Yogyakarta, often called Jogja, rewards visitors who look beyond the famous temples. The city is a centre of Javanese court culture, food, crafts and performances, with lively streets and historic neighbourhoods to explore at a relaxed pace. The Kraton, Taman Sari and Malioboro make a practical starting point, while Borobudur and Prambanan deserve separate time
If you are in Europe, America, or Australia planning to visit Indonesia, the airport you’ll most likely arrive at is either in Jakarta or Bali. If you landed in Bali planning to visit another region nearby, then your best choice might be using a ferry. But you could hop an onward plane to the other
Jakarta’s best-known attractions tell different stories about the city: the trading port of colonial Batavia, Indonesia’s independence, contemporary family leisure and the cultures of a vast archipelago. These five places offer a useful starting point for a first visit. They are spread across a large metropolitan area, so plan by neighbourhood rather than trying to
Jakarta is easier to enjoy when you treat it as several different cities rather than one long sightseeing checklist. Within a day you can encounter independence monuments, mosques and churches, the canals of old Batavia, working harbour districts, busy markets and contemporary neighbourhoods. The challenge is choosing a few experiences that fit together without spending
Jakarta can be a rewarding first stop in Indonesia, but its scale makes a little advance planning particularly useful. The city’s historic districts, food stalls, museums and busy neighbourhoods are spread across a large urban area. These five practical steps cover arrival formalities, the journey from the airport, where to stay, everyday transport, food and
Indonesia is an extraordinary place for a road trip, but it is not a single drivable circuit. The country spans thousands of islands, and a journey that works on Bali may be impractical on Java or Sumatra. The best approach is to choose one region, check the driving and ferry arrangements, and allow more time
Driving in Indonesia is not quite the same as hiring a car in Europe or North America. Traffic can be dense, motorcycles share the road with larger vehicles, and conditions vary considerably between cities and rural routes. This guide focuses on the actual experience of driving: documents, road rules, scooter safety, traffic, insurance and what
Getting around Bali is easier when you choose transport for the journey rather than assume one option works everywhere. A ride-hailing car can be convenient for a short trip in the south, a public bus can suit a route it actually serves, and a pre-arranged driver can be more practical for a day of scattered
Even though there are several horrible issues covering air travel around Asia, especially in Indonesia, you should not be too afraid when you choose airplane to explore the continent. In Indonesia itself, it was cracking down on air travel with over 40 flight accidents since 2001, and scored about 60% for “airworthiness” according to UN
Getting around Indonesia depends on where you are going. The country stretches across thousands of islands: a short city journey, an intercity trip on Java and an island crossing call for different transport. Flights can save time over long distances, trains connect many towns on Java, while local buses, commuter lines, taxis and boats fill
