What is the best time to visit Indonesia?

Best Time to Visit Indonesia

The best time to travel to Indonesia is during dry season (April to October) and wet season (November to March).

Dry Season in Indonesia

The dry season in Indonesia runs from April to October and is the most popular time for tourists to visit. During this season, temperatures are generally mild and the humidity is low, making it a great time to explore the country’s many attractions. Tourists can expect to see plenty of sunshine and clear skies during this time of year. Notable natural phenomena during this season include the blooming of the rafflesia flower and the migration of the whale sharks. The dry season is also the best time to visit some of Indonesia’s most popular attractions, such as the Borobudur Temple and the Komodo National Park. Additionally, travelers can enjoy a variety of festivals, such as the Bali Arts Festival and the Bali Kite Festival, during this season.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Indonesia

Indonesia in January

Weather

January is the start of the wet season in Indonesia, with temperatures ranging from 25-30°C (77-86°F). Rainfall is common throughout the month, and humidity is high.

Events

• The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is held in Jakarta, usually in the first half of January. It is one of the largest jazz festivals in the world, with over 200,000 visitors each year.
• The Bali Arts Festival is held in Denpasar, Bali, usually in the second half of January. It is a month-long celebration of Balinese culture, with traditional performances, art exhibitions, and more.
• The Komodo Festival is held in Labuan Bajo, Flores, usually in the first half of January. It is a celebration of the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard, and features traditional dances, music, and more.
• The Bali Kite Festival is held in Sanur, Bali, usually in the second half of January. It is a celebration of the traditional Balinese kites, with kite-making workshops, kite-flying competitions, and more.
• The Bali Spirit Festival is held in Ubud, Bali, usually in the second half of January. It is a celebration of yoga, music, and dance, with workshops, performances, and more.

Indonesia in January

Weather

January is the start of the dry season in Indonesia, and temperatures are generally warm and humid. The average temperature in January is around 28°C (82°F). Rainfall is light, and there is usually plenty of sunshine.

Events

• New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1st. It is a public holiday in Indonesia, and people celebrate with fireworks, parades, and parties.
• The Bali Arts Festival is held in Denpasar in January. It is a month-long celebration of Balinese culture, with traditional music and dance performances, art exhibitions, and more.
• The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is held in January. It is one of the largest jazz festivals in the world, with performances from international and Indonesian jazz musicians.
• The Borobudur International Festival is held in January in Central Java. It is a celebration of Javanese culture, with traditional music and dance performances, art exhibitions, and more.
• The Yogyakarta International Film Festival is held in January. It is a celebration of Indonesian and international cinema, with screenings of feature films, documentaries, and short films.

Indonesia in March

Weather

March is the beginning of the dry season in Indonesia, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 33 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is low throughout the month, with some areas receiving less than 10mm of rain.

Events

• International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th in Indonesia. This day is a celebration of women’s rights and achievements, and is marked with a variety of events throughout the country.
• The Bali Arts Festival is held in Denpasar each year in March. The festival celebrates Balinese culture and features traditional music and dance performances, as well as art exhibitions and food stalls.
• The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is held in March each year. This festival features a variety of international and local jazz musicians, and is a popular event for jazz fans.
• The Komodo Festival is held in Labuan Bajo in March each year. This festival celebrates the Komodo dragon, and features a variety of activities such as dragon boat races, traditional dances, and a dragon parade.
• The Yogyakarta International Film Festival is held in March each year. This festival showcases the best of Indonesian and international cinema, and is a great opportunity for filmmakers to network and share their work.

Indonesia in April

Weather

April in Indonesia is typically hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-80s to the mid-90s Fahrenheit. Rainfall is common, with some areas receiving up to 6 inches of rain.

Events

• The Balinese New Year, also known as Nyepi, is celebrated on the first day of the Saka Calendar, which usually falls in April. This is a day of silence, fasting, and meditation, and no work or entertainment is allowed.
• The Bali Arts Festival is held in Denpasar from mid-June to mid-July. This festival showcases traditional Balinese music and dance, as well as art, crafts, and food.
• The International Borneo Festival is held in Kuching, Sarawak. This festival celebrates the culture, customs, and traditions of the Borneo region with traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is held in Jakarta. This jazz festival features performances by renowned international and local jazz musicians.
• The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is held in Ubud, Bali. This festival brings together writers, readers, and thinkers from around the world to share their stories, ideas, and experiences.

Indonesia in May

Weather

May in Indonesia is typically hot and humid with temperatures ranging from 25 to 33 degrees Celsius. During this time of the year, the country experiences a wet season with the occasional thunderstorm.

Events

• The Jakarta Fair is held in May, providing a great opportunity to explore the culture and cuisine of Indonesia.
• The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is held in May, featuring jazz music performances from local and international artists.
• The Bali Arts Festival is held in May, showcasing traditional Balinese art and culture.
• The Komodo Festival is held in May, celebrating the unique Komodo dragon and its habitat.
• The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is held in May, offering a platform for writers and readers to come together and share their stories.

