68 Best Sights in Indonesia

This seaside temple perched atop a tidal islet rates high among Bali's signature sights. Built during the 15th century, Tanah Lot remains a major pilgrimage destination. A spring here supplies holy water to temples across Bali, and priests offer blessings to all. Buses converge here for the magical sunset tableau; arrive early to avoid the traffic and experience the temple, not the crowd. At most times, the 15-km (10-mile) drive north from Seminyak requires less than half an hour. A gauntlet of vendors, many of them pushy, line the paths from parking areas to the temple grounds. Adjacent Surya Mandala Cultural Park stages a kecak dance—an a cappella performance accompanied by a chanting male chorus—at 6:30 nightly. Admission to the performance is Rp50,000.

Batik, intricately woven ikat, and gold-threaded songket from the fabric of Indonesian culture are the star subjects of the Textile Museum (Museum Tekstil), which showcases vintage and modern fabric creations from across the nation inside an elegant 19th-century mansion. Beware that cab drivers often miss the entrance amid the colorful flea market lining the street. The museum's extensive collection, which could stand upgraded maintenance and displays, includes a wide selection of batik, an Indonesian innovation that's now renowned globally. Draw inspiration from the collection to create your own batik. Museum staff guide you through the process, including design, waxing, dyeing, boiling (the cloth, not you), and drying, so you can wear your creation proudly.

This attractive home of a wealthy Chinese businessman, completed in 1900, is worth a visit for a peek into the region's past. A guide, included in the admission price, will take you on a one-hour tour through the well-preserved mansion, explaining the history and offering insight into objects including pottery, furniture, and family photos.

Although Bintan has many swanky beach resorts, the coastline toward the east is worth a trek if you prefer to enjoy white-sand beaches without paying five-star resort prices. Located an hour's car ride from Bintan Resorts—where the ferries arrive and depart—Trikora Coast has a number of modest accommodations and eateries and is a popular spot for weekend kite surfers. There are four beaches in total and basic sheltered beach huts for rent. To get around, bring or hire a bicycle, or employ the services of a driver. Amenities: showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; snorkeling.

About a 90-minute drive from the Surabaya port you'll reach the ancient ruins of the former capital city of the Majapahit Empire. It's worth visiting the Trowulan Museum before or after the ruins to see the artifacts recovered from the site, including coins and pottery. Note the early times of the museum's opening and closing.

The rocket-shaped Youth Monument stands in stone as a memorial to those who fought off the Japanese during a five-day siege in October 1945. Just beyond is the elegant but desperately dilapidated Lawang Sewu (Building of 1,000 Doors), built for the Dutch Indies Rail Company in the 19th century, that served as Japanese headquarters during World War II.

The wreck of the Liberty makes Tulamben everybody's favorite dive destination. The World War II U.S. cargo ship sank just off the east coast of Bali, a 2½-hour drive from southern resort areas. For snorkelers and divers alike, exploring the Liberty is like swimming in a crowded tropical fish tank. Fortunate visitors see pygmy seahorses among the dozens of luminescent species and corals. Dive services are available in Tulamben, if you travel here on your own. Or day-trip with dive operators, such as Atlantis International Bali (www.atlantis-bali-diving.com), and enjoy terraced rice-field vistas along the way.

Pronounced Johg-ja-karta—Johg-ja for short—this city is the center of traditional Javanese culture, still ruled by a sultan, as well as an intellectual hub of modern Indonesia.