Occupying a swath of Bali’s northwestern corner, West Bali National Park (Bali Barat National Park) is Bali’s last true wilderness. Highlights include the reefs around Menjangan Island, mangrove and tropical savanna landscapes, and wildlife the likes of monkeys, deer, macaques, and the white Bali starling—the preservation of which was a main reason the park was created in 1941.
Known for its artisanal-salt production, this fishing village on Bali’s east coast boasts a sweeping black-sand beach and a small port with boats to the islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Visitors enjoy Kusamba’s lively and authentic fish market and visits to salt farms to watch the salt being made.
Once the capital of the mighty Mataram kingdom, whose descendants founded Yogyakarta, Kota Gede is today a charmingly historic suburb of Yogyakarta. Besides attractions such as the royal cemetery, ancient mosques, and traditional wooden houses, it’s home to a wealth of silversmiths, as well as the Monggo Belgian chocolate factory.
One of the world’s best-known yoga and wellness centers, The Yoga Barn offers more than 100 classes a week across seven studios, not to mention accommodation, a café, a gift shop, and a healing center. From the enormous flower blossom artworks that decorate its courtyard to the airy shalas with views of tropical greenery, it’s Ubud in a nutshell.
While travelers flock to more celebrated Balinese peaks such as Mt. Batur and Mt. Agung (when volcanic activity permits), it’s likely you’ll have the wild and unspoiled slopes of Mt. Batukaru to yourself. Even if you don’t choose to summit this 7,467-foot-high (2,276-meter-high) peak, admire majestic views from Pura Luhur Batukaru temple below.
Within walking distance of Ngurah Rai International Airport, Anika Spa in Kuta is a comfortable modern spa that’s well-placed for pre- or post-flight treatments. Therapies focus on traditional Indonesian ingredients and techniques, whether it’s an aromatherapy-based treatment, massage, scrub, flower bath, manicure, or pedicure.
The northeast corner of Nusa Lembongan is carpeted in lush mangrove forests, where different types of flora and marine life thrive. A far cry from the sleek beach bars and luxury hotels of the main island, this area reveals a more natural side of Bali. Come here to escape the hustle and bustle of peak season.
The heartland of Java—and a longtime rival to neighboring Yogyakarta—the city of Surakarta is overwhelmingly known as Solo. Conservative and formal, this is the place to head for ancient Javanese arts such as batik cloth, wayang shadow puppets, and courtly dance, as well as authentic Indonesian urban culture.
Bali’s second city, Singaraja (which means “Lion King”), is the epicenter of north Bali. Singaraja features winged lion statues, a scenic waterfront, and the chance to enjoy Chinese-Indonesian food. Other highlights include a covered market, a Chinese temple, and the Gedong Kirtya museum of palm manuscripts.
Known as the “erotic temple,” 15th-century Candi Sukuh stands on the slopes of Mt. Lawu, its entrance marked by a large lingam (phallus) and yoni (vulva). The pyramid structure of the temple, not to mention the erotic carvings, make this very different from other Javan temples, and some think it harks back to pre-Hindu, animist beliefs.
Set on the grounds of the Ramada Bintang Bali Resort in Kuta, Theta Spa by the Sea is a contemporary spa with Indian Ocean views. Tropical rituals, massages, and remedies use techniques from China, India, Indonesia, and beyond. Natural ingredients such as fresh herbs, and organic essential oils are used in treatments set in a luxury-minded spa.
With white sands, azure waters, soaring cliffs, gently swaying palms, and postcard-perfect outcrops just offshore, Diamond Beach is one of Nusa Penida’s most dazzling beaches. The cliff-edge path makes for a rewarding scramble—it’s steep enough in places that you need to use ropes to ascend and descend—but cold drinks, epic views, and stunning pictures await.
Packed to the rafters with artisan items, Ubud Art Market is the place to come for Balinese souvenirs. This colorful cornucopia sells everything from silk scarves and flowing skirts to carved Hindu and Buddhist statues, traditional Balinese masks, and exotic fruit—and shot to fame when Julia Roberts visited in the Eat, Pray, Love movie.
One of the smaller islands in Komodo National Park, Padar Island’s rugged green promontories, white sand beaches, and turquoise waters make social media magic. A hike to the island-top viewpoint is an essential stop on most Komodo National Park tours, while one of the park’s pink beaches is tucked into a bay on the north coast.
One of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, Mt. Merapi’s name literally means “mountain of red fire.” The mountain, which looms over Borobudur, occupies a sacred place in the hearts and minds of many Javanese. When it’s not closed or partially closed due to volcanic activity, Merapi also makes for a spectacular volcano hike or climb.
