Top 10 Cheap Places to Travel in Indonesia

As we all know, Asia is the best continent for budget-friendly destinations. And in Asia lies Indonesia. There are a handful of cheap places to travel in Indonesia—way more inexpensive than destinations in the US and Europe. Indonesia is loved by tourists from all over the world. That’s why, only In 2024, more than 11 million foreigners visited this beautiful country.

Indonesia consists of over 17.000 islands, which makes this country beautiful and one of a kind. In this country, you will see everything from beaches to waterfalls, mountains to ancient monuments, and more. However, having so many tourism resources does not mean it is expensive.

Instead, you will find this country way more economical than expected, making every penny spent worth it. Everything will be budget-friendly, from accommodation to local food and transportation to everyday expenses.

Here are my favorite and cheapest places to travel in Indonesia.

1. UBUD

Ubud is an attractive town in Bali, known for its beautiful forests, scenic views, eco-tourism, and cheap travel, and often known as the cultural hub of Bali.

Here, you will see beautiful attractions and historical sites like Saraswati Temple, Puri Saren Palace, Pelyatan Royal Palace, and many more. To add more beauty to this destination, beautiful places like Campuhan Ridge Walk, Ubud Kajeng Rice Field Walk, and Teba Sari Agrotourism are there, where you can enjoy the greenery at the same time.

Waterfalls like Tegenungan add to the beauty of this place. However, when it comes to adventure and fun activities, cycling, hiking, trekking, elephant sanctuary visits, bird watching, river tubing, and water rafting are famous. 

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $6 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $3-$5 per person daily. 
• On average, food can cost around $4-$7 for one person per day.

2. YOGYAKARTA

Situated on the island of Java, Yogyakarta is rightfully one of the best and cheapest places to visit in Indonesia. It is known for its cultural heritage, stunning landmarks, and natural attractions.

Attractive landmarks like the Water Castle, Sewu Temple, Ratu Boko Temple, and many more serve as the historical landmarks of that place. For stunning views and natural greenery, Kalibiru National Park is not far away. Here, you can see a beautiful, stunning area, the surface of which is covered with trees. 

Moreover, Gambira Lake Zoo and Reptilia Park are excellent places to watch wildlife. For outdoor activities, cycle tours, bus tours to historical places, water rafting, wildlife watching, and cave exploration are famous. 

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $3 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $2-$5 per person daily. 
• On average, food can cost around $5-$7 for one person per day.

3. KUTA

Kuta is a tourist area in Southern Bali known for its attractive beaches, shopping malls, and stunning landmarks. Here, beaches like Kuta Beach, Kedonagan Beach, and, at some distance, Pandawa Beach are famous for their attractive views of the Indian Ocean while sitting on soft sands. 

Bali Bombing Memorial is among the top tourist destinations and is also known as Ground Zero Memorial. Moreover, if you like turtles, then the Blue Sea Turtle Society is for you, where you will see a lot of turtles.

On the other hand, the Beachwalk shopping center and waterparks like Waterbom Bali add to the beauty of that place. For adventure and fun activities, surfing, night cruises, watersports, and kiteflying are famous.

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $3 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $3-$5 per person daily. 
• On average, food can cost around $4-$7 for one person per day.

4. BROMO TENGGER SEMERU NATIONAL PARK

Bromo National Park is among the most visited and famous national parks in Indonesia. Here, you will see places like Mount Bromo and Mount Semeru, which are active volcanic sites. Even by staying on the ground, you can see the fog of the volcano coming out quite often. 

Apart from this, small mountains are nearby, and the ground surface is covered with green grass, giving this place a stunning view. In some places, it only dusts. Here, you should never miss the views of sunrise and sunset, as this is when the beauty of this place will be at its peak. For adventure activities, hiking, volcano trekking, jeep adventure, and horse riding are famous. 

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $3-5 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $5-$8 per person daily. 
• On average, food can cost around $5-$7 for one person per day.

5. MANADO

Manado is also a city you can consider for cheap travel in Indonesia. The main highlight of this city is Bunaken National Marine Park. In this park, you can do scuba diving and snorkeling to see different species of marine life, animals, and other types of plants near the surface. 

On the shore, you can see the beauty of greenery and stunning views of the water. If you love beaches, you can also visit Malalayang Beach. 

