Cities & Islands in Indonesia

Everything you need to know about Canggu - surf breaks, beach clubs, coworking spaces, restaurants, and hotels across all budgets.

Learn to surf on beginner-friendly breaks, eat cheap warungs, and walk to the airport - Kuta is Bali's lowest-barrier beach district and proudly knows it.

Nusa Dua guide: calm resort beaches, water sports at Tanjung Benoa, the Water Blow rock formation, and the best hotels and restaurants in south Bali.

Seminyak, Bali: beachfront dining, designer boutiques, rooftop beach clubs, and sunset strips. Bali's most stylish coastal neighbourhood.

Ubud, Bali: temples, rice terraces, Monkey Forest, cooking classes, and highland wellness retreats. Plan your trip with our full guide.

Uluwatu: Kecak fire dance at Pura Luhur Uluwatu, world-class surf breaks, cliff-top restaurants, and hotels for all budgets on Bali's Bukit Peninsula.

Bandung travel overview: highland climate, best areas, getting there from Jakarta, Sundanese food, and when to visit West Java's creative city.

Jakarta's Kota Tua, National Museum, and street food scene reward two to three days before heading to Bali or Yogyakarta. Hotels and transport covered.

Malang's highland climate, Jodipan colour village, Batu apple orchards, and midnight departures to Mount Bromo make it East Java's most practical base.

Solo's Kraton and Mangkunegaran royal courts, Pasar Klewer batik market, and nasi liwet street food make it Java's most Javanese city.

Surabaya's Kota Tua, House of Sampoerna, and Ampel Arab quarter anchor a city that also serves as East Java's transit base for Bromo and Kawah Ijen.

Yogyakarta holds Borobudur, Prambanan, and the Sultan's Kraton within a day's reach - Java's cultural heart with batik, wayang shadow plays, and gudeg.

Kuta Lombok's Tanjung Aan, Selong Belanak surf, and Grupuk breaks span 20 km of south coast - a motorbike and three days covers them all.

Mataram is Lombok's capital city: Pura Meru temple, Mayura Water Palace, Lingsar, and local warungs, 25 minutes south of Lombok Airport.

Senggigi lines Lombok's west coast with Batu Bolong Temple, glass-bottom boat tours, sunset restaurants, and fast-boat access to the Gili Islands.

Minangkabau Highlands: origin of rendang, Sianok Canyon WWII tunnels, and the world's largest matrilineal culture - 90 min from Padang.

The world's largest volcanic lake - Samosir Island, Batak Toba culture, traditional stone villages, and mountain air 900m above sea level.

Sumatra's largest city - colonial mansions, world-class durian, and the gateway to Lake Toba, Bukit Lawang orangutans, and Berastagi volcanoes.

Padang: birthplace of rendang and nasi Padang, West Sumatra's coastal capital with Minangkabau culture, colonial architecture, and Mentawai surf access.

South Sulawesi's capital - Dutch colonial fort, legendary grilled seafood, Bugis maritime heritage, and the gateway to Tana Toraja and Komodo.

Day trips from Manado: Bunaken Marine Park diving, Tangkoko wildlife and Tomohon volcano - plus the city's adventurous Manadonese cuisine.

Tana Toraja, Sulawesi - cliff graves, elaborate funeral rituals and tongkonan longhouses. One of Indonesia's most extraordinary cultural destinations.

Labuan Bajo: gateway to Komodo National Park with live-aboard dive operators, waterfront restaurants, boutique hotels, and daily flights from Bali.

East Kalimantan's oil city and the practical transit hub for proboscis monkeys, orangutans, and the Mahakam River in the heart of Indonesian Borneo.

Sorong, Indonesia: West Papua gateway to Raja Ampat - fast boats twice daily, Doom Island, night market, and direct flights from Makassar.

Alor Archipelago: world-class muck diving, hammerheads, and Coral Triangle reefs in remote East Nusa Tenggara. Liveaboards depart from Maumere and Kupang.

Dutch colonial forts, Banda Sea diving, and macro photography heaven - Ambon is the original Spice Islands' blend of living history and coral paradise.

Dive the USAT Liberty shipwreck from shore, snorkel Jemeluk Bay reef at sunrise, and watch salt farmers work black sand - East Bali diving at its best.

Bajawa is the highland centre for Flores's Ngada culture. Bena traditional village, volcano hikes, cool climate year-round, and accommodation options.

Banyuwangi sits between Kawah Ijen blue fire, Baluran's African-style savanna, and G-Land surf breaks - East Java's most underrated base.

Kuta to Candidasa: 2 hours east through Bali rice terraces - Tepekong reef snorkelling, Tenganan village, and Padang Bai ferry to the Gilis.

Dieng Plateau sits at 2,100m with crater lakes, Hindu temples, and sulphur vents. Telaga Warna, Candi Arjuna, Kawah Sikidang, and accommodation options.

Ende is the gateway to Kelimutu's crater lakes in Flores. Sukarno's exile house, ikat weaving villages, flights from Bali, and accommodation options.

Grill fresh fish at sunset on Jimbaran Beach, stay at the Four Seasons or Ayana Resort, and visit Pura Ulun Siwi - South Bali luxury meets village life.

Lovina: North Bali's main beach resort - sunrise dolphin trips, black sand beaches, a Buddhist monastery, and calm seas away from the south Bali crowds.

Maumere is East Flores's diving and beach base. Maumere Bay reefs, Sikka's Portuguese church, Koka Beach, flights from Bali, and accommodation options.

Munduk coffee: Arabica plantation walks from IDR 30,000, three waterfalls in 30 minutes, cool 950m highland air - no beach clubs or crowds.

Pangandaran is West Java's best beach destination. Green Canyon boat tours, national park wildlife, fishing village walks, and accommodation on the coast.

Ruteng travel guide: Lingko spider web rice fields, Liang Bua cave and cool highland village walks between Bajawa and Labuan Bajo, at 1,100m.

Walk the sunrise boardwalk, fast boat to Nusa Penida, browse Museum Le Mayeur - Sanur suits families and slow travellers over the south Bali crowds.

Semarang's Kota Lama quarter, Sam Poo Kong temple, Lawang Sewu's ornate halls, and lunpia spring rolls make Central Java's capital worth a night.

Watch Gunung Agung above sweeping rice terraces, take a cooking class, and visit endek silk weavers - Sidemen offers East Bali without the tourist crowds.