Sightseeing in Indonesia A country as vast and varied as Indonesia has an enormous array of
Things to See for tourists.
In this section you will find an island-by-island (sometimes
province-by-province) summary of tourist
attractions across the Indonesian archipelago, just in case you wonder where
to go next time or what to do during your very first visit:
Don't forget to visit the Links page you will find
references to hundreds of sites with specialized tourist and travel
information, visa regulations and much more.
Even more information is available in our eBook Enjoying
Indonesia 2008, the guide you can't afford to miss.
Meanwhile, read how other travelers experience Indonesia at Indoparadise
(About interesting place all over Indonesia).
Please share information
for other visitors of Indonesia OK!! about your favorite hideout in
Indonesia, your favorite restaurant, the spot with the best view, the best
tourist guide in the country, the best souvenir shop.. and so on.
Sumatra Batam
Island
The island of Batam is only a short boat ride away from Singapore. Developed
as an industrial area, Batam also offers recreation and entertainment.
Banda Aceh
The Special Territory of Aceh is no longer off-limits for foreign travelers.
However, with the tsunami reconstruction still going on, there is no tourist
infrastructure in place.
Medan Point
of departure for overland trips to Prapat, Lake Toba.
Gunung Leuser The Gunung Leuser National Park is world-renowned. Visit the orangutan
sanctuary.
Prapat See Lake Toba and Samosir island.
Nias The small island of Nias lies off the coast of West Sumatra. It is quiet
and has simple accommodations. The main attraction of the island is the surf
which resembles that of Hawaii.
Bukittinggi Visit Sianok Canyon, Lake Singkarak.
Mentawai Islands Not a spot for mass tourism, the Mentawai islands’ inhabitants still
live in relative isolation from mainstream Indonesia.
Padang
Get away from it all: 40 Kms from Padang there is a little known island called
Cubadak. It's a great spot for diving and snorkeling. The island can be reached
by boat directly from Padang. Stay at Paradiso
Village (Italian management).
Palembang Sights include the Ampera Bridge spanning the Musi River. See the busy
boating scene, floating restaurants and shops. Wind down at Punti Kayu park.
Sumatra Links belitungisland.com
(site in English
and Indonesian promoting little known and out of the way nature resort Belitung
Island)
bintan-info.com
(information on Bintan island near Singapore. Site is also in German, French and
Japanese) Paradiso
Village (Paradiso Village resort in Cubadak Island off the coast near
Padang) sumateratourism.com (on and
off-the-beaten track tours in North and Central Sumatra) trijaya-travel.com (tours
for individuals and groups throughout Indonesia, ut with special emphasis on
Sumatra and orangutan reservation in Gunung Leuser National Park)
Java West Java: Ujung Kulon National
Park, boat trips to rather active Anak Krakatau volcano (if the
volcano’s condition is safe enough to do so) in Strait Sunda
Banten Beach hotels, ferry harbor with crossings to Sumatra.
Banten is also the home of the Baduy, an ethnic group that isolates itself
from the rest of Indonesia.
Pelabuhan Ratu Easily
accessible from Jakarta, Bogor and Bandung, Pelabuhan Ratu not only offers
beaches and a view of the Indian Ocean, but also tropical forests. There are
simple cottages and one hotel of international standard (Samudra Beach
Hotel).
Jakarta (DKI Jakarta) Indonesia's capital and cultural melting pot.Taman Mini
Indonesia (Indonesia in miniature), Sea World at Ancol and Ancol Dream Land,
National Monument (Monas), cultural performances at Taman Ismail Marzuki,
Wayang Museum, National Museum, Bird market (Pasar Burung), Istiqlal
Mosque.
Savor great meals at the many international restaurants, see Kelapa Sunda
harbor with its many traditional pinisi sailing cargo ships from Sulawesi.
Not far from the harbor, in the old quarter of the city near Jalan Pakin and
Kali Besar the old light house, Menara Syahbandar, the Maritime Museum and
Cafe VOC Galangan give you a taste of colonial times.
Shop until you drop in the many shopping malls.
Looking for a place to stay or to unwind a bit? Kemang is one of Jakarta's
many neighborhoods. It has become a favorite location for expatriates.
Pulau
Seribu
(Thousand Islands) North from Jakarta in the Java Sea is a popular weekend destination.
There are cottages for rent and attractions include snorkeling, diving and
fishing on many different small islands.
Bogor Visit the Botanical Gardens, the Presidential palace and the nearby
safari park.
