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How many days in Indonesia? 7 days, Java's temples and Bali
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Indonesia is more than 17,000 islands, so a week means choosing. The most rewarding first trip pairs Java and Bali: two days in Yogyakarta for Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist monument, and the Hindu towers of Prambanan, then a 1 hour 15 minute flight to Bali for five days split between Ubud, a volcano sunrise and the south coast. Give it seven days and resist the urge to add Lombok or Komodo; Bali's traffic eats more time than the map suggests.
Short answer
Five days in Bali alone covers Ubud, the rice terraces, Mount Batur and Uluwatu. Seven days adds Yogyakarta, which shows the older Javanese culture behind Bali's temples and has far fewer visitors.
The 7-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Yogyakarta: the Kraton, Taman Sari and Malioboro
Morning. Arrive at Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA), about 1 hour west of the city by the airport train (about Rp 20,000). Visit the Kraton, the sultan's palace, still a working court, with gamelan or dance performances on most mornings (about Rp 25,000-50,000; closed some afternoons).
Afternoon. Walk 10 minutes to Taman Sari, the 18th-century water castle with bathing pools and an underground mosque, then through the batik workshops of the old quarter.
Evening. Walk Jalan Malioboro, the main street, for street stalls and becak rides, and eat gudeg (young jackfruit stewed in palm sugar and coconut milk) for about Rp 25,000-40,000.
Use Grab or Gojek for cars and motorbike taxis; most rides in town cost Rp 15,000-40,000.
Day 2: Borobudur and Prambanan
Morning. Drive about 1-1.5 hours north-west to Borobudur, built around 800 AD with 72 bell-shaped stupas and some 2,600 relief panels. Foreigners pay about Rp 450,000-500,000 for a ticket that includes the guided climb onto the monument; daily climbing places are limited, so book online.
Afternoon. Rest at your hotel through the heat, then drive about 1.5 hours east to Prambanan (about Rp 400,000 for foreigners), a 9th-century Hindu complex whose central tower to Shiva rises 47 metres.
Evening. From about May to October, watch the Ramayana Ballet on the open-air stage with the temples lit behind (about Rp 150,000-500,000 depending on the seat).
Sunrise viewing of Borobudur is usually from Punthuk Setumbu hill nearby, as the monument itself opens later; leave at 4:00.
Day 3: To Bali: Ubud and the Monkey Forest
Morning. Fly from Yogyakarta to Denpasar (about 1 hour 15 minutes, Rp 700,000-1,500,000). Pay Bali's tourist levy of Rp 150,000 per person online or at the airport, then drive about 1-1.5 hours to Ubud.
Afternoon. Walk the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (about Rp 100,000), a temple forest home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques, then the Ubud Palace and the art market opposite.
Evening. Watch a Legong or Barong dance at the palace or a temple in town (about Rp 100,000), then dinner on Jalan Goutama.
Keep sunglasses, hats and bottles in a closed bag in the Monkey Forest; the macaques grab anything loose.
Day 4: Ubud: rice terraces and water temples
Morning. Be at the Tegallalang rice terraces, 20 minutes north, by 7:30 (about Rp 25,000-50,000, plus small tolls charged by farmers on the paths). Continue to Tirta Empul (about Rp 75,000), where Balinese bathe under 30 holy springs; sarongs are provided.
Afternoon. Visit Gunung Kawi, 11th-century shrines carved into a river cliff, reached by about 300 steps, then return through the coffee and spice plantations.
Evening. Walk the Campuhan Ridge path at sunset, 2 km along a grassy ridge from the west of town, then eat bebek betutu (slow-cooked spiced duck).
The Jatiluwih terraces, a UNESCO-listed subak landscape about 1.5 hours away, are quieter and larger than Tegallalang.
Day 5: Mount Batur sunrise trek
Morning. Get picked up at about 2:00 for the Mount Batur trek (about Rp 500,000-900,000 with guide and breakfast). The 1,717-metre volcano takes about 2 hours to climb in the dark; sunrise lights up Lake Batur and Mount Agung.
Afternoon. Soak in the hot springs at Toya Devasya by the lake, then sleep in the afternoon back in Ubud.
Evening. Take a Balinese cooking class or an easy dinner in Penestanan village above town.
Bring a warm layer: it is often 10-15°C on the summit before dawn. Hiring a local guide is expected on the mountain.
Day 6: Day trip: Nusa Penida
Morning. Drive 45 minutes to Sanur and take a fast boat to Nusa Penida (about 30-45 minutes, Rp 200,000-350,000 each way). Hire a driver on the island (about Rp 600,000-800,000 a day) for Kelingking Beach, the T-Rex shaped headland.
Afternoon. Continue to Broken Beach, a sea arch around a lagoon, and Angel's Billabong rock pool. Snorkel with manta rays at Manta Point on a boat tour if the sea is calm.
Evening. Take the last fast boat back to Sanur and move to the south, to Jimbaran or Uluwatu, for the final night.
The path down to Kelingking beach is steep and dangerous; most visitors stay at the viewpoint. Roads on the island are rough and slow.
