Indonesia is an enticing archipelago full of colorful culture, heavenly beaches, and dramatic landscapes. Known the world over for its decorative arts and traditional crafts, Indonesia is also awash with beautiful objects.
No matter where you go, from its buzzing cities to small rural towns, artisans and local producers sell an array of Indonesian souvenirs for visitors to take home and cherish. But it’s more than just crafts: whether you like sweet snacks or you’re more into coffee, you can also find culinary souvenirs scattered throughout these exciting islands.
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Best Indonesian Souvenirs to Buy
Wayang puppets
Wayang are traditional Indonesian puppets originating on the island of Java. Wayang puppet shows are an important part of the country’s culture and are used to tell mythological stories and local folklore, including the Hindu epic of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
These UNESCO-designated puppets can also be found on sale throughout Indonesia. Though the shows rely on shadows cast on a screen, the puppets themselves are intricately carved and painted, making for a unique souvenir to take home. Different types include wayang kulit (made from leather), wayang klitik (wooden) and wayang golek (three-dimensional, not flat).
Batik products
One of the most popular souvenirs for visitors to Indonesia to buy are batik products. You’ll find these beautifully patterned fabrics all over the archipelago and in many forms, from purses to shirts and wall hangings.
They’re such an important part of the local culture that — like wayang — they were officially recognized by UNESCO in 2009; there’s even a National Batik Day in Indonesia (2nd October). Batik is created by drawing or printing wax onto fabrics which are then dyed; the wax resists the dye, creating beautifully intricate designs. Patterns and motifs reflect the different regions and people that make them.
Tenun fabric
Tenun is a weaving technique native to Java that has since spread throughout Indonesia. One of many textile techniques that have developed in the archipelago, tenun involves weaving together different threads in various colors and motifs, reflecting the characteristics of the region in which it is made.
Depending on the location, images could include depictions of local flora and fauna or relationships with natural landscapes. Fabrics resembling tenun have been found at archaeological sites dating to over 3,000 years old, meaning the modern-day products are part of a very long heritage.
Congkak
Called dakon in Javanese and sungka in the Philippines, congkak is a traditional board game that is played by locals in Indonesia. It involves a wooden boat-shaped board played with pieces that were originally made from cowrie shells.
No one is entirely sure when or how this board game made its way to Indonesia; the oldest version of the game appears to have been found in a ruin of a Roman-era fort in Egypt dating to the 4th century AD. Needless to say, the longevity of the game points to its popularity. Picking up a beautifully carved congkak board is a must for game enthusiasts.
Coffee
Coffee and Indonesia go hand in hand. Indonesia is the fourth-largest producer of coffee in the world, producing, on average, over 660,000 tons of coffee per year. It’s no wonder that the country is a veritable coffee lover’s wonderland.
Most of the coffee grown in Indonesia is produced by smallholders, meaning you can find some carefully curated varieties and styles of coffee depending on where you are in the archipelago. Bali is particularly renowned for its coffee, with many coffee farmers here using a traditional farming system rooted in Hindu philosophy.
Indonesian pottery
It seems wherever you turn in Indonesia; traditional ceramics are never far away. Created by anonymous craftsmen, workshops and small-scale factories are found throughout the country and are reflective of their surroundings and local traditions.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of room in your luggage to fit in large pieces of earthenware and ceramics. Small items, like one-off coffee mugs, small plates, and bowls, are bound to find a good home if you purchase a few for your friends and family (or just yourself).
Caping gunung traditional hat
Caping gunung (literally “mountain hats”) are traditional Indonesian hats designed with the archipelago’s climate in mind. Not only do they provide shade from the sometimes very powerful rays of the sun, but they can also act as umbrellas from the rain.
Made from woven bamboo fibers, these wide-brimmed, conical, or round-topped hats are worn by farmers to protect them from the elements when they’re out in the fields. While they may not prove to be a fashion statement where you’re from, they make for an interesting wall hanging — or can be put to practical use while gardening.
Celuk jewelry
The village of Celuk in Bali, close to the hippie-friendly town of Ubud, is renowned for its production of gold and silver jewelry. Balinese jewelry has long been the envy of the world, and in this village, you can purchase any number of eye-catching pieces for yourself.
Made by local artisans, the gold and silver jewelry from Celuk are of very high quality, with the craftsmen using materials sourced from Kalimantan and Java. You’ll find an array of elaborate items to choose from, including rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other souvenirs such as statues and even cutlery.
Local snacks
There’s no better way to remember a trip than by bringing home an edible slice of Indonesia to share with your friends and family back home. Food, especially on-the-go snacks — both sweet and savory — is a huge part of Indonesian culture, wherever you are in the archipelago.
One of the most colorful is kue mangkok, a steamed cake dyed in rainbow hues, while kek lapis is a dense, sweet layered cake; there’s also dodol, a super sweet toffee-like candy made from sugar palm. If you’re in Bali, hunt down some pie susu — authentic custard tarts that are a must-try.
Gamelan instruments
A gamelan is an ensemble or mini-orchestra of traditional instruments, often used to accompany wayang puppet shows, festivals, and other forms of entertainment. It has a long connection with the royal courts of Indonesia and is considered an elevated form of music, much like the classical music of Europe.
Comprising a variety of metallophones, flutes, xylophones, gongs, and stringed instruments, this collection of music-making objects is part of Indonesia’s UNESCO heritage. If you’re a musician — or you have friends and family back home who are music fans — then you’ll be pleased to know that gamelan instruments can be found on sale throughout the archipelago.
Wood carving
Visit any town or city in Indonesia, and you’ll see wood carving as a form of decoration — in hotels, workspaces, religious buildings, or even residential homes. Each region in Indonesia has its own traditions and distinct style of carving.
It was originally developed not only as a way to decorate buildings but also to protect the inhabitants of homes from unwanted or malevolent spirits and the forces of nature. The wood used in carvings is usually teak or mahogany, and many suitcase-sized examples of this exquisite tradition can be picked up throughout the country, with artisans particularly focused in Bali, Central Java, Sumatra, Madura, and Papua.