Indonesia's New Tourism Face: Snackpacking, Gen Z Traveling While Hunting for Local Snacks

Travelling does not always mean visiting beaches, Mountain Hiking, or heading to popular tourist spots just to take photos. Among Generation Z, a new travel trend has emerged that offers a different way to experience a city: Snackpacking, exploring an area while hunting for local street snacks, most especially at traditional markets.

This trend turns local markets into part of the Travel Experience itself. Far from just being places to buy food, markets provide the chance to understand local community habits, interact directly with vendors, and taste authentic cuisine that defines a region's identity.

For Gen Z, this type of experience holds unique appeal. Trips feel far more connected to local daily life, itineraries are completely flexible, and every snack discovered becomes an interesting story worth sharing on social media.

Snackpacking is also very budget-friendly. With a budget of only around IDR 50,000 to IDR 100,000, travellers can sample a wide variety of snacks, depending on pricing and food options available at each location.

Why Is Snackpacking So Popular With Gen Z?

There are several reasons snackpacking continues to grow in popularity among Young Travellers.

First, snackpacking delivers a far more authentic experience. Traditional markets offer one-of-a-kind atmosphere: the scent of fresh food, the calls of vendors, the back-and-forth of bargaining, and warm human interactions that cannot be found in modern shopping malls.

Second, Culinary Tourism gives visitors full freedom to set their own pace. Travellers can wander from stall to stall, try small portioned dishes, then continue their exploration whenever something catches their interest.

Third, traditional markets have strong visual appeal. The bright colours of the snacks, how vendors present their food, and the bustling lively atmosphere of the market all make excellent content for TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

However, snackpacking is not just a trend for creating social media content. This growing interest in local cuisine also creates an opportunity for Young Generations to learn about the richness of Indonesian Culture through everyday food.

From Sumatra all the way to Papua, every region has its own unique snacks, local produce, and culinary traditions. Traditional markets are one of the best places to begin this journey of discovery.

1. Pasar 16 Ilir, Palembang: From Pempek to Kemplang Crackers

Located in Palembang, South Sumatra, Pasar 16 Ilir is the perfect starting point for snackpacking in the city. Situated in the commercial district right beside the Musi River, this market is alive with the rhythm of the city, lined with stalls, constant trade activity, and all the daily needs of local residents.

Travellers can hunt for all kinds of Palembang Signature Cuisine here: bite-sized pempek fish cakes, tekwan soup, model dumplings, as well as kemplang and other traditional crackers. For those with a sweet tooth, maksuba cake and lapis kojo layer cake are also well worth seeking out.

The most enjoyable way to explore this market is to order small portions of multiple dishes. This way, your culinary adventure will not end after just one meal.

Once you have finished sampling snacks, you can continue along the Musi River waterfront to enjoy the riverside atmosphere and learn about Palembang's historical side. In one single trip, you can combine culinary exploration, market culture, and city sightseeing.

2. Pasar Santa, Jakarta: Local Snacks Meet Creative Culture

In Jakarta, Pasar Santa offers an atmosphere perfectly aligned with youth Lifestyle. This market is famous for its food and drink stalls, Coffee shops, and small creative businesses, making a visit here feel very different from an ordinary traditional market.

Snackpackers can grab coffee from tiny local kiosks, try kue cubit mini pancakes with all kinds of toppings, modern fusion snacks, and dishes that blend classic local flavours with contemporary presentation.

Pasar Santa's appeal goes far beyond food. Many stalls also sell collectible goods including vinyl records, old books and magazines, accessories, and locally made creative products.

This combination of food and community-made goods makes Pasar Santa ideal for travellers wanting to discover a different side of Jakarta. Visitors can sample food, hunt for unique finds, and witness first-hand how this market space has adapted alongside modern urban pop culture.

3. Lok Baintan Floating Market, South Kalimantan: Snack Shopping From Boats

While most markets are explored on foot, the Lok Baintan Floating Market offers an entirely different experience. All trade activity takes place right on the river, with vendors operating from small boats carrying fresh farm produce, food ingredients, and Traditional Food.

