indonesia Attractions

Attractions in Indonesia are as varied as the 17,000 islands and give visitors endless things to do. Some of the best include viewing the volcanic sceneries in Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park on Java. The island is also home to the grungy metropolis of Jakarta and the historic Yogyakarta. Here you can find glitzy nightclubs to traditional puppet theatre. The neighbour island of Bali is an attraction in itself, luring visitors with white sands of Kuta beaches, endless surfing spots and Ubud's cultural attractions.

Sumatra offers visits to traditional towns such as Bukit Lawang and Bukittinggi and stunning landscape. The giant island of Borneo shares its jungle treks with visitors and native orang-utans alike. A lumbering ferry line connects all the island's attractions and is an adventure itself. The best time is visit is between April and October during the dry season which also makes transport easier.

Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppets)

Shadow Puppet performances have become a part of Indonesia's cultural heritage. The puppets are lovingly handcrafted out of buffalo or goatskin with moveable limbs that are worked by a highly skilled puppeteer from behind a backlit screen, casting the shadows of the puppets into... see full details

Prambanan Temple Complex

Rivalling the Buddhist monument of Borobudur, this magnificent Hindu temple is the largest in Java and the most beautiful in Indonesia. Prambanan was built in the 9th century, possibly to compete with the splendour of Borobudur, or to celebrate the return to power of... see full details

Borobudur

One of the greatest Buddhist monuments in South East Asia, Borobudur was built in the 8th century and stands on top of a hill surrounded by volcanoes and overlooking green fields. It is an immense multi-tiered structure with the Great Stupa (bell-shaped monument) at... see full details

Tanah Lot

Meaning 'Land in the middle of the sea' Tanah Lot is an exquisite sea temple built atop a rock formation off the island of Bali. A popular tourist spot and a great location for fantastic photographs, Tanah Lot is surrounded by poisonous sea... see full details

Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park

The national park is a spectacular volcanic landscape and one of the most impressive natural sights in Indonesia. The ancient Tengger crater in its midst stretches for six miles (10km) and within its sheer volcanic walls are three peaks, namely Batok, Kursi and the... see full details

Ampenan

The vast metropolis of Ampenan, Mataram, Caimanegara and Swete, with a population of around 250,000, comprises four towns, the boundaries of which are all but indistinguishable to the casual visitor. While Sweta is the main transport hub and site of the island's biggest market,... see full details

Jalan Jaksa area

Most South East Asian capitals have a backpacker area. This one is grubbier than most. Plopped in an unremarkable part of downtown it is thick with travel agencies and guesthouses. A few bars with live music cater to the travel... see full details

Jayapura

This is often the first stop for travellers to Papua, and as testament to its remoteness many of the visiting westerners are thought to be either mine workers or missionaries. Although the wilds of Papua are a quick trail away... see full details

Indonesia Miniature Park/Taman Mini

Contrary to its name, the Indonesia Miniature Park covers 100 hectares of land in cultural examples of all 27 provinces that make Indonesia. The best examples of these are the architectural structures that are true to their region's traditional designs. The park also regularly... see full details

National Monument

Visitors will inevitably be pulled to the National Monument to inspect the enormous phallic obelisk that can be seen from much of the city. The first president Sukarno began to build the structure as a symbol of nationalism complete with 35 kilograms of... see full details

Gunung Batur

The still-active Gunung Batur volcano, is known as Bali's second holiest mountain and symbolises the female element of the island, while the male element is symbolized in Gunung Agung, a neighbouring smaller volcano. A great place for hikers to stretch their legs, the walk... see full details

Pura Besakih

Locally known as the mother Temple of Bali, Pura Besakih is located on the slopes of Mount Agung and is the biggest and holiest of all Balinese temples. Dating back to the 14th century, the three main temples are dedicated to Shiva, Brahma... see full details

Pura Kehen

One of the most valued temples in Bali, Pura Kehen is a garden temple located in the town of Bangli in East Bali and can be traced back to the 11th century. Founded by Sri Brahma Kemuti Ketu, Pura Kehen is the second... see full details

Batubulan

The small village of Batubulan is marked by stone figures of gods and demons on the side of the road. Known mostly for its stone carvings, Barubulan is popular with cultural tourism and travellers looking for a unique souvenir to take home with... see full details