Day 7: Uluwatu: cliffs, beaches and the kecak dance
Morning. Swim at Padang Padang or Bingin, small beaches under the limestone cliffs of the Bukit peninsula, or watch surfers at Uluwatu.
Afternoon. Visit Pura Luhur Uluwatu (about Rp 50,000), a sea temple 70 metres above the waves, one of Bali's six directional temples.
Evening. Watch the kecak fire dance at sunset in the temple's amphitheatre (about Rp 150,000), then grilled seafood on the sand at Jimbaran Bay, priced by weight.
The airport is about 40-60 minutes from Uluwatu, more at rush hour; leave plenty of time.
Only have 5 days?
With 5 days, skip Java and spend the days in Bali, from Day 3 to Day 7. You lose Borobudur and Prambanan.
Got extra days?
With 10 days, add the Gili Islands or Lombok (about 1.5-2 hours by fast boat from Bali), or fly to Labuan Bajo for a boat trip to see Komodo dragons. From Yogyakarta, the volcano Mount Bromo in East Java is an overnight trip by train and jeep.
Where to stay in Indonesia
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Yogyakarta Prawirotaman / Ubud homestays | Family guesthouses with breakfast, often with a small pool. | Rp 250,000-500,000 |
| Mid-range | Ubud town edge / Penestanan | Villas over the rice fields, walking distance to the centre. | Rp 700,000-1,500,000 |
| Mid-range | Uluwatu / Jimbaran | Clifftop guesthouses near the beaches, 40 minutes from the airport. | Rp 800,000-1,800,000 |
| Comfort | Ayung River valley resorts / Uluwatu cliff hotels | Infinity pools over the jungle near Ubud, or over the ocean. | Rp 3,000,000-8,000,000 |
Getting around
Fly between Java and Bali (about 1 hour 15 minutes from Yogyakarta to Denpasar). In Yogyakarta, use Grab and Gojek apps; Borobudur and Prambanan are easiest with a hired driver (about Rp 600,000-800,000 for the day). Bali has almost no public transport, so hire a car with driver (about Rp 600,000-900,000 for 10 hours) or ride-hailing; app pick-ups are banned in some tourist spots. Renting a scooter needs an international licence with the motorbike category. Fast boats link Sanur with Nusa Penida.
What to eat in Indonesia
Javanese food is sweet; Balinese food is spicy and often based on pork. In Yogyakarta, eat gudeg, ayam goreng (fried chicken) and bakmi Jawa noodles cooked over charcoal. In Bali, try babi guling (spit-roast suckling pig, about Rp 50,000-70,000 a plate), nasi campur (rice with small portions of many dishes), sate lilit (minced fish satay on lemongrass) and lawar salad. A warung meal costs Rp 25,000-60,000; a restaurant meal in Ubud or Uluwatu Rp 150,000-350,000. Drink bottled water only.
Best time to visit
The dry season, roughly April to October, is best, with highs of 30-32°C and lower humidity; July, August and late December are the busiest and priciest in Bali. The wet season, November to March, brings heavy afternoon storms, rougher boat crossings and greener rice fields. On Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence in March, the whole island, including the airport, shuts down for 24 hours.
Month-by-month weather for Indonesia →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | Rp 200,000 | Rp 550,000 | Rp 2,000,000 |
| Food & drink | Rp 150,000 | Rp 350,000 | Rp 800,000 |
| Sights & tickets | Rp 150,000 | Rp 300,000 | Rp 600,000 |
| Local transport | Rp 100,000 | Rp 300,000 | Rp 600,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about Rp 600,000 | about Rp 1,500,000 | about Rp 4,000,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Indonesian rupiah (Rp); Bali charges a one-time tourist levy of Rp 150,000 per person on arrival, and hotels add up to 21% tax and service.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need a visa for Indonesia?
Most nationalities need a visa on arrival, about Rp 500,000 for 30 days, extendable once. Buy it in advance as an e-VOA on the official Indonesian immigration website to skip the queue at the airport. Your passport needs six months' validity and a blank page. Some ASEAN nationals enter visa-free. Fill in the electronic customs and arrival form before landing.
Is it worth going to Java as well as Bali?
Yes, if you are interested in history and culture. Borobudur and Prambanan are among the greatest monuments in Asia, and Yogyakarta is a living royal city with batik, gamelan and street food. It adds only one short flight and two days. If you only want beaches, villas and surf, five days in Bali alone works fine.
How do I dress for Balinese temples?
Wear a sarong and a sash around the waist, and cover your shoulders. Most major temples lend or rent sarongs at the entrance for a small donation. Women who are menstruating are traditionally asked not to enter temples. Do not climb on shrines or stand higher than a priest, and step around offerings placed on the ground.
Is Bali traffic really that bad?
Yes, in the south and around Ubud. The 30 km from the airport to Ubud can take 1.5-2 hours, and Canggu, Seminyak and Uluwatu all jam at evening rush hour. Plan one area per day, start early, and use a driver who knows the back roads. Motorbike taxis on Gojek or Grab are the fastest way to cover short distances.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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