17,508 islands — and every one is different
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, stretching more than 5,000km from the tip of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean to the highlands of West Papua on the edge of the Pacific. It's home to over 17,000 islands — more than 6,000 of them inhabited — spanning three time zones and five major cultures.
Which means one thing: there is no single "best" island in Indonesia. There is a best island for beaches, a best island for diving, a best island for adventure, a best island for wildlife, and a best island for a first-time trip. Bali is the all-rounder. Raja Ampat is the world's number one for divers. Flores is the adventurer's dream. Sumatra is where you go for orangutans and jungle. Java is culture and volcanoes.
In this guide we've ranked 15 of Indonesia's best islands — from icons like Bali and Lombok to hidden gems like the Banda Islands, Weh and Belitung. Every ranking includes a full breakdown of what the island is like, why to go, how to get there, when to visit, what it costs, and honest ratings across beaches, nature, food, adventure, ease of travel and value for money.
Use it to decide which islands match your travel style — and if you want a hand putting together an actual route, our personalised Indonesia itineraries are handcrafted around your dates, budget and interests.
Quick rankings
Fifteen islands ranked by overall travel experience — a blend of scenery, activities, accessibility, food, beaches and value for money.
| Rank | Island | Best for | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | First-time visitors & variety | 9.6 | |
| #2 | Adventure & Komodo National Park | 9.3 | |
| #3 | Beaches & hiking | 9.0 | |
| #4 | Diving & marine life | 9.8 | |
| #5 | Dramatic scenery | 8.9 | |
| #6 | Culture & volcanoes | 8.7 | |
| #7 | Relaxation & snorkelling | 8.6 | |
| #8 | Wildlife & nature | 8.8 | |
| #9 | Luxury & untouched beaches | 8.9 | |
| #10 | Diving & unique culture | 8.5 | |
| #11 | Wildlife | 8.7 | |
| #12 | Relaxed island life | 8.2 | |
| #13 | Granite beaches | 8.1 | |
| #14 | Diving | 8.3 | |
| #15 | History & diving | 8.4 |
Interactive island map
Tap an island to jump to its full guide below.
Individual island guides
Pick an island to see its full breakdown — highlights, beaches, activities, budget and honest ratings.
Rank #1 · Best for First-time visitors & variety
Bali
The all-rounder — and still Indonesia's best introduction
Overview
Bali is the island every first-time visitor lands on, and for good reason. In a space smaller than Yorkshire you'll find rice terraces, active volcanoes, world-class surf, temples, empty beaches, jungle waterfalls and some of the best food in Asia.
Why visit
The infrastructure is unmatched anywhere else in Indonesia — reliable transport, excellent hotels at every budget, world-class restaurants and a strong wellness and coworking scene. Beyond the tourist south, Ubud, Sidemen, Amed and Munduk still feel authentically Balinese.
Best time
April–October (dry). July & August are busiest.
Trip length
7–14 days
Budget
£25 backpacker · £60 mid · £180+ luxury per day
Access
Direct flights from London, Doha, Singapore, KL and every major Asian hub. Ngurah Rai (DPS) is Indonesia's busiest airport.
Highlights
- Ubud rice terraces & jungle
- Uluwatu cliffs & surf breaks
- Sidemen valley
- Mount Batur sunrise hike
- Tirta Empul water temple
- Amed & Tulamben diving
Best beaches
- · Bingin
- · Nyang Nyang
- · Green Bowl
- · Amed
- · Balangan
- · Padang Padang
Top activities
- · Surf lessons at Canggu
- · Sunrise trek up Mount Batur
- · Cycle through Sidemen rice fields
- · Cooking class in Ubud
- · Snorkel at Menjangan Island
Pros
- Best food & accommodation in Indonesia
- Easy for first-timers
- Huge variety in a small area
- Great value for money
Cons
- · The south (Kuta, Canggu) can feel overcrowded
- · Traffic in high season
- · Occasional beach-plastic issues in the wet season
Best islands by category
Whatever you're travelling for, one island does it best.
