Things to do in Indonesia - Interactive map for trip planning

Food and drink highlights of Indonesia 🥕

Tipping - You're not obligated to leave a tip, but it's pleasantly welcomed to leave around 5-10% of the total bill. However, some restaurants may charge you around 5-10% for the service.
Eating hours - The time of eating breakfast depends on one's lifestyle, but most people have lunch around 12 PM. If you plan on going out for dinner, restaurants are the most occupied around 7 PM, most of them are open from 8 AM to 10 PM.
Shopping hours - Shops are usually open till 10 PM but markets work as late as midnight. On Saturdays, most shops work from 8:00 AM to 4 PM.
Discount shops - Find a local market in your neighborhood to avoid the high cost of shopping in malls. Local markets offer fresh and affordable products.
Cuisine type - Indonesian cuisine is different depending on the region and is influenced mostly by Indian, Chinese, and Middle East cuisines. In most of the dishes, you won't find pork because of their religion. There are a lot of vegetarian options.
Savoir Vivre - The middle of the table is usually reserved for the most important person.
Main ingredients - Indonesians in their cuisine mostly use coconuts (especially coconut milk), fish sauce, rice flour, lemongrass, lime leaves, soy sauce, and rice that is served on the side as an addition to almost every meal.
Most popular alcohol - Arak Bali is the most traditional alcoholic drink in Indonesia, it has a high alcohol content and is used to celebrate, mainly on traditional occasions.
Important info - The rule is: the one who invites for a meal pays the bill.
Warning - Avoid deep-fried snacks that are sold from street vendors, the oil could have been used too many times up to the point where it could be dangerous to your health.

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Foods to try in Indonesia 🥘

Fried rice (Nasi Goreng)
It's simply rice combined with vegetables or/and meat and soy sauce called keycap, all ingredients are fried in high heat using a wok. The most commonly used vegetables are cucumber, carrots, chilies, garlic, and onions.
Siomay
This street food is a fish dumpling, an Indonesian dim sum. It's served with steamed eggs, potatoes, and cabbage in nut sauce.
Nasi uduk
Another rice-based option in Indonesian cuisine; consists of rice cooked on coconut milk, originally from Java, with pandan leaves, lemongrass, cloves, and cinnamon. It's served as a side dish.
Gado-gado
This may be considered a salad as it contains steamed bean sprouts, potatoes, spinach, long beans with hard-boiled eggs, and fried foru or tempeh, all covered with nut sauce.
Satay
Grilled and barbecued bites of chicken with a peanut-lemon sauce, it became a national dish and is served from street vendors to fancy restaurants.
Rendang
Slow-cooked meat dish, the type of meat depends on the recipe but beef is originally used. Meat is stewed with coconut milk with the company of spices, lemongrass, chili, and many more, to the point when it turns tender.
Pempek
Spicy Indonesian delicacy made up from fish and tapioca, in some versions, it comes with an egg inside.
Ikan Bakar
Fish or seafood grilled very quickly over a charcoal fire.
Mie Bakso
Noodle soup with meatball from beef surimi, it's a well-known street food served all across Indonesia.
Sweet Martabak
Something for people with a sweet-tooth, Indonesian type of pancakes with various fillings to choose from; chocolate, peanuts or fruits.

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Unusual facts about food in Indonesia 🥘

As Indonesians use rice whenever they can, the most famous dessert is made out of it.
Indonesians cook to eat collectively and they usually share the meal from one bowl.
The smaller the size of the chili peppers, the hotter it tastes.
An unusual, but common Indonesian dessert is avocado blended with ice and topped with condensed milk.
During Ramadan in Indonesia, the most common dish to break the fast are fruits in coconut milk.
In Indonesian cuisine, it's common to add lots of spices to their dishes, if you're not used to it then it may be too much.

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Place to stay in Indonesia 🛏️

Best booking sites - The largest hotel reservation websites like booking.com offer many options at various prices but it's worth trying to find better deals by booking from small websites that will transfer you to the Asian market (as klikhotel.com).
Rating system - Hotels are rated on a scale from one to five stars where five-star hotels are the most luxurious. Every four years the rating is reviewed.
Seasonality - The peak season in Indonesia lasts from mid-June to September and hotels are the most occupied during this period of time. If you'd like to avoid crowds and overbooked hotels choose a date in May, June, or September.
Cost-effective - Room rating in Indonesia is called kost and may be the most cost-effective option, you can choose from living in a host family or stay among other tourists in one big room, which is a great way to make international friends.
Formalities - Accommodations with higher standards do not include tax in prices so be prepared to pay an additional 10 to 20% of the total price.
Air conditioning - In the cheapest forms of accommodation air conditioning is not included.
Parking - You will have to pay for parking space but the prices are usually low and you can park for many hours.
Payments - When booking a stay, there is usually an option to pay in cash on the day of arrival or by a card in advance.
Local names - Penginapan is a name for staying in family's house in spare bedrooms shared by them, other types of accommodation running by families are pandok, wisma and losemen.
Unusual accommodation - Beach resorts are free of fees, the form of payment is exchanging your services like giving English lessons or cleaning.
Camp - You can easily find campsites from basic to more luxurious.
Important - If you wish to relax, pick non-turistic places that are not commonly visited by families with children like Jimbardan.
Warning - Do not drink water from the sink no matter where you are located, even in five stars hotels it may cause someone to feel ill.

