Visitors to Jakarta are usually here on business trips or layovers as they head to more exciting and popular destinations such as Bali, Yogyakarta or Singapore. Not many stop to think if there is anything worthwhile to actually do in and around Jakarta, and if the city has much to offer to outsiders. The thing is, it actually has plenty, and not all of it is high end shopping! Places such as Kebun Raya Bogor have been getting popular in recent years for those looking for a good way to while away a day. The other place that is a lot more local, easy to access and steeped in Jakartan history, is the old town of Batavia, known these days as Kota Tua.
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Table of Contents
- About Kota Tua
- What to expect at Kota Tua
- Things to do at Kota Tua
- How to get to Kota Tua
- Where to stay
- Can I take a Tour?
- Summary
About Kota Tua
Kota Tua Jakarta means, literally, Jakarta Old Town. It is the original downtown settlement of Batavia, founded by the Dutch hundreds of years ago, and was a key port on the spice route through South East Asia. The city rose in importance during the 17th century and over that period became one of the main cities for the Dutch East India Company. What is left today are the remnants of the original walled city built during that period, and the buildings left standing are stark reminders of the Dutch influence of early Jakarta.
It is important to note that up until a hundred years ago, Batavia only had around 150,000 residents. In the period since then, Jakarta, as it is known now, has seen such massive and rapid growth that it now boasts over 28 million people. Kota Tua, being the original settlement, stands to this day as a reminder of what once was.
What to expect at Kota Tua
Put simply, museums and old buildings. This is what you will find in Kota Tua. It is much more than that though, and it only takes more than just a simple stroll through the streets to find out that Kota Tua is a silent, if not hidden, gem for tourists and locals alike.
The main square in Kota Tua is Fatahillah Square, and was named after a local “Hero” in Jakartan History. Fatahillah was the man who turned the Old and original Batavia into Jayakarta, (now Jakarta) and set the city on the path to where it is today. Most of the prominent buildings that you will find in modern day Kota Tua face onto this square.
Take a wander around this square, plus a couple of the surrounding streets and you will see what Kota Tua is about. Large pillared buildings of Dutch designs line the streets and canals. Artists, actors and craftsmen line the streets putting on displays and selling their services and goods. For a good, fun day out, strolling through Kota Tua will actually make you forget, briefly, that you are in one of the largest cities in the world. Indeed, at times you will have to remind yourself that you are even in South East Asia!
Things to do at Kota Tua
There are plenty of things to do in Kota Tua. On my most recent visit, I thought we would be there for only a couple of hours at most, and ended up racing to get home at a decent hour for dinner. Kota Tua can really sneak up on you, and every time you visit you will find more to do and see.
Things to do in Kota Tua:
- Check out the Dutch Architecture – This is the most obvious thing to do when in Old Town Jakarta, as the buildings are all from that period. Many have fallen into a state of disrepair, which is a shame, but their grand personality still remains. The area is very popular for photographers too, and the light at certain times of day really lends itself to some amazing shots.
- Browse a Museum – There are no less than half a dozen museums clustered around the Kota Tua area. The Jakarta History Museum is the most prominent, and gives visitors a real feel for the area and the history of Batavia. There is the Maritime Museum, Bank Museum and even a Puppetry Museum!
- Take a Peak into the old Gaol Cells – Beneath the Jakarta History Museum, and technically a part of the museum itself, are the old Goal Cells. Step inside and see how small the cells were (particularly the Female Cells) and see the old ball and chains that prisoners were cuffed to for years on end.
- Take a Bicycle ride around Fatahillah Square – OK, so this is a bit “touristy” but it is something that has become a bit of a “fad” in Kota Tua. For a minimal price of only a couple dollars you can hire a colorful pushbike and ride around the famous square while the attendant takes photos of you. Great for your Instagram feed!