Best beaches
Sumba & Gili Islands
Sumba for wild empty stretches; Gilis for turquoise postcard tropical.
Best diving
Raja Ampat
World's most biodiverse marine ecosystem — nothing else comes close.
Best snorkelling
Gili Islands & Komodo
Turtles in the Gilis; manta cleaning stations at Karang Makassar.
Best surfing
Bali & Mentawai (Sumatra)
Uluwatu for consistency; Mentawai for world-class barrels.
Best luxury holidays
Sumba (Nihi) & Bali
Nihi Sumba is repeatedly voted the world's best hotel.
Best backpacking
Java, Sumatra & Gilis
£20–£35/day comfortably and rich culture between.
Best honeymoon
Bali & Raja Ampat
Bali for ease; Raja Ampat for a jaw-dropping over-water villa.
Best digital nomad
Canggu & Ubud (Bali)
Fast Wi-Fi, coworking, café culture, monthly villas from £600.
Best wildlife
Sumatra & Komodo
Orangutans in Bukit Lawang; dragons in Komodo National Park.
Best volcanoes
Java (Bromo & Ijen)
Bromo sunrise and Ijen's blue flames are Indonesia's iconic hikes.
Best waterfalls
Bali & Lombok
Sekumpul & Tumpak Sewu on the Bali/Java border; Tiu Kelep on Lombok.
Best hidden gems
Banda Islands & Weh
The two most under-visited islands in this ranking.
Best food
Bali & Java (Yogya/Padang)
Bali for variety; Padang food is the country's finest regional cuisine.
Best culture
Java & Sulawesi (Toraja)
Borobudur, Prambanan and the extraordinary Torajan funeral rites.
Best for families
Bali & Gili Air
Kid-friendly beaches, resorts, low-hassle transport.
Suggested itineraries
Routes designed to minimise transit time while showing off different regions of Indonesia.
1 Week — Bali Essentials + Nusa Penida
~250 km3 nights Ubud/Sidemen · 2 nights Uluwatu · 2 nights Nusa Penida. Zero flights, one fast boat.
2 Weeks — Bali, Gilis & Lombok
~500 kmUbud → Uluwatu → Nusa Penida → Gili Air → Kuta Lombok. Fast boats and one short flight optional.
3 Weeks — Java + Bali + Flores
~2,100 kmYogya (Borobudur) → Bromo → Ijen → Bali (Ubud/Uluwatu) → Labuan Bajo (Komodo). Two internal flights.
1 Month — Full Island-Hopper
~5,000 kmSumatra (Bukit Lawang, Toba) → Java (Yogya, Bromo, Ijen) → Bali → Lombok/Gilis → Flores/Komodo → optional Raja Ampat.
How to travel between islands
Indonesia is huge — plan around one region per trip, or fly.
Domestic flights
The fastest way to cover distance. Lion Air, Batik and Garuda serve every major island. Bali–Labuan Bajo, Bali–Yogya, Jakarta–Sorong (Raja Ampat) etc.
Fast boats
Best for short hops. Bali–Nusa Penida (45 min), Bali–Gilis (2h 15m), Bali–Lombok (2h). Book direct with reputable operators.
Ferries
Pelni operates huge inter-island ferries connecting the remotest parts of Indonesia. Cheap and slow — book cabins in advance for Banda / Papua routes.
Liveaboards
The only real way to see Komodo & Raja Ampat properly. 3–10 nights, all-inclusive, dive-focused. Book 3–6 months ahead.
