🇮🇩 Travel Indonesian

Travel Indonesian — Essential Phrases for Indonesia and Bali

Indonesia is Australia's most-visited international destination after New Zealand and the Pacific islands, and Bali alone welcomes over one million Australian visitors every year. Despite this, the overwhelming majority of Australians who visit Indonesia speak no Indonesian at all — relying entirely on English in tourist areas, missing out on the authentic Indonesia that exists just beyond the resort fence. This guide gives you the language to go further: to eat where locals eat, to negotiate respectfully, to ask directions and understand answers, to connect with Indonesian people in a way that English simply cannot achieve.

Indonesian people respond to any foreign effort to speak their language with extraordinary warmth. The phrase "Saya belajar bahasa Indonesia" (I'm learning Indonesian) said with a smile to an Indonesian person will almost always produce immediate encouragement, delight, and often a desire to help you practice. In a country where most foreigners make no effort to learn the language at all, even basic Indonesian marks you as a respectful, engaged visitor — and opens doors that money alone cannot.

Survival Phrases: Start Here

The Most Important Words

Terima kasih (Terima kasih) — Thank you. The most essential phrase in Indonesia. Use it constantly and genuinely — Indonesians appreciate expressed gratitude. The response is "Sama-sama" (You're welcome) or "Terima kasih kembali."

Maaf (Maaf) — Sorry / I apologise. Use to get someone's attention, apologise for inconvenience, or excuse yourself through a crowd. "Permisi" (Excuse me) is the more neutral version for getting attention.

Tolong (Tolong) — Please (when asking for help or a service). "Tolong bantu saya" (Please help me). Used at the beginning of requests.

Tidak apa-apa (Tidak apa-apa) — It's okay / Never mind / No problem. Enormously useful for reassuring people or declining things graciously.

Saya tidak mengerti (Saya tidak mengerti) — I don't understand. "Bisa lebih pelan?" (Can you speak more slowly?) follows naturally.

Greetings and Introductions

Selamat pagi — Good morning / Selamat siang — Good midday / Selamat sore — Good afternoon / Selamat malam — Good evening
Apa kabar? — How are you? / Kabar baik, terima kasih — I'm well, thank you
Nama saya 〜 — My name is 〜
Siapa nama Anda/kamu? — What is your name? (formal/casual)
Saya dari Australia — I'm from Australia
Senang bertemu dengan Anda — Nice to meet you
Saya belajar bahasa Indonesia — I'm learning Indonesian (expect delighted responses)
Sampai jumpa — See you again / Selamat tinggal — Goodbye (said by person leaving)

Getting Around Indonesia

Transport and Directions

Indonesia's transport options range from modern ride-hailing apps (Gojek and Grab are dominant across Indonesian cities and Bali) to traditional bemos and angkot (shared minibuses), becak (bicycle rickshaws), and ojek (motorcycle taxis). In Bali, most tourists hire a driver for the day — an excellent and affordable option that benefits greatly from Indonesian language interaction.

Di mana 〜? — Where is 〜? / Di mana toilet? — Where is the bathroom?
Tolong antar saya ke 〜 — Please take me to 〜
Berapa jauh ke 〜? — How far is it to 〜?
Berapa lama? — How long (does it take)?
Belok kiri — Turn left / Belok kanan — Turn right / Lurus — Straight ahead
Di sini — Here / Di sana — There / Di mana-mana — Everywhere
Berhenti di sini — Stop here
Saya mau ke 〜 — I want to go to 〜
Ada taksi? — Is there a taxi? / Bisa pakai Gojek? — Can I use Gojek?

At Airports and Bus Terminals

Saya mau ke Jakarta/Bali/Yogyakarta — I want to go to 〜
Tiket ke 〜, satu/dua orang — Ticket to 〜, one/two people
Jam berapa berangkat? — What time does it depart?
Jam berapa tiba? — What time does it arrive?
Di mana gate keberangkatan? — Where is the departure gate?
Koper saya hilang — My luggage is missing

Restaurants, Warungs, and Food Markets

Indonesian food is extraordinary — one of the world's great cuisines, with enormous regional diversity. Knowing food vocabulary and restaurant phrases opens the full spectrum of eating options, from Michelin-recognised fine dining to the legendary warung (family-owned food stalls) where the most authentic and often most delicious food is found.

