potato chipson the other handare usually fine.) You canhoweverask them to make something without meat or seafoodwhich can be indicated by asking for vegetarian ("ve-GEH-tah-rian") or tanpa daging atau hasil laut. Restaurants are usually willing to take special orders. Cities with large Indonesian-Chinese communities like MedanPontianak and Singkawang will often have Buddhist vegetarian restaurantsand these are usually a safe bet. Chinese Buddhist vegetarian food traditionally does not include dairy productsso most non-dessert dishes are essentially veganbut make sure your dish does not contain eggs.

Kosher food is virtually unknown in Indonesiaand there are no kosher eateries.

Eating with your hand (instead of utensils like forks and spoons) is very common. The basic idea is to use four of your fingers to pack together a little ball of rice and other thingswhich can then be dipped into sauces before you pop it in your mouth by pushing it with your thumb. There's one basic rule of etiquette to observe: Use only your right handas the left hand is reserved for handling dirty things. Don't stick either hand into communal serving dishes: insteaduse the left hand to serve yourself with utensils and then dig in.

Howevereating by hand is frowned upon in "classier" places. If you are provided with cutlery and everybody else seems to be using themthen take the hint.

Chopsticksforks and spoons are equally commonalthough knives are somewhat rareexcept for upscale restaurants.

It is considered polite and a sign of enjoyment to eat quicklyand some people view burping as a compliment.

Eating on the cheap in Indonesia is cheap indeedand a complete street side meal can be had for only Rp5,000. Howeverthe level of hygiene may not be up to Western standardsso you may wish to steer clear for the first few days and patronize only visibly popular establishments. If the food is served buffet without heator is left out in dishes or pansit is best to ask how long ago the food was preparedor just avoid it. It's usually up to you to get the attention of the staff if you want to orderneed something or want the bill — even in some expensive restaurants. You can motion them over to your tableand this is not considered rude.

There are travelling vendors who carry a basket of pre-prepared food (usually women)or who carry two small wooden cabinets on a bamboo stick (usually men)who may serve light snacks or even simple mealssome of which are very cheap and enjoyablebut hygiene is questionable.

The fastest way to grab a bite is to visit a kaki limaliterally "five feet". Depending on whom you askthey're named either after the mobile stalls' three wheels plus the owner's two feetor the "five-foot way" pavements. These can be found by the side of the road in any Indonesian citytown or villageusually offering up simple fare like fried ricenoodlesmeatball soup (bakso)siomay (dimsum) and porridge. At nighta kaki lima can turn into a lesehan eatery simply by providing some bamboo mats for customers to sit on and chatbut they may provide plastic stools or even benchesand tables.

A step up from the kaki lima is the warung (or the old spelling waroeng)a slightly less mobile stall offering much the same foodbut perhaps a few plastic stools and a tarp for shelter. Some warung are permanent structures.

One of the big questions for the above three choices is hygiene: where do they get clean water to wash disheswhere do they go to use a toilet (a nearby river or ditch)where do they wash their hands and just how clean are they. Typhoid fever is a common problem for eaters hereas are hepatitis and food poisoning. Indonesians have been exposed to poorly prepared/spoiled food for most of their livesso they are rarely affected by diarrhea and food poisoning.

A rather more comfortable option is the rumah makan (lit: eating house)a basic restaurant more often than not specializes in a certain cuisine. Nasi padang restaurantseasily identified by their soaring Minangkabau roofstypically offer rice and an array of curries and dishes to go along with it. Ordering is particularly easy: just sit downand your table will promptly fill up with countless small plates of dishes. Eat what you want and pay for what you eat.

The other way to orderparticularly in smaller Padang warungis to order nasi campur (mixed rice)which is a plate of riceand an accompaniment of other dishes displayed at the counter or in the windowwhich you choose from depending on what you would like to eat. Usually served with the in-house sambal olek (chili condiment). You only pay for what you have ordered.

Buffets (prasmanan or buffet) and steam-boat restaurants are self-service choicesbut the former should be approached warily (see above).

Another easy mid-range option in larger cities is to look out for food courts (known there as Pujaserashort for Pusat Jajanan Serba Adawhich translates to All-in-one snack center in English) and Indonesian restaurants in shopping mallswhich combine air conditioning with hygienic if rather predictable/boring food.

A restoran indicates more of a Western- eating experiencewith air conditionerstableclothstable service and prices to match. Especially in Jakarta and Baliit's possible to find very good restaurants offering authentic fare from around the worldbut you'll be lucky to escape for under Rp100,000 a head.

Most chain restaurants in Indonesia have ample seating area. Most offer meals setso it is one of the cheapest (and most oftenalso the cleanest) option. Famous chains to look for:

• Hoka Hoka Bento (also known as Hokben) offers Japanese fast food. (And nothere is no Hoka Hoka Bento in Japan!). You can get rice with teriyaki and fried chickenegg rollor shrimp for about Rp50,000 or lessplus a drinksaladand miso soup.
• Bakmi GM is famous for its ubiquitous types of noodle entrées (including its very own special version of noodle dish) and its fried wontons (pangsit goreng)although it also offers dishes of rice. A good meal usually costs Rp50,000 or less.
• Es Teler 77 is one of the oldest fast food chains in Indonesiain business since 1982and has more than 200 outlets throughout Indonesia. Offers Indonesian dishes such as baksoand as its name suggestses teler. Dishes cost about Rp50,000 (incl. Food + Drinks).
• Indonesia's Pizza Hut restaurants look like more of a fine dining option rather than a fast food franchise like its original locationthe United States. The pizzas have more generous types of toppings and crustand also more options for sides & pasta. It is also famous for their waitresses or waiters who would make miniatures from balloons to children. In additionit operates a separate business unit called PHD (Pizza Hut Delivery) with its own menu exclusive for delivery in selected cities.
• Kebab Turki Baba Rafi is the world's largest kebab restaurant chain. The kebabsshawarmahot dogsand fries are very affordable for a quick meal. It can usually be found as food court stalls.
• Most imported minimart stores such as FamilyMartCircle K and Lawson provide prepared meals that the staff can heat for youin addition to the usual groceries you typically findfor less than Rp30,000. Local chains such as Indomaret and Alfamart have a lot more branches but is more like a typical minimart. At best it provides bread or salad as a prepared mealthough nowadays both Indomaret and Alfamart are stepping up their quality to provide similar services as the imported convenience stores.
• Transmart or Lotte Mart supermarkets have area for produce such as bakery & snacksbut most people will do a take-away instead of a dine-in although some seating is available.

