Indonesia · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Indonesia
These are the places worth your time in Indonesia, from Bali's temples and rice terraces and Jakarta's food streets to Yogyakarta's royal city, the Komodo islands and Lombok's beaches. Classics sit beside quiet corners many travellers miss, so every kind of visitor finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Bali
Arts and Culture
- Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Uluwatu)
A cliff top temple above the Indian Ocean with the Kecak fire dance at sunset. - Tirta Empul (Tampaksiring)
A holy spring temple where Balinese bathe in carved purification pools. - Tanah Lot (Tabanan)
A sea temple on a rock that glows at sunset as the tide comes in. - Pura Besakih (Karangasem)
The mother temple of Bali, terraced up the slopes of Mount Agung. - Tirta Gangga (Karangasem)
A royal water garden of pools, fountains and stepping stones in the east. - Pura Ulun Danu Beratan (Bedugul)
A lake temple that seems to float on the misty waters of Lake Beratan. - Ubud Palace Dance Performances (Ubud)
Nightly Legong and Barong dances in the courtyard of the royal palace. - Goa Gajah (Bedulu)
The Elephant Cave, an eleventh century sanctuary with a carved demon mouth.
Nature and Outdoors
- Tegallalang Rice Terraces (Tegallalang, Ubud)
Steep green terraces just north of Ubud, best early before the crowds. - Jatiluwih Rice Terraces (Tabanan)
Sweeping UNESCO listed terraces in the cool hills, far quieter than Tegallalang. - Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Ubud)
Temples in a jungle ravine shared with hundreds of cheeky macaques. - Campuhan Ridge Walk (Ubud)
An easy grassy ridge path between two river valleys, lovely at sunrise. - Amed Coast (Karangasem)
Quiet black sand fishing villages with easy snorkelling straight off the beach. - USAT Liberty Wreck (Tulamben)
A Second World War shipwreck covered in coral, shallow enough to snorkel. - Kelingking Beach (Nusa Penida)
The famous T Rex shaped cliff above a turquoise bay on Nusa Penida.
Things to Do
- Mount Batur Sunrise Trek (Kintamani)
A pre dawn climb to watch the sun rise over a volcanic caldera and lake.
Restaurants
- Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka (Ubud)
The Ubud institution for babi guling, Bali's spit roast suckling pig. - Warung Nasi Ayam Kedewatan Ibu Mangku (Kedewatan, Ubud)
A long running warung serving spicy Balinese chicken rice to locals. - Naughty Nuri's Warung (Ubud)
A lively spot famous for sticky pork ribs and strong martinis.
Cafés
- Seniman Coffee Studio (Ubud)
A coffee lab roasting Indonesian beans with quirky handmade furniture.
Bars and Nightlife
- Single Fin (Uluwatu)
A cliff top bar above the surf break with sunset views and Sunday parties. - Potato Head Beach Club (Seminyak)
A design led beach club with an infinity pool facing the sunset. - La Brisa (Canggu)
A beach bar built from old fishing boats, glowing with lanterns at sunset.
Shopping and Markets
- Ubud Art Market (Ubud)
Stalls of sarongs, baskets and carvings opposite the royal palace. - Pasar Badung (Denpasar)
Bali's biggest traditional market, full of flowers, spices and offerings.
Events
- Nyepi and the Ogoh Ogoh Parade (Island wide)
Giant demon effigies parade the night before Bali's day of silence. - Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (Ubud)
Southeast Asia's best known literary festival, held each October.
Stays
- Sanur Beach (Sanur)
A calm reef protected beach with a seafront path, ideal for families.
Places to Visit in Jakarta
Arts and Culture
- Kota Tua (West Jakarta)
The old Dutch Batavia quarter around Fatahillah Square and its museums. - Monas National Monument (Gambir)
The flame topped obelisk in Merdeka Square with views across the city. - Istiqlal Mosque (Central Jakarta)
One of the largest mosques in Southeast Asia, open to respectful visitors. - Jakarta Cathedral (Central Jakarta)
A neo Gothic cathedral facing Istiqlal across the street. - National Museum of Indonesia (Merdeka Square)
Statues, ceramics and treasures from across the archipelago. - Wayang Museum (Kota Tua)
Shadow puppets and masks from Java and beyond in a colonial building. - Museum MACAN (Kebon Jeruk)
Indonesia's leading modern and contemporary art museum. - Sunda Kelapa Harbour (North Jakarta)
The old port where wooden pinisi schooners still load cargo by hand. - Vihara Dharma Bhakti (Glodok)
Jakarta's oldest Chinese temple, thick with incense and red lanterns.
Restaurants
- Petak Sembilan Street Food (Glodok)
Chinatown lanes of noodles, dumplings, herbal drinks and snacks. - Jalan Sabang (Menteng)
A late night street of satay, fried rice and soto stalls. - Café Batavia (Kota Tua)
A grand colonial dining room overlooking Fatahillah Square. - Plataran Menteng (Menteng)
Indonesian classics served in an elegant restored colonial villa. - Bakmi GM (Central Jakarta)
A beloved Jakarta chain for chicken noodles and fried wontons since the 1950s.