Ordering Food

Meja untuk 〜 orang — A table for 〜 people
Menu-nya ada? / Bisa lihat menunya? — Can I see the menu?
Saya mau pesan 〜 — I would like to order 〜
Ini apa? — What is this? (pointing at menu or dish)
Ada rekomendasi? — Do you have a recommendation?
Pedas tidak? — Is it spicy? / Jangan terlalu pedas — Not too spicy, please
Satu porsi nasi goreng — One serving of fried rice
Tambah nasi? — More rice? (common question at Indonesian restaurants)
Minta air putih — I'd like plain water
Tidak pakai daging — Without meat
Enak sekali! — It's very delicious!

Dietary Requirements

Saya tidak makan daging — I don't eat meat
Saya vegetarian — I am vegetarian
Tidak pakai babi — Without pork (also useful when confirming halal food)
Saya alergi 〜 — I am allergic to 〜
Apakah ada 〜? — Is there 〜?
Note: Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation. Outside Bali and parts of eastern Indonesia, pork is generally unavailable. In Bali, which is predominantly Hindu, pork is a staple — babi guling (spit-roasted pig) is Bali's most famous dish. Be aware of the local context when discussing dietary preferences.

Paying

Minta bon / Minta nota — The bill, please
Bayar di sini atau di kasir? — Do I pay here or at the cashier?
Bisa pakai kartu kredit? — Can I pay by credit card?
Ada kembalian? — Do you have change?
Harga sudah termasuk pajak? — Is tax included in the price?

Shopping and Bargaining

Bargaining is expected and enjoyed at Indonesian markets, art shops, and street vendors — though not at supermarkets, malls, or fixed-price establishments. Approaching bargaining with good humour and respect makes it a genuinely enjoyable cultural interaction rather than a confrontation.

Berapa harganya? — How much is it?
Terlalu mahal — Too expensive
Bisa lebih murah? — Can it be cheaper?
Harga pas? — Is this the fixed price? (asking if bargaining is appropriate)
Saya mau beli ini — I want to buy this
Saya hanya lihat-lihat — I'm just looking
Bisa kurangi harganya? — Can you reduce the price?
Setuju — Agreed / Deal
Ada ukuran lain? — Do you have another size?
Ada warna lain? — Do you have another colour?

Accommodation

Saya sudah pesan kamar — I have a room reservation
Nama saya 〜 — My name is 〜 (for check-in)
Kapan check-out? — When is check-out?
Kamar saya belum dibersihkan — My room hasn't been cleaned
AC-nya tidak berfungsi — The air conditioning isn't working
Ada kolam renang? — Is there a swimming pool?
Bisa minta handuk tambahan? — Can I get extra towels?
Saya mau perpanjang satu malam — I want to extend one more night
Password Wi-Fi-nya apa? — What's the Wi-Fi password?

Health and Emergencies

Tolong! — Help! / Panggil polisi! — Call the police! / Panggil ambulans! — Call an ambulance!
Saya sakit — I'm sick / Saya terluka — I'm injured
Di mana rumah sakit terdekat? — Where is the nearest hospital?
Di mana apotek? — Where is the pharmacy?
Saya butuh dokter — I need a doctor
Saya alergi terhadap 〜 — I am allergic to 〜
Obat untuk 〜 — Medicine for 〜 (e.g., obat untuk sakit kepala — medicine for headache)
Paspor saya hilang — My passport is lost
Saya butuh pergi ke KBRI Australia — I need to go to the Australian Embassy

Cultural Etiquette for Australian Travellers in Indonesia

Religion: Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation. Modest dress is appreciated in non-beach areas. Remove shoes before entering mosques and many homes. Be respectful during prayer times (five times daily; Friday midday prayer is particularly significant).

Bali specifically: Bali is predominantly Hindu. Dress modestly when visiting temples — most require a sarung (sarong) and selendang (sash), which are available for hire or purchase at temple entrances. Canang sari (flower offerings) placed on the ground are sacred — step around them, never on them.

Left hand: The left hand is considered unclean in Indonesian (and broader Muslim) culture. Use your right hand for eating, giving and receiving things, and pointing.

Showing respect: Address older people or authority figures as Bapak (Mr/Sir) or Ibu (Mrs/Ma'am) — using someone's professional title plus name (Bapak Andi, Ibu Sari) is the most respectful form of address.

Smiling and patience: Indonesia operates on a more relaxed time concept than Australia. Patience, warmth, and a ready smile will serve you enormously better than impatience and directness. The concept of "jam karet" (rubber time) reflects the genuine cultural difference in time expectations.

