The 10 most beautiful beaches in Indonesia

Indonesia impresses with its fantastic beaches and its rich culture – we have found the 10 most beautiful destinations for a beach holiday in Indonesia for you!

It doesn’t matter whether you just want to lie in the warm, soft sand, sunbathe and relax during your beach holiday in Indonesia, dive into the roaring waves to swim, snorkel or surf, or plan to combine the bathing and beach fun with exciting excursions with the cultural sights of the country – you will definitely not be disappointed in Indonesia! We introduce you to the 10 most beautiful beaches of the dreamlike island kingdom in detail!

1. Kuta Beach, Bali

One of the most beautiful and therefore rightly popular beaches in Indonesia makes a start: Kuta Beach on the island of Bali. Kuta is located in the south-west of the island and inspires with a whole range of experiences: On the one hand you can visit the Bali Sea Turtle Society and learn more about the peaceful sea creatures or even be there yourself when baby turtles are brought up in the be released into the wilderness. Meanwhile, the soft sands of Kuta Beach are perfect for sunbathing all year round, and the waves are roaring here all year round, inviting surfers ranging from novice to pro to hit the waves. In the evening there is still a very special highlight to marvel at: the fantastic sunset over the sea. And if all that is still not enough for you, you can also go on excursions from Kuta Beach, for example to the sights of Denpasar or to the idyllic fishing village of Jimbaran a few kilometers south, where freshly caught culinary delicacies await you.

2. Tanjung Aan Beach, Lombok

We continue to the neighboring island of Bali in the east: Lombok – and here you will also find a fantastic beach called Kuta. But we are now going to its eastern neighboring beach, the paradisiacal Tanjung Aan Beach. It is not without reason that Tanjung Aan Beach or Pantai Tanjung Aan is considered the most beautiful beach on the island of Lombok: divided into two bays, a beach landscape awaits you here that could hardly be more beautiful: white sand for pure relaxation, turquoise-blue water with gentle waves washing to shore, and green rolling hills in the background. You can rent boats or buy small refreshments in small huts along the wonderfully quiet beach, called Warung, and if you stay until the evening, you should definitely stop by the nearby Bukit Merese and enjoy the fantastic views of the sea and the sunset over there enjoy the waves.

3. Gili Islands

Located off the west coast of Lombok, and thus between Bali and Lombok, there is a small group of islands that should not be missing from our list of the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia: the Gili Islands. The group consists of a total of three small islands: Gili Trawangan (or simply Gili T), Gili Air and Gili Meno, all of which exude their own charm.
The largest and most famous of the Gili Islands is Gili T, which is known for its exuberant party atmosphere, roaring waves for surfing, but also some fantastic diving spots, for example off Mentigi Beach, where you can dive down to an atmospheric shipwreck . All around the island you will also encounter sea turtles and other cute inhabitants of the underwater world.
Gili Air, on the other hand, is a little quieter – the second island of the Gili Islands is best known for its beautiful beaches. So if you are primarily looking for pure beach idyll – white sand, turquoise blue water, delicious cocktails and fantastic views over the waves included – you have come to the right place. For a change, you can also go on bike tours or walks across the island during the day and local musicians play in the evenings.

Finally, you will find peace without end on the last of the Gili Islands, Gili Meno. Gili Meno can be reached primarily by private boat and is therefore the least populated of the three islands. Here you can relax in idyllic solitude, snorkel, practice yoga or simply daydream.

4. Ancol Beach, Java

If you want to combine beach adventures with sightseeing in the city during your Indonesia vacation, you should go to Ancol Beach in Jakarta. On the beach itself you can dive into the waves and relax while sunbathing, but Ancol really shines with its many other activities – above all: a visit to Ancol Dreamland. The fully entertainment area of ​​Taman Impian Jaya Ancol or Ancol Dreamland includes its own amusement park, several water parks and zoos including animal shows, several entertainment centers with golf, bowling, wax museum and more, an art market and numerous opportunities for strolling , shopping and feasting. Beach fun combined with regular concerts and the like await you at Carnival and Festival Beach, and you can also catch a cable car at Ancol. Finally, after the wonders of Ancol Beach and its Dreamland, head to the heart of Jakarta. Here you can visit the historic city center, marvel at sights such as the impressive National Monument or embark on a cultural adventure through the history of the region at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah Theme Park before finally heading to a well-deserved dinner of regional delicacies.

