How to Get Around Indonesia: Grab, Gojek and the Phrases You Need
En bref
For almost every trip in a city or tourist area, a ride-hailing app (Grab or Gojek) is the fastest, cheapest and least stressful way to get around Indonesia: you see a fixed price before you book, so there is no haggling. Install both apps and compare. Book a motorbike (ojek) for a quick solo hop, a car for luggage, rain or a group. Cash is accepted on both, so you do not even need a local e-wallet. Metered Bluebird taxis are the safe fallback, and shared vans (angkot) are the ultra-cheap local option. A few Indonesian direction words — "berhenti di sini", "belok kiri", "lurus terus" — let you steer any driver with confidence.
You land in Bali or Jakarta, step outside, and instantly face the question every visitor asks: how do I actually get anywhere here? There are no street meters to trust, addresses look confusing, and the traffic seems chaotic. The good news is that getting around Indonesia is easier and cheaper than almost anywhere else in Southeast Asia — once you know which app to open and the handful of words that tell a driver where to go. Here is the complete, honest playbook.
What is the fastest, cheapest way to get around Indonesia?
For most trips in cities and tourist areas, a ride-hailing app is the fastest, cheapest and least stressful option by far. You see the exact fare before you book, so there is no negotiating and no risk of being overcharged. The two apps that matter are Grab and Gojek, and both do the same core jobs: hail a car, hail a motorbike, order food and pay. For a quick solo hop through traffic, book a motorbike; for luggage, rain or a group, book a car. Outside the apps, a metered Bluebird taxi is the reliable fallback, and shared local vans (angkot) are the ultra-cheap way locals move around.
Grab or Gojek — which app is better?
The honest answer: install both. They compete hard, so on any given trip one may be a little cheaper or have a driver closer to you. Opening both and comparing takes ten seconds and often saves you money.
Gojek — an Indonesian super-app, born in Jakarta. Deep local coverage, its own GoPay wallet, and everything from rides to food to parcels in one place. Motorbike rides are called GoRide, cars are GoCar.
Grab — a region-wide app that also works in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines, so it is handy if you are travelling around Southeast Asia. Motorbike rides are GrabBike, cars are GrabCar.
Both show a fixed, upfront price, both accept cash, and both let you track the driver on a map. Neither is clearly "the best" everywhere — coverage and price shift by city and by trip.
Should you book a motorbike (ojek) or a car?
A motorbike taxi — an ojek — is one of the great small joys of Indonesia: cheap, quick, and able to slip through gridlock that leaves cars standing still. But it is not always the right call.
Book a motorbike (GoRide / GrabBike) when: you are alone, travelling light, in a hurry, or the traffic is heavy. It is the cheapest option and by far the fastest in a jam. The driver carries a spare helmet for you — always wear it, and hold on.
Book a car (GoCar / GrabCar) when: you have luggage, you are two or more people, it is raining, the trip is long, or you simply want air-conditioning and comfort. Prices are still very reasonable by Western standards.
A gentle safety note: motorbike traffic in Indonesia moves fast and rules are loose. If you are not comfortable on two wheels, there is no shame in always choosing the car — it is barely more expensive.
How do you use Grab or Gojek as a foreigner?
This is the part travellers worry about most, and it is genuinely simple. You do not need to speak Indonesian and you do not need a local bank account. Here is the flow from zero:
Download the app and register with a phone number. A foreign number works, but a local SIM or eSIM (cheap to buy on arrival) makes verification and driver calls much smoother.
Set your destination by dropping a pin on the map, not by typing the address. Indonesian addresses confuse apps, so move the pin to the exact spot — this is the single biggest thing that prevents a driver getting lost.
Choose motorbike or car and read the fare. The price shown is the price you pay; there is nothing to haggle.
Pick how you pay. Cash works on both apps — just carry small notes. Or top up the in-app wallet (GoPay on Gojek, GrabPay or OVO on Grab) at any Indomaret or Alfamart minimarket, which also unlocks small discounts.
Match with your driver and check the vehicle plate and name before getting in. The driver may call or message to find you, so a word or two of Indonesian helps here.
One honest caveat, mostly in Bali: in a few areas — parts of Ubud, some beaches and villa clusters — local driver associations restrict app pickups. Your booking still works, but you may be asked to walk a couple of minutes to a pickup point on a bigger road. It is a minor quirk, not a dealbreaker.
