Best Time to Visit Indonesia

Dry season is the safe bet

For most of Indonesia, the best time is the dry season, roughly July to September. Bali, Ubud, Kuta and Makassar all peak then. Java's cities do too: Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya. Days are sunny, and the rain mostly stays away. That's good for beaches, temple visits and the hike up Mount Bromo for sunrise.

The wet season is the flip side. Jakarta and the other Java cities get their heaviest rain in February, and Bali's peak is January. Expect short, heavy downpours and streets that flood in Jakarta. Mornings are often clearer than afternoons. If you're on a budget, this is when prices drop.

Where the pattern breaks

Not everywhere follows the July to September rule. Medan, on Sumatra, is best in January and February. Batam, near Singapore, is best in February and March. Their rainy peaks come late in the year, in October and November, so a trip there fits the months others avoid.

Heat is a different story. Surabaya hits 34°C in September and Semarang 35°C, so the "best" months there are dry but properly hot. Bandung is the cooler pick, because it sits in the hills.

Holidays and crowds

July and August are high season. Australian and European school holidays fill Bali, so Kuta and Ubud feel busy, and good rooms go early. Christmas and New Year are also packed, even though it's rainy.

Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, shifts about eleven days earlier each year. Some daytime restaurants close in smaller towns, though Bali is little affected. Then comes Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr), when millions of people travel home across Java and Sumatra. Trains, flights and roads sell out, and Jakarta goes unusually quiet. Avoid long journeys then if you can.

Bali has its own calendar too. On Nyepi, the Day of Silence in March or so, the whole island shuts down for 24 hours, even the airport. It's a memorable day if you plan for it, and a headache if you don't.