As a Muslim majority country, there is always a mosque nearby in every part of Indonesia that alerts the people with the call to prayer during the five prayer times. Prayer times all over the country differ due to the different time zones. The earliest prayer time is at 4 - 5 a.m at sunrise, continued to another around noon, the next would be 3 pm in the evening, then 6 pm at dusk and finally 7 pm at night.
The official currency of Indonesia is Rupiah which is Issued and controlled by the Bank of Indonesia. The currency code for Rupiahs is IDR, and the currency symbol is Rp. By law, all transactions are required to be conducted in rupiah, and information on the daily exchange rate can be found in newspapers or from the internet and online apps.
Indonesian banknotes come in denominations of IDR 1.000, IDR 2.000, IDR 5.000, IDR 10.000, IDR 20.000, IDR 50.000, and IDR 100.000. Coins in circulation include IDR 1.000, IDR 500, IDR 200, IDR 100, and IDR 50.
Visa and MasterCard are accepted in most major shopping centers, restaurants and hotels. Cards such as JCB (Japan Credit Bureau) is acceptable in Indonesia because it is affiliated with some of Indonesia’s major well-known bank such as BNI (Bank Negara Indonesia), CIMB Niaga, Mandiri, BRI (Bank Rakyat Indonesia). While American Express (Amex) is also acceptable however Amex has fewer affiliated local banks in Indonesia. Bank Danamon is currently one of the local banks affiliated with Amex.
Tipping is appreciated but not required. It’s up to you based on service quality. For restaurants bills, usually include a 10% service fee, any extra is optional but welcome.
This is a suggestion; please tip at your discretion based on service quality.
Major trauma and serious illness ordinarily require medical evacuation to a center of medical excellence, which requires stabilization locally in Bali and often delayed (30hrs+) evacuation.
If you should fall ill or have an injury during the period of your TR of that does not allow you to leave on your scheduled itinerary, please contact
Joanne Chia jchia@worldbank.org who will monitor your progress and provide the approval to extend your TR.
- Police/General Emergencies: 110 or 112 (From Satellite and Mobile Phones)
- Ambulance and Medical Emergencies: 118 or 119
- Firefighter: 113
- Search and Rescue (BASARNAS): 115
- Natural Disaster Assistance: 129
- International Phone Number Information: 102
- Local Phone Number Information: 108
- Domestic Call Operator: 100 and 106
- International Call Operators: 101 and 107
- Bureau of Public Communication of the Ministry of Tourism: +62 21 3838899
Bali is located on the 'Ring of Fire' and as such, can experience seismic and volcanic activity. While serious seismic events are rare; they remain a possibility. In the event of an incident, follow the instructions of hotel staff and security forces.
Several arrests in West Java province in late 2024 indicate that terrorism remains a threat throughout Indonesia. However, Indonesia's counterterrorism/counter-radicalization capabilities are well developed, and the overall threat of terrorism has reduced since the early to mid-2000s, when bars and places of worship were notably targeted by Islamist militants. Staff are advised to maintain heightened awareness around tourist hotspots.
Criminal activity in Bali is commensurate with other mass tourism sites around the world, and staff are advised to be mindful of petty crime such as pick pocketing and scams, particularly in busy tourist and nightlife areas. Civil unrest and political protests are much less frequent in Bali than in the rest of Indonesia.
While the dry season is expected to transition in early February, staff are advised to follow all security and safety protocols in place at the hotel/ resort, particularly concerning swimming in open waters at the resort area, which may not be allowed due to the weather conditions.
Traffic in Bali can be notoriously heavy during peak times, and staff are encouraged to ensure they have enough time to get to the airport for outbound flights.
An Indonesian visa is required for travel to Bali. Please confirm you meet the requirements for travel to Indonesia on your national passport and your UNLP and check the related visa recommendations as noted in the section above.
- Light, breathable fabrics for warm daytime weather.
- Comfortable shoes for walking and light activities.
- Modest attire if you plan to visit temples or cultural sites.
- Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses.
- A reusable water bottle to stay hydrated (tap water is not drinkable).
- Swimwear for enjoying the hotel’s pools or nearby beaches.
- Universal power adapter (Indonesia uses Type C & Type F plugs at 220V).
- Fully charged mobile phone and/or power bank.
- A lightweight rain jacket or umbrella for occasional rain showers.
- Any necessary prescription medications.
The standard voltage throughout Indonesia is normally 230 V and with a standard frequency of 50 Hz. If you’re from the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia or Africa, most of your phones, laptops and other gadgets could be charged like normal. However, if you come from countries like the United States, Canada, and most South American countries, the range of voltage differs here in Indonesia.
Charging it like normal is possible, but only for a short time and with a few risks. So you should consider buying a voltage converter instead, which is also available on Amazon or electrical stores in Indonesia.
Most power plugs and sockets in Indonesia are type C and F. This plug is the 2 pin socket and plug design which is the standard European plug.
If you’re coming from a country that does not use this type of sockets, you should buy an adapter. Amazon sells plenty, but you can also find them in many local minimarkets around Indonesia.