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Accommodation in Indonesia 💡

Surf camps are created for those who love surfing and the ones willing to learn, it includes breakfast and the daily practice of surfing.
To get the best price, book everything in advance.
When staying in hostels there's an opportunity to bargain a final price.
It's important to carefully read the reviews before making a reservation.
If you decide to rent a villa, be prepared to know the basics of the local language because you might be forced to organize the repairs on your own.
It's worth looking for bargains, the accommodation cost starts from 5$.
Don't worry if you haven't booked accommodation in advance, there are enough places for everyone.

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Getting around Indonesia 💡

Most popular - Most people travel by bus, which makes it the most popular mean of transport; they are easy to catcht as they often pick up passengers from the street.
Cost-effective - A great option for saving money is using buses to move around, considering that they will get you almost whenever you wish-prices are affordable for everyone. Be aware of pickpocketers as tourists are their targets.
Time-efficient - Planes offer time-saving connections and can be the only option to get to some parts of Indonesia.
Traffic safety - Driving in Indonesia is not considered safe as most of the drivers don't respect rules and behave irresponsibly on the road, driving at night can be particularly dangerous.
Important - As the belts in the cars are required only in the front seats, you may not always find them in the back seats.
Warning - Driving at night, especially outside of big agglomerations can be risky and very dangerous as most drivers refuse to use lights and people may gather on the streets.

🚗 Car

Drivers can act recklessly, often using their hands to gesticulate.
In the built-up areas, the maximum speed is 50 km/h, on the other roads it is usually from 40 to 80 km/h.
In Indonesian law any amount of alcohol in the blood is too much, driving under the influence is unacceptable.
In Indonesia, you drive on the left side of the road.
You must be at least 23 years old to rent a car in Indonesia and own a license for at least a year.
The additional costs may come from whether you decide to rent a guide.
If you drive without an international driving permit you may be charged a penalty of 1 million rupees which is around 12,000 euro.

🚕 Taxi

Some taxis can accept cards but most of them don't so always be sure to carry cash with you to pay for a ride.
The initial fee when using a taxi is 7000 Rp, each additional kilometer is 4500 Rp.
Ojek, a motorcycle taxi, is a cheaper alternative to the traditional cab.

👍 Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking in Indonesia is not risky and overall by the kindness of Indonesians can be really easy. Although you shouldn't do it only by yourself.
Tourists made hitchhiking popular in Indonesia at the beginning of the decade and since then, you can spot mostly foreign hitchhikers in the bigger cities of the country.
There is a big chance you will get picked up straight away by the first passing car.

🚌 Bus

Buses only leave the station when they are full.
On the non-popular routes, buses can lack air-conditioning.
Keep an eye on your personal belongings to avoid someone stealing your items.
There are three classes of buses: economy (they route between cities and are extremely affordable but slow and overcrowded), express (also called patas, they only pick up passengers from bus stations and seats are mostly guaranteed), Airco buses (tickets must be bought in advance, they offer special amenities like toilets or screens).

✈ Plane

The most popular airlines are AirAsia, Lion Air, and Garuda Indonesia.
Flights in comparison to other means of transport are inexpensive and are frequently used by tourists.
The best way to buy a ticket is through travel agencies or at the airport as some websites selling tickets may not accept non-indonesian credit cards.
Because of over 100 plane accidents that had happened in Indonesia, it's rated as the most dangerous place when it comes to flying in Asia.

🏍 Motorcycle

Motorcycles are used by most Indonesians as the quickest mean of transport.
A family of five riding one motorcycle is not an unusual view and it even has a name: Bali minivan.
Renting a motorcycle also requires an international driving license.
Honking while driving is a form of communication, drivers often use it instead of a turn signal, so don't be offended.
Accidents on the roads with the participation of motorcycles occur frequently, so wearing a helmet is mandatory.

⛵ Boat

Boats are the slowest mean of transport but usually offer the best views.
Most islands are connected by ferries that route daily or most days a week.
Boat tickets can be very cheap in economy class.
Speed boats can be a good alternative to regular ferries, they connect most of the islands around Bali and Lombok.

🚲 Bicycle

In major cities renting a bicycle is fairly easy and cheap, prices start from 30,000 Rp a day.
Considering that Indonesian roads are rather dangerous, always be focused and wary.

🚇 Metro

The first and the only lane of the subway was opened in 2019.

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How to travel in Indonesia 🚗

The biggest and the most recommended taxi companies are Blue Bird taxis and Express taxis.
Renting a car is especially easy near airports and major cities.
Water taxis and ferries connect most of the islands and are widely used by tourists.
Locals are not used to following traffic rules.
It is possible to rent your own car with a driver but that may be expensive.
Don't get in a taxi without the meter, the driver may charge you an inadequate price.
Considering drivers’ behavior on the road, buses are not the safest way of travel.

