The 13 essential things to do in Jakarta

Are you going to Indonesia? Enjoy it to visit Jakarta! Discover our selection of the must-see places of the capital.

In the heart of the Indian Ocean, the island of Java houses a huge city called Jakarta: it is the capital of the Indonesian archipelago. Second most populous city in the world after Tokyo This tentacular octopus vibrates day and night. Buildings, business districts, cultural museums, popular neighborhoods... Jakarta constantly oscillates between tradition and modernity. Despite its traffic jams and pollution, it enjoys a constantly evolving cultural and gastronomic dynamism. Its inhabitants bring their marvellous mix of cultures and beliefs, which each year affluent the 17,000 islands of Indonesia, in search of a better life. The city has so many surprises!

What are you looking for in Jakarta? So read our selection of the 13 must-see places to visit in this amazing megalopolis!

1. Kota Tua District

Kota Tua means Old town , and it is certainly by this neighborhood that you will start visiting Jakarta. Apart from the giant megalopolis, it combines the bourdonant streets of the Chinese quarter of Glodok and the vestiges of the Dutch colonial past of Kota. In Chinatown, stroll through the oldest Chinese houses in Jakarta, walk through the traditional market and admire Chinese calligraphy artisans.

The district of Kota Tua, also known as the Old Batavia, bears witness to the colonial era of Indonesia. There are old palaces with Dutch architecture.

2. Fatahillah Square

Amid the historic heart of Jakarta, the square bears the name of a Muslim warrior from Aceh, who conquered the port of Sunda Kelapa in 1527. Many museums are Fatahillah square, such as the Sejarah Museum and the city’s history museum. The places are particularly alive for weekends. Go on the weekend, when Indonesian youth comes to exchange with tourists to practice their English!

Take the time to drink a drink at the café Batavia, an institution in Jakarta. Built in the 19th century, it served in turn as a residence, warehouse, office until its coffee restoration in 1992. Its colonial atmosphere and Dutch cuisine will immerse you in the time of the Dutch Indies.

3. Fatahillah Museum

Built in 1627 as a town hall of the Dutch colonial era, the Stadhuis (or Town Hall) is located on Fatahillah Square. It now houses the Jakarta History Museum. European architecture is also known as the Batavia Museum and Fatahillah Museum.

Inside, 37 rooms tell the story of the city, period by period. The rooms feature objects from the colonial era, including furniture from the eighteenth century. Among the major points of interest of the place are the cachot where the Indonesian freedom fighter, the Indonesian freedom fighter Prince Diponegoro , was imprisoned. A tip: finish your visit by the museum gardens, one of the city's prides!

4. Jakarta Arts Building or Gedung Kesenian Jakarta

Do you like theatre and concerts? Don't miss the Jakarta Arts Building when you come to visit Jakarta! Temple of Indonesian scenic art, it offers all year round events and performances given by local and foreign artists. The Dutch colonial style of the building makes it a place worthy of interest, even without attending a show.

5. The National Museum of Indonesia

This Greco-Roman-style museum was built in 1868. A building was then added in 2007. We call him too Museum Gajah from the passage of King Rama V of the kingdom of Siam. The latter offered a bronze statue representing an elephant to the Indonesian people. It is exhibited today in the garden at the entrance of the museum. The site houses a collection of more than 115,000 objects, dating from Prehistory to the 19th century.

The National Museum of Indonesia is certainly one of the most fabulous places for amateurs and amateurs of Javanese ceramics and Southeast Asian art.

6. The Museum wayang

Do you like cultural outings and are looking for what to do in Jakarta in this field? The Museum wayang should satisfy you! The wayang is a theatre of traditional shadows of the islands of Java and Bali . Since 2008, he has been a member of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This museum is among the most famous in Indonesia. The puppeteers are talented there, their figures are beautiful with their clothes and color-blow masks. High-quality representations are offered to visitors, who take advantage of the gestures of millimetre dances and traditional music.

7. MONAS or Monumen Nasional

Situated on the square in front of the Presidential Palace, MONAS symbolizes the struggle for independence of Indonesia, proclaimed on August 17, 1945. This 137 metre tall building is one of Jakarta’s identity symbols. Inaugurated in 1975 by President Suharto, it is made of Italian marble and has a gold flame of 14 kg. You can take a lift to its top against some Indonesian rupees.

However, better come in the morning during the week to observe the city and nearby monuments without the crowd. At the entrance, a small museum traces the history of Indonesia and its struggle for independence.

