Must-See Tourist Attractions in Indonesia
The Indonesian archipelago, a vast collection of islands, is a treasure trove of diverse cultures, landscapes, and cities. With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia offers adventures and attractions for everyone, from exploring ancient temples and hiking active volcanoes to diving in pristine waters.
You can wander the bustling streets of Jakarta, step back in time in the remote villages of Tana Toraja, indulge in the bliss of Bali, or face the volatile Anak Krakatau.
Whatever you choose, your experience will be filled with awe and appreciation for a country rich in history and natural beauty. Discover the best places to visit with our list of top attractions in Indonesia.
1. Beaches of Bali
Bali, arguably Indonesia’s most popular vacation spot, boasts numerous cultural landmarks and attractions. However, for many, Bali is synonymous with beautiful beaches. If a beach vacation is what you seek, head to one of Bali’s luxury beach resorts and soak up the sun.
Visitors to Bali will find warm sand and blue waters. Kuta, the best-known beach, is perfect for those who enjoy sun, surfing, and socializing, with plenty of restaurants and activities. For a quieter experience, Nusa Dua offers beauty with fewer tourists. Sanur is ideal for those seeking culture and great water sports.
2. Borobudur
This ancient temple is one of Indonesia’s most famous and culturally significant landmarks. Built in the 8th century in the shape of a traditional Buddhist mandala, Borobudur is a top UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s greatest Buddhist monuments.
Forgotten for centuries, likely due to volcanic eruptions, Borobudur was rediscovered in the 1800s and is now a major attraction in Java. Visit at sunrise for a torch-lit climb and witness the temple bathed in sunlight. Borobudur is near Yogyakarta, a city known for its rich cultural and historical heritage.
3. Orangutans of Borneo
No trip to Indonesia is complete without seeing orangutans, and Borneo is an excellent place to visit these beautiful and endangered creatures. While orangutans still live in the wild, several sanctuaries rescue and protect them as land development encroaches on their natural habitat. Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, is home to one of the largest orangutan populations in the world, along with other primates, birds, and reptiles.
If you can’t make it to Borneo, you can also see orangutans at the Bohorok Orangutan Centre in Bukit Lawang, a tourism village in the Sumatran jungle.
4. Gili Islands
The Gili Islands are a major attraction in Lombok, which has become increasingly popular among backpackers and tourists. These picturesque islands offer beaches that rival Bali’s in beauty, along with opportunities for diving and snorkeling at a turtle sanctuary. For more turtle action, visit a turtle hatchery where hundreds of these creatures are born each year.
Kayaking is also popular in the Gilis, and if you’re looking to reconnect with your mind and body, there are several options for yoga classes. The Gili Islands provide a more relaxed, yet stimulating, alternative to Bali.
5. Komodo National Park
Who hasn’t dreamed of seeing a dragon at least once in their life? The komodos of Indonesia are no mythical creatures; they are fierce and deadly animals. Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, includes three main islands and several smaller ones, as well as the surrounding marine areas. The waters around these islands are some of the richest and most diverse in the world.
The komodo dragons are the stars of any visit to the park, but visitors can also hike, snorkel, canoe, or visit small villages on the islands. Another highlight is Pink Beach on Komodo Island, a stretch of pink sand that is one of the top beaches in Indonesia.
Visitors must arrive by boat, and there is an entrance fee plus additional costs for transportation, guide services, and other activities.
6. Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud
Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali, is home to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, a serene space where you can experience the ancient majesty of the island. Here, you’ll encounter many long-tailed macaques, a species commonly seen throughout Southeast Asia. The sanctuary also houses three Balinese Hindu temples dating back to 1350. As you wander through the forest, avoid displaying food or holding items like umbrellas and water bottles, as the monkeys may try to steal them!
The forest is near Padangtegal, a small village that has attracted artists of all kinds for many years. The combination of the temple, artistry, and stunning natural backdrop makes a visit to the forest and village a must-do in Bali.
Official site: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
7. Mount Bromo
Indonesia sits on the Ring of Fire, an area with some of the world’s most active volcanoes. Many of these volcanoes, such as Mount Merapi, are known for their violent eruptions and stunning, yet dangerous beauty. Mount Bromo is among the best known, thanks to its incredible views, especially at sunrise when seen from the caldera. Bromo’s peak was blown off in an eruption, and you can still see white smoke spewing from the mountain.
The volcano is part of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, which also includes Mount Semeru, the highest peak in Java. The park is home to the Tengger people, an isolated ethnic group tracing their ancestry back to the ancient Majapahit empire.
8. Tana Toraja
A visit to Tana Toraja in South Sulawesi Province feels like stepping back in time and offers a glimpse into the richness and diversity of Indonesia’s long-standing cultures. The architectural style of Tongkonan, boat-shaped houses and other buildings, stands out immediately. However, it’s the people who make this natural paradise so special. They are often considered the friendliest and most welcoming people you could meet while traveling.
The Toraja approach to death is one of reverence and celebration. Funerals are elaborate ceremonies involving plenty of food and traditional dance, and the dead are buried in graves built into surrounding caves.
Top activities in the area include visiting villages, connecting with locals, and trekking through the lush and pristine countryside.
9. Kalimantan, Borneo
Few places suggest wild, untamed adventure like Borneo. One of the most ecologically diverse places on earth, Borneo is home to orangutans, exotic birds, Sumatran rhinos, pygmy elephants, and an array of other creatures.
In Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, you can travel down the Kapuas River, the longest in Indonesia; visit villages of the indigenous Dayak people; and observe foreign influences from China, Malaysia, and even Europe in the ports and cities along the way.
You can also trek through the rainforest to see some of Borneo’s famed wildlife in person. Bukit Baka-Bukit Raya National Park in West Kalimantan includes two of the highest mountains in Borneo and supports wildlife such as orangutans, clouded leopards, slow lorises, sun bears, and many other species.
10. Lake Toba
Another of Indonesia’s natural wonders, Lake Toba is both a body of water and a supervolcano. The lake, which sits in a crater, was formed between 69,000 and 77,000 years ago and is believed to have resulted from a catastrophic eruption.
The lake is 1,145 square kilometers and 450 meters deep. Volcanic activity is still regularly recorded here, pushing some islands above the water’s surface.
Lake Toba is a study in beauty and the powerful forces at work on the planet. Here, you can swim, water ski, canoe, or fish, or explore the surrounding area on foot or by bike.
11. Mount Krakatau
The eruption of Indonesia’s most famous volcano, Krakatau, in 1883 was one of the largest in recorded history. The eruption severely impacted global climate conditions and took a devastating toll on human life on nearby Java and Sumatra. Anak Krakatau, “Child of Krakatau,” is the youngest of the islands formed by the 1883 eruption, emerging above the surface in 1930.
This young and volatile volcano continues to rise out of the sea and has significant eruptions. Anak Krakatau still belches smoke and fire, and tourists can visit Krakatau’s child for a reminder of the awesome, unseen power just beneath the surface in Indonesia.
12. Raja Ampat
Colorful fish and a diverse variety of marine life thrive in the warm, clear waters. The coral reefs here are some of the most biodiverse on the planet, making it a popular area for diving in Indonesia.
The fairyland of lush, cone-shaped islands set against blue and turquoise waters is one of Indonesia’s most spectacular sights. Hundreds of islands and cays make up this tropical paradise, but the beauty extends beneath the surface as well.
13. Gunung Rinjani
Another of Indonesia’s famed volcanoes, Gunung Rinjani is a top attraction on Lombok. While Rinjani itself does not see the frequent eruptions that some other volcanoes do, its caldera-forming eruption in the late 13th century is believed to have been one of the most powerful in human history. A lake sits in Rinjani’s caldera, and within the lake is Mt. Baru, another active volcano.
In Rinjani National Park, you may spot animals such as the rare black ebony leaf monkey, long-tailed macaques, sulfur-crested cockatoos, and other exotic species. Guided treks are available, and you can camp overnight in the park.
The park cautions that treks are strenuous, so if you plan to hike the mountain, you should be in good physical health and be prepared with the appropriate equipment.
Official site: Rinjani National Park
14. Pura Tanah Lot
One of Bali’s most popular temples, Pura Tanah Lot is built on a rock formation in the sea. The original formation began to deteriorate, so a portion of the rock is now artificial. Still, Pura Tanah Lot draws crowds, especially at sunset.
This temple compound is located on the southern coast of Beraban village, and you can walk out to the temple at low tide. After sunset, browse the stalls at Tanah Lot market for unique Balinese souvenirs.
15. Banda Islands
While Bali and Lombok are well-known vacation spots, the lesser-known Banda Islands offer an off-the-beaten-path getaway. This cluster of 10 small islands sits at the edge of the Banda Sea, whose depths reach more than 6,500 meters.
The Bandas have long been known to those involved in the spice trade, thanks to their rich source of nutmeg. Called “Eastern Indonesia’s best-kept secret,” the Bandas offer thrills for divers and sailors.
Pristine dive sites provide opportunities to spot sharks, sea turtles, whales, the endemic Ambon scorpionfish, lobsters, and many other creatures.
You can book accommodations and tours yourself, or opt for a live-aboard boat, which includes stops at many great dive sites around the islands.
16. Jatiluwih Rice Fields, Bali
While Bali’s beaches are often the first thing that comes to mind, the verdant rice fields are a close second. The terraces of the Jatiluwih Rice Fields are so lush and life-giving that they were designated a UNESCO Cultural Landscape as part of Bali’s Subak System.
These meticulously cultivated and irrigated fields are a testament to Bali’s natural resources and the local farmers’ skills. No visit to Bali is complete without seeing these rich acres.
17. Jakarta
Indonesia’s bustling capital, Jakarta, stands in stark contrast to the country’s famous beaches, rice fields, and volcanoes. Here, tourists can discover the cosmopolitan side of this otherwise traditional destination.
The city boasts more than 170 shopping malls, each filled with stores, high-end restaurants, and cinemas.
Other highlights include several noteworthy museums. The relatively new Museum MACAN showcases over 800 pieces of contemporary art. There’s also the Museum Nasional, an archaeological and ethnological institution with more than 70,000 artifacts, and the vibrant Museum Layang-Layang, dedicated to the art of kite-making.
Don’t miss Kota, Jakarta’s Old Town, to see what the city looked like in the 17th century.
18. Flores
Between Komodo and Lembata islands lies one of Indonesia’s most beautiful spots: Flores. The island is brimming with untouched stretches of lush, tropical scenery. The most famous attraction on Flores is the Kelimutu volcano, known for its three lakes, each boasting a distinctive color that changes based on the water’s acidity.
You can also visit Stone Age megaliths in the village of Bena and see traditional conical houses, known as Mbaru Niang, in Wae Rebo.