American fast food franchises McDonaldsKFCWendy'sBurger Kingor A&W also maintain their presence in just about every mall in Indonesia. Other chains from around the globesuch as the world-famous Yoshinoyacan be found in more upscale malls.

In the same way that the transport sector has been revolutionized by ride-hailing services run through smartphone appsthe way Indonesians eat has also changedthanks to the same apps. Almost any food can be ordered in through the appsdown to some of the smallest warungs.

This negates the point of travellingso it might not be your first choice of how to choose dinnerbut there will always be times when the effort to get up and out is just too much.

Aside from the warnings abovethere have been instances where foodsbeveragesand other items (such as baby products and massage oils) are in violation of relevant laws. These violations include the use of forbidden chemicalssuch as formaldehyde or borax as preservativestextile dyes to improve colorplastic bags in hot oil to make fried food crispier; the use of expired or even rotten food (such as vegetables or milk) "rehabilitated" through reheating and maybe application of chemicalsor as a filler to improve the weight/volume; the filtration of used cooking oil and subsequent use of forbidden chemicals to make it look clean; the contamination of food that is not halal meats (against Muslim food regulations); the injection of water (sometimes with formaldehyde) into meat to make it heavier; harvesting water vegetables from heavily polluted waterways; and the sale of animals without slaughtering (which is illegal). Typicallysuch foods and beverages are sold by hawkerswandering vendors and lower-class restaurantsalthough there have been isolated cases in better establishments and even stores and supermarkets.

Always wash raw produce with safe water before eating or cooking it. It is better to buy them from well-known and clean supermarket chains.

Fruit juices — prefixed by jus for plain juicepanas for heated (usually only citrus drinks)or es if served with ice (not to be confused with the dessert es buah); are popular with Indonesians and visitors alike. Just about any Indonesian tropical fruit can be juiced. Jus alpukatfound only in Indonesiais a tasty drink made from avocadosusually with some condensed chocolate milk orat more expensive placeschocolate syrup poured around the inside of the glass prior to filling it. For a total refreshmentyou can try air kelapa (coconut water)easily found at virtually every beach in the country. Some juices have become special region beverages like Medan's Jus martabe made from tamarillo and passion fruit also Ambon's Jus gandaria made from plum-mango. Stillin Depokthere are juices for food souvenirs that are jus belimbing (starfruit juice)jus lidah buaya (aloe vera juice)and jus rumput laut (seaweed juice).

It is very common to mix some fruits and vegetables into a single drink.

Indonesians drink both kopi (coffee) and teh (tea)at least as long as they have had vast quantities of sugar added in. An authentic cup of coffeeknown as kopi tubrukis strong and sweetbut let the grounds settle to the bottom of the cup before you drink it. Some coffees are named after areaslike kopi Aceh and Lampung. No travel guide would be complete without mentioning the infamous kopi luwakcoffee made from coffee fruit which have been eatenthe beans partially digested and then excreted by the luwak (palm civet)but even in Indonesia this is an exotic delicacy costing upwards of Rp200,000 for a small pot of brew. Howeverconservationists advise against this drink due to the cruel conditions in which many of the civet cats are kept. But now many stalls in the shopping malls serve up to 20 combinations of coffee beans and produce with grinding and coffee maker for less than Rp20,000but be ready to stand when you drink it.

Tea (teh) is also quite popularas is es teh (iced tea)and the Coke-like glass bottles of the Sosro brand of sweet bottled tea and cartons and bottles of Fruit Tea are ubiquitousas is Tebsa carbonated tea. In shopping areasyou can often find vendors selling freshly poured large cups of teaoften jasminesuch as 2Tang or the stronger Tong Tji jasminefruit and lemon teas for as little as Rp2,000.

The label jamu covers a vast range of local medicinal drinks for various diseases. Jamu is available in the ready-to-drink formin powder sachets or capsulesor sold by women walking around with a basket of bottles wrapped to them by a large colorful length of Batik kain (cloth). Most of them are bitter or sour and drunk for the supposed effectnot the taste. Famous brands of jamu include IboeSido MunculJagoand Nyonya Meneer; avoid buying jamu from the street as the water quality is dubious. Some well-known jamu include:

• galian singset — weight reduction
• beras kencur (ricesand ginger and brown sugar) — coughfatigue
• temulawak (turmeric) — for liver disease
• gula asem (tamarind and brown sugar) — rich in vitamin C
• kunyit asam (tamarindturmeric) — for skin carecanker sores

Chase a sour or bitter jamu with beras kencurwhich has a taste slightly reminiscent of anise. If you'd like a semeriwing (cooling) effectrequest kapu laga (cardamom) orfor heatingadd ginger.

