Jakarta, Indonesia. The second largest and most populous city in the world. Only Tokyo ranks above it, which places it well and truly in prestigious company. Jakarta has a completely different history to Tokyo, though, and a unique background. One that helped to shape the city that we know today. In this Guide to Jakarta we will explore a few facts, and find out what there is to do, and where to stay in the Indonesian capital.
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Table of Contents
- A bit about Jakarta
- What to do in Jakarta
- Day trips from Jakarta
- Where to stay in Jakarta
- How to get around in Jakarta
- Summary
A bit about Jakarta
Jakarta is the Capital City of Indonesia, and is located on the North West Coast of Java. It is the largest city in South East Asia, and due to its population is considered the second largest city in the world. That was not always the case, however, and considering it is the oldest continuously inhabited city in South East Asia, is also surprising.
Jakarta was founded in the early 1500’s, and was known then as Batavia. It was home to the Dutch East India Company, and for a time was its defacto capital. Jakarta existed then as just a small port city, and much of the original Dutch architecture still remains around the Kota Tua area.
These days, Jakarta is massive. The rapid growth has been astronomical in the past century, and infrastructure has not just struggled to keep up, but been left floundering in the background. Modern day Jakarta is overpopulated, suffers from massive traffic congestion, and is slowly sinking into the ocean.
For a few interesting facts about Jakarta, check out the link below.
What to do in Jakarta
As you would expect in a city so large, there is plenty to see and do in Jakarta. Just take a walk from your hotel, and you will find that you can wander the streets and not get bored. There is literally so much to see. I liken it to Tokyo in that regard. Minus the neon signs and unnaturally clean streets of the Japanese capital of course!
So let’s take a quick look in this Guide to Jakarta at some of the things to do when you are visiting:
- Take in the view from Monas – The Indonesian National Monument is a must see for any visitor to Jakarta. It is impossible to miss, and is located centrally in the city, presiding over everything else. If you go literally anywhere in the city of Jakarta, you have to pass by or around it. Do yourself a favor and stop and check it out!
- Spend a day in Kota Tua – Kota Tua is the “Old Town” of Jakarta, and is the remnants of the original Dutch Settlement. Back then it was known at Batavia, and the name still dominates many signs and old Dutch architecture in the area. Most notably the Batavia Cafe. Check out THIS article for more.
- Explore Indonesia at Taman Mini Indonesia – Taman Mini Indonesia is just what you would think it was, and more! It is a mini version of Indonesia, displaying and celebrating all 26 cultures in the forms of architecture, dance and clothing. There are 16 museums, 3 wildlife parks and a water park at Taman Mini, among plenty of other things!
- Take a trip to Pantai Ancol – Pantai Ancol is worth visiting due to the fact that there is so much to see and do. This is the “beach area” of Jakarta and is very popular with the locals. So popular, in fact that it gets absolutely packed on weekends and public holidays. There is a water park, theme park and shopping mall along with great boardwalks to take in the sights. Just don’t go swimming. The water is terribly polluted!
- Shop till you drop – Shopping in Jakarta is the under rated past time that you just HAVE to check out. The malls in the city are incredible, and you have over 130 to choose from. And they are no strip malls either. These are 9 story behemoths that you will literally get lost in!
- Eat until you nearly burst – Eating in Jakarta is almost a religion, and is definitely part of the culture. You will not do it tough trying to find your next meal, with western restaurants, local warungs and street food everywhere you look. Oh! And they are open at all hours, so if you want a Nasi Goreng at 3am, Jakarta has you covered!
- Visit Istiqlal Mosque or the Jakarta Cathedral – The incredible Istiqlal Mosque is located right near Monas, so is easy to find. It is the largest Mosque in South East Asia, and the 6th largest in the world in terms of worshiper capacity. It was constructed to commemorate Indonesian Independence, and the name Istiqlal is the Arabic word for Independence. Jakarta Cathedral is directly across the road. It is a very impressive structure, and is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jakarta.
Day trips from Jakarta
If you can’t find enough to do in and around Jakarta, then you always have the option to try a day trip or two. There are plenty of options, and amazing things to see within easy reach of the city. It wouldn’t be a good guide to Jakarta if I didn’t mention them.