Then you should visit Yesus Memberkati Statue and Soekarno Bridge for sunset. You will also see wildlife in this area at Tangkoko Research Station.

Scuba diving, snorkeling, trekking, and watching wildlife are some famous activities available here.

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $4 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $3-$5 per person daily. 
• On average, food can cost around $4-$7 for one person per day.

6. PENAGANDARAN

Famous for its beaches, greenery, and water adventures, Pangandaran is a go-to place in Indonesia for economical travel. There are beaches like Pangandaran Baech and Pasir Putih Beach, where the crystal clear water and greenery on the side make it attractive for tourists. 

Then Pandagaran National Park is also there, where you can visit to see the Rocky Hills. In between the park, there is a natural pool surrounded by greenery. At the same time, you can visit different caves as well.

Different waterfalls and rivers also contribute to the place’s beauty. For adventure enthusiasts, river rafting, boat tours, surfing, snorkeling, and cave exploration are also available. 

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $7 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $5-$8 per person daily. 
• On average, food can cost around $4-$8 for one person per day.

7. SUMBA

Sumba is an island in Indonesia that is far away from the hustle of cities. Here, you will only see natural wonders and greenery. This island is not only cheap but also famous for its eco-tourism as well.

Here, beaches like Nihiwatu Beach and Walakiri Beach offer a stunning view of the Savu Sea and the Indian Ocean, with a lush green area at the back of the seashore. 

After that, Tanggedu Waterfall and Waimarang Waterfall will catch your attention. Different types of lakes, jungles, and forests are also there, where you can see wildlife.

Regarding activities, hiking, jungle hopping, boating, river rafting, snorkeling and scuba diving, and wildlife watching are famous here.

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $12 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $5-$10 per person daily. 
• On average, food can cost around $5-$8 for one person per day.

8. NUSA PENIDA

Penida Island is situated between Bali and Lombok. This island is a tourist attraction, famous for its beautiful hills and beaches, and it is also cheap to visit as well.

Beaches like Crystal Beach and Pasih Andus (smoky beach) are well known here for their crystal bluish-colored water and hills on the shore, with the hills covered with greenery, giving an incredible and attractive view of the place. 

Giri Putri Cave is also here if you love exploring caves. And when it comes to scenic views, landmarks, and waterfalls, there are many hilly areas where you can not only view the sea but also see different species of animals and birds.

For fun and adventure, scuba diving, snorkeling, boat tours, cave exploration, and wildlife watching are famous among tourists. 

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $5 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $5-$10 per person daily. 
• On average, food can cost around $8-$13 for one person per day.

9. BANDUNG

Bandung is in West Jave and is known for its volcanoes, tea plantation, and architecture; at the same time, this city is cheap for tourists as well. Here, historical places like Gedung State, Villa Isola, and the Bank Indonesia Building attract tourists who love to see ancient buildings and architecture. 

Then, places like the Geology Museum and mosques like Bandung Grand Mosque and Masjid Agung Trans Studio Bandung, which is in an amusement park named Agung Trans Studio Bandung, which is a go-to point for amusement park lovers. 

However, Dasun Bambu Family Leisure Park, Forest Park for wildlife watching, and Keraton Cliff for viewing this beautiful piece of land are well known.

For adventure and fun activities, things like volcano views, hiking, trekking, and walking through the famous streets like Jalan Asia Afrika is loved by tourists. 

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $4 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $5-$10 per person daily.
• On average, food can cost around $10-$15 for one person per day.

10. PULAU WEH

Pulau Weh is an island in Indonesia, away from the hustle of cities, known for being cheap and eco-friendly. Here, beaches like Rubiah Beach and Iboih Beach are where you can see the coastal beauty by sitting on the sand.

On the other side, you will see an entire area covered with plants and trees, making it more attractive for tourists. In this area, you may also see beautiful birds.

Then, Monument 0 km Indonesia, the “I Love Sabang” monument and historical places like the Japan Bunker are famous. For adventure enthusiasts, scuba diving, snorkeling, boat tours, and cruise tours are the most famous among tourists. 

Travel Cost

• Skyscanner and Kayak are among the best websites for finding affordable flight tickets.
• Accommodation costs around $6 per night for one person.
• Local transport can cost around $10-$20 per person daily. 
• On average, food can cost around $5-$15 for one person per day.

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