Island-by-Island Travel: Indonesian Beyond Bali

Most Australian visitors to Indonesia experience only Bali, but Indonesian language knowledge opens the entire archipelago. Each major island region has its own character, and knowing Indonesian allows you to navigate authentically across all of them. Java, home to Jakarta (the capital, being moved to Nusantara in East Kalimantan), Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and the Borobudur and Prambanan temple complexes, is Indonesia's cultural and political heartland. Lombok, Bali's quieter eastern neighbour, offers world-class surfing, the Gili Islands, and Mount Rinjani trekking. Sulawesi offers Toraja funeral culture (among the most extraordinary cultural experiences in Southeast Asia), the marine paradise of Bunaken, and the floating villages of the Bajau sea nomads. Komodo Island is home to the Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard, in a national park of extraordinary beauty. Flores offers traditional villages, coloured crater lakes at Kelimutu, and access to Komodo. Sumatra has orangutan conservation areas, the Minangkabau matrilineal culture, Lake Toba (the world's largest volcanic lake), and the extraordinary biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park. Papua offers cultural encounters with indigenous Papuan communities and some of the world's most biodiverse wilderness. In all of these destinations, Indonesian is the key — not just a convenience but a genuine passport to authentic experience far beyond what English-only visitors can access.

Practical Technology for Indonesian Travel

Several apps make Indonesian travel significantly smoother and pair well with your language study. Gojek (available for iOS and Android) is Indonesia's dominant super-app — it handles ride-hailing (ojek and taxi), food delivery (GoFood), payments (GoPay), and dozens of other services. Setting up Gojek before or immediately after arrival is essential for any Indonesian city travel. Grab operates similarly across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Google Maps works well in major Indonesian cities and tourist areas, though Waze is also popular locally. For translation, Google Translate handles Indonesian competently (Indonesian is one of the better-supported languages), though your own language knowledge is always more reliable in nuanced situations. Tokopedia and Shopee are Indonesia's dominant e-commerce platforms — useful if you want to shop for Indonesian products online while in-country. For money, BCA and Mandiri ATMs reliably accept foreign cards; GoPay and OVO (Indonesian e-wallets) are increasingly accepted at restaurants and shops, though requiring a local phone number to set up. Knowing how to ask about payment methods — "Bisa pakai kartu?" (Can I use a card?) and "Ada GoPay?" (Do you have GoPay?) — reflects contemporary Indonesian payment culture.

Indonesian at Australian Indonesian Restaurants

One of the most immediately practical uses of Indonesian for Australians who aren't yet planning a trip to Indonesia is at the many Indonesian restaurants across Australian cities. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide all have Indonesian restaurants — from upmarket contemporary Indonesian cuisine to authentic warung-style family cooking. Ordering in Indonesian at these restaurants, asking staff about dish origins, and engaging in simple Indonesian conversation provides immediate, low-stakes speaking practice in a welcoming environment. Indonesian restaurant staff are almost universally delighted when customers speak Indonesian and will happily correct your mistakes, recommend dishes, and discuss the food's regional origins. This immediate practical application is one of the motivational advantages of learning Indonesian in Australia — your study starts paying experiential dividends before you ever board a plane to Bali.

Weather, Nature, and Adventure Vocabulary

Indonesia's extraordinary natural environment — from volcanic mountains to coral reefs to tropical rainforests — is a major draw for Australian travellers, and nature and adventure vocabulary enriches outdoor experiences enormously. Gunung berapi — volcano. Pantai — beach. Laut — sea. Terumbu karang — coral reef. Hutan — forest/jungle. Air terjun — waterfall. Danau — lake. Sungai — river. Cuaca — weather. Hujan — rain. Panas — hot. Angin — wind. Ombak — wave. Arus — current (water). Mendaki — to hike/climb. Snorkeling — snorkeling (same word). Menyelam — to dive. Ikan — fish. Lumba-lumba — dolphin. Penyu — sea turtle. Ubur-ubur — jellyfish. Ular — snake. Monyet — monkey. Orangutan — orangutan. Safety phrases for outdoor activities: Hati-hati — Be careful. Bahaya — Danger. Dilarang masuk — No entry. Jangan sentuh — Don't touch. Apakah aman? — Is it safe? Ada pemandu? — Is there a guide? Knowing these words prepares you for the surfing lessons in Kuta, the volcano hike on Mount Batur or Rinjani, the snorkelling in the Gilis, and the jungle trekking in Sumatra that make Indonesian travel so extraordinary for nature-loving Australians.