🇮🇩 Indonesia

April–October (dry season) across most of the archipelago, including Bali.

Indonesia straddles the equator across more than 17,000 islands, so it is uniformly warm and humid at sea level, with altitude rather than season providing relief.

Most of the archipelago follows a dry season from roughly April to October and a wet season from November to March, when rain tends to arrive in heavy afternoon bursts rather than lasting all day. Bali, Java, Lombok and the Gili islands follow this pattern.

The exception worth knowing: parts of Sumatra and Sulawesi run on different or doubled rainfall patterns, and the Maluku islands are close to inverted, with their wettest months mid-year. In the highlands: Bandung, the Dieng plateau, the Papuan interior — nights can be genuinely cold.

The country spans three time zones, from UTC+7 in the west to UTC+9 in the east.

Visa on arrival is available to many nationalities for tourism, family visits and certain business activities. UK government advice states it costs 500,000 Indonesian rupiah, is single entry only, requires proof of onward or return travel, and is issued at most major airports and seaports. It is valid for 30 days and can be extended once, for a further 30 days, at any immigration office in Indonesia or online.

Do not overstay. The same guidance records an overstay fine of 1 million rupiah per day. Extend within your initial period rather than at the end of it.

E-visa options, including multiple-entry and 60-day visas, are applied for online through the Indonesian immigration website: apply at least a week ahead, and make sure approval is granted before you arrive, since a visa approved after entry is invalid.

Passport: expiry date at least six months after arrival, and at least two blank pages.

Customs declaration: complete the online arrival declaration within 72 hours of arriving, via the official All Indonesia arrival card website or app. It is free — sites that ask for payment are scams.

Bali additionally charges a tourist levy on international visitors, paid once per trip through the provincial government's official system. See our Bali guide for how that works.

Flying is the practical way between islands. Indonesia stretches more than 5,000 km east to west, and domestic aviation is extensive and cheap. Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar and Makassar are the main hubs.

Ferries connect nearly everywhere, from large vehicle ferries on the main routes to fast boats between Bali, Lombok, the Gilis and Nusa Penida. Services are weather-dependent, and safety standards vary between operators: choose on reputation rather than price, and avoid overloaded boats.

Trains operate on Java and parts of Sumatra. The Java network is comfortable, punctual and scenic, and is the best way to move between Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. Book through the official operator.

In cities and on Bali, ride-hailing apps — Gojek and Grab — dominate and are very cheap, including motorbike taxis. Note that ride-hailing is restricted in some areas where local transport cooperatives operate, and signs will say so.

Scooters are the everyday vehicle and a major source of visitor injuries. Many travel policies exclude scooter accidents unless you hold the correct licence and wear a helmet. Jakarta traffic is severe; allow far more time than distances suggest.

Indonesia is inexpensive by international standards, with a wide range at the top end concentrated in Bali. Local food, domestic transport and simple accommodation cost very little; international-standard resorts, diving packages and Western-facing restaurants cost many times more.

The main variables: whether you eat at warungs or in tourist-facing restaurants, whether you fly or take ferries between islands, and accommodation standard. Entrance fees to temples, parks and sites are modest, though a few — Komodo National Park in particular — are significantly higher. The Bali tourist levy is a one-off.

Cash still matters outside cities and tourist centres. ATMs are widespread but dispense limited amounts per transaction.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, but it is religiously diverse: Bali is predominantly Hindu, and there are large Christian populations in parts of Sulawesi, Papua and the Maluku islands. Norms therefore vary by island.

Dress modestly away from beaches and resort areas — shoulders and knees covered — and always at religious sites. Temples in Bali require a sarong and sash, usually available at the entrance, and most ask menstruating women not to enter. Mosques require head covering for women.

The right hand is used for giving, receiving and eating. Avoid pointing with a finger; an open hand or thumb is polite.

Do not touch anyone's head, including children's.

Remove shoes before entering homes and many shops and temples.

Public displays of affection attract disapproval. In Aceh, which applies Islamic law, rules are considerably stricter than elsewhere.

During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight hours is discouraged in Muslim-majority areas.

Bali's Nyepi, the day of silence, closes the entire island including the airport for 24 hours; visitors stay within their accommodation.

Indonesian food varies enormously by island. The dishes best known abroad: nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodles), satay with peanut sauce, gado-gado: are the common ground; the regional cooking is where it gets interesting.

Padang food from West Sumatra is served by bringing every dish to the table and charging only for what you eat: rendang, the slow-cooked beef, originates here. Javanese cooking is sweeter, with gudeg from Yogyakarta. Balinese cooking centres on babi guling and bebek betutu. Manadonese food from North Sulawesi is among the spiciest in the country.

The warung: a small family-run eatery — is where most Indonesians eat and where the best value is. Nasi campur, a plate of rice with a selection of sides, is the standard order.

Tap water is not for drinking anywhere. Stick to bottled or filtered water, including for teeth.

Indonesia is a low-risk destination for most travellers, with two categories of risk that deserve genuine attention.

Natural hazards. The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, with around 130 active volcanoes and frequent seismic activity. Volcanic alert levels change and can close airports or restrict access to trekking routes at short notice; check the current status of any volcano on your itinerary. Tsunami risk exists along many coasts: if you feel a strong earthquake near the coast, move inland or to high ground without waiting for an official warning.

Water and roads. Strong currents affect many beaches, including on Bali's west coast, and lifeguard coverage is limited outside the main tourist beaches. Road traffic accidents, particularly involving scooters, are the most common serious incident affecting visitors.

Health. Dengue is present year-round and mosquito precautions matter. Consult a travel clinic about vaccinations and, for some regions, malaria. Rabies is present on Bali and several other islands: avoid contact with dogs and monkeys, and seek immediate medical attention for any bite or scratch.

Drugs. Penalties are severe, including long prison sentences and, for trafficking, the death penalty. There is no leniency for tourists.

Regional variation. Some areas, notably parts of Papua, carry specific advisories. Check current guidance for the particular islands on your route.