Generally, it is totally okay to travel to Indonesia during Ramadan - the fasting month. It is an opportunity for you to immerse more to Indonesian culture during Ramadan, to feel the atmosphere and the ambience of one of the most populated muslim countries in the world. You can feel the ambience of Ramadan of the places within the country. An exception is of course Bali, that is mainly Hindu and the Ramadan doesn’t really matter there. Also, the predominantly Christian parts of Indonesia such as Manado, Kupang, Flores, Papua and other places.
Ramadan is one of the important month in muslim lunar calendar, Hijriyah, it is the 9th in muslim Hijriyah, during the month most of muslim basically don’t eat and drink from the dawn until the dusk. And also they avoid to perform some activities such sexual activities, saying bad words, controlling their emotions etc. At the end of Ramadan is celebrated with one of the most important celebration called “Idul Fitri” or “Lebaran”. In each muslim countries, muslims have their unique tradtion. In Indonesia, if you’re traveling to the country, here’s some lists that you may need to be aware of:
1. Eating and food
Restaurant or warung
There are many restaurants that still open during the day and some only serve non-Muslims visitors, but don’t be surprised if many restaurant or warungs cover their windows with curtains to respect those who are fasting. Restaurants in the hotels usually operate normally, but they will be quieter than usual. The flip side of the coin is that once the time for buka puasa (breaking the fast) rolls around at sunset, many restaurants will be packed with Muslims, so you may actually want to beat the rush and grab your dinner before dusk. Meanwhile, if you’re visiting Indonesian muslim countryside, it is almost nearly 100%, warungs or restaurant close during the day, so you’re better be prepared to bring your food in advance.
Many warungs on the street are closed, but the few that are opened you can basically visit and there are enough locals who also go there. Well, it also depends on if it’s a tourist area or not. But it’s not really as strict as many people tell. Especially on airports, bus terminals or train stations everything is a little bit more easygoing (for traveling Muslims it’s allowed to break the fasting, and also for those who are ill).
Food
If you’re a fan of street food, you can easily find “pop-up market” on the roads selling foods and drinks for Iftar from 16:00 to 18:00. It is a great chance to you to find some Indonesian street foods. Some of the foods can only be found during Ramadan, so it can be a perfect time for you to try authentic Ramadan-special foods and drinks.
Things to be aware
Out of respect, it is recommended that you don’t eat, drink or smoke in public places. It is always better to take your food for takeaway and eat it in your accommodation or somewhere secluded.
2.Transportation and accommodation
Transportation
It is strongly adviseable that before visiting Indonesia during Ramadan all flights booking should be in advance ( international and domestic) it is an absolute must-do prior to travel. The travel glitch to beware of is that the end of Ramadan (Eid ul-Fitr, Idulfitri, or Lebaran in Indonesian) is the local equivalent of Christmas, when everybody takes time off and visiting their families (mudik). It means that most transportation is fully booked for several days and even the traffic jams are intense. Plan ahead so you can avoid travel at this time.
Traffic
Before dusk Indonesians like to have Iftar together (known as BukBer or “buka bersama”) with friends and relatives. So, the traffic will be busier toward dusk, especially on the way to shopping centers and major restaurants or culinary centers in the town. It is even worse during weekdays as the office hours also end around Iftar. Traveling will take more time during these times.
Accommodation
The most important thing you need to do you will have to check about the location of the accommodation you want to book, if there is a mosque within the area. It’s normal that in these countries they are loudly calling for prayer several times a day from the speakers and you should know that. Moreover during Ramadan is, that it’s more extreme and can even take up to hours, instead of only a few minutes. Or you can get some good earplugs to reduce the noise.
It’s basically best to book your flight tickets early in advance since the prices tend to go up. Especially for domestic flights you should not book too late, because it might get expensive or it can even happen that you don’t get flights at all. During this time many people are traveling to visit their families et cetera. This also applies to some other means of transportation.
4.Shopping
Beware that some shopping centers like in Indonesian big cities, such as Tanah Abang and ITCs in Jakarta, will be will be so crowded in Ramadan especially 2 weeks before Lebaran.
5.Entertainment
Some local government may not allow night clubs, karaoke, and pubs to operate during Ramadan, but in some areas those attractions operate after Tarawih time (evening prayer) or around 9 pm until the time before early breakfast (Sahur).
Most common words in Indonesia during Ramadan:
Puasa: fasting, for muslim starting from the dusk until the dawn.
Ramadan: muslim fasting month (bulan puasa; Indonesian), it is the 9th month according to muslim lunar calendar
Tarawih: muslim evening prayer during Ramadan, it usually takes up to 1.5 hour.
Sahur: muslim early breakfast usually between
Ifthar: breakfast, to close the fast.
Bukber: acronym for buka bersama, it is a community breakfasting with friends or relatives
Takjil: it is part of ifthar, it is before ifthar usually with dates or other light snacks
Lebaran: Indonesian word for Idul Fitri, it is the celebration to mark the end of ramadan
Ketupat: rice cake packed inside a diamond-shaped container of woven palm leaf pouch, usually served during Lebaran celebration.