8. The Great Mosque Istiqlal

Visiting Jakarta can not be done without passing through the great Istiqlal Mosque! This city’s landmark is indeed the largest mosque in all of Southeast Asia! Almost 120,000 faithful gather regularly. It is impossible not to find it: wherever you are, you will hear the calls to prayer.

Located just in front of the magnificent Cathedral of St. Mary of Jakarta, its main rectangular dome surmounted by another dome in the form of hemisphere of 45 meters in diameter is adorned with gilding and ornamentation. Even if you are not a Muslim, you can enter its gardens and admire its exterior. The mosque is so large that you will feel little by her side.

9. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Jakarta

The only cathedral in Jakarta is such a majestic and atypical place in the landscape of the Indonesian capital. Indeed, the country has only 3% Catholics. Built in a neo-Gothic style in the early 19th century, it was then destroyed by a fire in 1826, before being rebuilt in 1901.

Its facade seems of stone, yet it is many red bricks covered with plaster with motifs that compose it. Inside, sculptures with Dutch influences are admired, like the imposing altar. The ceiling is made of teak wood, designed to withstand earthquakes.

10. The National Gallery of Indonesia

Are you amateur or art lovers? Visiting Jakarta is not just about its historical and religious monuments. The National Gallery of Indonesia offers permanent and temporary collections of Indonesian and international artists. A wide range of styles and periods is explored. Among the 1,700 works of art exhibited are those of the Indonesians Raden Saleh, Affandi, Basuki Abdullah. You will also see pieces by Wassily Kandinsky, Hans Hartung, Victor Vasarely, Sonia Delaunay or Pierre Soulages.

This cultural institution plays an important role in raising public awareness of works of art through the preservation, development and exhibition of visual arts.

11. Place Shitka

This huge public square of 1 km2, also known as the “Place of Independence” or “Place of Liberty”, is ranked second highest in the world after the Xinghai Square in Dalian, China . In its center stands the Monas, surrounded by some green spaces. The city-dwellers come to walk, run or cycle, to escape traffic. Official ceremonies and events also take place.

12. The port of Sunda Kelapa

The port is an unusual place to discover. Old wooden boats, old schooners phinisi Two masts come to this port since the 12th century. Once a hub of the spice trade during the Dutch colonial period, it is now a starting point between Jakarta and the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

From Jakarta, these boats carry raw materials, such as Meranti wood or teck. They then leave with cement, rice and kapok. By taking the time to stroll and chat with sailors, you may be offered to board or to go for a ride between boats.

13. Ancol Dreamland

Located northeast of the modern city centre, Ancol Dreamland is home to a vast leisure park located on the seafront. This space is ideal for visiting Jakarta with family. It has a giant oceanarium, a large water park, a lagoon for fishing and canoeing, a theme park and rides that will certainly appeal to children. The natural setting is very pleasant and perfect to change Jakarta's infernal rhythm.

How to get to Jakarta?

Many airlines serve Indonesia and reach the city of Jakarta from France. Most international flights stop in Singapore before landing at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. By going to a site like Ulysses , you can compare prices of flights according to your travel dates. Once you arrive at Jakarta Airport, there are different ways to reach the city centre, 40 kilometres away:

• The train: Since 2018, a train connects Soekarno-Hatta Airport to the centre in 55 minutes. It is an ideal solution to avoid the city’s monster traffic (it often takes more than double time by car to make the journey);
• The bus: This is the most economical way to reach the Gambir train station located in the centre and close to the accommodation. You have to take the local DAMRI bus. On leaving the airport terminal, follow the sign indicating bus shelters;
• The cab: the easiest way to reach your hotel. Prefer BlueBird or Silver Bird companies that have a good reputation;
• Motor-taxi: We call them. ojek and they are very practical to bypass the problem of Jakarta traffics. Of course, if you’re loaded with a suitcase, it can be quite complicated, but can be done with a medium-sized backpack.

Where to stay in Jakarta?

Like most cities in Indonesia, staying in Jakarta is affordable. As the capital is huge, you will certainly have to choose your accommodation according to the places you want to visit.

The most frequented areas by expatriates are Jakarta Centre (Jakarta Pusat), Jakarta Sud (Jakarta Selatan), and Jakarta East (Jakarta Timur).

To find the best value for money to sleep in Jakarta, the best is to do a search on a Compare hotels, by entering your dates of stay.

You now have all the keys to visit Jakarta. We only have to wish you a good trip!