Let’s have a look:
- Visit Kebun Raya Bogor – The amazing Botanical Gardens in Bogor are home to the Presidential Palace, and some of the most memorable Gardens you will find. Hire a bicycle as you tour the grounds, eat in the huge cafe, or check out the old Dutch Cemetery. You can even feed the reindeer!
- Take a trip to the mountains and Kebun Raya Cibodas – Another Botanical Gardens. This one is a branch of the Bogor Gardens, but is located high up in the mountains, making them a totally different experience. Check out why in THIS article.
- Go hiking in Sentul – The Sentul region near Bogor is famous for its amazing hiking and waterfalls. Not too far from Jakarta, a hiking trip will have you hitting the trails within a couple of hours after leaving your hotel.
- Take a fast boat to Anak Krakatau – This is something that very few tourists to Jakarta would even realize they can do. Anak Krakatau is the child volcano left from the amazing explosion of Mount Krakatoa. It is not far from Jakarta, and if you have the money, you can fast boat from Jakarta to visit it.
- Sail away to the Thousand Islands – The Thousand Islands lay just off Jakarta, and very few visitors even know they are there. I only found out when I flew over top of them! You don’t HAVE to go all the way to Bali for a tropical holiday, and if you are in Jakarta, a day trip out to the islands might be just what you need!
Where to stay in Jakarta
Next up in the Complete Guide to Jakarta is where to stay.
In such a HUGE city, it is hard to pick the very best places to stay. Sure, there are some amazing hotels, but what about if it is a long way from where you want to go? A hotel that is only a few kilometres from where your business meetings are being held, could end up being an hour away in Jakarta peak hour traffic. Likewise, if you are wanting to visit Monas, the Jakarta Cathedral or Istiqlal Mosque, then there is no point staying out near the airport.
Looking for the best Budget accommodation? Hostelworld have you covered with all of the very best budget friendly accommodation around town. Check them out at THIS LINK.
Therefore I have selected some of the best neighborhoods to stay in, and why, and will list links to those areas and hotels below. Happy hunting!
Menteng
Menteng is one of the more affluent districts in Jakarta. Famous for tree lined streets and parks, this is the place to stay if you want to go for early morning jogs. Take a stroll through the park, or find somewhere really nice to eat with plenty of dining option in the area. It will be more expensive than other areas, but that comes with the terrain when staying somewhere like this.
The best thing about choosing to stay in Menteng however, is its proximity to some of the most popular tourist attractions in Jakarta, such as Monas. Being within walking distance in a city with such bad traffic issues is certainly a bonus in my book.
Kota Tua
The Kota Tua area is Jakarta “Old Town”. If you love architecture and history, then staying in or around Kota Tua could be for you. Lined with beautiful old Dutch Buildings, and populated with no less than 9 museums, you will certainly not lack for things to do or to keep you occupied.
The other thing with Kota Tua is that it is very popular with Backpackers. The reason for this is the nearby nightclubs, strip clubs, and abundant street food. Things are a lot cheaper in the Old Town area, and there is also plenty of public transport options.
Ancol
The Ancol area is best for families as there are so many amazing things to do. Pantai Ancol is packed with entertainment, from a theme park, to a sea world and water park. There are boardwalks to stroll around and plenty of dining options. You can actually stay WITHIN the Ancol district, or just find accommodation nearby. Whatever suits you best.
Sudirman Central Business District
To wrap up places to stay in the Guide to Jakarta, we will have a quick look at Sudirman CBD.
The CBD is a good place to stay, depending upon what you are looking for. It is not exactly the best place for families, but can cater to singles and couples nicely. There are plenty of dining options, nightclubbing and entertainment.
The Sudirman Central Business District offers a lot of mid range accommodation options, as well as options in the backpacking budget.
In my opinion, Menteng is the best area to stay in Jakarta due to its location and beautiful tree lined streets. If you are on a budget and looking for nightlife, try Kota Tua instead.
How to get around in Jakarta
Next up in the Guide to Jakarta is how to get around. In any new city, this is one of the first questions that any visitor needs answered.
