7 Top Tourist Places to Visit in Indonesia

Indonesia is an archipelago situated in Southeast Asia. The country is known for its history and culture, dating back to thousands of years. Active volcanoes, beautiful beaches, majestic rainforests and exotic wildlife are the main attractions of this Asian country.

Indonesia is popular with all kinds of tourists and it offers a variety of activities to them. Apart from exploring the flora and fauna, beaches, temples and historical ruins, people can also enjoy activities such as surfing and scuba diving in Indonesia.

It is made up of about 14,000 islands and the most important among them are Java, Bali, Sumatra, Celebes (Sulawesi), Nusa Tenggara - Sunda Islands, Kalimantan - Island of Borneo and Moluccas.

Here are the top tourist places to visit in Indonesia:

The Island Of Java

Java is the main island of the country and is the most popular of them all. It has a large area (100 km long and 200 wide) and offers an infinite variety of fascinating landscapes. It is also an important cultural center, where you will find interesting remains of ancient civilizations. The island is divided into three sections, West Java, Central Java and East Java.

The the cities of Jakarta and Yogyakarta Raya are very popular destinations in Java. Other tourist attractions in the island include Mount Halimun Salak National Park, Karimunjawa Islands etc.

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and is home to many tourist attractions. The best thing to see in Jakarta today is the Semanggi Bridge, situated in the heart of the city. Surrounding the bridge are the Olympic Stadium, the Orchid Garden, the Bazaar Indonesia, the Communications Center of Jakarta and the Military Museum.

The Avenue of Jend Sudirman, one of the main streets of the city, will show the commercial side of Jakarta. Banks, office buildings, warehouses or major stores are all situated there. The National Museum, located along the main street of the city, Medan Merdeka, is one of the most interesting and oldest (1778) museums in Southeast Asia.

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, a city of nearly half a million inhabitants, is the cultural center of Java and one of the most popular destinations in Indonesia, and is located at the foot of the slope of Merapi volcano. The Sultan's Palace or Kraton , founded in 1756 and located in the heart of Yogyakarta, is a small city within the city and is the main attraction of the city of Yogyakarta.

Borobudur

Borobudur is one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in Southeast Asia. Located about 40 kilometers from Yogyakarta, was built at the same time as Prambanan (early ninth century) by Sailendra kings. With the decline of Buddhism, this huge temple complex was abandoned until, in 1814, during the British occupation, was rediscovered, researched and finally restored.

Central Java

The historic region of Central Java, center of Javanese culture, has its capital in Semarang, a city of just over one million inhabitants. Here you will find one of the oldest and most revered Chinese temples in Indonesia, the Sam Po Kong Temple. There are many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in this region such as Borobudur and Prambanan.

The Island of Bali

Bali is one of the smaller islands of the Indonesian archipelago, a tropical paradise inhabited by three million people, protected by volcanic mountains and irrigated by waters that quench the thirst of its warm beaches. Apart from the countless Hindu Temples, you can also explore the beaches and paddy fields of Bali.

Sumatra Island

In Sumatra one can enjoy jungle landscapes, mountains, endless tropical forests, crossed by wide rivers, swamps and mangrove forests that meet the sea. It is also a cultural center of Indonesia and has many historical buildings.