Indonesia Travel Guide

Indonesia — Shopping

Shopping

Favorite buys are batik cloth, ikat fabrics, woodcarvings and sculpture, silverwork, woven baskets and hats, bamboo articles, krises (small daggers), paintings and woven cloth. At stalls and small shops, bartering might be necessary.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sun 0900-2100; some shops have shorter hours on Sundays. Most local markets open either very early in the morning or at dusk. In the smaller towns, shops may close between 1300 and 1700.

Currency

Rupiah (IDR; symbol Rp). Notes are in denominations of Rp100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and1,000 . Coins are in denominations of Rp1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 25.

Currency Exchange

Although there should be no difficulty exchanging major currencies in the main tourist centers, problems may occur elsewhere. The easiest currency to exchange is the US Dollar.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and Eurocard are widely accepted in Jakarta and the main tourist areas. In more remote areas, it is best to carry cash in small denominations. ATMs are available in towns.

Travelers Checks

Limited merchant acceptance but can be easily exchanged at banks and larger hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. American Express are more widely accepted.

Currency Restrictions

The import and export of local currency up to Rp5,000,000 must be declared. For amounts up to Rp100,000,000, a form of the Central Bank should be filled out. Amounts exceeding Rp100,000,000 require an approval from the Central Bank or External Affairs. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited. However, amounts exceeding the equivalent of Rp100,000,000 must be declared.