Indonesia
Use official entry portals, keep cash, and match each island with the right app
Complete the free All Indonesia arrival declaration through allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id before an international air or sea arrival.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Indonesia
It has been mandatory since 1 October 2025 and is separate from any visa. Use only evisa.imigrasi.go.id for an eligible eVisa or eVOA, and ignore payment links in messages claiming the free arrival form needs a fee. Bali also charges a tourist levy of Rp150,000 as reviewed in August 2026 through lovebali.baliprov.go.id. Gojek and Grab are the most useful everyday apps, but coverage, airport pickup points and card acceptance vary.
Carry rupiah and at least two physical cards because cash and QRIS remain important. Do not assume a QRIS sign means a foreign wallet will work. Motorcycle crashes are a major traveler risk. Use licensed transport, check current volcano and weather advice, and save 110 for police plus local medical contacts because the 112 service is not nationwide.
Ride Hailing
GojekEssential
The leading Indonesian app for GoRide motorcycles, GoCar vehicles and Bluebird taxi dispatch in supported areas.
GrabEssential
A widely available alternative for GrabCar, GrabBike and other live vehicle types across Indonesia.
MyBluebird
Bluebird's official app for licensed taxis, fixed or metered trips, airport transfers and selected rentals or shuttles.
Maxim
A lower-cost ride and delivery app with car and motorcycle service in many large and smaller Indonesian cities.
inDrive
A ride app that lets passengers and drivers agree a fare, with service in dozens of Indonesian cities.
Food Delivery
GojekEssential
The app containing GoFood, with broad restaurant delivery coverage across supported Indonesian cities.
GrabEssential
The app containing GrabFood, with live restaurant coverage in many Indonesian cities and tourism areas.
Shopee Indonesia
Indonesia's local Shopee app, which includes ShopeeFood alongside its shopping and payment features.
Payments
GoPay
An optional Indonesian wallet for QRIS, Gojek services and merchant payments after successful identity verification and funding.
Messaging
WhatsAppEssential
The main practical messenger for Indonesian hotels, drivers, guides, tour operators and local businesses.
Super Apps
Transit
TJ:Transjakarta
The official Transjakarta app for bus routes, nearby stops, live arrivals, vehicle positions and crowd information.
MyMRTJ
Jakarta MRT's official app for schedules, station information and eligible in-app ticket payment.
C-Access
KAI Commuter's official app for Commuter Line schedules, live train positions, fares and selected QR or airport tickets.
Travel & Booking
All IndonesiaEssential
Indonesia's free official arrival declaration for immigration, customs, health and quarantine at international air and sea entry.
Indonesia eVisaEssential
The official immigration portal for checking eligibility and applying for an Indonesian eVisa or electronic visa on arrival.
Traveloka
A major Indonesian marketplace for hotels, domestic flights, trains, buses, transfers and activities.
Love Bali
Bali Province's official service for paying the foreign tourist levy and receiving its QR voucher.
tiket.com
A large Indonesian booking app for hotels, flights, trains, transfers, attractions and events.
Klook
An international marketplace with Indonesian activities, attraction tickets, transfers and selected transport products.
Language
Google TranslateEssential
The most practical Indonesian translation tool for downloaded text, camera and basic conversation support.
Intercity Transport
Access by KAIEssential
KAI's official app for intercity and local trains plus selected commuter, airport, LRT and high-speed rail services.
TravelokaEssential
A major Indonesian booking app for domestic flights, trains, buses, shuttles, hotels and selected local transport.
tiket.com
An Indonesian alternative for flights, KAI and Whoosh trains, buses, ferries, airport transfers, hotels and attractions.
Whoosh
The official app for Jakarta and Bandung high-speed rail ticket search, booking, changes and refunds.
Ferizy
ASDP's official booking service for passenger and vehicle tickets on covered Indonesian ferry crossings.
PELNI
The official app for schedules, reservations, check-in and tickets on PELNI's long-distance passenger ship network.
Utilities
Info BMKGEssential
Indonesia's official app for weather, earthquakes, maritime conditions, air quality and early warnings.
Internet in Indonesia
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Bring your passport and expect both the SIM and the phone’s IMEI to be registered.
- Telkomsel tourist prepaid includes 25GB and costs around 150,000 IDR (~$9.50).
- Buy at an official carrier counter at the airport or at an official city store, and test the SIM before leaving.
- Local eSIM is available and follows the same identity rules as a physical SIM.
Check the phone’s IMEI or device-registration rules before using a local SIM, especially on a longer stay.
Local carriers
Telkomsel
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
Indosat Ooredoo (IM3)
Strong in major cities, with weaker rural coverage.
XL Axiata
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
Smartfren
Strong in major cities, with weaker rural coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Indonesia?
The essential apps for Indonesia are Gojek, Grab, WhatsApp, Google Maps, All Indonesia.
How many travel apps does Indonesia have?
We've curated 31 apps across 11 categories for traveling in Indonesia, including 14 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Indonesia?
Gojek. The leading Indonesian app for GoRide motorcycles, GoCar vehicles and Bluebird taxi dispatch in supported areas.
Keep exploring
Also traveling in Southeast Asia?
Cambodia
Use local ride apps, official entry portals, and current border advice
Laos
Compare rides by city, keep Lao kip, and expect the official railway app to be fallible
Myanmar
Check official warnings, plan every route, and keep cash and offline backups
Malaysia
Use Grab widely, treat Touch 'n Go card and eWallet as separate tools, and verify every terminal
Philippines
Register eTravel, keep pesos, and download maps before moving between islands
Singapore
Fast, English-friendly travel where cards work widely, but local QR still needs care