Mudik: a time when urban muslim takes time off and visiting their families in villages or kampungs at the end of Ramadan.
Ramadan is one of the important month in muslim lunar calendar, Hijriyah, it is the 9th in muslim Hijriyah, during the month most of muslim basically don’t eat and drink from the dawn until the dusk. And also they avoid to perform some activities such sexual activities, saying bad words, controlling their emotions etc. At the end of Ramadan is celebrated with one of the most important celebration called “Idul Fitri” or “Lebaran”. In each muslim countries, muslims have their unique tradtion. In Indonesia, if you’re traveling to the country, here’s some lists that you may need to be aware of:
1. Eating and food
Restaurant or warung
There are many restaurants that still open during the day and some only serve non-Muslims visitors, but don’t be surprised if many restaurant or warungs cover their windows with curtains to respect those who are fasting. Restaurants in the hotels usually operate normally, but they will be quieter than usual. The flip side of the coin is that once the time for buka puasa (breaking the fast) rolls around at sunset, many restaurants will be packed with Muslims, so you may actually want to beat the rush and grab your dinner before dusk. Meanwhile, if you’re visiting Indonesian muslim countryside, it is almost nearly 100%, warungs or restaurant close during the day, so you’re better be prepared to bring your food in advance.
Many warungs on the street are closed, but the few that are opened you can basically visit and there are enough locals who also go there. Well, it also depends on if it’s a tourist area or not. But it’s not really as strict as many people tell. Especially on airports, bus terminals or train stations everything is a little bit more easygoing (for traveling Muslims it’s allowed to break the fasting, and also for those who are ill).
Food
If you’re a fan of street food, you can easily find “pop-up market” on the roads selling foods and drinks for Iftar from 16:00 to 18:00. It is a great chance to you to find some Indonesian street foods. Some of the foods can only be found during Ramadan, so it can be a perfect time for you to try authentic Ramadan-special foods and drinks.
Things to be aware
Out of respect, it is recommended that you don’t eat, drink or smoke in public places. It is always better to take your food for takeaway and eat it in your accommodation or somewhere secluded.
2.Transportation and accommodation
Transportation
It is strongly adviseable that before visiting Indonesia during Ramadan all flights booking should be in advance ( international and domestic) it is an absolute must-do prior to travel. The travel glitch to beware of is that the end of Ramadan (Eid ul-Fitr, Idulfitri, or Lebaran in Indonesian) is the local equivalent of Christmas, when everybody takes time off and visiting their families (mudik). It means that most transportation is fully booked for several days and even the traffic jams are intense. Plan ahead so you can avoid travel at this time.
Traffic
Before dusk Indonesians like to have Iftar together (known as BukBer or “buka bersama”) with friends and relatives. So, the traffic will be busier toward dusk, especially on the way to shopping centers and major restaurants or culinary centers in the town. It is even worse during weekdays as the office hours also end around Iftar. Traveling will take more time during these times.
Accommodation
The most important thing you need to do you will have to check about the location of the accommodation you want to book, if there is a mosque within the area. It’s normal that in these countries they are loudly calling for prayer several times a day from the speakers and you should know that. Moreover during Ramadan is, that it’s more extreme and can even take up to hours, instead of only a few minutes. Or you can get some good earplugs to reduce the noise.
It’s basically best to book your flight tickets early in advance since the prices tend to go up. Especially for domestic flights you should not book too late, because it might get expensive or it can even happen that you don’t get flights at all. During this time many people are traveling to visit their families et cetera. This also applies to some other means of transportation.
4.Shopping
Beware that some shopping centers like in Indonesian big cities, such as Tanah Abang and ITCs in Jakarta, will be will be so crowded in Ramadan especially 2 weeks before Lebaran.
5.Entertainment
Some local government may not allow night clubs, karaoke, and pubs to operate during Ramadan, but in some areas those attractions operate after Tarawih time (evening prayer) or around 9 pm until the time before early breakfast (Sahur).
Most common words in Indonesia during Ramadan:
Puasa: fasting, for muslim starting from the dusk until the dawn.
Ramadan: muslim fasting month (bulan puasa; Indonesian), it is the 9th month according to muslim lunar calendar
Tarawih: muslim evening prayer during Ramadan, it usually takes up to 1.5 hour.
Sahur: muslim early breakfast usually between
Ifthar: breakfast, to close the fast.
Bukber: acronym for buka bersama, it is a community breakfasting with friends or relatives
Takjil: it is part of ifthar, it is before ifthar usually with dates or other light snacks
Lebaran: Indonesian word for Idul Fitri, it is the celebration to mark the end of ramadan
Ketupat: rice cake packed inside a diamond-shaped container of woven palm leaf pouch, usually served during Lebaran celebration.
Mudik: a time when urban muslim takes time off and visiting their families in villages or kampungs at the end of Ramadan.
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