Indonesia Must-Visit Places – The year 2020 has been somewhat unexpected, to say the least. We couldn’t really go anywhere because we were busy fighting against an unseen enemy. Well, it’s time to move on! Vaccines are going to be distributed soon and let’s hope that everything will turn back to normal next year ?.
For now, let’s start dreaming about where to go in 2021 by gathering some inspiration for your travel. We have some recommendations for you. Some of these places in Indonesia should be on your travel radar next year. They have excellent beaches, unique historical sites, and nice outdoor spots.
10 Top-Rated Places to Explore in 2021 Across Indonesia
Explore some of the most fascinating sights in Indonesia from waterfalls, beaches, to exotic wildlife. Here are 10 Indonesia’s must-visit cities in 2021, based on recommendations from locals!
1. Eat Lots of Good Foods in Palembang
Calling all food lovers out here. You must visit Palembang in 2021. This port city is known for having delicious local cuisine. One of the traditional dishes you should try is Pempek, an Indonesian fish cake made of ground fish meat and tapioca. Aside from pempek, you can try kemplang (fish crackers), laksan (mixture of ground fish meat and sago flour), and celor noodle. Yummy, yummy, in my tummy! ?
Let’s move on from food, t-mates! Palembang has lots of famous landmarks, such as the Ampera Bridge that connects Seberang Ulu and Seberang Ilir, two regions of Palembang. Admire the beauty of the bridge and take lots of pictures. Coz it’s scenic and free!
If you still have some free time, we recommend you to visit Kuto Besak Fortress. It is a famous fort that was built in the 18th century. This historical building was built in 1780 by Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin I and was then completed by Sultan Mahmud Bahauddin until 1803. This building is frequently used for events or festivals.
In addition, one of the popular tourist destinations among millennials in Palembang is Kemaro Island. Situated on the banks of the Musi River, the island is only 6 kilometers away from Ampera Bridge. It’s a romantic place.
2. Explore Pristine Natural Areas in Makassar
Makassar was formerly known as Ujung Pandang, a port city located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The city has many iconic colonial buildings, beautiful beaches, and superb seafood.
When visiting Makassar, you can see mother nature’s best piece by coming to Celebes Canyon. The water in the canyon keeps flowing endlessly even during the dry season! It’s an amazing place to experience nature 🙂
Coming to Makassar is not complete if you haven’t visited Fort Rotterdam which was built in 1545. It is one of the best-preserved Dutch military architecture. It was built in the shape of a sea turtle. Fascinating, isn’t it? What’s more to do in Makassar?
Well, you can laze on a sunny day at Samona Island. See the underwater world when you snorkel or dive there. You’ll have a good time, guaranteed.
3. Look into National Treasures and Historic Sites in North Sumatra
Now, why do we suggest you visit Medan in 2021? Let’s learn more about this city, situated in North Sumatra. Medan is a historic city where you can find a wealth of 19th-century buildings like the Istana Maimoon Palace and the Tjong A Fie Mansion.
On top of that, Medan is a popular city in North Sumatra known for its natural attractions. From Lake Toba, Samosir, to Berastagi highlands. There are a lot of gorgeous spots you can explore!
If you’re planning to travel with your family, consider Medan as your next getaway.
You can find several huge amusement parks such as Hairos water park and Hillpark Sibolangit. By the way, don’t forget to eat the delicious durian!
4. Discover Stunning Natural Attractions in Padang
Padang is a great destination to explore in 2021. It is a place where you can discover natural beauty such as Sawahlunto Blue Lake. It is an artificial lake that was once a coal mining area. The scenery there is amazing!
Going to Padang is not complete if you don’t visit the Adityawarman Museum, t-mates. This important museum provides a variety of information about the history of the Minangkabau people. Starting from the culture in prehistoric times to the modern era, to relics that have high historical value.
Furthermore, Being an archipelago, of course you will find many tourist attractions such as beaches or islands, t-mates. Like this one, you can visit Nirwana Beach with your family while in Padang. Apart from the natural scenery, a favorite thing for visitors is watching the ships docked at Teluk Bayur Harbor.