5.Jogan Beach, Java

From the lively city, it’s now back to pure natural idyll, namely to Jogan Beach in the Yogayakarta region on the south coast of Java. Jogan is a little insider tip when it comes to a dreamy beach holiday in Indonesia and is characterized by its very own little natural wonder: a wonderful waterfall that falls directly into the sea on the coast and is perfect for photo shoots. The Jogan Beach is very natural and can only be reached via a small path with a jetty, which is always populated by cute mini crabs. So a hike here is certainly not for everyone, but it’s all the more worthwhile for that very reason – this small, unusual beach is never overcrowded.

6. Viovio Beach, Batam

We head to another group of islands in Indonesia, the Riau Islands, and here to the Batam area, which encloses the three islands of Batam (main island), Rempang and Galang and is therefore often called Barelang for short. While the region is full of gorgeous stretches of beach, the prettiest is arguably Viovio Beach on Galang’s west coast. You can relax here in the soft sand and forget about everyday life, while you can also refresh yourself in the waves, go on boat trips and enjoy the fantastic sunset over the sea. And best of all: The beach of Viovio is still considered a little insider tip, so it is hardly ever overcrowded even during the high season. A little north of Viovio Beach, on Rempang, you will also find the Batam Botanical Gardens, which are also worth a visit; and in Batam City, just under an hour’s drive north of Viovio, you can experience cultural adventures such as visiting the Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Temple, enjoying the local cuisine with its delicious, fresh seafood or hunting for the best souvenirs.

7. Lagoi Beach, Bintan

We stay a little longer on the Riau Islands and travel to the largest island in the archipelago, Bintan. Bintan boasts neither numerous cultural sights nor significant party opportunities, but offers another, very special highlight: its uniquely beautiful, natural beaches – and above all the paradisiacal Lagoi Beach. Bintan invites its visitors to a few days of pure beach idyll, without any disturbing crowds of tourists, loud music or overcrowded stretches of coast. Here you can take walks in absolute peace, let yourself be spoiled with culinary delights in the various beach resorts and simply leave everyday life behind you. If you then want to go on excursions, you can enjoy the authentic atmosphere of the local settlements on Bintan or travel a little further, to the neighboring island of Batam already presented, or even to nearby Singapore.

8. Pink Beach, Komodo

Pink beaches, where is there such a thing? Well, on Komodoro, the next Indonesian island with a dream beach guarantee! The unusual color of the beach here is due to the corals that grow in impressive reefs off the coast and thus not only ensure the unique spectacle on land, but also invite to fantastic diving and snorkeling excursions in the underwater world. The area of ​​the island of Komodo also belongs entirely to the national park of the same name, which boasts other natural wonders. In addition to the rare Komodo dragons, numerous other species live here on land and in the sea – including maned deer, dolphins, rays and sharks – and the flora of the park, with its mangrove forests, seagrass fields and more, can be visited and admired by nature lovers.

9. Nusa Penida & Nusa Lembongan

Fantastic beaches, fascinating mountain landscapes, unique cultural experiences and culinary adventures all await you on Nusa Penida along with its two small neighboring islands Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. When it comes to beaches, you should definitely head to the paradisiacal Atuh Beach on the southeast coast and not only enjoy the white sand and the turquoise blue water there, but also marvel at the sight and the view from the impressive cliffs. A few kilometers to the west, on the other side of the island, is the Peguyangan waterfall, which you can reach via its securely fixed footbridge, and for a very special experience you can go to the Pura Goa Giri Putri cave and live there of the atmospheric prayer ceremonies. Finally, we head back to Nusa Penida’s shores at Crystal Bay Beach, where you can jump into the refreshing waves and indulge in water sports from scuba diving and snorkeling to boating and surfing.

10. Raja Ampat Archipelago

Finally, we go to a true diving paradise in Indonesia: the Raja Ampat or “Four Raja” archipelago. The archipelago in northern Indonesia consists of countless small islands, mostly covered with jungle, on which there are also countless hidden small beaches and bays that promise beach idyll in pleasant solitude. However, the real highlight of the Raja Ampat archipelago is below the water surface: the entire region is criss-crossed by impressive coral reefs and inhabited by a multitude of colorful sea creatures – from cute little fish to impressive sharks, manta rays and more. Anyone who loves excursions into the underwater world should definitely put a visit here on their personal bucket list!