Travel Guides

Before departure

Visa. Most nationalities can enter visa-free or get a Visa on Arrival (30 days, extendable once) for tourism. Check your specific country’s requirements before booking — rules shift, and it’s the first thing worth confirming, not assuming. Check whether your nationality qualifies for Visa on Arrival (VoA), e-VoA, visa-free entry, or another visa type. The rules depend on nationality and purpose of travel.

Visa documents: If using e-VoA, ensure your passport details exactly match the visa application.

When to go. Indonesia sits on the equator, so “seasons” mean wet and dry, not hot and cold — and they don’t line up the same way across the archipelago. Java and Bali are driest from May to September. Sumatra and Kalimantan run on a different rhythm. If your trip spans multiple islands, check each one separately rather than planning around a single national “best time to visit.”

Health. No mandatory vaccinations for most travellers, but routine ones (and often typhoid/hepatitis A) are commonly recommended — talk to a travel clinic a few weeks out. Tap water isn’t drinkable; bottled or filtered water is the norm everywhere.

Passport: Make sure it is valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.

Return/onward ticket: This may be required, particularly for VoA/e-VoA entry.

Accommodation details: Keep your hotel/address and contact information available.

Customs/arrival requirements: Complete any required Indonesian arrival/customs declarations before or during arrival, according to the current rules. If you are using e-VoAThe official Indonesian immigration information says e-VoA holders generally receive an initial 30-day stay, with an option to extend once, subject to the applicable rules. The current listed fee for B1 VoA is Rp500,000.

Cultural Orientation
This is the part most guides skip, and it’s the part that actually changes your trip.Indonesia is not one culture. It’s the world’s largest archipelago and the fourth most populous country on earth, home to over 300 ethnic groups and more than 700 living languages. Java is not Bali. Bali is not Sumatra. Sumatra is not Papua. Each island — often each region within an island — carries its own history, religion, cuisine, and customs. Assuming “Indonesian culture” is one thing is the fastest way to miss what’s actually in front of you.

Religion shapes daily life, and it varies by place. Indonesia is majority Muslim — the largest Muslim population of any country — but Bali is predominantly Hindu, parts of eastern Indonesia and North Sumatra are largely Christian, and older animist traditions still shape ritual life in pockets of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. Dress modestly at religious sites regardless of the faith — cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes where indicated, and if in doubt, watch what locals do before you act.

A few etiquette basics that go a long way:Use your right hand (or both) to give, receive, or eat — the left hand is traditionally considered unclean.A slight bow or nod with a smile is a safe, respectful greeting in most contexts.Public displays of anger or raised voices are read very differently here than in many Western cultures — calm, indirect communication is the norm, especially in Java.Ask before photographing people, ceremonies, or religious practices. A ritual isn’t a photo backdrop.

A few words of Bahasa Indonesia go further than you’d think:
Terima kasih — thank you
Permisi — excuse me
Selamat pagi / siang / malam — good morning / afternoon / evening
Boleh saya…? — May I…?

Money & Practical Basics
The currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) — prices will look like large numbers; it takes a day or two to stop flinching. ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist areas, less so in remote regions, so carry cash when heading off the beaten path. A local SIM or eSIM is cheap and easy to set up on arrival, and worth doing on day one. As with most heavily-touristed destinations, be alert to overpriced “taxi” quotes and overly persistent street vendors — polite firmness works better than confrontation.

Driving Rules in Indonesia — What International Travellers Need to Know

Drive on the left. Indonesia follows left-hand traffic, with the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle — the opposite of the US, most of Europe, and much of Asia. This trips up a lot of first-time drivers.

You need an International Driving Permit (IDP), not just your home license. An IDP issued in your home country is generally valid for driving in Indonesia, provided it’s endorsed for the correct vehicle class, but it’s intended for short-term visitors. Driving on a foreign license alone isn’t accepted by local authorities — you must carry the IDP together with your original license, and failing to produce both during a check results in an immediate fine. Get your IDP before you leave home (e.g., via AAA in the US) — it can’t be arranged on arrival.

