Best time to go to Indonesia for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to Indonesia?
The best time to visit Indonesia is from May to October, during the dry season. The weather conditions are then ideal to fully enjoy the trip. Expect clear blue skies, perfect water and air temperatures, and very rare precipitation. Note that showers are still possible, but they usually don't last long and occur in the late afternoon or at night.
When to visit Indonesia? The downside of these perfect weather conditions is that the archipelago is crowded during the school holidays in July and August. The influx comes primarily from Indonesians visiting the islands, but also from many foreign travelers from Europe, the Persian Gulf countries, and Australia.
This mass tourism is particularly noticeable on Bali, where even short trips can become a real challenge. If you want to avoid the crowds, prefer the transition months (May, June, and September), which are quieter and allow you to visit the must-see places in relative peace.
For diving in Papua and the Moluccas, note that the seasons are different from the rest of Indonesia. The best conditions are between September and December, and then in March and April. During these periods, the weather is dry, rainfall is scarce, and the bright days provide good underwater visibility.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Bali
Denpasar, Ubud, Amed...
Borneo (Kalimantan)
Pontianak (Borneo), Samarinda, Palangkaraya...
Indonesian Papua
Jayapura, Raja Ampat Islands, Merauke...
Java
Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya...
Lesser Sunda Islands
Sumba (Waingapu), Flores, Komodo island...
Lombok
Mataram, Gili Air, Selong Blanak...
Maluku Islands
Ambon, Banda Islands, Ternate...
Sulawesi
Makassar, Manado, Kendari...
Sumatra
Medan, Palembang, Padang City...
Sumbawa
Sumbawa Besar, Bima, Taliwang...
West Timor
Kupang, Atambua, Kefamenanu...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Indonesia for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Indonesia in january Indonesia in february Indonesia in march Indonesia in april Indonesia in may Indonesia in june Indonesia in july Indonesia in august Indonesia in september Indonesia in october Indonesia in november Indonesia in december
Best time to travel to Indonesia by cities
Climate and Weather in Indonesia
Indonesia's climate is tropical, as the country is crossed by the equator. As a result, it experiences little temperature variation throughout the year, and the temperatures are rather pleasant and easy to bear, without scorching heat. Like all tropical regions, the weather in Indonesia has two seasons governed by monsoons: the dry season and the rainy season.
Nevertheless, the country is vast and the climate experiences some variations:
- An equatorial climate characterized by very heavy rainfall, even during the dry season.
- A humid and dry tropical climate found in the southern part of the archipelago, which has a typical savanna weather pattern with dry winters. However, this climate can also be reversed, for example in northern East Timor, where summers are particularly dry.
- A humid tropical climate with pronounced monsoons.
Climate of the main islands of Indonesia
If you are planning a trip to Indonesia, chances are you will prioritize visiting the main islands of the archipelago. Indeed, this is where the major tourist attractions are concentrated. To admire these wonders and make the most of the magnificent natural settings, here is what to expect during your stay:
Climate in Bali and Lombok
These two neighboring islands are the most popular among tourists and for good reason, they are beautiful! In terms of climate, the most favorable months generally range from May to October. In Bali, the good season is even a bit longer as April and November are very pleasant and perfect periods to have good weather and fewer crowds than in summer.
They experience a humid and dry tropical climate depending on the season:
- During the dry season, the sun shines bright and the temperatures are pleasant. It can get hot in the middle of the day, but it is never unbearable. In the late afternoon, it is not uncommon for a shower to occur, but it is short-lived. July is the coolest and driest month.
- During the rainy season, it rains almost every day and if not, the sky remains gray. January is the rainiest month, especially in the north of Bali where the showers are twice as heavy as in the south of the island.
Climate in Java
The island of Java is best visited between May and October. Stretched from east to west, it alone experiences three types of climates:
- In Jakarta, to the west, there is an equatorial climate, characterized by abundant rainfall and constant temperatures throughout the year. Even in the dry season, it rains a lot, so it is advisable to bring waterproof clothing in your luggage, especially if you plan to go hiking.
- Towards Surabaya, in the east of the island, the climate is humid and dry tropical. Thus, the seasons are more pronounced and the weather is very pleasant in summer.
- On the Karimunjawa Islands, located in the center of Java not far from the north coast, the climate is humid tropical. The monsoon period, between November and April, is very rainy and maritime connections are often canceled. During the dry season, the weather is great, despite a high humidity level.
Climate in Borneo, Sumatra, and Sulawesi
In these regions located in the northern part of the Indonesian archipelago, the climate is mainly equatorial. In the Makassar Peninsula, south of Sulawesi, it tends towards a "humid tropical" type, with more significant downpours. Here are the best times to visit these islands:
- In Borneo, the most favorable season is between June and September.
- In Sumatra, only the month of July is suitable, as the others are very rainy.
- In Sulawesi, the good season is slightly shifted, ranging from August to October.
Climate of the other islands of Indonesia
In the small islands of the Indonesian archipelago, the climate is mostly "humid and dry tropical", with some nuances:
- In the Moluccas, the most favorable months are September and October. Located at the easternmost part of Indonesia, they have an equatorial climate, except towards the Barat Daya islands, which are less rainy.
- In Papua, the months of January and February add to the summer dry season. As for the inter-seasons, they are characterized by a more equatorial climate with heavy rains.
- The Lesser Sunda Islands are close to Australia and rain is much less present than elsewhere. Thus, the most pleasant months range from April to November.
- In Sumba and Timor, rain is almost non-existent. In these regions, where temperatures remain pleasant, the dry season is particularly marked, extending from May to November.
Temperatures and rainfall in Indonesia
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Indonesia and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Denpasar, Jakarta, Medan, Mataram and Pontianak (Borneo), as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Indonesia
Find out when Indonesia has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Indonesia
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, June, October and November. The number of visitors to Indonesia is high in: July, August, September and December.
- Very low season in Indonesia: January, February, March, April and May.
- Low season in Indonesia: June, October and November.
- High season in Indonesia: July, September and December.
- Peak season in Indonesia: August.
Figure: Visitor index for Indonesia month by month
Average price for flights to Indonesia
A return flight between Melbourne and Bali is generally cheaper if you go in february ($ 349 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 265 more for your airline ticket to Bali if you go in july.
Where to go in Indonesia?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Denpasar | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Jakarta | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F |
| Medan | 90°F | 92°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 92°F | 90°F | 90°F |
| Mataram | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Pontianak (Borneo) | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 88°F |
| Makassar | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 88°F |
| Jayapura | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F |
| Ambon | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F |
| Kupang | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 88°F | 86°F |
| Sumbawa Besar | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 88°F | 92°F | 94°F | 92°F | 90°F |
| Amed | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Ubud | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 81°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F |
| Bandung | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 86°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Surabaya | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 92°F | 94°F | 92°F | 90°F |
| Palembang | 90°F | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 94°F | 95°F | 95°F | 92°F | 90°F |
| Gili Air | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F |
| Samarinda | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 92°F | 94°F | 92°F | 90°F |
| Manado | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F |
| Raja Ampat Islands | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F |
| Banda Islands | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Indonesia
What can I do in Indonesia?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Indonesia reliable?
Climate data for Indonesia has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Indonesia allows us to determine the average for each month in Denpasar, Jakarta, Medan, Mataram, Pontianak (Borneo), Makassar, Jayapura, Ambon, and 281 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.