Cafés
- Tanamera Coffee (Thamrin)
A Jakarta roaster championing single origin Indonesian beans. - Kopi Es Tak Kie (Glodok)
A tiny old coffee house serving iced coffee in Chinatown for generations.
Bars and Nightlife
- SKYE (Thamrin)
A rooftop bar and restaurant with sweeping views over the city lights. - Blok M Little Tokyo (Blok M)
Lanes of small bars and izakaya near the Blok M MRT station.
Shopping and Markets
- Grand Indonesia (Thamrin)
A huge mall linked to the Bundaran HI area and the MRT. - Pasar Baru (Sawah Besar)
A historic market street for textiles, shoes and Indian food.
Nature and Outdoors
- Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (East Jakarta)
A park of traditional houses from every province, fun with children. - Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu)
Small islands a boat ride north with snorkelling and simple resorts.
Things to Do
- Ancol Dreamland (North Jakarta)
A seaside leisure area with a theme park, aquarium and beach promenade.
Events
- Jakarta Fair (Kemayoran)
The city's big annual fair around its June anniversary, with music and food.
Places to Visit in Yogyakarta
Arts and Culture
- Borobudur Temple (Magelang)
The world's largest Buddhist monument, carved with thousands of relief panels. - Prambanan Temple (Sleman)
Soaring ninth century Hindu towers dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. - Kraton Yogyakarta (Kraton)
The sultan's palace, with gamelan and dance performances in the mornings. - Taman Sari Water Castle (Kraton)
The sultan's old pleasure garden with bathing pools and underground passages. - Ramayana Ballet Prambanan (Prambanan)
An open air dance drama with the lit temples as its backdrop. - Plaosan Temple (Klaten)
Twin Buddhist temples near Prambanan that few visitors reach. - Ratu Boko (Sleman)
A hilltop palace site with a stone gateway that glows at sunset. - Kotagede (Kotagede)
The old silver town with narrow lanes, workshops and a royal cemetery. - Sonobudoyo Museum (Alun Alun Utara)
Javanese arts, masks and puppets, with evening wayang kulit shows.
Nature and Outdoors
- Jomblang Cave (Gunungkidul)
A vertical cave where a beam of light falls onto an underground forest. - Punthuk Setumbu (Magelang)
A hill where you can watch sunrise mist roll around Borobudur. - Parangtritis Beach (Bantul)
A wild black sand beach and dunes steeped in Javanese legend.
Things to Do
- Merapi Lava Tour (Kaliurang)
Jeep rides around the slopes of Mount Merapi and villages hit in 2010.
Shopping and Markets
- Malioboro Street (Malioboro)
The city's busy shopping street of batik, snacks and street music. - Beringharjo Market (Malioboro)
A historic market for batik, spices, herbs and jamu drinks.
Restaurants
- Gudeg Yu Djum (Wijilan)
A famous name for gudeg, the city's sweet young jackfruit stew. - Angkringan Kopi Joss Lik Man (Tugu)
Night stalls near the station serving coffee with a lump of hot charcoal. - Sate Klatak Pak Pong (Imogiri)
Goat satay grilled on bicycle spokes, a Jogja speciality. - Abhayagiri Restaurant (Sumberwatu)
Indonesian dining on a hillside with views across to Prambanan and Merapi. - House of Raminten (Kotabaru)
A theatrical, eccentric Javanese restaurant full of incense and character.
Cafés
- Klinik Kopi (Kaliurang)
A small coffee bar where the owner explains every Indonesian bean.
Bars and Nightlife
- Alun Alun Kidul (Kraton)
The south square where families ride lit pedal cars and try to walk between two banyans.
Events
- Sekaten (Alun Alun Utara)
A traditional fair and gamelan ritual for the Prophet's birthday.
Stays
- Amanjiwo (Borobudur)
A rotunda hotel facing Borobudur across the rice fields.
Places to Visit in Labuan Bajo
Nature and Outdoors
- Komodo National Park (Komodo Islands)
The UNESCO park where Komodo dragons roam golden islands. - Padar Island (Komodo National Park)
A steep sunrise climb to a view over three curved bays. - Pink Beach (Komodo Island)
Sand tinted by red coral fragments with snorkelling just offshore. - Manta Point (Komodo National Park)
A drift site where manta rays feed in the current. - Rinca Island (Komodo National Park)
A ranger led walk among dragons, buffalo and macaques. - Kanawa Island (Komodo National Park)
Easy beach snorkelling over coral close to Labuan Bajo. - Kalong Island (Komodo National Park)
Thousands of flying foxes leave the mangroves at dusk. - Taka Makassar (Komodo National Park)
A sandbar that appears at low tide amid turquoise water. - Kelor Island (Komodo National Park)
A small island with a short steep viewpoint and a sandy beach. - Cunca Wulang Waterfall (West Manggarai)
A canyon and natural pools inland from Labuan Bajo. - Rangko Cave (Rangko)
A sea cave with a clear saltwater pool lit by the sun. - Bukit Sylvia (Labuan Bajo)
A hill above town with a sunset view over the islands. - Bukit Cinta (Labuan Bajo)
A quiet hill near the airport for sweeping harbour views.