Indonesia in June

Weather

June in Indonesia is typically hot and humid with temperatures ranging from 25-35°C (77-95°F). Rainfall is generally high during this month, with an average of 250-300mm (10-12in) of rain per month.

Events

• The Jakarta Great Sale takes place in June, offering shoppers discounts on a variety of items.
• The Yogyakarta Arts Festival is held in June, featuring performances, exhibitions, and workshops from local and international artists.
• The Bali Kite Festival is held in June, with kite-flying competitions, traditional performances, and food stalls.
• The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is held in June, featuring discussions, workshops, and performances from writers and artists from around the world.
• The BaliSpirit Festival takes place in June, featuring yoga, meditation, and music performances.

Indonesia in July

Weather

July in Indonesia is generally hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from around 25°C to 33°C. The rainy season begins in Indonesia during this month, with frequent showers and thunderstorms.

Events

• The annual Bali Arts Festival is held in July, showcasing traditional Balinese art, music, dance, and other cultural performances.
• The annual Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is held in July, featuring a variety of jazz performances from local and international artists.
• The annual Bali Kite Festival is held in July, with colorful kites of various shapes and sizes flown across the sky.
• The annual BaliSpirit Festival is held in July, featuring yoga, meditation, music, and other activities.
• The annual Bali International Film Festival is held in July, showcasing the best of Indonesian and international cinema.

Indonesia in August

Weather

August in Indonesia is generally hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the low 80s to the mid 90s Fahrenheit. Rainfall is common during August, with an average of about 8 inches of rain per month.

Events

• The annual Jakarta Fair is held in August, and features a variety of cultural performances, art exhibitions, and food stalls.
• The annual Bali Arts Festival takes place in August, showcasing traditional Balinese dance, music, and art.
• The annual Java Jazz Festival is held in August, and features a variety of jazz, funk, and soul music performances.
• The annual Surabaya International Food Festival is held in August, and features a variety of Indonesian and international cuisine.
• The annual Bali Kite Festival is held in August, and features a variety of traditional Balinese kite designs.

Indonesia in September

Weather

September in Indonesia is generally hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 24-34°C. The rainy season begins in September, with the average rainfall being around 200mm.

Events

• The Bali Arts Festival takes place in June and July, and is a celebration of Balinese culture, art, and music.
• The International Kite Festival is held in September in the city of Yogyakarta. It is a two-day event that celebrates the beauty of kites.
• The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is held in September and is one of the largest jazz festivals in the world.
• The BaliSpirit Festival is held in Ubud in September and is a celebration of yoga, music, and dance.
• The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is held in October and is a celebration of literature, culture, and art.

Indonesia in October

Weather

October is the beginning of the dry season in Indonesia, with temperatures ranging from 22°C to 33°C and low humidity. Rainfall is minimal and the skies are generally clear.

Events

• The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is held in October, showcasing some of the best jazz musicians from Indonesia and around the world.
• The Bali Arts Festival is held in October, celebrating Balinese culture with traditional music, dance, and art.
• The annual Komodo Festival is held in October in the Komodo National Park, featuring traditional dances, music, and food.
• The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is held in October, bringing together writers, readers, and artists from around the world.
• The International Film Festival in Jakarta is held in October, featuring films from Indonesia and around the world.

Indonesia in November

Weather

November is the beginning of the dry season in Indonesia, with temperatures ranging from 25-30 degrees Celsius (77-86 degrees Fahrenheit). Generally, the weather is sunny and dry, with occasional rain.

Events

• The Bali Arts Festival is held in Denpasar in November, celebrating the culture and art of the region.
• The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is held in November, showcasing jazz music from around the world.
• The Komodo Festival is held in Labuan Bajo in November, celebrating the Komodo dragon and its conservation.
• The BaliSpirit Festival is held in Ubud in November, celebrating yoga, music, and dance.
• The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is held in Ubud in November, celebrating literature and writing from around the world.

Indonesia in December

Weather

December in Indonesia is the beginning of the dry season. Temperatures range from 22-33°C (71-91°F) and humidity levels are low.

Events

• The annual Java Jazz Festival is held in Jakarta in early December. It is one of the biggest jazz festivals in the world, featuring a variety of international and local jazz musicians.
• The Bali Arts Festival is held in Denpasar in mid-June. It is one of the largest cultural events in Indonesia, featuring traditional music, dance, and art.
• The Komodo National Park is a popular destination for visitors in December. The park is home to the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo dragon.
• The annual BaliSpirit Festival is held in Ubud in late December. It is a celebration of yoga, music, and dance, featuring international and local performers.
• The annual Bali Kite Festival is held in Sanur in late December. It is a celebration of traditional Balinese kite-making, featuring kite-flying competitions and performances.