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Indonesia country guide

4 questions, each answered from published authorities with the sources listed.

The multi-tiered meru towers of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a Balinese Hindu water temple at Bedugul, standing at the edge of the lake — Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Author CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 File source

When to visit 1

When is the best time to visit Indonesia for Bali?May through September — the climate normals for Denpasar/Ngurah Rai give July just 27.6 millimeters of rain (1.1 inches) and August 36.4 millimeters (1.4 inches)…

Food and drink 1

What local dishes should I try in Indonesia, and where should I look for them?Eat by island, and treat rice as the variable rather than the constant — nasi kebuli in Central Jakarta, spiced rice with raisins served with fried goat, is a Betawi…

Places and experiences 1

What should a first-time traveler see in Indonesia beyond the obvious highlights?Cross to Java for Borobudur, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1991 and whose reliefs alone cover 2,520 square meters — a scale of carved narrative…

Trip planning 1

How can I plan a memorable first trip to Indonesia without rushing?Budget two islands, not five, and handle three separate pieces of admission before you fly — the visa, the electronic arrival card due within 72 hours of arrival, and…

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