• Wedang Serbat - made from star anisecardamomtamarindgingerand sugar. Wedang means "hot water".
• Ronde - made from gingerpowdered glutinous ricepeanutsaltsugarfood coloring additives.
• Wedang Sekoteng - made from gingergreen peapeanutpomegranatemilksugarsalt and mixed with ronde (see above).
• Bajigur - made from coffeesaltbrown sugarcoconut milksugar palm fruitvanillin.
• Bandrek - made from brown sugargingerpandanus (aka screwpine) leafcoconut meatclove budsaltcinnamoncoffee.
• Cinna-Ale - made from cinnamongingertamarindsand ginger and 13 other spices.
• Cendol/Dawet - made from rice floursago palm flourpandanus leafsaltfood coloring additives in a coconut milk and Javanese sugar liquid.
• Talua Tea/Teh Telur (West Sumatra) - made from tea powderraw eggsugar and limau nipis (a fragrant lime).
• Lidah Buaya Ice (West Kalimantan) - made from aloe veraFrench basilJavanese black jellycoconut milkpalm sugarpandanus leafsugar.

Although Islam is the religion of the majority of Indonesiansthere are no laws against alcohol consumption in most of the country. Alcohol is widely available in most areasespecially in upscale restaurants and bars. Public displays of drunkenness are strongly frowned upon and in the larger cities are likely to make you a victim of crime or get you arrested by police. Do not drive if you are drunk. The legal drinking age is 21 and supermarkets have begun enforcing ID checks for alcohol purchases.

The exception is Acehin which alcohol is banned and those caught with alcohol can be publicly caned.

Indonesia's most popular tipple is Bintang bir (beer)a standard-issue lager available more or less everywherealthough the locals like theirs lukewarm. Other popular beers include Bali Hai and Anker. From 2015convenience stores and small shops no longer sell alcoholic drinks. Howevercafesbars and restaurants with appropriate licenses can continue to sell alcoholic drinksincluding hard liquor. Tourist areas are exempted at the discretion of each regent and mayorwho can decide which area with small vendors or 'warung' can serve/sell 1-5% alcohol drinks. They can cost as much as Rp50,000 in a fancy barbut a more usual bar/restaurant price for Bintang is Rp25,000-35,000 for a big 0.65 liter bottle.

Wine is expensive and only available in expensive restaurants and bars in large hotels. Although you can still find some wines in the big supermarkets within some big malls in big cities. Almost all of it is importedbut there are a few local vintners of varying quality on Bali whose wine is cheaper. 30 percent of alcohol drinks are imported and new taxation scheme of imported alcohol drinks are 150 percent of base price and 90 percent of base price for imported beers.

Various traditional alcoholic drinks are also available:

• Tuak — sugar palm wine (15% alcohol)
• Arak — the distilled version of tuakup to 40%
• Brem — Balinese sweet glutinous rice wine

Exercise some caution in choosing what and where to buy — homemade moonshine may contain all sorts of nasty impurities. In May 200923 peopleincluding four touristswere killed by adulteratedor possibly inadvertently contaminated illicitly-supplied arak distributed in JavaBali and Lombok. In many other casestourists have been blinded or killed by methanol in drinks. If you want to save money in Indonesiadon't do it by buying the cheapest alcohol you can find. Buying them at supermarkets would usually be the safest option.

Many Indonesians smoke like chimneys and the concepts of "no smoking" and "second-hand smoke" have yet to make much headway in most of the country; howeversome TV channels are now blotting out cigarettes in TV programs and movies they show. Western- cigarettes are known as rokok putih ("white smokes") but the cigarette of choice is the ubiquitous kreteka clove-tobacco cigarette that has become something of a national symbol and whose scent you will likely first encounter the moment you step out of the airport. Popular brands of kretek include DjarumGudang GaramBentoel and Sampoerna. A pack of decent kretek will cost you on the order of Rp17,000. Some brands don't have filters because traditionally kretek cigarette have no filter and the taste is different with the kretek filter cigarette. Indonesia's legal smoking age is 18. By lawall packs of cigarettes bear a label with pictures containing the effect of smoking. Kretek are lower in nicotine but higher in tar than normal cigarettes; an unfiltered Dji Sam Soe has 39 mg tar and 2.3 mg nicotine. Most studies indicate that the overall health effects are roughly the same as for traditional western- cigarettes.

A ban on smoking has been instituted for public places in Jakarta. Anyone violating this ban can be fined up to US$5,000. Although "vaping" – smoking e-cigaretteswhich basically emits vapor clouds instead of burning smoke – is now popular in Jakarta and other big citiesalways ask for permission to smoke. If you want to smokecheck with the locals by asking: "Boleh merokok di sini?". With increasing cigarette taxes and more AC areascigarette sales have been decreasing as of the mid-2010s.

All big restaurants outside the malls in big cities usually provide smoking and non smoking areas in different rooms (sometimes the smoking area is at the terrace of the restaurant). Sometimes the waiter or waitress will ask for your seating preferences"Merokok atau Tidak Merokok?" (smoking or non-smoking).

Under the 2022 criminal codeit is illegal for unmarried couples to cohabit (live together) or have sex. Howeveronly relatives of either party can press chargesand most hotels geared towards foreign touristsincluding virtually all in Balihave indicated that they do not intend to enforce the law.

If you are staying at Sharia (Muslim) hotels or small establishments in religiously conservative areas such as Aceh and West Sumatrabe aware that you may be asked to produce a marriage certificatewhich you can show on your smartphone. This is because of the local customs that only people of the same gender otherwise can occupy one room. The words "Syariah" (Sharia) or "Halal" in a hotel advert are clear flags that unmarried couples will be turned away.

The crime rate in Indonesia is generally considered moderate. Violent crime is rareand the risk of getting shot is almost nil (guns are strictly controlled)but opportunistic theft and pickpocketing are common. Stay vigilant and be aware of your surroundingsparticularly in densely-populated areas like marketspublic transport and pedestrian overpasses. Due to the increasing popularity of e-paymentscriminals are increasingly snatching smartphones rather than wallets and purses. Avoid flashing jewellerycamerasor any valuables. Thieves have been known to snatch laptops and cellphones from Internet hotspot areas.

