Indonesia’s top places to visit are Bali, Yogyakarta and Borobudur, Komodo National Park, Jakarta, and Raja Ampat. International arrivals reached 13.9 million in 2024, a 19% jump from 2023 and Indonesia’s highest total in five years, though still below the 2019 peak of 16.1 million, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS).
- Bali — Its Subak irrigation system, a network of farmer-run water temples and rice terraces, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
- Yogyakarta & Borobudur — Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist monument, was built in the 8th and 9th centuries CE under the Sailendra dynasty and has held UNESCO status since 1991.
- Komodo National Park — Established in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon and UNESCO-listed since 1991, the park’s islands hold an estimated 5,000 of the giant lizards, found nowhere else on Earth.
- Jakarta — Indonesia’s capital and main gateway pairs the colonial-era Kota Tua old town with the National Monument and a food scene spanning the archipelago.
- Raja Ampat — Off West Papua, this archipelago forms part of the Coral Triangle, described by researchers as home to the highest recorded marine biodiversity on Earth.
Planning note
Indonesia’s islands don’t connect by rail — budget for domestic flights between Java, Bali, and the outer islands, and build slack into any Komodo or Raja Ampat leg since boat transfers depend on weather and sea conditions. If Bali is one of your bases, check the current Bali forecast for the days you are there.
Sources
- Statistics Indonesia (BPS) via Seasia.co — Indonesia Welcomes 13.9 Million Foreign Tourists in 2024, Marking a Five-Year High
- Xinhua — Indonesia sees significant tourism growth in 2024
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Borobudur Temple Compounds
- Wikipedia — Komodo National Park
- UNESCO/weADAPT — Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System
- Wikipedia — Raja Ampat Islands
Read the Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2026 roundup for how Indonesia compares globally.
