Quick Facts

Most Western travellers will require a visa in order to gain entry to Indonesia.

Visas must be obtained prior to entry by submitting applications together with two passport size photographs at least two months before departure at the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia. Tourist, business, cultural and family visas will be granted as subject to approval by Indonesian authorities.

Tourists from Brunei, Chile, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam can enter Indonesia without a visa.

View visa requirements from the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism

The Rupiah (Rp) is the unit of currency.

Cash is the preferred form of transaction, though credit cards are accepted at large hotels and restaurants.

Money and travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks or at licensed exchange counters. 24-hour automated teller machines (ATMs) are widely available throughout the city, although they may be difficult to find once beyond the city limits.

Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.

IDR 1.00 equals:

11% government tax is levied on all bills. Restaurants may levy a tax of up to 21%.

A 10% service is levied on all bills in restaurants and hotels. You may also tip individual staff members at your discretion.

Bank Hours
8am - 2pm, Monday through Friday

Office Hours
8am - 4pm, Monday through Friday (Government)
9am - 5pm, Monday through Friday (Commercial)

Shopping Hours
10am - 10pm, Monday through Sunday

A visit to a doctor and an updated set of vaccinations is advisable before visiting Indonesia. Medical facilities are available and adequate in major cities and resorts, but can be inadequate elsewhere.

All food must be well-cooked. Drink only water that has been boiled or bottled mineral water. Tap water in the hotel is potable and if desired, may be boiled prior to consumption using the facilities provided in-room.

Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, provides bottled drinking water in every hotel room.

The city air in Jakarta can become quite smoggy. Asthmatic travellers should carry their medication at all times.

Light fabrics are recommended due to the warm, humid climate. For men, a jacket and tie is considered appropriate when making business calls. Alternatively, you may also wear a traditional long-sleeve batik shirt.

Shorts and beachwear are not considered appropriate for visits to temples, mosques and other places of worship.

Jakarta is almost always hot and humid. Average maximum temperatures stay above 30°C (86°F) throughout the year.

October to February is the official wet season. July through to September has the least amount of rain. This is the period when temperatures remain consistently high.