Local and long-distance public transport (busestrainsships) is often targeted by thieves. Do not place valuable items in checked baggageas they may be stolen by baggage handlers. Do not accept drinks from strangersas they may be laced with drugs. Choose your taxis carefully in cities (hotel taxis are often best)lock doors when inside and avoid using your phone or camera at traffic lights or in traffic jams.

Do not leave valuable items in an empty hotel roomand use the hotel's safe deposit box instead of the in-room safe. Do not draw large amounts of cash from banks or ATMs. Guard your belongings carefully and consider carrying a money clip instead of a wallet.

There are incidents of cards being skimmed or cloned at ATMs. 'Gallery ATMs' are where there are a number of ATMs in one roomoften attached to larger branch of a bank. They sometimes have a security guard on dutyso there is a lower chance of someone being able to install a card skimmer into a machine. Cover your hand when entering the PIN. Pretty much all Indonesian ATM booths have a CCTV camerasupposedly for customer securitybut who knows? If your card has a chipthere's a much lower chance of trouble.

Indonesia is notorious for corruption. Officials may ask for uang suap (bribes)tips or "gifts" — the Indonesian terms are uang kopi or uang rokokliterally "coffee money" and "cigarette money" — to supplement their meager salaries; pretending you do not understand may work. Some officials have been known to ask for furniture or whatever your company sellsor adult films. Even members of the Department of Religion have been known to extort money from mixed-nationality newlyweds. Generallybeing politesmilingasking for an official receipt for any 'fees' you are asked to paymore politeness and more smilingwill avoid any problems. Keep your cool and be patient. If you feel you've been overchargedbe sure to write a polite letter of complaint or inquiry to the person's boss. Many expatriates have done so with positive resultsincluding a formal apology and refund of moneyand some offices will expedite matters in the future for you just to avoid any more loss of face. Alsoif you are dealing withsayimmigration or the policeit is best to be aware of any laws that affect you and bring a photocopy with you. It is not uncommon for them to be unaware of the laws that directly affect themor at least pretend to beand some are so brazen as to thump a big book of laws down on the table and demand that you show them the law you are referring to.

The going rate for paying your way out of small offences (not carrying your passportlosing the departure cardminor or imaginary traffic violation) is Rp50,000. It's common for police to initially demand silly amounts or threaten you with going to the stationbut keep cool and they'll be more reasonable. If your taxibus or car driver is stoppedany fine or bribe is not your problem and it's best not to get involved. (If it's clear that the police were out of lineyour driver certainly won't object if you compensate him afterwards though.)

Giving one bribe can lead to a seemingly never-ending chain of demandseven if you were just giving a gift of thanks. Many government officials still feel it is their right to receive such money and feel not one lick of shame or guilt; they can bein factoutrageously brazen if you're on their hook. Just say no.

Carrying identity documents on your person is important. Howeverit is recommended that if an official on the street asks for your passportfor exampleyou instead provide a photocopy. Some officials have been known to hold documents hostage to ensure compliance with what they want from you.

• < about="#mwt137" data-mw="{"name":"templates","attrs":{"src":"Listing/s.css"},"body":{"extsrc":""},"parts":[{"template":{"target":{"wt":"listing\n","href":"./Template:Listing"},"params":{"name":{"wt":"Corruption Eradication Commission"},"alt":{"wt":"Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK)"},"url":{"wt":"https://kws.kpk.go.id/"},"email":{"wt":"[email protected]"},"address":{"wt":""},"lat":{"wt":""},"long":{"wt":""},"directions":{"wt":""},"phone":{"wt":"198"},"tollfree":{"wt":""},"hours":{"wt":""},"price":{"wt":""},"wikidata":{"wt":"Q3273955"},"lastedit":{"wt":"2025-03-11"},"content":{"wt":"The main anti-corruption agency for Indonesia. The agency's website has an online reporting systemalthough it is only available in Indonesian. Corruption cases may also be reported in email and phone."}},"i":0}}]}" data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r5180145" id="mwBtc" typeof="mw:Extension/templates mw:Transclusion">.mw-parser-output .listing-directions{font-:italic}.mw-parser-output .listing-phone-symbol{text-decoration:none}.mw-parser-output .listing-tollfree-symbol{text-decoration:none}.mw-parser-output .listing-metadata{font-size:0.8em}.mw-parser-output .listing-lastedit{color:rgb(150,150,150)}.mw-parser-output .vcard a.external,.mw-parser-output .vcard a.external:visited{color:var(--color-base,#252525)}.mw-parser-output .vcard a.external:hover,.mw-parser-output .vcard a.external:focus{color:var(--color-base--hover,#0645ad)} Corruption Eradication Commission (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK)), ☏ 198, [email protected]. The main anti-corruption agency for Indonesia. The agency's website has an online reporting systemalthough it is only available in Indonesian. Corruption cases may also be reported in email and phone.  (updated Mar 2025)

Civil strife continues to affect some far-flung parts of Indonesianotably Papuawhich has an active separatist movement that sometimes kidnaps foreignersand the Maluku Islands (Ambon)where Muslim-Christian tensions continue to simmer and occasionally flare into violence. Once troubled Aceh and Central Sulawesion the other handhave been calm since peace agreements were brokered in 2004 and 2002 respectively.

While the great majority of civil strife in Indonesia is a strictly local affairthere have been terrorist bombings targeting Western interests in Bali and Jakartamost notably the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings and the 2009 JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton bombing. The group behind theseJemaah Islamiyahhas been mercilessly crushed and the increasingly few attacks since have targeted the police and state institutionsnot tourists.