Arts and Culture
- Wae Rebo Village (Manggarai)
A mountain village of cone shaped houses, reached on foot. - Lingko Spider Web Rice Fields (Cancar, Ruteng)
Rice fields divided like a spider web, seen from a hillside.
Restaurants
- Kampung Ujung Night Market (Labuan Bajo waterfront)
Choose fresh fish and squid to be grilled on the harbourfront.
Bars and Nightlife
- Paradise Bar (Labuan Bajo)
A hilltop bar for sunset drinks and live music.
Things to Do
- Komodo Liveaboard Pinisi Trip (Labuan Bajo harbour)
Overnight on a wooden schooner to reach Padar at sunrise.
Stays
- AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach (Waecicu)
A beach resort north of town with sunset views over the islands.
Places to Visit in Lombok
Nature and Outdoors
- Gili Trawangan (Gili Islands)
The liveliest Gili, with turtles, dive schools and sunset swings. - Gili Meno (Gili Islands)
The quietest Gili, loved by couples, with turtles off the east coast. - Gili Air (Gili Islands)
A friendly island of cafés, yoga and easy snorkelling. - Gili Meno Underwater Statues (Gili Meno)
A ring of sculptures on the seabed, easy to snorkel. - Mount Rinjani (Rinjani National Park)
A demanding volcano trek to a crater lake and summit views. - Tiu Kelep Waterfall (Senaru)
A powerful waterfall reached by a jungle walk above Senaru. - Sendang Gile Waterfall (Senaru)
A short walk to a tall waterfall on Rinjani's lower slopes. - Tanjung Aan Beach (Kuta Mandalika)
A wide bay of soft sand and clear water in the south. - Bukit Merese (Kuta Mandalika)
Grassy hills for one of Lombok's best sunsets. - Selong Belanak Beach (Praya Barat)
A long gentle beach perfect for first surf lessons. - Pink Beach Lombok (East Lombok)
A remote pink sand cove in the far south east. - Gili Nanggu (Sekotong)
A tiny island off the south west with quiet reefs.
Arts and Culture
- Sade Village (Rembitan)
A traditional Sasak village of thatched rice barns. - Sukarara Weaving Village (Central Lombok)
Women weave songket cloth on wooden looms. - Islamic Center Mosque (Mataram)
Lombok's grand mosque with a tower you can climb. - Taman Narmada (Narmada)
A royal water garden built to mirror Mount Rinjani. - Pura Batu Bolong (Senggigi)
A Hindu temple on a rock arch facing Bali's Mount Agung.
Restaurants
- Gili Trawangan Night Market (Gili Trawangan)
Grilled seafood and local dishes by the harbour every evening. - El Bazar (Kuta Mandalika)
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes in a busy Kuta favourite.
Bars and Nightlife
- Sama Sama Reggae Bar (Gili Trawangan)
Live reggae bands most nights on the main strip. - Ombak Sunset (Gili Trawangan)
Beach bean bags and swings facing the sunset over Bali.
Events
- Bau Nyale Festival (Kuta Mandalika)
A February or March festival when villagers gather sea worms at dawn.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Locavore NXT (Ubud, Bali)
An ambitious tasting menu built entirely from Indonesian ingredients. - Mozaic (Ubud, Bali)
Long established fine dining in a tropical garden blending French and Indonesian flavours. - Soto Betawi H. Ma'ruf (Cikini, Jakarta)
A long running place for creamy soto Betawi, the city's signature soup. - Pasar Kangen (Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta)
A nostalgia market of vintage goods and old fashioned Javanese snacks. - Atlantis on the Rock (Labuan Bajo, Labuan Bajo)
A hillside restaurant and bar with sunset views over the harbour. - Happy Banana (Labuan Bajo, Labuan Bajo)
A relaxed Asian fusion restaurant on the main street. - Kopi Mane Inspiration (Labuan Bajo, Labuan Bajo)
A café pouring Flores grown arabica from the Manggarai highlands. - Le Pirate Labuan Bajo (Labuan Bajo, Labuan Bajo)
A beach club and boutique hotel with a sea view rooftop. - Pasar Batu Cermin (Labuan Bajo, Labuan Bajo)
A local market for fruit, vegetables and Flores coffee. - Ayam Taliwang Irama (Mataram, Lombok)
Lombok's spicy grilled chicken at a long running local favourite. - Kopi Kultur (Gili Air, Lombok)
A friendly café for Indonesian coffee near the harbour. - Pasar Seni Senggigi (Senggigi, Lombok)
An art market for pearls, woven cloth and crafts.