A list of 2016 Indonesian public holidays, PLUS their implications for travel in Indonesia.
Indonesia has a relatively large number of public holidays, with e.g. New Year holidays for four different religions/calendars. This can be useful to know for visitors planning when to go or when not to go, to know when Indonesian embassies/consulates are closed, or when Indonesian domestic flights, trains and hotels will be cheap or expensive.
Please click on the relevant date for more information:
1 January 2016 | 8 February 2016 | 9 March 2016
25 March 2016 | 1 May 2016 | 5 May 2016 | 6 May 2016
22 May 2016 | 6-7 July 2016 | 17 August 2016 | 12 September 2016
2 October 2016 | 12 December 2016 | 25 December 2016
Please note: All religious holidays except Christmas change dates each year. This page will be updated as the dates of future holidays become known.
What for? (Gregorian/Solar) New Year
How will it affect my travel plans?
The day before, it will be difficult to travel in the main streets of some larger cities, which are closed to all vehicles in the afternoon in preparation for parties. Hotel prices tend to increase at this time, too. Some smaller airlines may reduce their schedules also.
How will it affect my travel plans?
There may be traffic jams in areas where there are many Chinese Indonesians, e.g. Glodok in North Jakarta, the night before and during the day. Otherwise, any effect will be small.
What for? Nyepi, a.k.a Hindu New Year, Saka New Year, The Day of Seclusion
How will it affect my travel plans?
It is a day of silence for Hindus, with no noise, work or travel. If you are in Bali, you have to stay indoors. Electricity is turned off in many areas, and the silence is governed by Hindu security guards called “pecalang”. 5-star resorts in e.g. Nusa Dua, Jimbaran Bay and Ubud allow guests to perform outdoor activities within the hotel grounds. Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar is closed for both international and domestic flights from 00:01 until 23:59. More information here.
What for? Good Friday (there is no holiday for Easter or Easter Monday)
How will it affect my travel plans?
Most likely less than in your home country, as in Indonesia it’s only a 3-day long weekend. Having said that, flights to/from tourists centres in e.g. Bali, Lombok will be full or more expensive than usual.
What for? May Day (a.k.a. Labour Day)
How will it affect my travel plans?
In larger cities, trade unions have large marches through the centre of town which will disrupt traffic flow. When holidays fall on Sundays in Indonesia, there is no “replacement holiday” on the Monday.
What for? Ascension Day (Ascension of Jesus Christ)
How will it affect my travel plans?
Unless you want to go to Church, very little. Wednesday night and Thursday morning flights may be crowded/expensive with people wanting to take a four day weekend. Some may take a 4-day long weekend.
What for? Isra dan Miraj (Ascension of the Prophet)
How will it affect my travel plans?
Apart from possibly an slightly interrupted night’s sleep, not much. (Muslims celebrate at the local mosque with possibly an all-night prayer vigil, often broadcast on the mosque’s loudspeakers). If you are a light sleeper, stay in a room/hotel that isn’t facing/near a mosque. Some may take a 4-day long weekend or the entire week off – see above.
What for? Waisak, a.k.a. Buddha’s Birthday
How will it affect my travel plans?
Borobudur will be closed for Buddhist temple rituals, otherwise not much. When holidays fall on Sundays in Indonesia, there is no “replacement holiday” on the Monday.
What for? Lebaran / Idul Fitri (the end of the Muslim fasting month, like a Muslim Christmas)
How will it affect my travel plans?
It can have a large impact. If you are in a majority Muslim area, it will be difficult to travel around as many services are closed. Flights, trains and buses are full of people returning to their hometowns. Non-Muslims take advantage of the long break – schools are closed for 1-2 weeks – to have a family vacation. It is usually recommended that visitors to Indonesia either travel in a non-Muslim area (e.g. Eastern Indonesia) or stay in the one area for a few days. Mosque loudspeakers ofter go all night during Ramadan – starting in early July – so you may want to remember this when choosing a hotel or hotel room. There are also compulsory leave days on 4, 5 and 8 July, so banks and government agencies (including the immigration department) will be closed all week. Some smaller/regional airlines stop flying all together on the actual holidays.