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Best time to visit Indonesia 💡

⏱️ When to go

It's best to visit Indonesia between May and September during the dry season.

🌡️ Temperature

During the dry season, temperatures don’t change significantly and remain constant between 28 °C almost in all regions of the country.

☔ Rainfall

Precipitation level averages 180-320 cm in lowlands but in the higher areas increases to an average of 610 cm.

⛈️ Wet season

Raining season lasts from October to April and brings many rainfalls with monsoons.

☀️ Dry season

The dry season is considered the perfect time to visit Indonesia because of the steady weather and lots of sun.

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Indonesia weather Insights ☁️

Indonesia as a country with a tropical climate does not have characteristic changing seasons, instead, the dry and raining seasons occur alternately.
Days last about 12 hours all year long with little change between seasons.
Indonesian's climate is known for high humidity, hot temperatures, and low winds.
Humidity is on the level of between 70 to 90 percent.
Indonesia has the highest rainfalls in the world.
Temperatures depend on closeness to the sea and on the height above the sea.
During the wet season, there is a greater risk of floods.
Due to the effects of climate change, weather can be surprising and unpredictable with rainfalls during the dry season and droughts during the wet season.

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Savoir-Vivre in Indonesia 📝

Greetings - A friendly way to greet a stranger is to smile, gently shake their hand and nod your head. It's important to be careful with the handshake, gripping it too hard may be considered aggressive. A man should never shake hands with a Muslim woman unless she extends it first.
Punctuality - Indonesians are flexible with their time and don't pay attention to being punctual, their attitude comes from the belief that time does not equal money.
Bargaining - Bargaining is a part of the buying process, especially in local stores or markets. Vendors are open to negotiations and frequently offer special prices. As a foreigner, you should know the price of the item you are going to buy, because you may be quoted a higher price than it actually is.
Dress code - Remembering you're still in a Muslim country, covering your shoulders is a must, showing too much may be considered offensive to the locals. When picking an outfit, choose light fabrics that will help you stay cool in hot temperatures.
Temple entrance - If you plan on visiting temples, you not only have to make sure your arms are covered, covering legs is mandatory for entrance and there are usually two traditional types of coverage: sarong (looks like a cloth and covers from waist to ankles) and temple scarf (tied at the waist). Both of them can be rented from temples.
Home invitation - Before entering an Indonesian house, take your shoes off and never show the soles of your feet.
Personal space - Indonesians are open-minded people with a friendly attitude towards foreigners, but keep in mind that men shouldn't touch a woman they don’t know unless she does.
Etiquette - To be considered well mannered, smile to locals, bow in front of the elderly and don't use your left hand to reach for anything.
Drones - We recommend using this map to easily check the applicable restrictions.

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Things not to do in Indonesia ⚠️

Do not try to touch heads of Indonesians, they believe the soul resides there.
You are not allowed to interrupt any religious processions, they are treated as holy, and because of that, no one is allowed to stop them.
Temperatures are high, so you definitely should wear sunscreen with a high SPF and a hat during the day.
Smoking is forbidden in all public places.
While exchanging money you can be easily ripped of, so trust only ATMs that have been recognized by the national bank.
Don't swim in the ocean while the red flag is raised by the lifeguards, you can be easily swept away by the ocean.
Watch out and don't use your left hand at all, the only exception to do that is when you use both of your hands. Indonesians use their left hand for hygienic purposes so it's considered unsanitary.
If you speak loudly to Indonesians, you might be considered very rude and impolite.

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Interesting facts about Indonesia 🤓

Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands.
Since 2001, 45 air accidents happened in Indonesia and because of that, the EU only accepts seven out of sixty-two Indonesian airlines.
Because of high ethnic diversity, there are over 300 languages and 283 dialects.
A lot of people live in Indonesia, it's the fourth most populated country in the world.
Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country in the world, almost 87% of the population is identified as Muslim.
There are over 100 active volcanoes.
Indonesia has the youngest population in the world, the average age is 30.
Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world, it is made from civets’ feces. It is exported all over the world, mostly from Indonesia.

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Indonesia packing list 💡

Water filter - Since drinking tap water is not recommended for your health, a water filter may be useful in urgent situations when bottled water isn't within reach.
Universal power adapter - You may need some extra power to keep up with the rest of the world during the trip, in this case, a power adapter will be essential.
Neck wallet - Unfortunately, tourists are vulnerable to pickpocketing, so keep what's the most valuable close to you.
Insect repellent - Insects are noisy and unpleasant, but even worse, they may carry diseases, so don't let them ruin your holiday and be protected from bites.
Swimsuit coverup - A swimsuit coverup is a more comfortable option than always carrying a towel or changing between swimming and going to the toilet or getting something to drink.
Medicine - Visiting a doctor is probably not an activity that you included in your to-do list, so instead of arranging an appointment, pack your trusted medications and use them when needed.

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