An archipelago of 17,000 island spread out over 1.9 million square kilometres (735,000 sq. miles) between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the world’s fourth-largest country in terms of population is like a hundred different worlds melded into one. This country is a land of different cultures, people from all walks of life, great food, and traditions. And it makes for a grand adventure for couples - and really, pretty much anyone who is interested in exploring some of the planet´s most exotic corners. Here are just nine of the places in Indonesia well worth your time:
This largely Hindu island is the country´s most famous destination for good reason. Many come for beaches like Kuta, Nusa Dua, and Seminyak, with their surfing, world-class dining, and luxury spas. But Bali´s culture and scenery are also amazing in places like clifftop Uluwatu temple (top) and cultural heart Ubud, surrounded by lush rice paddies, temples, art markets, volcanoes, and yoga retreats. Undeniably charismatic and romantic - but has it been "ruined" by overtourism, as so many say? In parts, perhaps, but with planning you can still enjoy a romantic and exotic idyll in one of the world´s premier bucket-listers.
Baliem Valley (Highland Papua)
Tucked away amid dramatic mountains in the rainforested highlands of the island of New Guinea, Lemba Baliem offers a captivating glimpse into the world of the Dani people, whose traditional way of life — from grass skirts to thatched huts — has endured for centuries. Visitors come not only for the breathtaking scenery but for the rare chance to witness vibrant tribal culture, especially during the Baliem Valley Festival in early August, which celebrates ancestral traditions with mock battles, music, and dance. Trekking through misty valleys, crossing bamboo bridges, and staying in remote villages reveal a raw, authentic Indonesia far from the beaches of Bali. Baliem’s blend of natural beauty, living history, and genuine human warmth makes it one of the most compelling and transformative destinations in Southeast Asia.
About an hour and a half northwest of Yogjakarta (see below), this 9th-century UNESCO World Heritage temple is the world's largest Buddhist monument, and one of the world´s most mesmerizing manmade places. Rising from lush jungle landscapes, it features more than 2,600 relief panels and 500 Buddha statues arranged across nine stacked terraces that symbolize the path to enlightenment. What makes Borobudur extraordinary is its sheer scale, intricate carvings, and spiritual harmony between stone and nature, especially at sunrise when mist drifts over the surrounding volcanoes.
Many visitors to Indonesia don't linger in its enormous, sprawling capital (pop. more than 11 million), but congested and sometimes chaotic as it is, visitors can find a lot to like. Gleaming skyscrapers rise beside Dutch colonial buildings and street food stalls and lively markets thrive next to luxury malls. Explore the compact Kota Tua (Old Town) with architecture dating back to the 17th century; wander Sunda Kelapa Harbor, with wooden schooners docked as they were in centuries past; and visit various history and art museums. Meanwhile, modern Jakarta dazzles with stylish cafés and nightlife in Menteng and SCBD. Also don’t miss the National Monument (Monas), the huge, 37-year-old Istiqlal Mosque, and the cultural park Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. For shoppers, Grand Indonesia and the traditional Tanah Abang Market offer everything from global brands to local batik and other handicrafts.
Komodo National Park (Nusa Tenggara Islands)
Yes, here there be dragons: the Komodo dragon is the world´s largest (up to three meters/10 feet and 150 kilos/330 pounds), and this fearsome apex predator is the star attraction of the UNESCO World Heritage park, spread out over 603 square kilometers (231 sq. miles) on the islands of Komodo and 28 others; it takes a minimu of 8½ to get here from Jakarta with a combination of flight, ferry, and driving). With dry, rugged, and relatively treeless savannah-type terrain, the park is also home to mammals such as the civets, crab-eating macaque monkeys, rusa deer, water buffalo, and wild boar, as well as myriad amphibians and 55 species of birds. But of course it´s the dragons that everyone comes to see, and they´re quite a sight indeed!
