During your stay in Indonesia, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the local currency: the Indonesian rupiah. To make things easier, we've prepared this article to provide some explanations and practical advice, particularly regarding the unique characteristics of this currency, exchange rates, and the various ways to obtain it.

A Brief History

The Indonesian rupiah is the national currency of Indonesia. First issued in 1946, it has the ISO code IDR (for Indonesian Rupiah) and Rp as its monetary symbol.

The Distinctive Features of the Indonesian Rupiah

Currently, seven denominations of banknotes and five denominations of coins are in circulation.

Indonesian Banknotes

Regarding banknotes, there are seven in total: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, and 100,000 RP notes. Each banknote is a different color and features an emblematic Indonesian figure.

Note:

The 10,000 and 100,000 banknotes look very similar. We advise you to be careful not to confuse them. If you need to make purchases at night or in dimly lit places, avoid rushing and take time to verify that you have the correct banknote you intend to use.

Indonesian Coins

There are also five coin denominations: 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 Rp.

Exchange Rate

The Indonesian rupiah is among the few currencies whose exchange rate exceeds 5,000 units against the euro.

To give you an idea of the value of this currency, according to the exchange rate in May 2018, 1€ is equivalent to 16,700 Rp. Remember to check exchange rates before your vacation departure.

How to Obtain Rupiah in Indonesia?

When traveling to a country with its own currency, it's common to exchange money at the airport for security reasons. However, this isn't always the best option. If you don't check the day's exchange rate, you risk exchanging your money at ridiculously poor rates. To exchange your currency, prefer reliable money exchange offices such as BMC. They are professional and always offer the best exchange rates. Be aware that rates can vary considerably from one city and island to another.

You can also use ATM machines, with your regular card, to obtain rupiah during your stay in Indonesia. If you choose this option, inform your bank advisor in advance so your card isn't blocked. Also note that you can only withdraw between 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 Rp per day, or approximately 100 to 200 euros.

Check with your bank regarding any charges that may be deducted for each withdrawal abroad.