Elections in Indonesia frequently involve rowdy demonstrations that have on occasion spiralled into violenceand the Indonesian military has also been known to employ violent measures to control or disperse protesting crowds. Although most demonstrations and strife occur in Jakartaprovincial capitals and even smaller places aren't immune. Watch the latest news for updates if a conflict is erupting and don't get involvedeven as a spectator.

Visitors are greeted with cheery "Death to Drug Traffickers" signs at airportsand offenders have received long jail terms for mere possession of even "soft" drugs like marijuana. In a high-profile casenine Australian heroin traffickers (known as the "Bali 9") were caught and two of them were executed while the other seven spent nearly two decades in prison. Entrapment and drug busts are common and you reallyreally don't want to get involved with the Indonesian justice system; thanks to the anti-corruption driveyou cannot count on being able to bribe your way out anymore and escape a harsh or even far worse sentence.

Indonesia is a chain of highly volcanic islands located along the Ring of Fireso earthquakes occur often and tsunamis and volcano eruptions are all too common. On 26 December 2004a 9.2 magnitude earthquake shook the coast of Acehsending tsunami waves up to 30 metres high across the Indian Ocean. Hundreds of thousands perished and many more were displaced. Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta spews ash nearly every year or so. In some yearsthe ash can reach far into the Yogyakarta city and deadly hot smoke cascades down into the villagesas happened in 2010. Most of the country isunfortunatelyprone to these kinds of disasterswith the exception of Sumatra's east coastJava's north coastKalimantansouthern Sulawesiand southern Papua.

Realisticallythere is little you can do to avoid these risks. You need to brace yourself in the event of an earthquake. But volcanoesunlike earthquakesare much more predictable. The local media & authority usually has good warning of how active the volcano is and will be. Steer clear of the areas around the volcano and change your travel plans if the situation is imminent.

In the event of being near a volcanic activity - take note of what media reports say about where things are dangerouscheck warning signs and fire escape routes in hotels. Always be aware of areas experiencing volcanic activity and evacuate when prompted. Howevershould you be caught in a cloud of volcanic ash from a far-away eruptioncover your mouth and nose immediatelythen seek shelter in an enclosed place with a strong roof.

In the event of earthquakeshide under sturdy objects if indoors or run outside if near the doorand stay away from tall objects if outdoors. Any earthquake bigger than a 6.5 magnitude that lasts a long time usually triggers a tsunami warning (usually by siren or loudspeaker). Even if you don't hear a warningif you feel a persistent & violent shakingget away from the coast and seek higher land immediately.

Indonesia is not prone to organised tropical systemsyet the rain can be heavy with thunderstorms and (sometimes swirling) windsespecially during the rainy season when it happens pretty frequent. Landslides occur in mountain slopes or cliffsand flooding in lowlands or former deltas can be serious and ongoing. While there are rarely weather reports in any form of mediait's a good idea to pack an umbrella if it is said to rain or be vigilant for any signs of incoming stormsuch as darktowering and puffy clouds.

In heavy rain when there is an accumulation of volcanic ash in recently erupted volcanoesit can result in lahar dingin (a very dangerous of slurry with stones and boulders).

Crocodiles and venomous snakes are present throughout Indonesiaalthough they are uncommon in most areas. Cobras and green tree snakes are generally the most common. Since most locals don't know the difference between venomous and harmless snakessnakes are aggressively slaughtered in many placesand some places sell them as foodespecially cobra and python meat.

Komodo dragons can be very dangerous if harassedbut are only found on Komodo National Park islands and in the neighbouring island of Flores.

Scorpionswhip scorpionscrabsspiders and certain other crittersamong them rove beetles can be found around the country andwhile an encounter can produce unpleasant resultsthey are generally not fatal. Despite thisseek professional help if you are bitten or develop a mysterious rash.

Large predators are increasingly rarewith Sumatran tigers being seriously endangered along with most other large animalsand even small jungle felines are hard to find now. Birdsexcepting certain types that have little commercial valueare absent in areas once flush with a variety of species.

Attitudes toward homosexuality vary vastly. There are no laws against homosexuality in most of Indonesiawith the notable exception of Aceh. Cosmopolitan Jakarta and Bali boast gay nightclubsand bencong or banci (transvestites and transsexuals) seem to have a special place in Indonesian cultureeven as far as being hosts and MCs of TV programsas well as special districts where these types of Pekerja Seks Komersial (prostitute or gigolo) offer services — albeit illegally. In Acehhoweverhomosexuals can legally be caned. As a general rulegay visitors should err on the side of discretion; while violence against homosexuals is a raritythey may be met with nasty comments and unwanted attention.

Indonesians like to try to be helpful when you are lost — even when they don't really know where your destination is — but be careful to check directions received with at least one other personand this problem extends to drivers of private transportationsuch as taxis. You may find yourself in the general area you want to be in before the driver will admit they don't know where to go.

The local Indonesian health care system isin many casesnot up to western standards. While a short-term stay in an Indonesian hospital or medical centre for simple health problems is probably not markedly different to a western facilityserious and critical medical emergencies will stretch the system to the limit. Howeversome private hospitals in big cities (like SOS Medika klinik) — such as in Java and Bali — have an international accreditationthough you will be paying a steep premium for their services. In any casetravel health insurance that includes medical evacuation back to a home country is highly recommended. Many rich Indonesians often choose to travel to neighbouring Singapore to receive more serious health careand you should consider that option too. Before going to a hospital for non-emergency casesit is advisable to ask which hospitals are good and which aren't. In some caseshospitals have refused to treat uninsured patients.

If you need a specific medicinebring the medicine in its container/bottleif possiblewith the doctor's prescription. Indonesian custom inspectors may ask about the medicine. If you need additional medicine in Indonesiabring the container to an apotek (pharmacy) and if possible mention the active ingredients of the medicine. Drugs are usually manufactured locally under different brand names but contain the same ingredientsthe ingredients are always accompanied by the brand names in smaller letters. Be careful about the proper dosage of the medicine and be aware that small toko obat (not apotek) knowingly sell "recycled" (expired) medicine at low prices.

