Indonesia guide › Indonesia at a glance
When is the best time to visit Indonesia?
For most of Indonesia (Java, Bali, Lombok, Komodo, Flores), the best time to visit is the dry season, from May to October. But the archipelago is so big that two regions do the opposite: Maluku and Raja Ampat, in Papua, are best from October to April.
It's hot all year round: 26 to 32 °C (79 to 90 °F) on the coast, sea temperatures around 28 to 30 °C (82 to 86 °F), and cool to cold nights in the mountains (bring a fleece for any volcano sunrise). What changes from season to season is the rain. Region by region:
- Java, Bali, Lombok and the Lesser Sundas: dry from May to October, wet from November to April, with the heaviest rain from December to February. The further east you go (Sumba, Timor), the longer the dry season.
- Sumatra and Kalimantan: right on the equator, so rain falls throughout the year with less contrast; May to September is still the best window overall.
- Sulawesi: a calendar close to Java's, with local variations; July and August are the main season for Toraja funeral ceremonies.
- Maluku and Raja Ampat: reversed seasons, with rain, wind and rough seas mostly from June to September.
Crowds matter as much as weather. July and August combine European summer holidays, Australian winter school holidays and Indonesian school holidays; Christmas and New Year fill Bali; and the end of Ramadan (Lebaran, around 10 March in 2027) jams transport for one to two weeks (see the Ramadan guide). For volcano treks and surfing the south coasts of Bali and Lombok, the dry season is the one to aim for; Mount Rinjani on Lombok closes every year from January to the end of March.
Verdict: May, June and September are the sweet spot for a first trip to Java, Bali, Lombok or Flores: dry, less crowded than July and August, and cheaper. For Raja Ampat or Maluku, go between October and April. For more detail, see where to go in the school holidays and whether the rainy season is worth it.
Tip: choose your islands first, then check their season: across 17,000 islands there's no single 'best month for Indonesia', only a best month for each region.
Information checked in November 2026; confirm before you travel.