Quick answer: Indonesia’s best beaches include Nusa Dua and Seminyak in Bali, Pink Beach in Komodo National Park, Gili Trawangan and Sire Beach on and off Lombok, Trikora on Bintan and Nongsa on Batam near Singapore, and Pangandaran on Java’s south coast. Bali is the easiest place to start, while Komodo and the Gili Islands need a boat trip. Before you go, note that foreign visitors to Bali pay a tourist levy, and that national parks such as Komodo charge entry fees and can change visitor rules.
Before you go
- Bali tourist levy: foreign tourists entering Bali pay a levy of IDR 150,000 per person, according to the Bali provincial government’s official levy site (lovebali.baliprov.go.id), where it can be paid online before travel.
- Visas: check Indonesia’s official immigration e-visa site for the current visa-on-arrival or e-visa rules for Indian passport holders before you book.
- Sea safety: many south-facing beaches in Bali and Java have strong surf and rips. Swim where lifeguards are present and follow flags and local advice.
- Seasons: much of Indonesia has a drier season around the middle of the year and a wetter season around the turn of the year, but this varies by island, so check the forecast for your destination.
8 best beaches in Indonesia
1. Nusa Dua Beach, Bali
Nusa Dua, in southern Bali, is a resort area with white sand and calm, clear water that suits families and swimmers who prefer gentle conditions. Early mornings are especially beautiful, when the sunrise colours the sea. It is a short drive from Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, and the beachfront is lined with large resorts.
An earlier version of this article recommended a specific resort. We have removed named hotel recommendations, since availability and quality change.
2. Pink Beach, Komodo National Park
Most visitors come to Komodo National Park, in East Nusa Tenggara, to see the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. The park was founded in 1980 to protect the dragons, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, and includes the larger islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca plus 26 smaller ones.
The park is also home to Pink Beach (Pantai Merah), whose sand has a distinctly pink tint. The colour is usually attributed to fragments of red marine organisms mixed with the white sand. The calm, shallow water over coral gardens makes it a popular snorkelling stop on boat tours.
Boats to the park leave from Labuan Bajo on Flores, where most tour operators are based. Entry fees apply and the authorities have discussed visitor limits and periodic closures in recent years, so check current rules with your operator. Choose a licensed operator with good safety equipment, as standards vary.
An earlier version of this article said the park “welcomes up to 50,000 visitors every year” and that the dragons have been protected “since 1980 at the island’s national park”. We have replaced these with the details we could confirm.
3. Gili Trawangan, off Lombok
The Gili Islands are a group of three small islands off the north-west coast of Lombok. Gili Trawangan is the largest and the liveliest, with a main strip of cafés and bars, while its quieter beaches lie further round the island. Cars and motorised traffic are banned by local ordinance, so people get around on foot, by bicycle or by horse-drawn cart (cidomo), which makes cycling round the island a pleasant way to find a beach.
The reefs around the Gili Islands are good for snorkelling, and sea turtles are often seen; Gili Meno, the neighbouring island, has a turtle sanctuary. The islands can be reached only by sea, with fast boats from Bali and Lombok and public boats from Lombok.
4. Sire Beach, Lombok
Sire Beach, on Lombok’s north coast, is a long, curving beach with grassy, palm-shaded land behind it and views towards Mount Rinjani. At 3,726 m, Rinjani is Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, after Kerinci in Sumatra. Sire is a favourite with local people as well as visitors, and it is a place where you may see local cultural events, such as performances of dangdut music or larungan offerings floated out to sea, depending on the occasion.
5. Trikora Beach, Bintan
Bintan, in the Riau Islands, is a short ferry ride from Singapore and a popular escape from the city. Trikora, on the island’s east coast, is a long stretch of quiet beaches with soft white sand and scenic rocks, looking out to small islands offshore. Sunrise here is particularly beautiful. Kitesurfing is offered by local schools and resorts when the monsoon winds are right; ask them which months are best.
6. Nongsa Beach, Batam
Batam, also in the Riau Islands, is another easy beach escape from Singapore. Nongsa, in the north-east of the island, is a resort area within sight of the Singapore skyline and close to Batam’s airport. Operators around Batam offer water sports such as banana-boat rides, parasailing, windsurfing and jet-skiing.
7. Pangandaran, West Java
Pangandaran is a beach town on the south coast of Java, in West Java province. It has two beaches, one on each side of a narrow neck of land that connects the mainland to the Penanjung Pangandaran nature reserve, a forested peninsula. A well-known surfing beach nearby helped make Pangandaran a popular destination, and surf schools and board rentals are common.
An earlier version of this article described Pangandaran’s sand as “silky white”. Its beaches are made of volcanic black sand.
Java’s south coast is exposed to the Indian Ocean. On 17 July 2006, a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 7.7 undersea earthquake struck Pangandaran and killed more than 300 people in the town. Learn the local evacuation routes and follow warnings if you feel a strong earthquake.
8. Seminyak Beach, Bali
Seminyak lies on Bali’s west coast, just north of Kuta and Legian, and is one of the island’s most upmarket beach areas. Its wide stretch of golden sand is backed by high-end hotels, spas, restaurants, bars and beach clubs, and the beach is a popular spot to watch the sunset. The surf on this coast can be strong, so swim only in flagged areas where lifeguards are on duty.
An earlier version of this article recommended a particular beach bar. We have removed it because we could not confirm it still operates in the same form.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best beach in Bali for families?
Nusa Dua is usually the best choice for families because its water is generally calmer than on Bali’s west-coast surf beaches.
Why is Pink Beach pink?
The pink tint is usually attributed to tiny fragments of red marine organisms mixed with the white coral sand.
How much is the Bali tourist levy?
IDR 150,000 per foreign tourist, according to the official Bali levy site. It can be paid online before you travel; check the site for current rules and exemptions.
Can you drive on Gili Trawangan?
No. Cars and motorised traffic are banned on the Gili Islands by local ordinance. You walk, cycle or take a horse-drawn cidomo.
Which Indonesian beaches are closest to Singapore?
Trikora on Bintan and Nongsa on Batam, both in the Riau Islands and reachable by ferry from Singapore.
More beaches in the region: Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
This guide was checked in October 2026 against the Bali provincial government’s official levy site and published information on Komodo National Park, the Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani, Pangandaran and Seminyak.
