Asia > Indonesia > Nusantara (BPNn)
The Car or no Car advice for Nusantara can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Nusantara ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Nusantara ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Nusantara?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
ndonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, represents a dramatic shift away from Jakarta’s overcrowding and congestion. Built deep in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, it is designed as a planned, green, future-focused city rather than an organic, historic one. That alone makes it very different from most destinations people associate with Indonesia 🌿🏗️
Because Nusantara is still under development, travel here feels less like visiting a traditional city and more like navigating a large, evolving region. This raises a very practical question early on: should you rent a car in Nusantara?
Getting Around Nusantara Without a Car 🚶♂️🚌
At present, getting around Nusantara without a car is challenging. Public transport networks are still being built, and while future plans include buses, smart mobility systems, and pedestrian-friendly zones, coverage is currently limited.
Taxis and ride-hailing services operate mainly from nearby cities such as Balikpapan and Samarinda. For visitors, this often means relying on pre-arranged transport or drivers, which works for single trips but quickly limits flexibility ⏳
Walking and cycling may eventually become realistic within specific government or residential districts, but distances between zones are large, and the tropical climate can make this exhausting ☀️💦
Why Renting a Car Makes Sense in Nusantara 🚙🌴
For now, renting a car is the most practical way to move around Nusantara. Sites of interest — government complexes, observation areas, nature reserves, and infrastructure projects — are spread out across a wide area connected by highways rather than dense urban streets.
A car gives you:
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Control over timing and routes ⏱️
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Easier access to remote or unfinished districts 🛣️
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Comfort in heat and heavy rain 🌧️❄️
It also allows you to base yourself in Balikpapan or Samarinda and travel in and out of the capital area without relying on drivers for every journey.
What Makes Nusantara Different From Other Capitals 🏙️🌳
Unlike Jakarta, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur, Nusantara is not a city where life naturally clusters around public transport hubs. It has been designed around space, greenery, and decentralisation, which ironically makes private transport more important in its early years.
Until population density increases and public transport fully matures, Nusantara behaves more like a regional development zone than a walkable capital.
Conclusion – Should You Rent a Car in Nusantara? 🚗✅
Yes — at least for now, renting a car is strongly recommended.
Nusantara is vast, new, and still evolving. Public transport is limited, distances are long, and many key locations are unreachable without private transport. Renting a car offers flexibility, comfort, and realism in a city that has been designed for the future but is still catching up in the present.
In time, Nusantara may become one of Southeast Asia’s most transit-friendly capitals. For today’s visitor, however, a car is not a luxury — it’s a practical necessity.
🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table
This summary score brings how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, driver options, local driving rules, and an overall recommendation.
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