Indonesia

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An Introduction to Indonesia 

Indonesia is a vast country, spanning over 17000 islands between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Famous for the beautiful islands of Bali, Gili and Lombok, Indonesia is far more than just beaches and Bintang.

Indonesia has always been a popular spot for backpackers. With famous surf spots, idyllic beaches, incredible volcanoes and of course the paradise island of Bali.

Spread across countless islands, Indonesia is a wonderful mix of cultures, peoples, religions and food that all lace together to make something uniquely Indonesian. Whatever you want from a backpacking trip, Indonesia can provide. From vibrant cities, to chilled out beach towns, extreme sports to coffee culture, Indonesia has it all!

Useful Information:

Capital: Jakarta

Although in August 2024, the capital city will be moved to the planned city of Nusantara.

Language:  Indonesian, Sundanese and many others.

Indonesian is the main language and spoken throughout. Sundanese is the next largest spoken language, with around 40 million speakers in the West of Java. 

As a backpacker you shouldn’t need to worry too much as English is spoken commonly and even where it isn’t the people are friendly and patient and you should have no trouble getting by.

Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

Current conversion to GDP

Indonesian Visa (UK citizens): 

UK citizens can get a visa on arrival for 30 days at international airports. This will cost you 500,000 IDR (£26). This visa can be extended once for another 30 days.

You can apply for this visa in advance if you’re flying into Jakarta or Bali airports to skip the queue. You can also apply for longer visas (60 days) online. 

Indonesian Emergency Numbers: 

• Police: 110 or 112 

• Ambulance: 118 or 119

• Fire: 113

• Natural Disaster Assistance: 129

Indonesia dialling code:

+62

Sim Cards:

Sim cards are extremely cheap and we found the best carrier to be Telkomsel. Good cover and cheap deals. You can buy a sim card when you arrive or from town. If you buy a sim card outside the airport, make sure you bring your passport.

If you run out of data or your package expires you will need to top up. Unless you have an Indonesian bank this can be a bit challenging. Check out our step by step guide for how to get around this and top up your Telkomsel account.

For those who want an easier option, or like things sorted in advance check out an eSIM. eSims are virtual sim cards that operate alongside your regular SIM and allowing you to travel freely without worrying about how to pick up a local plastic SIM. Getting an Indonesian eSIM is easy and can be done entirely online before you even travel - Click here to get one for yourself

ATMs:

Outside of the major cities, Indonesia is still predominantly a cash based society. ATMs are everywhere and if you have a good UK bank account that doesn’t charge international fees (e.g. Monzo or Starling), we recommend simply withdrawing money from ATMs. ATMs do not charge fees like they do in Thailand, but will offer a sneaky currency conversion which you should always decline!

Travelling Around Indonesia:

Travelling around Indonesia is stress free despite the size of the country. There is a good train network across all of Java and buses link everywhere to everywhere else. As Indonesia is a country of thousands of islands, there are ferry and plane services linking the country together.

If you want to book tickets in advance, we’d recommend using 12GO.

In the major cities, ride hailing apps will get you around, just download Grab, Gojek and Blue Bird Taxi’s apps.

Best Time to Visit Indonesia:

The dry season in Indonesia is during the European summer months of July to October. The weather during this time is perfect for exploring and the sea perfect for surfing. Just bear in mind that due to Indonesia’s island nature, weather can change quickly and unpredictably.

Interesting Indonesia Facts: 

• As we have mentioned, Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands and as a result has a huge diversity of cultures. With over 700 languages and dialects being spoken.

• Indonesia is highly volcanic. Lying in the “Ring of Fire”, Indonesia has many, many active volcanoes. From the famously beautiful Mount Bromo to the blue lake of Mount Ijen and the dangerous Krakato, Indonesia’s mountains do have a temper! 

• Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, it also holds some of the most beautiful Hindu temples and the largest Buddhist temple in the world, the temple of Borobudur.