Puncak Situated halfway between Bogor and Bandung, cool Puncak offers weekend
cottages, hotels, tea estates
Bandung Bandung is well known for its many surviving art deco buildings, such as
Hotel Homann at Jalan Asia Afrika.
Owing to the favorable climate it is also famous as a strawberry center.
Enjoy a pancake breakfast, Bandung style, at Pancake Braga Permai
restaurant. One of the excellent spots for sweets, desserts and cakes are
Bandungse Melk Centrale (Dutch for Bandung Dairy Factory) and Toko Roti
Bawean (formerly 'Sweetheart').
Shop along Braga street and get a taste
for traditional West Javanese angklung music, such as at the late Pak
Oedjo’s angklung school.
Climb the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, enjoy the hot springs at Ciater.
Jatiluhur The Jatiluhur dam and its lake are not only used to generate
electricity, but also for irrigation. A tourist park with cottages is part
of the complex.
Pangandaran Although not easy to reach with public transportation, Pangandaran is
the location of choice for nature lovers and hikers. Accommodation is
modest.
Central Java: Semarang Visit ancient Chinese temple Watu Gong, and the railway
museum at Ambarawa. The nearby town of Jepara is famous for its woodworking.
Don't forget to take a break with a colonial snack or a sumptuous meal at
Toko Oen.
Baturraden
Enjoy natural beauty and hot springs in Baturraden's Wana Wisata
park. Can be reached easily from Pangandaran, Semarang, Magelang, and
Yogyakarta.
Stop in Purbalingga, one of Java's cleanest towns.
Dieng Plateau The cool plateau lies at an altitude of almost 2,000 meters (10,000 ft) and offers
volcanic activity, a nature park and a series of small temples.
Magelang The ancient Borobudur temple, one of the wonders of the world is just
outside the town of Magelang. Recommend times for a visit are early morning(
before sunrise) and late afternoon, to see the sunset.
Nearby you will also find smaller temples, such as Candi Mendut and Candi
Pawon and a functioning Buddhist monastery (can be visited free of charge)
Salatiga
Just an hour's drive from either Semarang or Yogyakarta, Salatiga is a small
and quiet town. You will find it a pleasant place to stay for a few days,
enjoying the fresh air and the view of Mount Merbabu
Like Yogyakarta, Salatiga is known as a town science and learning, boasting
three universities.
Tip: Stay at
Guest House Tulip Inn, Jl. Dr. Sumardi 2, Tel.: +62-(0)298-323920, 325363.
Klaten
The town of Klaten, just East from Prambanan is home to the Sugar Museum (Museum
Gula), housed in the former sugar mill, characterized by well renovated
colonial architecture.
Solo (Surakarta) Visit the two Sultan palaces of Kasunanan and Mangkunegaran, Tawangmangu
park and shop for bargains along Jalan Selamat Riyadi. Near Singaran village
the fossilized remains of ‘Java Man’ were discovered (Pithecanthropus
erectus) in 1891.
Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta: Yogyakarta Sultan’s Palace (Kraton), Water Palace, bird market, silver works at
Kotagede, visit Borobudur (near the town of Magelang) and Prambanan and
Kalasan temples, Kaliurang mountain resort.
Climb Merapi volcano, go to the beach at Parangtritis.
Shop along Malioboro street and see Beringharjo market, one of the biggest
indoor traditional markets in Indonesia.
Take cooking or batik courses.
In the town of Imogiri you will find the
royal cemetery, which is open to the public. Full traditional Javanese dress is required and can be rented on the spot.
Tip: enjoy an
excellent meal at Moro Lejar restaurant, in the municipality of Sleman, near
Kaliurang or at Numani, Jl Parangtritis, just South from the Ringroad. Try
their ikan bakar (barbequed fish). Tip: try
Yogyakarta's traditional dish gudeg in one of the many gudeg
restaurans along Jalan Wijilan. Tip: at the
underground level of Malioboro Mall (Jl. Malioboro) you'll find an excellent
Periplus bookshop with many English titles and foreign magazines and newspapers. Tip: check out
the latest shopping mall: Ambarrukmo Plaza next to the former Ambarrukmo
Hotel.
Prambanan: The Hindu Prambanan temple complex is a UNESCO world
cultural heritage site. Watch the Ramayana ballet performed at an open air
theatre at the
Prambanan temple at night.
East Java: Trowulan Some 60 Km southwest from Surabaya, on the road to Solo is the town of
Trowulan the capital of the ancient Majapahit Empire. Majapahit artifacts
can be found in the Trowulan Museum.
