Is It Safe to Travel to Indonesia in 2026?

Last updated: Jul 22, 2026

Key takeaways

Indonesia is safe to visit in 2026, including Bali — just use normal travel precautions.
Avoid mainland Papua outside Raja Ampat and Sorong, and check Mount Merapi’s alert level if you’re visiting Yogyakarta — these are the two real risk spots.
Bali’s main danger is petty theft, not violence. A new law technically bans sex outside marriage, but it’s only enforced if a family member files a complaint, so it rarely touches tourists.

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Indonesia’s 2026 travel advisory status at a glance

Most of Indonesia, including Bali, is rated for normal travel precautions. The US has it at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Australia and Canada use similar wording, “a high degree of caution,” citing terrorism risk and occasional unrest.

The UK’s FCDO takes the same approach: no warning against Bali, but it flags Papua and a named list of active volcanoes that does not include Merapi (PVMBG’s own alerts cover that one).

The chart below shows just how narrow Indonesia’s real risk zone is on the US government’s own 1-4 scale.

Normal precautions

Most of Indonesia

Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Lombok, and most other regions. US advisory: Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution — the same tier as much of Southeast Asia.

Normal precautions · watch your belongings

Bali

Same baseline advisory as the rest of the country — no government warns against travel to Bali specifically. Local police have flagged a rise in pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and card skimming in tourist areas.

Avoid

Papua (except Raja Ampat & Sorong)

US: Level 4, Do Not Travel for Central Papua and Highland Papua. Canada advises against all non-essential travel to Indonesian Papua, with Raja Ampat Regency and Sorong city as the stated exceptions. Australia’s Smartraveller advises reconsidering travel to the same two provinces; the UK flags Papua as a risk zone without a formal advisory level.

Papua: where authorities say to stay away

Papua is Indonesia’s one genuine no-go zone in 2026. Armed separatist groups have escalated attacks since 2018, hitting government facilities, mining sites, and small aircraft on remote airstrips, and governments warn their own staff need special authorization just to travel there.

None of this affects a Bali, Java, or standard-island itinerary. It matters only if your trip includes mainland Papua outside Raja Ampat or Sorong — check your exact routing before you book.

Bali crime patterns tourists should actually worry about

Bali’s safety story in 2026 is petty theft, not violence or terrorism. Police have stepped up night patrols in Seminyak, Kuta, Canggu, Legian, and Uluwatu after a run of motorbike snatch-and-grab thefts, where scooter-riding thieves scout the crowd, then grab a bag or phone before speeding off.

ATM skimming is the other recurring issue. Standalone street-side machines in tourist zones are the most tampered with, so shield your PIN and prefer machines inside banks or hotels.

The UK and Australian governments also warn of sexual assault reports in Bali and Lombok, including drink-spiking cases, and advise solo travelers — especially women — to take a taxi or ride-hailing app after dark rather than walking.

Mount Merapi’s ongoing volcanic activity

Mount Merapi, near Yogyakarta in Central Java, has been active since a February 2026 uptick. Indonesia’s volcanology agency (PVMBG) has kept it at Alert Level 3 (Siaga/Standby) on its four-point scale every month since, still current as of late July 2026.

Activity has included lava avalanches traveling up to roughly 2km down the volcano’s southwest flank. The exclusion zone runs 3 to 7km from the summit depending on the sector.

Merapi has no bearing on a Bali holiday. It matters only if your trip includes Yogyakarta or the villages ringing the volcano — check the current alert level and stay outside the exclusion zone.

Indonesia’s new criminal code affecting couples

Indonesia’s revised criminal code (KUHP) took effect on 2 January 2026, applying on paper to citizens and foreign visitors alike. The clause drawing the most traveler attention criminalizes sex outside marriage (up to one year) and cohabitation by unmarried couples (up to six months).

In practice, tourists are rarely affected, for three reasons:

Complaint-based only: police can act only if a legal spouse, parent, or child of one of the people involved files a formal complaint.
No third-party reporting: hotel staff, neighbors, or the public cannot trigger a case.
No ID checks: standard hotels are not required to verify marriage certificates at check-in.

Without a qualifying complainant, legal analysts agree there is no basis for authorities to act, so it’s a low practical risk for most visitors.

Your Indonesia safety timeline

1

Check your route — confirm it avoids mainland Papua outside Raja Ampat and Sorong.

2

Buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and natural disasters.

3

Follow local alerts — PVMBG for Yogyakarta-area trips, and register with your embassy.

4

Build in-country habits — taxi at night, valuables out of sight, shield your ATM PIN.

Practical safety habits for every trip

At night: take a taxi or ride-hailing app rather than walking through nightlife areas in Bali.
At ATMs: use machines inside a bank or hotel lobby, and cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
On the water: only board boats and ferries with visible life jackets and GPS — inter-island ferry sinkings do happen, including one near Bali in March 2026.
On the road: wear a helmet on any scooter or motorbike, and carry a valid international license — this is where a large share of tourist injuries happen.
With alerts: check PVMBG for volcano status and BMKG for weather and tsunami warnings if your trip includes Java, Sumatra, or other volcanic regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Indonesia safe right now?

Yes, for most visitors. Only mainland Papua outside Raja Ampat and Sorong carries a do-not-travel warning.

Is Bali safe in 2026?

Yes. The main risks are petty theft and, less often, assault at night — not terrorism or civil unrest.

Which parts of Indonesia should I avoid?

Central Papua and Highland Papua — US Level 4: Do Not Travel; Canada excludes only Raja Ampat Regency and Sorong city.

Does Mount Merapi affect a Bali trip?

No. Merapi is near Yogyakarta, hundreds of kilometres from Bali — it only matters if your trip includes that area.

Does the new criminal code affect tourists?

Rarely. Police can only act on a complaint from a spouse, parent, or child — something almost no tourist will encounter.

Plan your Indonesia trip with confidence

Indonesia in 2026 is safe for the overwhelming majority of visitors: skip mainland Papua outside Raja Ampat and Sorong, watch Merapi’s status near Yogyakarta, and stay alert to petty theft in Bali. Compare flights and hotels across Indonesia on Wego and start planning with confidence.

Sources

Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.