- Grab a bite to eat in Batavia Cafe – Batavia Cafe is one of the oldest buildings in Kota Tua, and was once the offices of some very prominent companies way back in its hey day. These days it is a grand cafe, and maintains a 1930’s feel to its decor and setting. There are so many photos lining the walls, and quaint furniture filling the interior, that you will spend hours just having a cup of coffee.
- Ham it up with the street actors – See those statues lining the streets? Well, most of them are not actually statues. They are very talented actors, and if you look at one long enough, they might just wink at you. Drop a tip in their jar, and they will probably even allow you to pose for photos with them…
- See a puppet show – Puppets are a BIG part of the culture in Jakarta, and along with the Wayang Museum (puppet museum) you can actually catch a traditional puppet show as well. The puppeteers in Kota Tua are so famous that they have performed for Presidents and famous stars from all over the world. They do regular gigs for the local embassies, as well as their weekly local performances.
Many of the things you can do in Kota Tua will just be found by wandering the streets. Keep an open mind and be on the lookout for excitement. Something is SURE to pop up. Last time we were there, we stumbled upon a great local puppeteer who gave us a tour of his studio and a quick lesson in how he designs and creates his puppets. A long kept family tradition! This all came about from running into him and striking up a conversation in his family stall when we were buying a bottle of water!
How to get to Kota Tua
Getting to Kota Tua is pretty easy. Being one of the most popular tourist areas in Jakarta, it is on all the local routes. Public transport stops right at its front door, and runs regularly.
Probably the best way is via the local free bus service, the Jakarta Explorer. This service is made for tourism, and runs on several routes around Jakarta, stopping at prominent locations. One of these is Kota Tua, and you will find the main stop just near the Bank Museum, which is a good spot to hop on or off when visiting the area. Check out the photo below of some of the routes these buses take.
Behind this main bus stop is also the main train station, so this is another option to get to Kota Tua. The pick is definitely the bus though, as it is free, and price doesn’t come any better than that!
The normal bus services (paid) also run to Kota Tua, and even though it is a paid service, it is worth noting that the fare is only about 30c USD. So “almost” free!
Other transport options for those that want to experience a bit of “local” experience, are Angkots or Bajaj. If you have been to Bogor, you will know exactly what an Angkot is, and you will have to do a bit more homework to know which ones to take, depending on where you are coming from. I personally love the Bajaj, which are similar to TukTuk’s or auto rickshaws you will get in other countries.
If you are visiting Monas, the bus stops around the perimeter are an easy place to grab the bus to Kota Tua. The free bus runs through here, as well as the normal bus. Combining a trip to Monas with a stop by Kota Tua is a great day out! Check out the photo below for what the city of Jakarta recommends..
Where to stay
As I covered above, it is easy to access Kota Tua from anywhere in Jakarta. Mostly visitors will be staying centrally, but in this list I will include a couple local to the Kota Tua area.
Mercure Jakarta Batavia
Locally in Kota Tua and highly rated on both Booking.com and Agoda.
Wonderloft Hostel
Cheaper Hostel option in Kota Tua area that is also highly rated.
Mercure Jakarta Sabang
Right near Monas (National Monument) and public transport.
Hotel Borobudur Jakarta
A little more expensive but located in a prime spot with 5 stars rating.
There are literally thousands of hotels to choose from in Jakarta. Click the button below to get an overall view of what is on offer!
Can I take a Tour?
Yes you can!
There are some wonderful tours you can do, such as THIS ONE, that will take you through all the best of what there is to offer at Kota Tua. Visit the main Museum, see the architecture and mingle with the crowds in the streets. There is even a stop in Chinatown, which itself holds a prominent place in Jakartan history.
To see more on what that tour offers, simply click the button below.
Summary
Kota Tua is a place that I would highly recommend visiting when in Jakarta. Along with Monas, it is one place that I would personally say every visitor to Jakarta should get along to at least once. It has its own unique vibe and atmosphere that cannot be matched anywhere else in the city. In fact, I would say that it is unique in all of Indonesia.
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Thanks for reading!
J
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