A fertile, roughly circular, and totally stunning island about 70 kilometers (43 miles) across, east of Bali and reachable by plane from Jakarta in a bit under four hours, Lombok is in a way the "anti-Bali," seren and with gorgeous beaches but much fewer crowds. Its crown jewel is Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, surrounded by crater lakes and The Benang Kelambu and Benang Stokel waterfalls provide a lush, refreshing escapes. Besides dramatic trekking routes, Lombok´s stars are its Gili Islands—Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno—which are world-famous for diving, snorkelling, and laid-back beach life, with turquoise waters and coral reefs. Kuta Lombok on the south coast features pristine white-sand beaches like Tanjung Aan and Selong Belanak, popular with surfers and sunseekers alike. Also inland, visitors can explore traditional Sasak villages such as Sade and Ende, to experience local weaving and architecture.
Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, just over 4½ hours by air and ten hours driving from Jakarta, presents a landscape of otherworldly beauty — a vast volcanic caldera ringed by misty ridges and punctuated by smoking peaks. At its heart lies Mount Bromo, whose smoldering crater rises from the Sea of Sand, best viewed at sunrise from Mount Penanjakan. Towering above it all is Mount Semeru, Java’s highest and most active volcano, often seen puffing ash into the sky. Visitors can ride horses or drive rented jeeps across the ash plain, hike to the crater rim, witness spectacular sunsets, and explore Tenggerese villages, where ancient Hindu traditions still thrive amid Indonesia’s most dramatic volcanic scenery.
Raja Ampat Islands (West Papua)
This archipelago of more than 1,500 mostly tiny islands - at least six hours by plane and ferry from Jakarta - is a tropical paradise of turquoise seas, limestone karsts, and coral-rich waters, recognized as not just as Indonesia´s but one of the world´s top destinations for divers, snorkelers, with the world´s highest marine biodiversity. Traveling to one of four main islands — Waigeo, Misool, Salawati, and Batanta — visitors can explore vibrant coral gardens and spot manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, and more than 1,500 species of often colorful tropical fish. They can also kayak through hidden lagoons, hike jungle trails, explore secluded beaches, and encounter Papuan communities, known for their warmth and craftsmanship and preserve rich traditions through dance, storytelling, and sustainable fishing.
In the south of Indonesia´s fourth/largest island, it's a highland region renowned for its dramatic landscapes and deeply spiritual culture centered around life, death, and community. The Torajan people are famous for their elaborate funeral ceremonies, cliffside burial caves, and distinctive tongkonan houses with sweeping boat-shaped roofs. It’s a destination where ancestral traditions are vividly alive, offering visitors a profound glimpse into Indonesia’s cultural diversity. Key highlights include Rantepao, the main town and travel hub; Lemo and Londa for their cliff tombs and effigies; and Batutumonga, offering sweeping mountain views and rice terraces. Markets, meanwhile, brim with handicrafts and buffalo trading. From Jakarta, it´s a 2½-hour flight to Makassar, then a scenic, winding road trip of eight to nine hours through lush hills and villages. The effort is richly rewarded with one of Indonesia’s most unforgettable cultural encounters.
A six-hour drive east of Jakarta, with a population of 376,000, mostly low-slung “Jogja” is not big, brash and bustling like the capital, but it´s a must visit as Java´s cultural heart. Once the seat of the precolonial Mataram Kingdom, of the 16th to 18th century, it remains the only region in the country still ruled by a sultan, preserving centuries-old traditions and Javanese court culture. The city is celebrated for its arts, spirituality, and intellectual life, blending royal heritage with youthful creativity. Visitors can explore the magnificent Kraton (Sultan’s Palace), the elegant Taman Sari Water Castle, and nearby UNESCO World Heritage wonders Borobudur (see above) and Prambanan. Yogyakarta is also Indonesia’s batik capital — its bustling Malioboro Street overflows with textiles, street food, and local crafts. From gamelan music to shadow puppet performances, every corner reflects deep-rooted artistry and soul.
More info: Indonesia.travel.
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