Practical Info A–Z

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 standards
• Surabaya: National Hospital Surabaya — best option in East Java
• Yogyakarta: RS Panti Rapih — acceptable for standard treatments
• Outside the cities: Puskesmas (local health centers) — only suitable for initial care

Travel health insurance with repatriation clause is absolutely mandatory! In case of serious accidents or illnesses, evacuation to Singapore or Jakarta is the only option.

Vaccinations

Recommended (but not required):

• Hepatitis A & B: Strongly recommended
• Typhoid: For travel off the tourist paths
• Japanese Encephalitis: For rural stays during the rainy season
• Rabies: For contact with animals (jungle treks, rural areas). Stray dogs are everywhere.
• Yellow Fever: Required only when entering from yellow fever areas

Malaria & Dengue

Malaria exists in remote areas: Papua, parts of Kalimantan, rural Sulawesi, and some areas on Sumatra. Java, Bali, most tourist islands, and cities are malaria-free. For travel to risk areas: malaria prophylaxis (Malarone/Atovaquone-Proguanil) after medical consultation.

Dengue Fever is widespread throughout Indonesia — even in the cities. There is no prophylaxis, only mosquito protection: DEET spray (at least 30%), long clothing in the evening, mosquito nets.

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. On Flores, in Toraja, and on smaller islands, ATMs are rare and unreliable — sometimes empty, sometimes out of order.

• BCA and Mandiri have the most reliable ATMs and the highest withdrawal limits (up to 2,500,000 IDR / ~150 € per transaction)
• BNI ATMs allow up to 5,000,000 IDR (~300 €) per withdrawal
• Fee per withdrawal: varies, usually free at the ATM itself (your home bank may charge fees)
• Always decline Dynamic Currency Conversion — choose IDR, not EUR

Cash

Indonesia is a cash society, especially outside the major cities. On Flores, in Toraja, and on the Togian Islands, there are no ATMs — you need enough cash in IDR for the entire duration of your stay. Credit cards are only accepted in mid- to upper-class hotels and restaurants.

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 once for 30 days (at the local immigration office)
• Requirements: Passport with at least 6 months validity, return or onward flight ticket
• Available at: All international airports and most seaports

E-Visa on Arrival (e-VoA)

Since 2022, there is the e-VoA, which you can apply for online before your trip (molina.imigrasi.go.id). Saves time at the airport, especially in Jakarta, where the VoA queue can be long. Same cost, same validity.

Visa for Longer Stays

For stays over 60 days, you need a B211A visa (60 days, extendable to 180 days), which you must apply for at the Indonesian embassy or online. Digital nomads often use this visa.

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)

1. Traffic accidents: By far the greatest risk. The road traffic is chaotic, traffic rules are ignored, and scooters are dangerous — especially on Flores and in Sulawesi. Wear a helmet, drive defensively, never at night.
2. Pickpocketing: Occurs in crowds (markets, train stations, ferries). Keep valuables close to your body, no smartphones in your pocket.
3. Fraud: Overpriced rates for tourists, fake tour agencies, "broken" taxi meters. Use Grab/Gojek, negotiate prices beforehand.
4. Natural hazards: Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis — Indonesia is on the Ring of Fire. Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes in coastal areas.

To Avoid

• Papua: There is an active independence conflict in parts of the Papua and West Papua provinces. Check with the Foreign Office for the current situation.
• Drugs: Indonesia has some of the strictest drug laws in the world. Drug trafficking is punishable by death — and it is enforced. Even possession of small amounts of cannabis can lead to years of imprisonment. Zero tolerance!

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 outside Java and Bali.
• XL Axiata: Second-best provider, cheaper than Telkomsel, good coverage in cities and tourist areas.
• Indosat (IM3): Budget option, functional in cities, often weak in rural areas.

Purchase & Registration

SIM cards are available at the airport (Telkomsel counter in the arrival hall — recommended, as they assist with registration there) or in any mobile shop and minimart (Indomaret, Alfamart). Since 2018, all SIM cards must be registered with an Indonesian number and passport copy — the seller handles this.

Packages & Prices

A tourist package with 15–30 GB of data and a validity of 30 days costs 100,000–200,000 IDR (6–12 €). Top-up credit (Pulsa) is available everywhere for a few thousand Rupiah.

Internet Quality

In Jakarta and the major cities, 4G/LTE is fast and reliable. On Flores, in Toraja, and on remote islands, the connection can be slow or non-existent. On the Togian Islands and in parts of Papua, there is no mobile network. Most accommodations have Wi-Fi — the speed varies from "surprisingly good" to "exists only nominally".

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 evening from 6 to 10 PM. A power bank (at least 20,000 mAh) is essential for travel off the main routes.

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"
• Right of way does not exist — the law of the strongest applies (buses > trucks > cars > scooters > pedestrians)
• Overtaking on the opposite lane is normal — even in curves and crests
• Animals (chickens, dogs, cows, goats) always have the right of way

Renting a Scooter — Yes or No?

In the cities: No — use Grab/Gojek. On Flores and in Sulawesi: Often the only option, but only with experience. Java experience is not a benchmark — Flores' mountain roads are a different league. An international driver's license is theoretically required, but rarely checked. Check insurance: Most travel health insurances cover motorcycle accidents only with a valid driver's license!

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 — Maluku, Papua (Sorong/Raja Ampat, Jayapura)

When it is 12:00 PM in Germany, it is 5:00/6:00 PM in Jakarta (depending on summer/winter time), 6:00/7:00 PM in Labuan Bajo, and 7:00/8:00 PM in Raja Ampat.