Photo: Mount Bromo · Riza Nugraha ? from Utrecht, The Netherlands · CC BY 2.0
First-Timer Guide 🇮🇩Indonesia (incl. Bali): What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Indonesia (incl. Bali)
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Nasi goreng (fried rice) and mie goreng (fried noodles), everywhere, always delicious
- Satay, skewered grilled meat with peanut sauce; a national street food
- Rendang, slow-cooked dry beef curry; voted world's most delicious food
- Bali: fresh seafood in Jimbaran, suckling pig (babi guling) in Ubud
- Tempeh (fermented soybean) originated in Java, far superior to Western versions
- Nyepi (Balinese New Year), Day of Silence; entire island shuts down
- Galungan, Balinese Hindu festival with tall bamboo penjor decorations
- Eid al-Fitr, major national holiday (Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population)
- Batik art and wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), UNESCO intangible heritage
- Lombok's Bau Nyale Festival (February), sea worm harvest ceremony
Bahasa Indonesia is the national language, one of the easiest Asian languages to learn. English is widely spoken in Bali and tourist areas; less so in rural Java or Sumatra.
Over 700 local languages exist across 17,000 islands.
- Dress modestly when visiting temples and mosques (sarong provided at Bali temples)
- Use right hand for eating, giving, and receiving, left is considered unclean
- Never touch someone's head or point feet toward people or shrines
- Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated; 10% is generous
- Bali: Iconic terraced rice paddies, thousands of Hindu temples, world-class surf breaks, and a thriving wellness and yoga retreat scene
- Lombok & Gili Islands: Pristine, quieter beaches than Bali, the turquoise car-free Gili Islands, and the challenging climb up volcanic Mount Rinjani
- Yogyakarta: The magnificent Buddhist Borobudur and Hindu Prambanan temple complexes, plus the living royal Javanese court and batik craft tradition
- Raja Ampat: Widely considered the world's most biodiverse marine environment, with remote island diving reachable only by liveaboard boat
- Sumatra: Critically endangered orangutans in Bukit Lawang, the vast highland Lake Toba in a supervolcanic caldera, and Minangkabau matriarchal culture
Best Time to Visit
Indonesia is tropical and conditions vary by island; the dry season is the popular time to visit, including on Bali, while the wet season brings frequent afternoon rain.
- Peak: May to September
- Shoulder: April, October
- Off season: November to March, the wet season
Source: bmkg.go.id
Getting Around
- Domestic flights connect the islands over longer distances.
- On Bali, private drivers and ride-hailing apps are common ways to get around.
- Ferries and fast boats reach nearby islands, and traffic is heavy in the south of Bali.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: The dry-season peak and the holiday weeks cost the most on Bali, while the wet season is cheaper.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Indonesia?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is Indonesia safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Indonesia (incl. Bali)
Updates for Indonesia (incl. Bali) will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.