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Expat Exchange - 10 Best Places for Families to Live in Indonesia
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Lunch at the Ragunan Zoo in Jakarta, Indonesia


10 Best Places for Families to Live in Indonesia

By Betsy Burlingame

William Russell
William Russell

Summary: In this article, we highlight some of the best places for international families to live in Indonesia.

If you're dreaming about moving with your family to Indonesia and haven't decided where to live, here are some of the best places for international families to live in Indonesia.

Jakarta

Jakarta

Jakarta is a vibrant city that offers a plethora of activities and facilities for international families. For children, the city boasts a variety of museums with interactive exhibits and activities, such as the Jakarta History Museum and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara, which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The city is also home to numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Ancol Dreamland, a large outdoor amusement park, and the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, a cultural-themed park that showcases the diverse cultures of Indonesia. For families interested in sports and fitness, Jakarta offers several athletic facilities. The Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, for instance, has a swimming pool, tennis court, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Jakarta Football Club and the Jakarta Junior Badminton Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Jakarta provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

"The local's lives revolve around work, getting to work and family affairs, photography and facebook but beyond that I can't comment. Expat lives revolve around work and family too of course but the family bit comes and goes. Many seem to let the nanny's take over and participate in a lot of Golf or women's organizations, and football/rugby. For us we travel, throw house parties, and participate in school activities," commented an expat living in Jakarta.

Bandung

Bandung is a great city for international families to reside in, offering a wide range of activities and facilities. For children, Bandung has several museums with engaging exhibits and activities, such as the Geology Museum and the Bandung Creative Hub, both of which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The city also boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Djuanda Forest Park, a large outdoor nature reserve, and the Bandung Taman Film, a unique outdoor cinema park. For families interested in sports and fitness, Bandung offers several athletic facilities. The Pusdiklat Persib Bandung, for instance, has a swimming pool, football field, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Bandung Raya Football Club and the Bandung Junior Badminton Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Bandung provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

Surabaya

Surabaya is a good city for international families to settle in, offering a diverse array of activities and facilities. For children, Surabaya is home to several museums with interactive exhibits and activities, such as the House of Sampoerna Museum and the Surabaya Zoo, both of which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The city also features numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Bungkul Park, a popular outdoor space for families, and the Ciputra Waterpark, the largest waterpark in Indonesia. For families interested in sports and fitness, Surabaya offers several athletic facilities. The Delta Sports Club, for instance, has a swimming pool, tennis court, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Surabaya Football Club and the Surabaya Junior Badminton Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Surabaya provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is an excellent place for international families to live, offering a variety of activities and facilities. For children, Yogyakarta is home to several museums with interactive exhibits and activities, such as the Affandi Museum and the Sonobudoyo Museum, both of which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The city also features numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Gembira Loka Zoo, a popular outdoor space for families, and the Jogja Bay Waterpark, one of the largest waterparks in Indonesia. For families interested in sports and fitness, Yogyakarta offers several athletic facilities. The Jogja National Museum, for instance, has a swimming pool, badminton court, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Yogyakarta Football Club and the Yogyakarta Junior Badminton Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Yogyakarta provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

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Bali

Bali

Bali is an ideal destination for international families to reside, offering a plethora of activities and facilities. For children, Bali boasts several museums with engaging exhibits and activities, such as the Bali Shell Museum and the Bali Children's World, both of which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The island also features numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Bali Safari and Marine Park, a popular outdoor space for families, and the Waterbom Bali, one of the best waterparks in Asia. For families interested in sports and fitness, Bali offers several athletic facilities. The Canggu Club, for instance, has a swimming pool, tennis court, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Bali Sports Foundation and the Bali Junior Soccer Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Bali provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

Medan

Medan is a great place for international families to reside, offering a wide range of activities and facilities. For children, Medan is home to several museums with interactive exhibits and activities, such as the Rahmat International Wildlife Museum & Gallery and the Tjong A Fie Mansion, both of which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The city also features numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Asam Kumbang Crocodile Park, a popular outdoor space for families, and the Hillpark Sibolangit, one of the largest amusement parks in Indonesia. For families interested in sports and fitness, Medan offers several athletic facilities. The Medan Club, for instance, has a swimming pool, tennis court, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Medan Football Club and the Medan Junior Badminton Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Medan provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

Semarang

Semarang is a great destination for international families to settle, offering a multitude of activities and facilities. For children, Semarang is home to several museums with engaging exhibits and activities, such as the Semarang Contemporary Art Gallery and the Ronggowarsito Museum, both of which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The city also features numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Marina Beach, a popular outdoor space for families, and the Water Blaster, one of the largest waterparks in Central Java. For families interested in sports and fitness, Semarang offers several athletic facilities. The Pandanaran Sport Center, for instance, has a swimming pool, badminton court, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Semarang Football Club and the Semarang Junior Badminton Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Semarang provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

Makassar

Makassar is a great place for international families to live, offering a variety of activities and facilities. For children, Makassar is home to several museums with interactive exhibits and activities, such as the Fort Rotterdam Museum and the Makassar Maritime Museum, both of which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The city also features numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Losari Beach, a popular outdoor space for families, and the Trans Studio Makassar, one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world. For families interested in sports and fitness, Makassar offers several athletic facilities. The Hasanuddin University Sports Center, for instance, has a swimming pool, badminton court, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Makassar Football Club and the Makassar Junior Badminton Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Makassar provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

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Batam

Batam is a great place for international families to live, offering a plethora of activities and facilities. For children, Batam is home to several museums with engaging exhibits and activities, such as the Batam Miniature Park and the Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Temple, both of which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The city also features numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Nongsa Beach, a popular outdoor space for families, and the Ocarina Park, one of the largest amusement parks in Batam. For families interested in sports and fitness, Batam offers several athletic facilities. The Harmoni One Convention Hotel and Suites, for instance, has a swimming pool, badminton court, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Batam Football Club and the Batam Junior Badminton Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Batam provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

Bogor

Bogor is a good place for international families to live, offering a wide range of activities and facilities. For children, Bogor is home to several museums with interactive exhibits and activities, such as the Bogor Zoology Museum and the Indonesian Heritage Museum, both of which regularly host workshops and events for young visitors. The city also features numerous parks and recreational areas, including the Bogor Botanical Gardens, a popular outdoor space for families, and the Jungle Water Adventure, one of the largest water parks in Bogor. For families interested in sports and fitness, Bogor offers several athletic facilities. The GOR Padjajaran, for instance, has a swimming pool, badminton court, and a gym that are open to the public. There are also several sports clubs that cater to children, such as the Bogor Football Club and the Bogor Junior Badminton Club, which offer training programs for kids. With its rich cultural offerings, recreational facilities, and sports clubs, Bogor provides a dynamic and enriching environment for international families.

About the Author

Betsy Burlingame Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.


William Russell
William Russell

William Russell
William Russell

Lunch at the Ragunan Zoo in Jakarta, Indonesia

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