Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All Indonesia

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Indonesia

67 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Indonesia

Updated November 8, 2023

Email

Cities

Top Cities
The abandoned plane.
Kuta Selatan
The fantastic "gateway to heaven."
Abang
Rantepao
Maitara Island and Tidore Island seen from Ternate.
Ternate
Ghost Palace Hotel as seen from the main entrance
Baturiti
(Flickr/trugiaz)
Yogyakarta
All Cities
  1. Abang
  2. Baturiti
  3. Kuta Selatan
  4. Magelang
  5. Rantepao
  6. Ternate
  7. Yogyakarta
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in Indonesia

Ghost Palace Hotel as seen from the main entrance

Baturiti, Indonesia

Ghost Palace Hotel

An abandoned hotel in the highlands of Bali is shrouded in stories of ghosts, curses, and corruption.
Pura Tanah Lot

Kediri, Indonesia

Tanah Lot

Isolated atop this Balinese sea crag is a lovely Hindu temple that is said to be guarded by sea snakes.
View of the Pura Dalem temple

Ubud, Indonesia

Sacred Monkey Forest (Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana)

Hindu temple of the dead home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques.
The fantastic "gateway to heaven."

Abang, Indonesia

Pura Lempuyang Luhur

Bali's remote "gateway to heaven" is one of the most sacred places on the island.
Gereja Ayam

Magelang, Indonesia

Gereja Ayam

This massive chapel in the middle of the Indonesian forest is both haunting and fowl.
Taman Festival Bali.

Denpasar Timur, Indonesia

Taman Festival

A haunting theme park is slowly being swallowed by the jungle.
Goa Gajah

Sukawati, Indonesia

Goa Gajah

The name of this ancient Indonesian temple translates as "Elephant Cave" but it could be more accurately called "The Hellmouth."
Komodo Island

East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Komodo National Park

A sprawling nature preserve harbors the world's only living dragons.
See All 67 Things To Do in Indonesia

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Indonesia

The hardworking cow.

Srandakan, Indonesia

Mie Lethek Garuda

In this rare traditional factory, three generations of know-how, several strong cows, and a one-ton mortar come together to make Yogyakarta's famous "ugly noodles."
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Indonesia

Geology 11
Temples 11
Volcanoes 8
Ecosystems 7
Hinduism 6
Art 6
Nature 5
Caves 5
Animals 5
Abandoned 5
Architectural Oddities 5
Sacred Spaces 5

Indonesia Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for Max Cortesi
    Max Cortesi
    4
  2. Avatar image for Tony Dunnell
    Tony Dunnell
    4
  3. Avatar image for siewch
    siewch
    3
  4. Avatar image for Annetta Black
    Annetta Black
    3
  5. Avatar image for atimian
    atimian
    2
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Indonesia.

Places Edited

  1. M
    Martin
    12
  2. Avatar image for MarkTimeTravel
    MarkTimeTravel
    11
  3. Avatar image for Annetta Black
    Annetta Black
    8
  4. C
    crimsonchoir
    7
  5. A
    aribrown
    6

Places Visited

  1. Avatar image for apriaep
    apriaep
    41
  2. A
    aptabali
    36
  3. D
    d4recki
    22
  4. G
    galdichul
    20
  5. E
    empee
    20

Recent Indonesia Activity

  • D

    dion1vandaal

    wants to go to Borobudur

  • D

    dion1vandaal

    wants to go to Liang Bua Cave

  • D

    dion1vandaal

    wants to go to Prambanan

  • D

    dion1vandaal

    wants to go to Gunung Padang

  • C

    carmenlage

    wants to go to Luhur Uluwatu Temple

Stories About Indonesia

New research says humans began sculpting a small hill into a larger pyramid around 6,000 BC, and then building layers of sand and rocks on top of that.

Is the World's Oldest Pyramid Not in Egypt or the Americas, But in Indonesia?

Perhaps it’s not just an oddly shaped hill, after all.
by Jennifer Billock
November 8, 2023
The city of Pontianak was named after a ghost.

The Time a Town Was in an Uproar Over a 300-Foot Ghost Statue

Cast your votes on the “nightmare Statue of Liberty.”
by Natalie Lawrence
October 13, 2023
An adult male orangutan contemplates his next move in haze produced by Indonesia’s 2015 wildfires.

Wildfire Smoke Changes Orangutan Calls in Borneo

During massive fires in Indonesia, the critically endangered primates' voices provided clues to their overall health.
by Wendy Erb
July 3, 2023
A 1902 illustration of battling dryptosaurs.

Wonder Is Everywhere: Lost Dinosaurs, 5,000-Year-Old Leftovers, and More From Around the Web

Get a peek into what we’re obsessed with right now.
by April White
February 15, 2023
A man makes a traditional dragon heads for the Lunar New Year celebration in Bogor, Indonesia.

5 Colorful Stories About the Pageantry of the Lunar New Year

Go behind the scenes of celebration, from molten metal to sticky cakes.
by April White
January 24, 2023

What Caused This Massive Mud Volcano Eruption in Indonesia?

For more than a decade, hot mud has oozed across thousands of acres, displacing entire villages.
by Michael Hudec
January 23, 2023
The carnivorous plant Nepenthes lowii, found only in Borneo, is able to thrive in a harsh, high-elevation ecosystem because it has adapted to eat animal droppings.

These Toilet-Shaped Carnivorous Plants Thrive By Eating Poop

Some of Borneo's pitcher plants took insects off the menu in favor of mammal droppings. It's an evolutionary triumph.
by Gemma Tarlach
January 20, 2023
An aling-aling is a half-wall opposite a gate that can keep spirits at bay.

How Homes in Bali Are Designed for Harmony—and to Keep Demons at Bay

All the subtle ways traditional dwellings offer spiritual security.
by Ronan O'Connell
October 6, 2022

Lists Featuring Indonesia

Red Seabeach
The otherworldly landscape of Padar Island.
Black Sand Beach

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World

From bright red grass to stranded shipwrecks, these beaches are anything but ordinary.

10

Including Driftwood Beach, Red Beach , and Padar Island

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Trips Blog
  • Art & Culture Trips
  • Food Trips
  • Hidden City Trips
  • History Trips
  • Wildlife & Nature Trips
  • FAQ
  • Experiences
  • Online Courses
  • Online Experience FAQ
  • Online Course FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2023 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.