Surabaya Surabaya is fast becoming Indonesia’s culinary capital. Shop
and eat at Tunjungan Plaza or Pasar Atom, see the old buildings in the Arab
quarter. Eating out at one of the many stalls at Kya-Kya Kembang Jepun at
night is an
experience in itself.
The Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge) area has some excellent examples of Dutch
colonial architecture. It is at walking distance from China Town.
During full moon you can attend a traditional wayang performance at 300
years old Kong Co Kong Tik Cun Ong temple.
Ampel mosque, the city's most sacred mosque is at the center of the old Arab
quarters.
From Surabaya you can make a daytrip to the island of Madura.
Tip: there is
an interesting food court with an excellent fish restaurant, Sea Master, at the traffic
circle of Jl. HR Mohammad and Jl. Sungkono.
**The mud flow near Sidoarjo affects road and rail connections between
Sidoarjo and Malang**
Malang Have pastries or a full meal at Toko Oen, still equipped with some of
its original colonial furniture. See the last remains of the Singosari
temple complex.
Tretes and Batu Cool mountain resorts with fruit market and Kakek Bodo park with
waterfall (steep climbs), Safari Park in Tretes.
Batu is famous for its orchards and gardens. Cottages can be rented for
weekend stays.
Bromo Climb famous Bromo volcano to see the sunrise (tours start from Surabaya
or Malang). The climb begins around 03.00 AM. Bring a warm jacket against
the cold! Horses can be rented to make the climb easier.
Tours can be booked in nearby towns and cities: Surabaya, Probolinggo,
Pasuruan and Malang, but also from Yogya and Solo.
Most, if not all tour operators will be happy to sell you an all-in ticket.
Pasir Putih Relax one or two days in a simple cottage on the beach. Snorkeling,
sailing in a traditional boat, see the coral reefs and underwater flora and
fauna through the glass bottom.
Accommodations are rather simple. The Pasir Putih area urgently needs some
upgrading.
Banyuwangi Ferry port for the one hour crossing to Gilimanuk, Bali.
Java Links desa-digital.com (Digital
Villages in Central Java: history, economic activities, sights -only in
Indonesian)
geocities.com/bandung
(All you want to know about Bandung, West Java: where to go, what to see)
jakarta.go.id
(Official site of the Municipality of Jakarta) jakartajavakini
(Lifestyle and entertainment magazine) jcc.go.id (see everything that's
going on at the Jakarta convention Center) jogjatourism.com (sightseeing
and accommodation in and around Jogjakarta) Regency of Bandung (history, sights, where
to go, what to see) indo.com (detailed information on Jakarta
and Bali -where to go and what to do) tasteogjogja.com (acquiring a
taste for Jogjakarta is easy and this site helps with additional information on
culture, ceremonies, local music, shopping, calendar of events, photos,
information on transportation, hotels, restaurants and more) yogyes.com (hotel reservations, shopping
sites and tours in and around Yogyakarta)
Watch a video
impression of Bali BarudiBali (all you need to know to find
your way around Bali) New!
Denpasar Capital city of Bali. Traditional
dances and music performances in many villages and at hotels, visit the Bali
Museum in front of Puputan square
Shopping tip:
The highest quality handicrafts and handmade batik on silk is available only
at Batik Popiler II, Jl. WR. Supratman 306, Topati, Denpasar, tel
0361-463597.
Gilimanuk Ferry harbor on the western tip of the island (ferry to Ketapang in East
Java) and entry point to visit the West Bali National Park (hiking,
climbing)
Sanur Sailing in a Balinese proa (see photo on this page), parasailing, shopping
Kuta Surfing, shopping, discos, have a massage on the beach
Shopping tip:
The best quality handicrafts and hand made batik is available only at Loka
Kita, Discovery Shopping Mall, Jl. Kartika Plaza Blok A (left Wing) 33A,
A35, Kuta, tel 0361-769516
Tanah Lot A very popular destination for tourists, Tanah Lot is a temple built on
a rock in the sea. Watch the sunset here on the beach or in one of he many
cafes.
Nusa Dua The most recent development of this part of the island is a quiet
location for high-end hotels and resorts.
Kintamani Visit the village where the original Balinese (Aga Bali) live.
Celuk Silver and gold jewelry with Balinese motifs.
Mas Center of traditional and modern woodcarving
Ubud Traditional Balinese paintings
Gianyar Visit Taman Burung, Bali Bird Park
Bekasih The holiest of all Hindu temples, the Mother Temple can be visited
daily. It offers a spectacular view of Gunung Agung, the active volcano on
the east of the island.