What for? Indonesia’s Independence Day (When Indonesia declared independence in 1945)
How will it affect my travel plans?
There will be street parades in Central Jakarta, leading to street closures and disruption of traffic. In other areas, there are only flag-raising ceremonies in schools, government offices, etc, and Indonesian flags everywhere – by law, locals have to display a flag at one’s residence and place of work. When holidays fall on Sundays in Indonesia, there is no “replacement holiday” on the Monday.
What for? Idul Adha (the Day of Sacrifice)
How will it affect my travel plans?
If you are a vegetarian or animal-lover, stay indoors in the morning when the knives come out and all the animals that have been dotting the roadsides are ceremonially slaughtered, and their meat given to the poor. Otherwise, minimal impact apart from mosque loudspeaker noise overnight the night before.
What for? Muslim New Year, a.k.a Muharram, Tahun Baru Hijirayah 1438H
How will it affect my travel plans?
Minimal impact apart from mosque loudspeaker noise overnight the night before. (Muslims celebrate at the local mosque with possibly an all-night prayer vigil, often broadcast on the mosque’s loudspeakers). When holidays fall on Sundays in Indonesia, there is no “replacement holiday” on the Monday.
What for? Maulid Nabi, a.k.a. The Prophet’s Birthday.
How will it affect my travel plans?
Minimal impact apart from mosque loudspeaker noise overnight the night before. (Muslims celebrate at the local mosque with possibly an all-night prayer vigil, often broadcast on the mosque’s loudspeakers). Some ATMs may run out due to increased demand and reduced supply.
What for? Christmas (birth of Jesus Christ)
How will it affect my travel plans?
Flights to and hotels in popular tourist locations (e.g. Bali) will be full with both local and foreign tourists, and many tourist attractions will be very crowded. It is also the wet season in most parts of Indonesia (but not those right on the Equator, e.g. Ambon, Medan), but this rarely means rain all day; it is usually just an afternoon storm. There is also a compulsory leave day – called cuti bersama – on 26 December, when banks and government agencies (including the immigration department) will be closed.
If you have a question about any of the holidays above, please ask with a comment below.
well, every weekend bandung is packed with jakartans who love to spend their days here in traffic jams and factory outlets, during all the holidays and long weekends it’s a disaster zone, nothing moving, you’ve got to experience it to understand how horrific it can get here during those times….
i used to love ramadhan, specially around idul fitri, the city almost empty, peaceful, no pollution, you could actually see the mountains, now i really dread that time of the year:(
I aggre with madrotter, every weekend Bandung is filled with jakartans but i can say it in the positive way that it brings money to the people of bandung especially PKL(pedagan kaki lima)
Bravo Kota Kembang
Bandung now = macet nightmare on holiday weekends.
Jakarta, by contrast, gets much less crowded, less polluted and nicer as a result.
Hi there,
I’m planning to visit the education agents & schools in Jakarta for a working trip.
Can someone advise if there is an official site that list the various school terms/holidays /breaks for high school/ senior high schools in Indonesia?
All replies appreciate.
TIA
Hi all,
Am planning to visit Bandung during the 27 November 2011 weekend. Was wondering if a public holiday falls on a Sunday in Indonesia, is Monday automatically declared a public holiday too, like in Malaysia? If it so, should I avoid visiting Bandung during a long holiday weekend like that?
i think it better for u to change word on the mosque loud speaker to something appropriate. this is understood all around the world. a call for preys. i found it in appropriate words. thank you
Hi Chris,
I wanted to know if I should expect shops and stores closing during public holidays in Indonesia in general and in Jakarta in particular. Do shops always stay opened or do they close on some of these national holidays?
Besides, as a shopper, do you have any clue of the sales seasons and their duration in Jakarta?
Thank you
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it’ll be more helpfull if there is also an academic schedule (kalender akademik)…