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All Indonesia

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Indonesia

68 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Indonesia

Updated November 8, 2023

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Cities

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  1. Abang
  2. Baturiti
  3. Gili Meno
  4. Kuta Selatan
  5. Magelang
  6. Rantepao
  7. Ternate
  8. Yogyakarta

Unusual Attractions in Indonesia

See All 68 Things To Do in Indonesia

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Indonesia

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Geology 11
Temples 11
Volcanoes 8
Ecosystems 7
Hinduism 6
Art 6
Nature 5
Caves 5

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Stories About Indonesia

New research says humans began sculpting a small hill into a larger pyramid around 6,000 BC, and then building layers of sand and rocks on top of that.

Is the World's Oldest Pyramid Not in Egypt or the Americas, But in Indonesia?

Perhaps it’s not just an oddly shaped hill, after all.
by Jennifer Billock
The city of Pontianak was named after a ghost.

The Time a Town Was in an Uproar Over a 300-Foot Ghost Statue

Cast your votes on the “nightmare Statue of Liberty.”
by Natalie Lawrence
An adult male orangutan contemplates his next move in haze produced by Indonesia’s 2015 wildfires.

Wildfire Smoke Changes Orangutan Calls in Borneo

During massive fires in Indonesia, the critically endangered primates' voices provided clues to their overall health.
by Wendy Erb
A 1902 illustration of battling dryptosaurs.

Wonder Is Everywhere: Lost Dinosaurs, 5,000-Year-Old Leftovers, and More From Around the Web

Get a peek into what we’re obsessed with right now.
by April White
A man makes a traditional dragon heads for the Lunar New Year celebration in Bogor, Indonesia.

5 Colorful Stories About the Pageantry of the Lunar New Year

Go behind the scenes of celebration, from molten metal to sticky cakes.
by April White

What Caused This Massive Mud Volcano Eruption in Indonesia?

For more than a decade, hot mud has oozed across thousands of acres, displacing entire villages.
by Michael Hudec
The carnivorous plant Nepenthes lowii, found only in Borneo, is able to thrive in a harsh, high-elevation ecosystem because it has adapted to eat animal droppings.

These Toilet-Shaped Carnivorous Plants Thrive By Eating Poop

Some of Borneo's pitcher plants took insects off the menu in favor of mammal droppings. It's an evolutionary triumph.
by Gemma Tarlach
An aling-aling is a half-wall opposite a gate that can keep spirits at bay.

How Homes in Bali Are Designed for Harmony—and to Keep Demons at Bay

All the subtle ways traditional dwellings offer spiritual security.
by Ronan O'Connell

Lists Featuring Indonesia

Red Seabeach
The otherworldly landscape of Padar Island.
Black Sand Beach

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World

From bright red grass to stranded shipwrecks, these beaches are anything but ordinary.

10

Including Driftwood Beach, Red Beach , and Padar Island

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