Indonesia travel guide
Island of temples
Bali blends sacred temples, scenic beaches, lush rice terraces, volcano adventures, and vibrant cultural traditions, making it one of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations for spiritual journeys, romantic escapes, surfing holidays, and nature experiences across charming coastal towns and artistic inland villages.
Best time to visit Indonesia
Apr–Oct is the dry season, best Jun–Sep. Dec–Mar is the wetter season, with heavy showers that often arrive in the afternoon or evening.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | mixed | 23–27 °C | 310 mm | medium | Wet season; heavy showers, often late afternoon, and very humid |
| February | mixed | 23–27 °C | 260 mm | low | Wet season; showers can be heavy but many days are still sunny |
| March | mixed | 23–27 °C | 210 mm | medium | Rains easing; Nyepi, the Day of Silence, shuts the island for a day |
| April | good | 23–27 °C | 130 mm | medium | Showers fading as the drier months begin |
| May | good | 22–27 °C | 80 mm | medium | Mostly dry and less crowded than Jul–Aug |
| June | best | 22–26 °C | 60 mm | medium | Dry, low humidity and cool evenings; busy from late June |
| July | best | 21–25 °C | 45 mm | high | Dry and clear; peak season at Ubud and the south coast |
| August | best | 20–26 °C | 25 mm | high | Dry and clear; peak season at Ubud and the south coast |
| September | best | 21–27 °C | 40 mm | medium | Dry with low humidity; crowds ease after August |
| October | good | 22–28 °C | 70 mm | medium | Still mostly dry; showers start returning late in the month |
| November | good | 23–29 °C | 150 mm | low | Showers building, mostly in the afternoon; fewer visitors |
| December | mixed | 23–28 °C | 270 mm | high | Wet season; heavy showers, with Christmas and New Year crowds |
How many days to spend in Indonesia
Four days cover Ubud's Monkey Forest, Tegallalang rice terrace, Tirta Empul and Ulun Danu Beratan; two more add Penglipuran village, Besakih and a beach stay in the south.
How to reach Indonesia
- By air: Denpasar (DPS) — 48 km, about 1–1.5 h by road. Bali's international airport, in the south near Kuta
Getting around
Distances are long and pavements narrow, so most visitors hire a car with driver or use Grab taxis. Traffic jams are daily around Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak and Denpasar.
Things to do in Indonesia
- Mount Batur — Volcanic sunrise trek (5 h · IDR 100.000)
- Kelingking Beach — Cliffside hidden beach (2.5 h · Paid entry)
- Besakih Great Temple — Mother temple complex (2.5 h · IDR 150k)
- Uluwatu Temple — Clifftop sea temple (2.5 h · IDR 60k)
- Waterbom Bali — Popular water park (6 h · IDR 685.000)
- Penataran Agung Lempuyang Temple — Gateway heaven temple (3 h · IDR 150k)
- Diamond Beach — White sand paradise (3 h · IDR 10.000)
- Potato Head Beach Club — Iconic sunset club (3.5 h · Free entry)
- Fast Boat To Gili Trawangan - Fastboatkegili.com — Vibrant island nightlife
- Tanah Lot Temple Square — Ocean rock temple (2 h · IDR 75k)
- Ulun Danu Beratan Temple — Lakefront temple (1.5 h · IDR 100k)
- The Amazing Taman Safari Bali — Wildlife safari park (4 h · IDR 650k+)
- Broken Beach — Natural coastal arch (1 h · Paid entry)
- West Bali National Park — Protected wildlife reserve (5 h · IDR 200k weekday; IDR 300k weekend)
- FINNS Beach Club — Luxury beachfront club (4 h · Paid entry)
- Kuta Beach — Popular surfing beach (3 h · Free entry)
- Pura Tirta Empul — Holy spring temple (2 h · IDR 75k)
- Angel's Billabong — Natural infinity pool (1.5 h)
- Menjangan Island — Diving island paradise (4.5 h · IDR 200k weekday; IDR 300k weekend)
- Pinggan View Kintamani — Volcano panorama point (1.5 h)
- Bali Handara Gate — Iconic mountain gate (45 min · IDR 50k)
- Atlas Beach Club — Modern beach nightlife (4 h · Paid entry)
- Tanjung Benoa — Watersports beach hub
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary — Forest monkey sanctuary (1.5 h · IDR 100.000)
- Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park — Massive cultural park (3 h · IDR 100.000)
- Melasti Beach — Cliffside scenic beach (2.5 h · IDR 10.000)
- Crystal Bay Nusa Penida — Clear snorkeling beach (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Devil's Tears — Powerful ocean cliffs (1 h · Free entry)
- Tukad Cepung Waterfall — Cave waterfall rays (1.5 h · IDR 30.000)
- Penglipuran Village — Traditional bamboo village (1.5 h · IDR 50.000)
- Ubud Art Market — Traditional art market (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Air Terjun Munduk — Forest cascade waterfall (1.5 h · IDR 20k)
- Taman Ayun Temple — Royal temple gardens (1.5 h · IDR 50k)