For routine traveller complaintsone can often find dokter (medical doctors) in towns. These small clinics are usually walk-inalthough you may face a long wait. Most clinics open in the afternoon (from 16:00). The emergency room (UGD/IGD) in hospitals are always open (24 hr). There are poliklinik (clinics) in most hospitals (08:00-16:00). Advance paymentincremental payments or some amount of credit card blocked are expected for treatment in some of the hospitals.

Be warned that the doctors/nurses may not speak English well enough to describe an appropriate diagnosis or may be reluctant to provide onebe patient and take a good phrasebook or a translator with you. Ask about the name and dosage of the prescription medicineas a few doctors may oversubscribe to inflate their own commissionantibiotics are often inappropriately prescribedand vitamins are often provided liberally.

There are several different pharmacies (Apotek) in Indonesiaand the level of service varies widely. Some pharmacies belong to larger chains and generally have a good selection. It is advisable to check in advance the availability of specialised medicines. Make sure you have the necessary vaccines and medication well in advance of your trip.

In large citiespharmacies can be foundfor examplein shops or shopping centreswith the same opening hours as shopsfrom around 10 am to 9 pm.

Indonesia has a high HIV prevalence rate (0.5% of the population in 2014). Howevermost infections are among injecting of same syringe drug users and followed by sex workers. Be careful and always protect yourself before engaging in risky activities.

Tap water is generally not potable in Indonesia. Water or ice served to you in restaurants may have been purified and/or boiled (air minum or air putih)but do ask. Air mineral (bottled water)usually known as Aqua after the best-known brandis cheap and available everywherebut check that the seals are intact. Alsobe wary of buying from wandering vendors near public transportas there are occasional reports of people being drugged with a bottle that has been injected with a drug and robbed.

Most hotels provide free drinking water (generally2 small bottlesor a water heater) because tap water is rarely potable. Beware of icewhich may not have been prepared with potable water or transported and kept in hygienic conditions.

By and largeIndonesia is a conservative country and modest dress is advisable. At most of the beaches on Bali and Lombok the locals are used to foreigners prancing around in bikinis (never topless or nude)but elsewhere women are advised to keep legs and necklines covered and to match the locals when bathing. Women are not legally required to wear the hijabexcept Muslim women in Aceh. Wearing shorts or miniskirts is unlikely to cause actual offencebut clothing like this is sometimes associated with sex workers. Mentoocan gain respect by wearing collaredlong-sleeve shirts and trousers if dealing with bureaucracy; a tie is not normally worn in Indonesia.

By and largeexcept for hawkers and toutsIndonesians are polite people and adopting a few local conventions will go a long way toward smoothing your stay.

• Saving face is extremely important in Indonesian culture. If you should get into a dispute with anybodydon't try to 'win' or argue and accuse the person at fault. Better results will be gained by remaining polite and humble at all timesnever raising your voiceand smilingasking the person to seek a solution to the problem. Howeverif someone is clearly corrupt or obstructivea letter or call toor a meeting witha higher up may remedy the problem. How high up you may have to go is variable.
• Do smile and nod your head or greet people as you walk around. A very Indonesian way to wave off hawkers and touts is to thank them: terima kasih in this case is short for tidakterima kasih"Nothank you".
• When meeting someonebe it for the first time ever or just the first time that dayit is common to shake hands – but in Indonesia this is no knuckle-crusherjust a light touching of the palmsoften followed by bringing your hand to your chest. Meetings often start and end with everybody shaking hands with everybody. Howeverdon't try to shake hands with a Muslims woman unless she offers her hand first. It is respectful to bend slightly (not a complete bow) when greeting someone older or in a position of authority.
• Never use your left hand! It is considered very rude as one uses one's left hand to wash one's privates after using the toilet. This is especially true when you are shaking hands or handing something to someone. It can be hard to get used toespecially if you are left-handed. Howeversometimes special greetings are given with both hands. If you areout of necessityto hand someone something with your left handyou should apologise: "Maaftangan kiri," (Sorry for using my left hand).
• Avoid touching the top of anyone's head as some cultures here consider it as a holy part of their body. Do not point at someone with your finger; instead with your right thumbor a fully opened hand. Do not stand or sit with your arms crossed or on your hips as this a sign of anger or hostility.
• Remove your footwear outside before entering a houseunless the owner explicitly allows you to keep them on. Even thenit might be more polite to remove them. Do not put your feet up while sitting and try not to show the bottom of your feet to someone – it is considered rude.
• Don't walk in front of peopleinstead walk behind them. When others are sittingwhile walking around themit is customary to bow slightly and lower a hand to "cut" through the crowd; avoid standing upright.

If all this seems terribly complexdon't worry about it too much – Indonesians are an easygoing bunch and don't expect foreigners to know or understand the intricacies of local etiquette. If you're wondering about a person's reaction or you see any peculiar gesture you don't understandthey will appreciate it if you ask them directly (casually laterin a friendly and humble manner)rather than ignoring it. In generalsuch a question is more than an apology; it shows trust.

• Do not assume that everyone will have the same opinion as you regarding the Suharto regime. While a lot of people criticise this era for corruptiondictatorshipand racismespecially towards Chinese Indonesiansmany still praise this era for economic growthstabilityand cheap prices of produce. It is better to assess the speaker's opinion before approaching the topic.
  • Communism is a very sensitive topicsince in the Suharto regimethere was a mass killing of Indonesian Communist Party members. Communismas well as communist symbolismis banned in Indonesia; promoting communism or displaying communist symbols is punishable with imprisonment.
• Some Islamic institutions or clerics in Indonesia have promoted anti-Semitic views in the pastoften conflating Judaism with political Zionism. Howeverthese views are not representative of the general Muslim populationand Jewish people are not a prominent topic in daily public discourse.
• Anti-Zionism is pretty strong in the Muslim communities; it's best to not discuss about Israel. Many Indonesian Muslims are vocal in their support for Palestine and Palestinians.
• Nazism is not really a sensitive topic. There are even several small groups of Wehraboo (those who take an interest in Nazi Germany) in big cities.