Benoa Departure point for day and evening cruises and diving trips on
motorboats and sailing yachts.
White water rafting, parasailing, jet-skiing
Taro
Visit the best elephant safari park in South East Asia.
Bali Links Around Bali (Bali
blogspot, the fabled “island of the Gods”, has been enchanting visitors for centuries with its rich cultural traditions and spectacular panoramas) Bali Adventure Tours
(Elephant Safari Park, rafting, kayaking, mountain cycling, trekking) Bali hotel discount - budget hotels in Bali
(Bali hotels and budget hotels in Bali. Featuring Bali budget hotels and best Bali hotels and resorts in Bali) balisuci.com (Bali based tour
operator with tours to many off-the-beaten track and eco-tourism destinations) bali-thepages.com (a detailed
Bali directory) balitourismauthority.net
(official site of Bali's Tourism Authority -in English, Indonesian, German,
Japanese and Mandarin, includes calendar of events) balitours-travel.com (Professional
wedding organizer, Bali wedding, honeymoon, get married, Bali hotel, Bali
wedding arrangement, holidays, accommodation, travel, Bali luxury villa,
package, adventure, sightseeing, culture, online reservations) balivision.com (detailed information
on Bali) denpasar.go.id
(official site of the municipality of Denpasar) indo.com (detailed information on Jakarta
and Bali -where to go and what to do) Mas Bungalows (Comfortable bungalows
under Dutch management, site is in Dutch only; print this page and show it
during check-in for a free drink) pambali.com (Luxury and cheap Bali
villas)
YesBaliPages (list of restaurants, shops, furniture producers, etc.)
Bali and Lombok Hotels Book your hotels with us anahataresort.com
(Anahata Spa
Resort, Ubud) ayodyaresortbali
(Ayodya Resort,
Nusa Dua, Bali) Bali I love you (Adventure
lodging in Bali, renting affordable houses and villas) New! BALI’S BEAUTIFUL BEACH RESORTS
(The Ritz Carlton, The Conrad and the Bale resort and spa with sand white beach located nearly Nusa
Dua, Bali)
bali lovina beach hotel, cottages and bungalows
(Boutique hotel, cottages and family bungalows with pool, fine restaurant and spa, situated superbly right on the beach in
Lovina, Bali,
Indonesia)
baliaccess.com
(Bali Hotels and Villas Cheapest Reservation Rate up to 75%OFF) balidwipa.com
(online Bali
hotel reservations
and tourist information) Bali hotel (Discount Bali holiday with cheap
hotels package) balihotelsbargain.com (online
hotel reservations and tour and events packages in Bali) balijourney.com (online
reservations for budget hotels in Bali) baliresortsandvillas.com
(Hotel reservations in Bali) bali-travelina.com
(One stop shopping for Bali tourism related industries including
Bali hotel accommodation and villas) balitravelplanner.com (hotel
reservations in Bali and beyond) thesamayabali (The Samaya Bali
Hotel, Seminyak Beach) The Ubud Village Resort & Spa, boutique Villas in Bali
(The Ubud Village Resort is a refreshing retreat boutique villa that aimed to takes travelers feeling like at home and away from demand of modern life. 25 boutique villas offering private pool and modern architecture with serene ambience
surrounding) villabali.biz/
(Bali Villa Rental: Carefully selected from villa owners who ensure
that your vacation in Bali is professionally managed. Including general
information about Bali, travel advice, visa advice, online bookings) balivisitor.com (online
Bali
hotel reservations and tourist information) baliwww.com balipayoganresort.com
(Payogan
Resort, Bali) balivillas.com cflwaves.com (hotels, cruises -Bali and many other areas in Indonesia) jepunbali.com (Bali Hotel
reservations with special discount rates. Save up to 68 %) magellanresorts-bali.com
(Luxury villas and resorts in Bali, Lombok and Java) murnis.com (Too Cool: Murni's
villas,
bungalows, restaurant, shops and online-shop in Ubud, Bali) poppiesbali.com (well-known hotel
and restaurant Poppies, Bali) ritzcarlton.com (Ritz
Carlton Bali Resort and Spa: world's best hotel for US$ 250 or less according to
Travel + Leisure magazine) watergardenhotel.com
(Watergarden
Hotel, Candidasa, Bali)
Lombok Island Enjoy
the beach, see Balinese temples, climb 2,100 meter tall Rinjani volcano
(don’t venture there alone –take an experienced guide).
