Medical Care & Vaccinations

Medical care in Indonesia is extremely unevenly distributed: In Jakarta and Surabaya, there are international private clinics of solid standard, but on Flores, in Toraja, and on the smaller islands, care is rudimentary. Hospitals Jakarta: Rumah Sakit Pondok Indah, Siloam Hospitals — international

The currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Current rate (as of 2026): approx. 1 € ≈ 16,500–17,500 IDR. The many zeros can be confusing at first — 100,000 IDR sounds like a lot, but it's only ~6 €. ATMs In the cities (Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Makassar), you will find ATMs everywhere.

Germans, Austrians, and Swiss receive a Visa on Arrival (VoA) for 30 days upon entry, which can be extended once for 30 days. Visa on Arrival Cost: 500,000 IDR (~30 €), payable in IDR or by credit card (at Jakarta and Bali airports, smaller airports cash only in IDR) Validity: 30 days, extendable

Indonesia is generally safe for tourists — most travelers have no issues. The crime rate against foreigners is low, and the people are exceptionally friendly and helpful. However, a healthy degree of caution never hurts. Most Common Risks (in order) Traffic accidents: By far the greatest risk. The

A local SIM card is essential in Indonesia — for Grab/Gojek, navigation, bookings, and contact. The Best Providers Telkomsel: Best network and widest coverage — works even in remote areas on Flores, Sulawesi, and Sumatra, where other providers have no reception. The first choice for travelers outs

Electricity & Sockets

Indonesia uses Type C and Type F (Europlug and Schuko) — like in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. No adapter needed! Voltage: 220 V, 50 Hz. In remote areas (Togian Islands, Wae Rebo, some homestays on Raja Ampat), electricity is only available for a few hours via generator — usually in the evenin

Traffic Chaos & Survival

Indonesia's road traffic is organized chaos — and initially a shock for Europeans. There are traffic rules, but they are more like suggestions. The Golden Rules Right-hand traffic (like in Germany) The horn is the most important means of communication — it means "I'm here," not "Get out of the way

Indonesia spans three time zones: WIB (Waktu Indonesia Barat): CET+6 — Sumatra, Java, West Kalimantan (Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Medan) WITA (Waktu Indonesia Tengah): CET+7 — Bali, Nusa Tenggara (Flores, Komodo), Sulawesi, East Kalimantan (Makassar, Labuan Bajo) WIT (Waktu Indonesia Timur): CET+8 — Malu

Basics & Pronunciation

Bahasa Indonesia is a brilliant invention: When the founding fathers needed a common language in 1928, they did not choose Javanese (which most spoke), but Malay — a trade language considered neutral and grammatically extremely simple. Today, over 270 million people speak Bahasa Indonesia. Why Baha

The Most Important Words & Phrases

Greetings & Politeness GermanBahasa IndonesiaPronunciation HelloHaloHallo Good morningSelamat pagiSelamat pagi Good daySelamat siangSelamat siang Good eveningSelamat malamSelamat malam GoodbyeSampai jumpaSampai dschumpa Thank youTerima kasihTerima kassi You're welcomeSama-samaSama-sama SorryMaafMa

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Travel Guide Indonesia

Your complete travel guide for the world's largest archipelago — beyond Bali

Capital:Jakarta

Language:Bahasa Indonesia

Currency:Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

Entry:Visa on Arrival 30 days (500,000 IDR)

Best Travel Time:May – September (Dry Season)

Flight Time:14 – 18 hours

Last updated: 11 March 2026 · 12 Chapters · 55 Sections

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From the last dragons to the Pink Beach to the Three-Colored Lakes — Flores from west to east on the most adventurous road in Southeast Asia.

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All Chapters

Planning· 2 Chapters

Chapter 1

Welcome to Indonesia

5 Sections

Chapter 2

Arrival & Transportation

4 Sections

Regions· 4 Chapters

Chapter 3

Java

7 Sections

Chapter 4

Komodo & Flores

6 Sections

Chapter 5

Sumatra

5 Sections

Chapter 6

Sulawesi & Raja Ampat

5 Sections

Understanding· 4 Chapters

Chapter 7

History of Indonesia

4 Sections

Chapter 8

Society & Religion

3 Sections

Chapter 9

Nature & Wildlife

3 Sections

Chapter 10

Indonesian Cuisine

3 Sections

Practical· 2 Chapters

Chapter 11

Practical Info A–Z

8 Sections

Chapter 12

Bahasa Indonesia Phrasebook

2 Sections

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Regions at a Glance

Java

Indonesia's most populous island — UNESCO temples Borobudur and Prambanan, the cultural city of Yogyakarta, the volcanoes Bromo and Ijen, and the megacity Jakarta.

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