The Indonesian criminal code of 2022 made sex or cohabiting between unmarried people a criminal offense punishable by up to a year in jail. Howevercharges can only be pressed by the couple's relativesmeaning that foreign visitors are effectively off the hook. Exercise caution if dating localsand if things get serioustry to keep on the good side of any future in-laws! As a Muslim-majority countryIndonesia has a negative attitude towards children born out of wedlock.

Sharia-compliant hotels as well as those in conservative regions like Aceh may ask for marriage certificatesbut the vast majority of regular hotels (including those in Bali) will not. See Sleep above for details.

In the past the locals would go to wartel (short for warung telekomunikasi or telecommunication booth) to make phone callbut nowadays it is hardly to be found as many Indonesians can now afford mobile phones.

Phone numbers in Indonesia are of the form +62 12 345-6789 where "62" is the country code for Indonesiafollowed by the area code without the prefix 0and the phone number. If you omit the +62 prefixyou will need to punch the "0" area code prefix for calls to another area code. Omit the prefix "0" if calling with a +62 prefix. Mobile numbers start with the prefix 08xx (or +62 8xx)in which "xx" denote the original mobile network assigned; this prefix must always be dialed.

Making local calls

Dial (telephone number)

Making long-distance calls

Dial 0-(area code)-(telephone number)

Making international calls

Dial 017-(country code)-(area codeif any)-(telephone number). You can use the "001""007" or "008" prefix (real fixed line)but the tariffs are 3 times than using prefix 017 (through internet).

You can make International calls through operator

dial 101 or 102.

Making long distance collect calls

Dial 0871-(area code)

Telkom Calling Card access number

Dial 168

When dialing from mobile phonesalways include the operator or area codeprefixed by +62 or 0: +62 812-3456-7890 or 0812-3456-7890.

There are legal requirements on registration of you and your devicethe latter before entering the countryfor using an Indonesian SIM cardsee below.

The Indonesian mobile phone market is very competitive and prices are low: you can pick up a prepaid SIM card for less than Rp10,000 and calls cost as little as Rp300 a minute to some other countries using certain carriers (subject to the usual host of restrictions). SMS (text message) service is cheapwith local SMS about Rp300and international SMS for Rp600but not all providers allow international SMS and also only to and from certain countries. For easier communicationthe providers encourage using WhatsApp. Indonesia is also the world's largest market for used phoneswhich can be bought for as little as Rp80,000whereas basic feature phones with dual SIM slots start from Rp120,000and smartphones with 4G (LTE) support from Rp700,000. Using a 4G smartphone is sufficientbecause not all Indonesian tourist areas have 5G coverageeven in Bali.

The country has multiple service providersin the order of the largest coverageTelkomsel3/Indosat Ooredoo (they actually merged into IOH in 2023but operate as separate providers sharing the same combined network)XL Axiata and Smartfren. Each has sub-brands that are either a pre-paid or a post-paid service. In major citiesany will work just finebut if you are travelling beyond the major cities (as you should do)Telkomsel is often the most reliable and in many cases the only one operating. By lawall phone numbers in Indonesia must be registered using a national ID Card and a Family Card. While this practically renders foreigners ineligible to use an Indonesian phone numberit can often however be worked around by activating it at the respective provider's office (for exampleTelkomsel's GraPariGaleri Indosat or XL Center).

A new device registration law came into effect in 2020intended to control the long-term importation of untaxed devices from outside of Indonesia. Unless your device has been used in Indonesia before 15 April 2020it must be declared at customsto be used with an Indonesian SIM card; see Customs above. If you do not complete this procedureyou will be limited to purchasing special "tourist SIMs" or roaming from your home country. The latter may still be cheaper if your phone is particularly expensive or you forgot to declare your phone before arrival; if soalso consider bringing or buying a cheaper phone for this use.

The tourist SIMs cost significantly more than local plans – Telkomsel's tourist plan is Rp 100,000 for 300 minutes300 SMSand 10 GB for 14 days. The validity periods cannot be extendedso you may have to buy a new one even if you have minutes and GBs left.

Making international calls from mobile phone: Telkomsel: Dial 01017-Smartfren: Dial 01033 and then (country code)-(area codeif any)-(telephone number). For other providers can check the prefix at envelope of the SIM card or ask to its call centre. Most of the tariff is Rp 1,000/minutes to Rp 1,500/minutes call to phone lineand about double tariff call to mobile phone. Call to Africa is expensive about Rp 4,000/minutes call to phone line.

Similar to wartel, in the past the locals would go to warnet (internet cafes) to use internet. These are now hard to be found except in small towns. Prices vary considerablyand as usualyou tend to get what you pay forbut you'll usually be looking for prices around Rp 5,000 per hour with faster access than from your own mobile phone. In large citiesthere are free Wi-Fi hotspots in some restaurantsstoresand in many parks and public utility areas. Some hotels also provide free hotspots in the lobbyin their restaurants and in the rooms; these may be free or incur an additional charge.

Indonesia practices Internet censorship and some 70,000 sites are blocked. The vast majority of these are pornbut some common Western sites like Reddit and many LGBTQ+ targeted dating apps are also blockedand social messaging systems like FacebookWhatsAppand Instagram have been temporarily blocked as recently as 2019 during riots and other sensitive events. Set up a VPN to ensure uninterrupted accessand have a backup plan for reaching friends and family; so far email services like Gmail have not been targeted.