Getting around in Jakarta is surprisingly easy, due to the many different options available. This is not, of course, taking into account the worst traffic congestion in the world, of which Jakarta is the proud owner. There are plenty of ways you CAN get around Jakarta, so let’s take a look at some of them.
Trans Jakarta Bus
The Bus service in Jakarta is very good, and runs to all the major destinations and tourist attractions that you would want to visit. There must be at least half a dozen stops around Monas alone!
You can board the bus at any bus stop, and most of them have big signs with detailed maps of where they run. The ticketing system is pretty good too. Mostly they run on the “tap on, tap off” that dominates public transport all over the world. If you don’t have a card, then you can also buy tickets from a machine.
KRL Train
The main train service in Jakarta only really goes to specific places, but is a great option for getting to some outlying areas such as Bogor. Very comfortable, they even have specific carriages just for female passengers.
One interesting fact about the trains in Jakarta is that they are second hand trains from Tokyo. When Japan upgrades, so does Jakarta!
MRT
The MRT is mostly an underground railway and is accessible in the main CBD areas of Jakarta. If you want to get around just locally in this area, the MRT is a pretty good option.
Bajaj
The good old Bajaj is one of my favorite ways to get around in Jakarta. The Bajaj is such an institution in Jakarta, that this wouldn’t be a guide to Jakarta without mentioning them! They are mostly Blue or orange in color, and can be caught nearly anywhere off the main thoroughfares. Bajaj’s only have two seats, but they can get you around locally pretty fast as they are small and can fit through gaps you won’t get through in a taxi.
Angkot or Mikrolet
If you have been to Bogor you will know all about the Angkot. Actually, in Western Java nearly every town has them. In Bogor they are green, but in Jakarta they are blue. Basically an Angkot is a small mini-van that has bench seats in the back that run along the sides of the vehicle. They hold about 7 or 8 passengers (jammed in) and run between specific points. They are CHEAP, and if you can find the right one, they can save you a lot of money riding with the locals. If you are unsure then ask the driver. If that particular Angkot is not going the right way he will give you the number (painted on the windscreen) of the one you need.
A Mikrolet is similar to the Angkot but are slightly larger and different shape. Both serve the same purpose and operate the same way. If you want to travel like a local, give an Angkot a go, or grab a Bajaj.
Private Driver
The way that many Jakartans get around (if they have the money) and the best way to fight the gridlock, is to simply have someone else drive for you! If you have a car and a private driver, the sky is the limit for where you can go and what you can do. Get dropped off and picked up right at the front door. Just allow yourself enough time to get through the gridlock.
GoJek or Ojek
Both of these are motorcycle taxi services. Ojek was the original one, and you will find them on most street corners or near monuments and places of interest. If someone approaches you and asks if you want a lift on their motorcycle, don’t panic! It’s probably an Ojek operator.
The GoJek version is simply a more official operator that you can order online. Extremely popular all over Indonesia these days, they can give you a lift virtually anywhere, and even provide you with a helmet. The GoJek is also used for deliveries, food orders and even running errands like dropping goods and packages across town.
One note about getting around in Jakarta. There is an LRT train in construction, and you will see its overhead lines running through much of the cbd and even outlying areas. This construction came to a halt and is currently in limbo due to “misplaced” funds. When they DO complete it, though, it will be a game changer and provide a lot better service for Jakarta. I didn’t really cover it in this Guide to Jakarta as there is no completion date at this stage.
Summary
I really hope this guide to Jakarta has helped you out and now you know a little more about what to expect.
Jakarta sort of crept up on me as a tourist destination. I honestly did not realize there was so much to see and do, as it really takes a back seat to the rest of Indonesia. Having spent a fair bit of time there, though, I visited some wonderful places and learned a LOT about the country, culture and history. If you have the time, I would certainly recommend making the most of a long layover by getting out and seeing the city, exploring and trying some street food. You will not regret it!
Want to know more about Jakarta?
Do you want to know more, or read more about some of the things I have covered in this Guide to Jakarta? Then have a read of some of my specific articles about the things to do in the city. Simply hit the link below and enjoy!
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