- Desa Potato Head Bali — Creative beach resort (3 h)
- Suluban Beach — Surf cave beach (2 h · Free entry)
- Aling-Aling Waterfall — Adventure waterfall cliffs (3 h · IDR 20k)
- Jalan Echo Beach — Trendy surf beach
- Gili Air — Relaxed tropical island (6 h · Free entry)
- Seminyak Beach — Luxury sunset beach (3 h · Free entry)
- padang padang beach — Surfing cove beach (2 h · IDR 15,000)
- Atuh Beach — Hidden scenic beach (2.5 h)
- Banyumala Waterfall — Twin forest waterfalls (2.5 h · IDR 50k)
- Danau Batur — Volcanic crater lake (3 h)
- Taman Ujung — Royal water palace (2 h · IDR 100k)
- Wanagiri Hidden Hill Bali — Scenic hill viewpoint (1.5 h · IDR 150k)
- Nyang Nyang Beach — Hidden cliff beach (3 h · Free entry)
- Nungnung Waterfall — Powerful jungle waterfall (2 h · Paid entry)
- Tenganan — Ancient Bali village
- Tegallalang Rice Terrace — Scenic rice terraces (2 h · IDR 25k-50k)
- Pandawa Beach — Hidden cliff beach (2.5 h · IDR 10.000)
- Tirta Gangga — Royal water gardens
- Blue Lagoon Beach — Snorkeling lagoon beach (2 h · Free entry)
- Kanto Lampo Waterfall — Tiered jungle waterfall (1.5 h · IDR 25.000)
- Sidemen — Peaceful rice valley
- Goa Lawah Temple — Bat cave temple (1 h · IDR 30k)
- Bali Botanical Garden — Highland botanical park (3 h · IDR 25k)
- Sangeh Monkey Forest — Monkey forest sanctuary (1.5 h · IDR 105.000)
- Balangan Beach — Golden surfing beach (3 h · Free entry)
- Brahmavihara-Arama — Buddhist hill monastery (2 h · IDR 25k)
- Canggu Beach — Trendy surf beach (3 h · Free entry)
- Tegenungan Waterfall — Popular jungle waterfall (1.5 h · IDR 30k)
- Dreamland Beach — Golden surf beach (3 h · Free entry)
- Bali Zoo — Interactive wildlife zoo (4 h · IDR 395k)
- Amed Beach — Volcanic black beach (3 h · Free entry)
- Gitgit Waterfall — Popular forest waterfall (2 h · IDR 20k)
- Parkir Virgin Beach — Hidden white beach (3 h · IDR 20,000)
- Sukawati Art Market — Local handicraft market (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Neka Art Gallery — Balinese art museum (2 h · IDR 150,000)
- Lake Tamblingan — Sacred forest lake (3 h · IDR 20k)
- Bajra Sandhi Monument — Historic independence monument (1.5 h · IDR 100.000)
- Green Bowl Beach — Hidden cave beach (2.5 h · IDR 10.000)
- Banjar Hot Spring — Relaxing thermal springs (2 h · IDR 45k)
- Nusa Dua Beach — Calm luxury beach (3 h · Free entry)
- Ubud Palace — Royal cultural palace (1 h · Free entry)
- Jimbaran Beach — Seafood sunset beach (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Jalan Bird Park — Exotic bird sanctuary
- Mushroom bay Harbor — Calm tropical bay (3 h · Free entry)
- Lovina Dolphin Statue — Black sand dolphin (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Keramas Beach — Surfing black beach (3 h · Free entry)
- The Blanco Renaissance Museum — Artistic hill museum (1.5 h · IDR 100k)
- Bali Museum — Traditional history museum (2 h · Paid entry)
- Thomas Beach — Quiet white beach (3 h · Free entry)
- yellow bridge — Iconic island bridge (45 min · Free entry)
- Senggigi Beach — Sunset coastal beach (3 h · Free entry)
- Sanur — Relaxed sunrise beach (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk — Scenic ridge trail (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Goa Gajah — Ancient cave temple (1 h · IDR 50k)
- Pemuteran Beach — Relaxed snorkeling coast (3 h · Free entry)
- Serangan Island — Quiet island beaches (3 h · Free entry)
Food to try in Indonesia
- Babi guling — Balinese roast suckling pig, a pork dish served with rice and spices
- Sate lilit — Minced fish or meat wrapped on lemongrass or bamboo sticks and grilled
- Nasi campur — Rice with small portions of vegetables and meats, best at a local warung
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Indonesia?
Apr–Oct is the dry season, best Jun–Sep. Dec–Mar is the wetter season, with heavy showers that often arrive in the afternoon or evening.
How many days are enough for Indonesia?
4–6 days. Four days cover Ubud's Monkey Forest, Tegallalang rice terrace, Tirta Empul and Ulun Danu Beratan; two more add Penglipuran village, Besakih and a beach stay in the south.
How do I reach Indonesia?
By air: Denpasar (DPS) — 48 km, about 1–1.5 h by road. Bali's international airport, in the south near Kuta.
What are the top things to do in Indonesia?
Mount Batur, Kelingking Beach, Besakih Great Temple, Uluwatu Temple, Waterbom Bali, Penataran Agung Lempuyang Temple.
Plan your Indonesia trip
Open Guide My Holiday to turn these places into a routed, day-by-day itinerary and book a cab that follows it.
Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store
Guide checked on 2026-10-06.