The early morning atmosphere is the heart of this experience. Boats drift close to one another as buyers and sellers make transactions, showcasing the river-based traditions that remain an integral part of Banjar community life.

For food, travellers can try sweet soft bingka cake, Barabai apam steamed cakes, assorted wet traditional cakes, and fresh local fruits. Those after a more filling meal can also opt for lontong orari rice dish.

At Lok Baintan, snackpacking is about much more than just eating. Visitors also get to observe how local people interact, bargain, and use the river as their everyday public space.

This experience makes travel feel deeply connected to local traditions, and offers a completely different kind of visit compared to dining at restaurants or modern food centres.

4. Pasar Ngasem, Yogyakarta: Traditional Cuisine Right Next To Historical Sites

Yogyakarta has its own special way of catering to food-loving travellers. Pasar Ngasem is an excellent addition to any snackpacking itinerary, especially for visitors who want to enjoy local snacks while also exploring Heritage Zones.

At this market, travellers will find all kinds of classic market snacks and Yogyakarta signature dishes. Gudeg young jackfruit stew makes a perfect main meal, while warm wedang ginger drinks are ideal for relaxing after wandering the market aisles.

Visitors can easily adjust their choices to match their travel budget, with a wide range of affordable food prices. You can also sample multiple different snacks at once for a more varied culinary experience.

Another major advantage is that Pasar Ngasem is located very close to the Taman Sari Water Palace. Once you have finished exploring the food stalls, you can continue your trip by visiting this historical complex.

This combination of cuisine and Historical Tourism makes snackpacking in Yogyakarta feel fully rounded. Travellers do not only get to taste the region's signature flavours, they also gain an understanding of the city's Cultural Heritage.

5. Pasar Hamadi, Jayapura: Discovering The Flavours Of Papua

Located in Jayapura, Papua, Pasar Hamadi offers visitors a chance to experience coastal community life while discovering the region's rich local produce. This market is always bustling with trade of fresh seafood, vegetables, tropical fruits, spices, and all daily household needs.

For snackpackers, a visit to Pasar Hamadi is the perfect opportunity to try sago-based snacks, bagea cookies, various prepared fish dishes, and other local Traditional Food.

Sago is a staple ingredient deeply tied to Papuan culinary tradition. Trying sago-based dishes is an excellent first step to understanding the diverse food resources and eating customs of communities in eastern Indonesia.

Pasar Hamadi also offers Cultural Experiences beyond just food. Travellers can also find local handicrafts including the traditional woven noken bag, plus accessories and artworks that reflect the identity of local communities.

This means that a trip to Pasar Hamadi is not just about hunting for snacks, it is also an opportunity to learn about Papua's cultural richness through food, crafts, and interactions with local people.

Snackpacking Opens New Opportunities For Indonesian Tourism

The snackpacking trend holds the potential to bring widespread benefits for the tourism sector. When travellers choose traditional markets as a travel destination, small local businesses gain the chance to introduce their products to visitors from outside the region.

Street snack vendors, home food producers, craftspeople, and souvenir sellers all benefit from this growing interest in local Culinary Tourism. This trend can also encourage travellers to extend their trips by visiting nearby historical sites or other local attractions around the market.

Social media also plays an important role, helping regional cuisine reach much wider audiences. One single viral snack can spark enough curiosity to draw travellers all the way to visit and try it in person.

That said, developing snackpacking must be done with proper consideration for hygiene, visitor comfort, waste management, and preserving the market's core role as a living economic space for local residents. Traditional markets are not just backdrops for social media content, they are places where local people earn their living and go about their daily lives.

At the end of the day, snackpacking proves that a great trip does not require a large budget or travelling to faraway famous destinations. From pempek in Palembang to sago snacks in Jayapura, traditional markets offer a simple, genuine way to get to know Indonesia: through taste, through tradition, and through the stories of its people.