5. Come to the Exotic Papua to Refresh Your Mind
If you want to travel far, come to Papua. You’ll find a paradise in Indonesia. Papua is unique in every way. You can do various activities in Papua from trekking, diving, snorkeling, bird watching, or watching festivals.
It has the best diving sites called Raja Ampat. You can reach Raja Ampat by using a fast boat from Sorong. Be amazed when seeing countless species of fishes and corals underwater!
When you visit Papua, don’t forget to stop by Jayapura. Explore Base-G Beach was originally used as a home base for troops during World War 2. Now, this beach is one of the most-visited tourist destinations there.
Next, you can end your day by visiting Bukit Jokowi to see the beautiful sunset. Previously, this hill was not a tourist destination. Then, in 2014, President Jokowi visited the place and this destination became viral.
6. Search for Good Vibes in Bali
Come to Bali, the land of good vibes! It always feels like a holiday when you’re in Bali. In a day, you can plan your trip to Dreamland Beach to do watersports. Drink beer in the evening. Close your day by seeing a picturesque sunset by the beach.
Looking for some adventures? Check out some waterfalls. We can suggest one of them which is called Aling-Aling Waterfall. You can jump from the top of the cliff. It’s a 15 meters jump! Do you want to do a backflip? Just make sure you know where to land! 🙂
Complete your trip by doing some culinary tours while in Bali, t-mates. Try the traditional Balinese foods such as betutu chicken, suckling pork, lawar, and the tasty sambal matah! Don’t forget to buy some souvenirs such as pie susu! 
Where to stay in Bali? Hmm…there are many hotels in Bali from budget hotels to 5-star hotels. Choose the one that suits you best. You can book a hotel room easily through tiket.com.
7. Create Good Memories at Belitung
Don’t know where to travel in 2021? Come to visit Belitung, just an hour away from Jakarta! It is a place where you can enjoy white sandy beaches for the whole day!
You don’t need to spend big bucks to enjoy Belitung for a few days. There are many choices of budget hotels in the area. When you’re there, make sure you visit Danau Kaolin, Lengkuas Island, and Batu Garuda Island. Island hopping trip comes true!
8. Embrace the Uniqueness of East Kalimantan
If Java island sounds boring to you, you can find other alternative destinations. One of them is East Kalimantan. The popular city in East Kalimantan is Balikpapan. Come to witness the wildlife in Kalimantan. You wanna see endangered animals? You can actually see Sun Bears in the conservation area of Karang Joang.
Other things to do in Kalimantan are exploring Mangrove Margomulyo forest with your loved ones. You can see many varieties of flora and fauna there.
9. See Picturesque Scenery of Lombok
Mountains. Beaches. Waterfalls. One of the most famous places to visit in Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara) is Segara Anak. It is a volcanic lake that is familiar to climbers of Mount Rinjani. This volcanic lake has a depth of 230 meters, formed from volcanic craters. The beauty of this lake lies in its blue sea water which is so eye-catching.
Moreover, when coming to West Nusa Tenggara, you can explore Gili Trawangan. Gili Trawangan is another tourist icon inseparable from Lombok. Surely, you’ve heard of this island right?
What about visiting a beautiful Waterfall? Satisfied along the hot exotic beach, you can refresh yourself by visiting here. This natural tourism will offer another beauty that is no less enchanting.
10. Unwind at the Exotic Bintan Island
The Riau Islands consist of a group of islands, situated south of Singapore. It has popular destinations such as Bintan, Batam, and Karimunjawa. Bintan is an exotic destination; it’s a perfect getaway for leisure.
Bintan is best known for high-end resorts, world-class golf courses, and beautiful temples. You can spend a few days there to unwind and recharge yourself. We recommend you do try all of the water sports at Bintan Lagoon Resort, t-mates!
Keep Yourself Content in 2021, Let’s Go on a Vacay in Indonesia
No matter which destination you choose, you can get new experiences when traveling across Indonesia. Hopefully, 2021 can be a fun-filled year. Why dream about a vacation? Plan your itinerary, buy the tickets, book the hotels, and just go!
