How Things Work in Indonesia

Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated — 10% at tourist restaurants, 20,000–50,000 IDR for guides and drivers, though service charge is often already included.

Updated 2025-06

Gojek and Grab (motorbike or car) are essential apps; Jakarta has TransJakarta BRT and a commuter rail network; Java has excellent intercity trains; Bali has no reliable public transport.

Updated 2025-06

BIMC and SOS Medika serve Bali tourists; Siloam Hospitals are reliable in major cities; medical evacuation insurance is critical, especially for Bali where motorbike and surf injuries are very common.

Updated 2025-06

Indonesia has some of the world's strictest drug laws including the death penalty for trafficking; Aceh province follows Sharia law; a 2023 criminal code restricts sex outside marriage.

Updated 2025-06

Police: 110; Ambulance: 118 or 119; Fire: 113; Tourist Assistance Hotline: 1500-454.

Updated 2025-06

Cover shoulders and knees at all temples and mosques; sarongs are required at Balinese temples and usually provided; bikinis are fine at beaches; dress more conservatively in non-tourist Muslim-majority areas.

Updated 2025-06

Alcohol is freely available in Bali and tourist areas but restricted or absent in many parts of Java; Aceh is completely dry; fake arak and methanol spirits have caused tourist deaths.

Updated 2025-06

Bargaining is expected at markets, tourist shops, street vendors, and with becak and ojek drivers — start at 30–40% of the asking price.

Updated 2025-06

Photography is generally permitted but ask permission before photographing people in religious ceremonies; inner temple sanctuaries are often restricted; never photograph military or police installations.

Updated 2025-06

Indonesia operates 7 days a week commercially, but Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha cause widespread multi-day closures; Friday midday prayer causes brief business interruptions in Muslim areas.

Updated 2025-06

Gojek and Grab are the dominant and most reliable options; Blue Bird is the trusted metered taxi company; never use unmarked taxis.

Updated 2025-06

Never drink tap water anywhere in Indonesia — bottled water is extremely cheap and widely available; Aqua is the most trusted brand.

Updated 2025-06

BCA, Mandiri, BNI, and BRI ATMs are most reliable for foreign cards; cash is essential as many places are cash-only; only use authorized money changers in Bali.

Updated 2025-06

Telkomsel has the best nationwide coverage; Indosat Ooredoo (IM3) offers good value; buy at airports or malls with your passport; Airalo eSIM works well.

Updated 2025-06

Indonesia uses Type C and Type F plugs (European two-pin round) at 220V/50Hz — the same as most of Europe; American visitors need both an adapter and a voltage converter for older devices.

Updated 2025-06

Common scams include transport price inflation, unauthorized money changer tricks, fake temple ceremonies requiring large donations, and fake Blue Bird taxis.

Updated 2025-06

Indonesia is generally safe for tourists; petty theft and scams are the main concern in Bali; bag snatching from motorbikes occurs; do not leave valuables on beaches or in parked cars.

Updated 2025-06

Always use your right hand for giving and receiving; remove shoes at homes and temples; never touch someone's head; use your thumb to point rather than your index finger.

Updated 2025-06

Bahasa Indonesia is the national language and one of the easier Asian languages to pick up basics in; English is widely spoken in Bali and tourist areas but limited elsewhere.

Updated 2025-06

Indonesia has world-class beaches including Bali, Lombok, Komodo, and Raja Ampat; strong surf and currents at some Bali beaches are dangerous for non-surfers; wear reef shoes on coral beaches.

Updated 2025-06

Indonesians drive on the left; scooter and motorbike rental is common in Bali but the tourist accident rate is very high; an international driving licence is required; avoid driving at night.

Updated 2025-06

Indonesian cuisine is extraordinary — nasi goreng, rendang, satay, gado-gado — with warungs (local stalls) offering excellent food from 15,000–30,000 IDR; halal food dominates except in Bali and Chinese restaurants.

Updated 2025-06

Remove shoes and cover up at all religious sites; sarongs are always required at Balinese Hindu temples; Borobudur and Prambanan require modest dress and charge entry fees.

Updated 2025-06

Indonesia has two seasons — dry (April–October) and wet (November–March); Bali is best July–August and May–June; Komodo is best April–June; Borobudur is best May–September.

Updated 2025-06

Eat at warungs (15,000–30,000 IDR per meal), use Gojek for cheap transport and food delivery, take local buses (angkot) for very short hops, and negotiate accommodation directly.

Updated 2025-06