Jakarta, Indonesia: travel guide
The political and economic capital of Indonesia and one of the world's largest megacities by urban population. Jakarta is a high-energy collision of gleaming SCBD skyscrapers, Dutch colonial Kota Tua, chaotic street markets, and world-class dining — the nerve centre of a 270-million-person nation undergoing a capital relocation to Nusantara in Borneo.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Currency
- IDR
- Time zone
- Asia/Jakarta
- Nearest airport
- CGK
Top places to visit in Jakarta
National Monument
Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry IDR 15,000
The National Monument, known to Jakartans as Monas, is a 132-metre marble obelisk crowned with a flame gilded in 35 kilograms of gold leaf, symbolizing the eternal spirit of Indonesia's struggle for independence. Commissioned by President…
Kota Tua
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 2 h
Kota Tua, Jakarta's Old Town, was the walled heart of Batavia, the Dutch East India Company's trading capital, laid out in the 1600s with canals modeled on Amsterdam. The cobblestone Fatahillah Square is ringed by colonial-era buildings…
Istiqlal Mosque
Mosque · 4.8 rating · about 1 h
Istiqlal Mosque is Southeast Asia's largest mosque, built to commemorate Indonesian independence and designed by a Christian architect, Frederich Silaban, who won a national design competition under President Sukarno. Completed in 1978…
Sarinah
Market · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h
Indonesias first department store, recently renovated into a modern cultural hub.
Jakarta Cathedral
Church · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h
Jakarta Cathedral, formally the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, is a neo-Gothic Catholic cathedral completed in 1901 under Dutch colonial rule, its twin spires and cast-iron structure imported piece by piece from the Netherlands. It…
Museum Nasional
Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · entry IDR 10,000
The National Museum, widely known as Museum Gajah — the Elephant Museum — for a bronze elephant statue gifted by the King of Siam in 1871 that still stands in its forecourt, is Indonesia's oldest and largest museum, with origins tracing to…
Ancol Dreamland
Activity · about 3 h · entry IDR 35,000
Large bayfront recreation complex with beaches, parks and attractions in North Jakarta.
Kalijodo Park
Nature · about 0.8 h
Riverside public park and skate space in North Jakarta.
Tebet Eco Park
Nature · about 1.3 h
Revitalised green park with connected canopy bridges in South Jakarta.
Jakarta Planetarium
Museum · about 1.3 h · entry IDR 10,000
Planetarium and observatory at Taman Ismail Marzuki.
Ragunan Zoo
Wildlife · 4.4 rating · about 4 h · entry IDR 4,000
Massive zoo and primate center in South Jakarta.
Grand Indonesia
Market · 4.7 rating · about 3 h
One of the largest lifestyle and shopping malls in Southeast Asia.
Things to do
- Ancol Dreamland & Sea World Sightseeing · 5 h · from IDR 228,000 per person
- Taman Mini Indonesia Indah Visit Cultural · 4 h · from IDR 152,000 per person
- Ragunan Zoo Family Day Sightseeing · 3 h · from IDR 76,000 per person
- Glodok Chinatown Food & Heritage Walk Food · 3 h · from IDR 228,000 per person
- Jakarta Coffee & Cafe-Hopping Tour Food · 3 h · from IDR 285,000 per person
- Jakarta Kota Tua (Old Town) Heritage Walk Cultural · 3 h · from IDR 250,000 per person
- National Monument (Monas) & National Museum Tour Cultural · 3.5 h · from IDR 200,000 per person
- Jakarta Street Food Night Tour Culinary · 3 h · from IDR 350,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Jakarta Full-Day City & Islands 10 h · from IDR 600,000
- Jakarta Food & Culture Immersion 9 h · from IDR 450,000
Where to stay in Jakarta
- Central Jakarta about IDR 4,500 per night
Business and government area with luxury hotels
Hotels
- The Dharmawangsa Jakarta 5-star · IDR 3,000,000 to IDR 10,000,000 per night
- The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Mega Kuningan 5-star · IDR 3,500,000 to IDR 14,000,000 per night
- Alila SCBD Jakarta 5-star · IDR 2,500,000 to IDR 8,000,000 per night
- Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta 5-star · IDR 2,800,000 to IDR 9,000,000 per night
- Mandarin Oriental Jakarta 5-star · IDR 3,000,000 to IDR 7,000,000 per night
- Plataran Menteng Jakarta 4-star · IDR 1,800,000 to IDR 4,500,000 per night
Where to eat
- Warung Kambing Cianjur Kebon Sirih Indonesian, Sundanese, Street Food · about IDR 60,000 per person
- Kota Tua Café Batavia International, Indonesian, Dutch Colonial · about IDR 200,000 per person
- Soto Betawi Haji Mahruf Indonesian, Betawi · about IDR 40,000 per person
- Plataran Menteng Restaurant Indonesian, Javanese, Dutch Colonial · about IDR 400,000 per person
- Taco Bell SCBD (Rooftop) International, Grill, Bar · about IDR 500,000 per person
- Namaaz Dining Indonesian, Molecular Gastronomy · about IDR 750,000 per person
- Sate Khas Senayan Indonesian · about IDR 150,000 per person
- Bakmi GM Chinese, Indonesian · about IDR 90,000 per person
Getting around
- Metro main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Scooter rental damage claim
Soekarno-Hatta Airport taxi touts · Glodok & Kota Tua area touts · fake "Blue Bird" metered taxis
Pre-existing damage is invoiced when you return the scooter — often Rp 2–5M.
How to avoid it: Video the scooter on pickup. Rent only via your hotel.