Indonesia: main airports
Indonesia has twelve airports with active connections: Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta, the main international gateway, Denpasar Airport in Bali, a leading tourist destination, and the airports of Surabaya, Makassar, Jakarta Halim, Lombok, Tarakan and Samarinda in Indonesian Borneo, as well as Yogyakarta, gateway to Borobudur, Padang, in Sumatra, Balikpapan, a Borneo hub, and Manado, gateway to Bunaken Marine Park.
Indonesia: recommended activities
Indonesia: visa and entry requirements
Italian citizens and those of most Western countries can obtain a Visa on Arrival, purchasable at dedicated counters at international airports or online in advance: it costs 500,000 Indonesian rupiah (about 35 USD), valid for 30 days and extendable once. An increase is under discussion (750,000 IDR for the e-VOA, 1,000,000 IDR for the physical VOA) but with no effective date yet announced. For Bali, a separate tourist tax of 150,000 IDR is added. The passport must have at least 6 months of remaining validity.
Indonesia: safety
Indonesia is generally safe for tourists in the main areas, including Bali, with the usual precautions against petty theft in crowded areas. The country lies in the Pacific 'Ring of Fire': earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are a real natural risk, including in Bali, where Mount Agung has had periods of activity in recent years. Always check local updates during your stay, especially if your itinerary includes active volcanic areas.
Indonesia: health situation
A yellow fever certificate is required only for those arriving from a country at risk of transmission. Dengue and malaria risk is present, higher outside Bali and the main tourist areas: mosquito protection is advisable. Avoid tap water, drinking only sealed bottled water. The healthcare facilities of Bali and Jakarta are adequate for common emergencies; insurance with possible medical evacuation is advisable for the more remote islands.
Indonesia: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR), with very high figures due to the conversion rate (1 euro is worth about 20,000-20,500 rupiah): don't be disoriented by the large numbers, always check the day's exchange rate. Credit cards are accepted at tourist hotels and restaurants, cash remains essential elsewhere. Grab and Gojek are the dominant ride-hailing apps throughout the country. For connectivity, the operators Telkomsel, XL Axiata and Indosat sell prepaid SIM cards, also available at the airport.
Indonesia: travel guides
Makassar: the gateway to Sulawesi and the Toraja people
Mataram: the gateway to Lombok and the Gili Islands
Manado: diving in the coral triangle
Yogyakarta: the gateway to Borobudur
Jakarta: the last sailing schooners of Sunda Kelapa
Samarinda: the river gateway to Indonesian Borneo
Balikpapan: the gateway to Indonesia's new capital
Tarakan: the oil island of world war battles
Denpasar: temples and the memory of Bali
Surabaya: heroism and trade on the island of Java
