35 Unmissable Tourist Places In Indonesia | How To Reach | Best Time To Visit

Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world is a diverse destination that receives millions of tourists annually. It combines natural beauty, warm hospitality and a diverse culture in a unique combination. The beaches, temples and nightlife make Bali an international tourist destination and Yogyakarta makes visitors breath in traditional arts, close to Borobudur and Prambanan temples.

Adventure travelers have an option of hiking Mount Bromo or scuba diving in Raja Ampat which is one of the world richest marine biodiversity areas. As a mix of modern and history, Jakarta, the capital, is a place of busy markets and colonial buildings. One may also visit the Komodo Island where the famous Komodo dragon can be seen or spend peaceful holidays in Lombok and the Gili Islands.

The cultural festivals, traditional dances and cuisine of Indonesia make it even more attractive. Indonesia is one of the best travel spots that one can visit to relax and have an adventure with its stunning and culturally diverse landscapes.

Here’s a list of top tourist places in Indonesia and how to reach them :

1. Jakarta Capital City

Main Attractions :

National Monument (Monas)

Old Town (Kota Tua)

Shopping Malls

Ancol Dreamland

How to Reach : Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia and entrance to the country. Soekarno Monument International Airport in Jakarta is one of the busiest airport with Global connectivity.

2. Bali

Main Attractions :

Beaches

Rice Terraces of Ubud

Tanah Lot Temple

Nightlife

Culture

How to Reach : Bali has Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar, Bali) from where direct flights are connected to Jakarta, Singapore, kuala Lumpur Bangkok and Australia.

3. Yogyakarta

Main Attractions :

Borobudur (world’s largest BuddhistTemple)

Prambanan

Traditional Javanese Culture

How to Reach : Yogyakarta has International Airport and direct flights from Jakarta, Bali, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are available.

Buses and Trains are available from Jakarta and other major cities in Indonesia to yogyakarta.

4. Komodo National Park (Flores Island)

Main Attractions :

Komodo Dragon

Pink Beach

World Class Diving

How to Reach : Domestic flights are available from Bali and Jakarta to Labuan Bajo Airport (Flores) and from there take boat to the park.

5. Lombok & Gili Islands

Main Attractions :

Mount Rinjani Trekking

Beaches

Snorkeling

Gili Islands

How to Reach : Lombok has International Airport. Flights are available from Bali, Jakarta or Singapor. Speed Boats also connected from Bali to Lombok and Gili Island.

6. Bandung (West Java)

Main Attractions :

Tea Plantations

Volcanoes

Hot Springs

How to Reach : Bandung has domestic airport name Husain Sastranegara airport or take a 3 hours train ride from Jakarta to reach Bandung.

7. Lake Toba (Sumatra)

Main Attractions :

World’s Largest Volcanic Lake

Samosir Island

Batak Culture Houses

How to Reach : Take a international flight to Silangit International Airport which is near to Lake Toba or take domestic flight to Medan's Kualanamu Airport and then by road you can reach within 4 to 5 hour to destination.

8. Borneo (Kalimantan)

Main Attractions :

Orangutan Sanctuaries (Tanjung Puting National Park)

Rainforest

River Cruises

How to Reach : Take a domestic flight to Pangkalan Bun Airport from Jakarta or Surabaya. Then from there take a boat to reach the National Park.

9. Raja Ampat (West Papua)

Main Attractions :

Stunning Islands

Coral Reefs

Diving/Snorkeling Spots

How to Reach : Domestic flights are available from Jakarta or Makassar to Sorong Airport (West Papua) and from there take a ferry to Waisai which is the main town of Raja Ampat.

10. Sulawesi (Tana Toraja & Bunaken Marine Park)

Main Attractions :

Tana Toraja Villages With Unique Culture

Bunaken Marine Park for Diving

How to Reach : Domestic flights are available from Jakarta or Bali to Makassar (Hasanuddin International Airport) and from Makassar you can travel by road to Tana Toraja or take a domestic flight to Manado for Bunaken.

Best Time To Visit

May To September : This time is suitable for tourist to explore Indonesia. During this period the days are Sunny and humidity is lower with minimum rainfall which is perfect for sightseeing, beach trips, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Main Festivals

1. Nyepi (Balinese New Year) :

Significance : This festival is many celebrated in the Bali region. Nyepi is also called as the "Day of Silence". This Balinese New Year according to the Shak calendar. During the festival, on the festival day all activities like travel and noise are stops and people stay indoors to meditate and rest. Before the night of this festival large parades are held with colourful demon statue called Ogoh-Ogoh.

2. Eid al-Fitr (Lebaran) :

Significance : This is one of the biggest festival celebrated in Indonesia marking the end of Ramdan, which is the Islamic Holy month of fasting. During this festivals family come together, forgive each other and enjoy traditional dishes like Ketupat and Rendang. This festival is also called as Hari Raya Eid ul Fitri.

3. Waisak (Vesak) :

Significance : This festival is celebrated by Buddhist people in Indonesia. Waisak festival is celebrated to remember the birth, enlightenment and date of the Lord Buddha. The festival is mainly celebrated in the Borobudur temple in the central Java where thousands of Buddhist monk and devotees gather for prayers and then Lantern releases.