| Route | How | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bali ↔ Lombok | Fast boat 2h · Flight 30 min | £25 boat · £35 flight |
| Bali ↔ Nusa Penida | Fast boat 45 min from Sanur | £15 return |
| Bali ↔ Flores (Labuan Bajo) | Flight 1h 15m · Sail 4 days | £45 flight · £250–£600 sail |
| Java ↔ Bali | Ferry 1h (Ketapang–Gilimanuk) · Flight 1h 15m Jakarta/Yogya | £1 ferry (foot) · £40–£90 flight |
| Lombok ↔ Gili Islands | Public boat 15–30 min from Bangsal | £1.50 public · £8 fast boat |
| Flores ↔ Komodo Islands | Day/liveaboard boat from Labuan Bajo | £45–£90 day · £250+ liveaboard |
| Jakarta ↔ Raja Ampat | Flight Jakarta/Makassar → Sorong + ferry to Waisai | £150–£300 flights + £8 ferry |
| Bali ↔ Sumatra | Flight via Jakarta or KL | £90–£180 |
Booking tips: Domestic flights are cheapest in the Traveloka or Tiket.com apps in IDR. Never buy fast-boat tickets from Kuta touts — book through your accommodation or 12Go.asia. For liveaboards, book direct with the operator to avoid 20% agent mark-ups.
Budget comparison
Estimated daily budget per person, excluding international flights. See our Thailand cost guide for comparable numbers.
| Island | Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali | £25–£40 | £60–£120 | £180+ |
| Lombok | £20–£35 | £55–£110 | £150+ |
| Gili Islands | £25–£40 | £65–£120 | £180+ |
| Nusa Penida | £20–£35 | £55–£110 | £150+ |
| Flores / Komodo | £35–£55 | £90–£160 | £250+ |
| Java | £20–£35 | £50–£100 | £120+ |
| Sumatra | £20–£30 | £50–£90 | £120+ |
| Sulawesi | £25–£40 | £60–£120 | £180+ |
| Sumba | £40–£60 | £100–£200 | £600+ |
| Raja Ampat | £90–£140 | £180–£280 | £500+ |
| Weh / Belitung | £20–£35 | £55–£100 | £120+ |
| Banda Islands | £30–£45 | £70–£120 | £150+ |
Best value: Java, Sumatra and Lombok deliver the biggest bang-per-pound. Bali is still excellent value for what you get. Raja Ampat, Sumba and the Bandas are the priciest because of transport and remoteness.
Best time to visit
Indonesia straddles the equator, so weather varies more by region than by season. Broadly: dry May–October, wet November–April. Raja Ampat and the Bandas flip that pattern.
Wet
Wet season in Bali & most of Indonesia. Raja Ampat is at its calmest.
Wet
Wettest month for Bali/Java. Great for Raja Ampat diving.
Shoulder
Rain easing. Whale sharks in Cendrawasih Bay.
Excellent
Dry season starts. Ideal in Bali, Flores, Lombok.
Excellent
One of the best months everywhere except Raja Ampat (rougher).
Peak
Dry, warm, quieter than July/Aug. Manta season begins around Komodo.
Peak
Busiest month — Bali/Gilis packed. Book ahead.
Peak
Peak season, dry & sunny. Rinjani prime hiking window.
Excellent
Quieter than August, still dry. Sweet spot for Flores.
Excellent
Great for everywhere. Raja Ampat season starts.
Shoulder
Rain starts on Bali/Lombok. Raja Ampat & Bandas excellent.
Wet
Wet in west; calm seas in the far east. Christmas is a Bali peak.
Bali/Komodo: April–November. Raja Ampat: October–April. Lembeh: year-round.
Bali west coast: April–October (Uluwatu). East coast: November–March (Keramas).
Cendrawasih Bay (Papua): year-round. Best May–October.
Rinjani: April–November (closed Jan–Mar). Bromo & Ijen: year-round; best dry season.
Wildlife & nature
Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet — 17% of the world's species live on just 1.3% of its land.
Komodo dragons
Komodo National Park
Orangutans
Bukit Lawang (Sumatra) & Borneo
Whale sharks
Cendrawasih Bay (Papua)
Manta rays
Komodo & Nusa Penida
Sea turtles
Gilis, Derawan, Sumbawa
Coral reefs
Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, Bunaken
Active volcanoes
Bromo, Ijen, Rinjani, Batur
Rainforest
Gunung Leuser, Kerinci Seblat
Rice terraces
Ubud, Sidemen, Jatiluwih
Keep planning
Frequently asked questions
Personalised planning
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