Bali Visa
The permit must match the vehicle. Your IDP must specifically cover the vehicle category you’re driving — a car endorsement doesn’t extend to a motorbike, and this is checked. If you plan to rent a scooter and a car, make sure your IDP covers both classes. Drivinginternationalassociation
One exception: travellers from ASEAN countries can drive without an IDP; everyone else needs one, or risks fines and rental companies refusing service. WAHDAH Indonesia
Enforcement has tightened in 2026, especially in Bali. Bali launched the “Dharma Dewata” task force in April 2026, moving toward stricter, less flexible enforcement of foreign drivers’ documentation than in previous years — the days of talking your way past a checkpoint are largely over. Drivinginternationalassociation
Insurance depends on being properly licensed. Most insurance policies contain a clause that invalidates coverage if the driver isn’t legally licensed, meaning you’re personally liable for damages and medical costs if you’re caught driving without the right documents.
Bali Visa
If you’re staying long-term (on a KITAS/KITAP), an IDP won’t cut it indefinitely — residency permit holders are expected to apply for a local Indonesian SIM (driving license) directly rather than relying on a foreign IDP indefinitely.

Practical realities on the road:Traffic is dense and can feel chaotic, especially in Jakarta and Bali — scooters weave between cars constantly.Helmets are legally required on motorbikes, though enforcement varies by region.Rural and mountain roads can be narrow, poorly lit, and shared with pedestrians, livestock, and roadside stalls — night driving outside cities is best avoided if you’re unfamiliar with the terrain.Horn use is common and not aggressive — it’s often just a “I’m here” signal, not road rage.

Customs Declaration for Indonesia — What Travellers Need to Know

It’s now part of the “All Indonesia Arrival Card.” As of 2026, the customs declaration is folded into a unified digital form called the All Indonesia Arrival Card, which consolidates customs, health, and immigration information in one place — replacing the older separate Electronic Customs Declaration and health pass systems. It applies to all nationalities — tourists, business travellers, transit passengers, and returning residents — across all Indonesian destinations.
When to fill it out. You can complete it up to three days before arrival on the official All Indonesia website, and once submitted you receive a QR code that airport officers scan on arrival. Airlines often link to it directly, and it’s worth completing before your flight to avoid delays, since unstable airport wifi can make it harder to finish on arrival.
What you must declare:Cash over IDR 100 million (roughly USD 6,500)Alcohol above 1 liter per person — travellers 21+ get a duty-free exemption of up to 1 liter, with anything above that handled under customs rules and possibly destroyedExtra cigarettes beyond the standard allowance, and any commercial (not personal-use) goodsAnimals, plants, and their products — including things like wood carvings, herbal medicines, and dried flowersFirearms, ammunition, explosives, and pornographic material are completely prohibited, not just declarable — carrying them can result in immediate arrest
Personal items are generally fine. Clothing, toiletries, and everyday accessories don’t need declaring if their total value is USD 250 or less, though expensive jewelry may need to be reported.
Green Channel vs Red Channel. On arrival you choose the Green Channel if you have nothing to declare or the Red Channel if you’re declaring dutiable items — staff may still scan your QR code either way.
When unsure, declare it. Indonesia has tightened enforcement, so if you’re not sure whether something needs declaring, the safest move is to declare it anyway rather than risk fines, long inspections, or confiscation. Underreporting cash specifically can trigger a 10% penalty, capped around Rp300,000,000.
Electronics note. A tourist using their foreign SIM on roaming doesn’t need IMEI customs registration; that’s only required if you register a long-term Indonesian SIM for use beyond 90 days.
Watch for fake sites. The arrival card is completely free — use only official Indonesian government sites, since unofficial copycat sites sometimes charge unnecessary fees.

Go Deeper
This guide is a starting point, not the full picture. Explore our Culture & Heritage and Stories sections for the histories, people, and traditions behind these places — the context that turns a trip into an understanding.