Home to animals from pandas to Komodo dragons, Taman Safari Bogor (Bogor Safari Park) is one of West Java’s most popular animal attractions. It offers safaris, live performances, a range of adventurous theme-park rides, and animal-photo opportunities. Conservation and animal-welfare standards are better here than at many Indonesian zoos.
A compact but perfectly formed mall with a striking wavy frontage, Seminyak Village pairs western brands with local talent for a shopping experience that’s sleek and seamless but can feel artisanal too—right in the heart of Seminyak. Don’t confuse it with neighboring Seminyak Square, which is generally a lower rent experience.
Also known as the Temple of the Laughing Buddha, Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya is a large, modern Buddhist temple, which can be wrongly referred to as Southeast Asia’s largest temple. It’s home to five prayer halls, a vegetarian restaurant, and a serene courtyard lined with jovial laughing Buddhas, while the upstairs balcony offers views across Batam.
There are over 18,000 islands in Indonesia by some counts, and Bali’s Taman Nusa cultural park pays tribute to the nation’s many different ethnic groups. Enjoy over 60 indigenous Indonesian houses and a scale model of Borobudur temple, plus traditional arts, crafts, dance, and music. Restaurants and a theater share the gorge-side setting.
Jakarta’s middle classes love a good mall as much as any southeast Asian cosmopolitans, and South Jakarta’s Pejaten Village contains many key elements. A medium-size mall, Pejaten Village has junk food by the gallon, popular Indonesian mall brands such as Matahari department stores, and a smattering of international brand names too.
Famous for the scaly-skinned fruit known as salak, or snake fruit, Sibetan Village sits in the shadow of the active volcano Mt. Agung, in east Bali. Locals grow at least 14 different varieties of salak, which they transform into a sweet fruit wine. Walks through the orchards and nearby forests are popular, as is sampling and buying wine.
A cluster of seven conical thatched huts amid forested volcanic hills, Wae Rebo Village is one of the most beautiful of Flores’ traditional Manggarai villages. Locals in this farming community still practice traditional rituals and live very simply: You can only reach Wae Rebo by hiking, and electricity only operates for a short part of the evening.
A cluster of uninhabited islets off Flores’ northern coast, 17 Islands Marine Park offers deserted white sand beaches and rich marine life, including manta rays. Mangrove-clad Ontoloe Island plays home to a vast colony of flying foxes—and Komodo dragons. Despite its name, the park includes more than 20 different islands.
Thanks to the road that has been hacked through the limestone cliffs above, Pandawa Beach is one of the most accessible beaches in Bali’s Bukit Peninsula. A broad sweep of golden sand with a surf break on the offshore reef, it’s particularly photogenic during the dry season, when paragliders swoop and soar overhead in the afternoons.
An unremarkable village outside Ubud, Petulu hosts a daily phenomenon that’s a must for bird-watchers and sunset lovers alike: thousands upon thousands of herons and egrets returning from the rice fields and roosting in the trees like so many cotton wool fruit. They’ve been coming since 1965, and nobody knows why.
A chain of six bridges that links Batam Island to the islands of Rempang, Galang, and Galang Baru by way of three islets, the Barelang Bridge is one of Indonesia’s most impressive feats of engineering and a Batam symbol. Confusingly, people also call the first and largest of the bridges the Barelang Bridge: It’s formally the Tengku Fisabilillah Bridge.
Part of Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, Mt. Semeru (Mahameru) is Java’s highest peak, an active volcano that crests behind the famous Mt. Bromo. This area’s cluster of craters comprises Semeru volcano and several other deeply-ridged volcanoes, giving the landscape its otherworldly atmosphere.
In the heart of Bali’s chic Seminyak district, Nyaman Gallery curates contemporary work from both Balinese and international artists. Multimedia pieces depict scenes of travel, personal growth, and Balinese culture and heritage, while more traditional objects feature woven wire, wood, bronze, and batik (a Javanese technique of applying dye to a cloth using a wax template).
The name of Semarang’s signature sight, Lawang Sewu, translates to 1,000 doors. And, while the colonial architecture doesn’t have quite that many portals, its echoing corridors provide Shining-style vistas. Many locals believe the building is haunted, as Japanese forces used its eerie, flooded basement for interrogations and torture in World War II.
Famous for its lush countryside and strawberry orchards, the Bandung region of Ciwidey provides a respite from West Java’s humid lowlands with its cool climate. Its biggest claim to fame is the White Crater (Kawah Putih), a crater lake filled with turquoise water and surrounded by tree-covered cliffs.