The most popular hotel area is along the beach in Senggigi. Budget
accommodation on the Gili islands.
Sumbawa Island Flights arrive and depart from the small airport of Bima. Surfing
at Hu’u beach near the town of Dompu.
Climb Mount Tambora with its two colored lakes and see Mount Rinjani on the
island of Lombok in the distance
Nusa Tenggara Islands Links (includes Lombok and Komodo) jakholidays.com (Tours by private van
throughout Lombok Island) GIA Holidays (Tour
packages Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo)
Lombok Rinjani Trek (ecotourism,
trekking in Lombok island, climbing Mount Rinjani) nusa-tenggara.com
(tourist information for Nusa Tenggara islands -east from Bali)
West Timor, Kupang West
Timor is the place to look for Sasando music, ikat cloth of high
quality. From Kupang you can rent a small motorboat to one of the small
islands to enjoy a brief stay in a bungalow in your tropical paradise.
Snorkeling and diving are the preferred activities there.
Flores Island Kelimutu: three mountain lakes with different water colors.
Diving in the Bay of Maumere.
Komodo Island See the komodo dragons (be careful, these are not pets, their bite is
lethal).
The island can be reached by boat from Sumbawa or Flores.
Palangkaraya White water rafting near Kualakapuas. Traditional gold panning.
Balikpapan Derawan Island offers a rare collection of tortoises, reefs, and
iguanas.
Banjarmasin Floating market in the Barito River, traditional diamond mining, white
water rafting at Loksado.
Take a speedboat for a long trip upriver, visiting traditional Dayak
settlements. Overnight in a longhouse.
North
Sulawesi: Manado The
city and its surroundings offer many opportunities to visit nearby islands,
and to go diving. The beach at Tasik Ria is well equipped. Visit the caves
near Tara-tara, used by the Japanese army in WW II.
Bunaken
World renowned diving resort. Better than words, watch the video clip
See Fort Rotterdam. The boulevard is famous for its food vendors,
but these have now been relocated to a causeway, south from the
boulevard.
Makassar (also known by its former name Ujung Pandang) is the departure
point for overland trips to Tana Toraja.
Bira Starting point for sport fishing and diving trips. There are several
simple hotels for backpackers. Bira is a ferry harbor with a daily service
to the island of Selayar. Public buses from Makassar to Selayar stop in Bira
before boarding the ferry.
Selayar Island Excellent, largely unexplored diving opportunities, only two simple
hotels are available on the island
Tana Toraja and Rantepao Traditional burial sites in the rocks
Southeast Sulawesi: Kendari Well known for its handicrafts and silver.
Ambon Capital of the province of Maluku. The
religious and ethnic conflict in the Maluku islands that erupted in the late
1990s will take a long time to heal.
Visits to these islands should be made only after consulting the
authorities. Otherwise the Maluku islands are the center of the spice
trade.
Ambon has ruins of Portuguese and Dutch forts and sea gardens to enjoy.
Halmahera Island The island has a 360 years old clove tree, believed to be the ‘mother
of all clove trees’.
Nearby Morotai island was a military base in WW II.
Banda Island Banda island has beautiful tropical vegetation, but also has seen some
of the bloodiest battles in the history of Maluku caused by the Dutch East
India Company (VOC) while it established its clove monopoly.
Jayapura Irian Jaya is by far the largest province. It is also largely
inaccessible and anything but a popular tourist destination.
Those who travel to Irian Jaya will be rewarded with fascinating sights and
traditional Papua cultures.
Capital of the province of Irian Jaya, Jayapura has preserved the house of
General McArthur.
Lake Sentani is nearby.
Sentani: The Lake Sentani district is making serious efforts to develop
the area's tourist potential.
Biak Island The island of Biak was an Allied naval base during WW II. In Biak and
its surrounding smaller islands, interested visitors may visit caves used by the
Japanese Army, and underwater wrecks of ships and planes.
Pulau Dawi is one of the most attractive. It welcomes up to 2,000visitors from
many countries every year, even thought it's not easy to reach.
Asmat The woodcarvings of the Asmat are widely copied throughout Indonesia.
Papua Links alfaprimatours
(Tour operator with trips through Papua and other off-the-beaten-track places in
Indonesia)
papua-adventures (lots of
information on traveling through one of the lesser known provinces in Indonesia) Papua Hotels Book your hotels with us papuaexplorer.com
(hotels and tours through Papua and other parts of Indonesia)