It also helps to recognise how addresses are written: "Jalan" (often shortened to "Jl.") means street, "Gang" ("Gg.") is a small alley, and "No." is the house number. So "Jl. Monkey Forest No. 8" is number 8 on Monkey Forest Street.
What about taxis, Bluebird and local transport?
The apps do not cover everything, so it is worth knowing the alternatives — and which ones to trust.
Bluebird taxis — the reputable metered taxi company, easy to spot by their sky-blue cars and bird logo. Insist the driver runs the meter ("argo"), or simply book a Bluebird through the Gojek or Grab app to lock in a fair fare. Avoid unmarked cars and pushy "transport?" touts at airports and tourist spots.
Angkot and bemo — shared minivans that follow loose fixed routes for a tiny flat fare, paid in cash. There is no schedule; you flag one down, hop in, and call out to be let off. They are the authentic, ultra-cheap local option, though slower and less predictable.
Between islands and cities — Java has a comfortable, scenic train network (book through the official KAI / Access by KAI app), while ferries link the islands and low-cost domestic flights cover the long distances. For these, plan ahead rather than relying on an app taxi.
What Indonesian phrases do you need to get around?
The apps handle most of the navigation, but the moment you are in a taxi, on an ojek, or squeezed into an angkot, a few direction words turn you from a passenger into someone in control. Say them with a smile and drivers warm up instantly.
Berhenti di sini — Stop here.
Belok kiri / belok kanan — Turn left / turn right.
Lurus terus — Keep going straight.
Putar balik — Turn around (make a U-turn).
Di depan — Just ahead / up front.
Pelan-pelan — Slowly, please (very handy on a motorbike).
Tunggu sebentar — Wait a moment.
Kiri! — the single word passengers call out to get off an angkot.
Sampai sini saja — This is far enough, here is fine.
And for anything without a fixed app price — a metered taxi you suspect is off, or an angkot — the essential question is about cost. "Berapa ongkosnya?" means "how much is the fare?", and "berapa" on its own ("how much?") is the single most useful word you can carry. Knowing your Indonesian numbers so you can actually understand the answer is, quietly, the biggest upgrade to your whole trip.
Getting around like a local, without the stress
Moving around Indonesia is not the ordeal it looks like from the pavement on day one. Open Grab and Gojek, drop your pin accurately, keep small cash for the fare, and choose a bike or a car to fit the moment — that alone covers the vast majority of your trips. Layer on a few direction words and you stop merely being driven around and start steering: fairer rides, easier conversations, and the quiet confidence of someone who knows how the place works. The best preparation is spending a little time with the language before you go. Learn your numbers and travel phrases with IndoLingua (indolingua.fr) — a few short lessons and you will step off the plane already able to tell any driver exactly where to take you.
Questions fréquentes
Is Grab or Gojek better in Bali and Indonesia?
Neither wins everywhere — install both and compare. Gojek is the Indonesian super-app with the deepest local coverage, while Grab also works across the rest of Southeast Asia. On any given trip, one may be slightly cheaper or have a closer driver, and checking both takes only a few seconds.
Can I use Grab or Gojek without an Indonesian phone number?
Yes. You can register with your own number, and cash is accepted on both apps so you do not need a local bank account. That said, a cheap local SIM or eSIM makes verification smoother and lets the driver call you if they cannot find the pickup point.
How do I pay for Grab or Gojek — cash or e-wallet?
Both. Cash is accepted on both apps, so simply carry small rupiah notes. If you prefer cashless, top up the in-app wallet (GoPay on Gojek, GrabPay or OVO on Grab) at any Indomaret or Alfamart minimarket; paying in-app is convenient and sometimes unlocks small discounts.
Is it safe to take a motorbike taxi (ojek) in Indonesia?
For most people, yes. Booking through Grab or Gojek gives you a tracked, priced ride, and the driver carries a spare helmet — always wear it. Traffic moves fast, though, so if you are not comfortable on two wheels, choose a car instead; it is only slightly more expensive.
How do I tell a driver in Indonesian to stop or turn?
The key phrases are "berhenti di sini" (stop here), "belok kiri" (turn left), "belok kanan" (turn right) and "lurus terus" (keep going straight). On a shared angkot van, passengers simply call out "kiri!" to be let off. A friendly tone goes a long way.
Pour aller plus loin
Commencez maintenant — gratuitement
IndoLingua propose un parcours structuré A1 → C2 spécifiquement pour l'indonésien : 180 leçons, professeur conversationnel IA, flashcards à répétition espacée. Le plan Découverte est gratuit, sans carte bancaire.