If you are staying for longer than a week and need to browse the Internet on mobileit is recommended to buy a local SIM card as the price is much cheaper compared to roaming with your own operator; Rp 20,000 can give you at least 2GB of data for the majority of networks. If you have GSM/WCDMA mobile phonesyou can easily use them for internet connections with most prepaid cards from the major operators. Monthlyweekly and daily packages are available both as quota-based and unlimited (the latter becoming more popular)and the available deals and combinations change constantly. The best way to know the current deals is to visit the operators' websites (generally in Indonesian only) or to ask the dealers selling SIM cards. Despite the claims of various dodgy airport shopsyou do not need to buy a modem bundle to use these packages with your phone. Alsothe package price in the airport is often considerably inflated so it's a good idea to buy it later in the cityor visit a chosen operator's local (official) officeor easily at street or mall vendors.

4G-LTE coverage in Java and Bali is widespreadas in cities and some rural areas elsewhere. Howeverit may not be there if you're in a remote place or in parts of eastern Indonesia. 5G is rolling outbut so far only in a few cities. As the frequency may be different from other countriesyou are advised to check for your device's compatibility.

Registering for a new SIM card is a must for Indonesian citizenswho need to show their ID card and Family Card. Foreigners will have the passport photographed by the vendorbut not all vendors are familiar with this procedure; visiting a service provider's shop is the best. Most plans require that your phone was declared at customs.

• Current time, ☏ 999. 
• Information about Telkom services, ☏ 162. 
• Phone directory, ☏ 108. Phone directory in other cities (Code Area) 108 
• Hello Yellow Phone Directory, ☏ 1500057 (in country only)Country code missing. 
• Code area of large cities in Indonesia: Balikpapan (0542)Banda Aceh (0651)Bandung (022)Batam (0778)Betung (022)Bintan (0770)Bogor (025)Cirebon (023)Demak (029)Denpasar (0361)Jakarta (021)Jember (033)Jogyakarta (0274)Kupang (0380)Makassar (0411)Malang (034)Manado (0431)Mataram (0370)Medan (061)Palembang (0711)Pekanbaru (0761)Semarang (024)Solo (0271) Surabaya (031)

Postal service is provided by the state-owned Pos Indonesiawhich will deliver to even the remotest areas. JNE and Tiki are also reliable enough to send packages to anywhere in Indonesia for less than $15 in up to 10 business daysdepending on the origin and destination. FedExDHLand UPS sends package internationallyand FedEx as well as its local affiliation RPX have drop box offices. Intra-city deliveriesespecially in Jakartacan be easily done in hours using a courier service from the same smartphone app that you can call for an ojek (see by ojek section).

• Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.179th floorJakarta, ☏ +62 21 383 8303.  
• Indonesia Tourism Promotion Board (BPPI), Wisma Nugraha Santana 9th flr. Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 8Jakarta, ☏ +62 21 570 4879, fax: +62 21 570 4855.  

In most major citiesall emergency services can be called at 112 free of charge from any telephoneand will deploy services based on the type of emergency; calling that number everywhere else will usually be redirected to policewhich will in turn also tries to deploy the necessary servicesalthough it will take a little longer. For a specific servicehave the numbers below in hand.

• Police (POLRI), ☏ 110.  (updated Dec 2023)
  • Indonesian Police HQ, Jl. Trunojoyo 3South Jakarta, ☏ +62 21 7218144. 
• Fire department, ☏ 113. 
• Ambulance, ☏ 118. 
• Search and rescue team, ☏ 115. 
  • National Search and Rescue agency (BASARNAS), Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur No.5Jakarta, ☏ +62 21 348-32881+62 21 348-32908+62 21 348-32869.  
• Red Cross HQ, Jakarta, ☏ +62 21 3843582. 

English-speaking operators are not available even in major citiesas operators will typically speak Indonesian as their primary language.

English publications in Indonesia have sprung upalbeit very slowly. The Jakarta Post is Indonesia's largest circulating English newspaper; you can grab a copy in some of Indonesia's biggest cities. The Jakarta Globe is in a tabloid format and usually has richer content. Both newspapers provide good online content too.

Tempo Media maintains an online presence in Englisheven publishing its own English weekly magazinebut it is mostly filled with hard news.

Antara News also provides some news in English as well.

State-owned TV networkTVRIhas its own English news service at 18:00 WIB (West Indonesian time) daily. Indonesia's pioneer news channelMetroTValso has an English news program at 01:00 WIB Tuesdays through Saturdays. Berita Satu World is an English news channel that can be watched on selected cable TV providers.

Indonesia uses 220 volt and 50 Hz system. Outlets are European standard two round pinseither the CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatiblebut non-groundedCEE-7/16 "Europlug" types. Power adapters are easily found.

Electricity within Java and Bali is on 24 hours a day. This is also generally true in most populated areas outside the two islandsalthough they may be more prone to blackouts. The remote or less populated villages may have electricity on for a few hours per day only or even none at all.

Almost all hotels offer laundry service. If you want to save some moneylook for a public laundry service called "Laundry Kiloan" (in Indonesian) and usually charged by weight. For standard serviceyour clothes will be washeddriedironedfoldedand usually packed in plastic. It may take as long as up to three days to get your clothes backso plan in advance. The tariff is Rp 7,000-12,000 per kilo and the price is doubled if you wish to use an express service.

The Kementerian Luar Negeri or Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a complete searchable database of diplomatic institutions. All embassies are located in Jakarta (see that article for listings)but a few countries maintain consulates and honorary consulates elsewheremostly in SurabayaBaliand some cities (e.g. Malaysia in Pekanbaruthe Philippines in ManadoPapua New Guinea in Jayapura and so on).