Jakarta is the biggest city in Southeast Asia. It is on the northwest coast of the island of Java. The megapolis is a mix of different countries and languages, and it has both tall skyscrapers and small neighborhoods. This Jakarta travel guide will help you make the most of your trip to this city of extremes. It tells you everything you need to know, from where to go and what to eat to where to go out at night and where to stay.
How much does it cost to go to Jakarta?
On average, a couple traveling to Jakarta will spend between USD 106 and USD 171 (INR 8,660 and 13,889) per day. This includes costs for food, travel, sightseeing, and lodging. For two people, a luxury holiday in Jakarta could cost between USD 212 and USD 717 (INR 17,321 and 58,582) per day. This estimate includes the average cost of a stay at a fancy hotel or vacation rental, as well as the costs of travel, food, and sightseeing.
When to go to Jakarta
Jakarta has tropical weather, which means it is hot and muggy and rains all year long. Jakarta has an average yearly temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. On average, 85 mm of rain falls there every year. Most of the time, there are only two seasons in the capital city: the dry season, from June to September, and the wet season, from October to April. The second one is also the winter season.
The way to get to Jakarta
Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) Airport, which is less than 30 km from the greater Jakarta area, is the province’s main airport. Jakarta Halim Perdana Kusuma (HLP) Airport is another airport close to the city. It is only 7.6 km away.
Visitors from other Indonesian towns, like Bali, can get to Jakarta by bus, ferry, or train.
Jakarta’s top places to see
The National Monument
The National Monument is one of the most famous places for tourists to visit in Jakarta. It is also known as Monas. The tower in the middle of Merdeka Square was built to remember the year 1945, when Indonesia became independent. The National History Museum is located in the 132-meter-tall building, which was finished in 1975.
From the Observation Deck of Monas, which is 115 m above the ground, you can see an amazing view of Jakarta. You can also walk around Merdeka Square’s park and check out some of the important buildings in the area, like the Istana Merdeka (the Presidential Palace), the new National Library, and the Museum Nasional (the National Museum).
Museum Layang-Layang
The best place to learn about Indonesia’s kite events is at the Jakarta Kite Museum. It looks like a cozy, traditional Indonesian house with a patio and has about 600 kites in it.
This museum walk starts with a movie about the history of kite flying and then goes on to show how kites are made and how they are flown. It’s a great place for you and your family to have fun together. Take one of their many classes to learn how to make kites, paint them, and a lot more. They even have classes for making ceramics, painting umbrellas, and other things.
Jakarta Cathedral
The Virgin Mary is honored by this catholic church in the style of neo-gothic, which is right next to the Istiqlal Mosque. Some of the beautiful things about the Jakarta Cathedral are its brick walls, iron towers, a design that looks like a cross, paintings, and statues. It is thought to be one of the best places to visit in the country, and both building fans and religious people go there, especially around Easter and Christmas.
Jin De Yuan
This is the largest of Jakarta’s more than 140 Chinese temples. The Jin De Yuan is in Chinatown, and people in the area call it Glodok. The temple is for Goddess Kwan Im and takes up 3,000 sq m of land. It is admired for its red pillars, yellow crown that looks like a water lily, fine carvings, dragon drawings, and calligraphy on the pillars.
The Jin De Yuan gets the most visitors, especially followers, during the Chinese New Year celebrations in January or February. The temple is visited by tourists all year long.
Plan your trip around the fact that the road to the temple is narrow and muddy.
Jakarta Chinatown
The Glodok Village in West Jakarta is one of the busiest places in the city and will give guests one of the most authentic Chinese experiences. Here, the narrow streets and alleys are filled with shops selling fresh fruit, vegetables, and spices, traditional Chinese food and medicine, tech malls, and temples like Dharma Bhakti Temple and Tan Seng Ong Temple.
Also, while you’re here, you might want to walk over to Pasar Asemka, a morning wholesale market for accessories, dolls, and stationery, and Pasar Pagi, a traditional market for veggies, fruits, meat, and fish.
National Gallery of Indonesia
Locally, the museum is known as the Galeri Nasional Indonesia. It is a great place for people who like art. The gallery is in the middle of Jakarta and has works by Raden Saleh, Hendra Gunawan, Hans Hartung, and other well-known local and foreign artists. Tourists can take pictures, so they can remember some of the best parts of their trip. Over 1,700 works of art are on display at the National Gallery to show off Indonesia’s culture and offer a place for fun.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
This tourist park in East Jakarta is great for people who want to learn about the past of Indonesia firsthand. The Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) is a place where you can walk through 33 miniature areas that show how the people of Indonesia live. One of the best things about the park is the lake in the middle, which is a small version of the Indonesian island. You can also ride a cable car, go to a museum, or see a show at the Keong Mas IMAX Theatre or the Tanah Airku Theatre.
Nightlife in Jakarta
Jakarta is one of the most famous big cities in Indonesia, and its nightlife is exciting. There are high-end restaurants with beautiful views of the city, classic bars, and open-air cafes where you can eat in peace.
Read the information below before going out to a party in Jakarta.
- There are strict dress codes at many parties in Jakarta. Men must wear nice clothes, like a shirt and shoes. Women need to wear a dress and high heels.
- On the weekend, the cost to get into a club can range from IDR 1,00,000 (INR 557) to IDR 3,00,000 (INR 1,671), and Indonesia has high taxes on alcohol.
Jakarta: What to Eat
When in Jakarta, the best way to eat real Indonesian food is on the street. Here are some delicious foods you have to try to get a real taste of the city.
Ketoprak
This unique tofu salad is a great way to start your day in Jakarta. The main ingredients of this classic dish are fried tofu, steamed rice cakes, and rice vermicelli noodles. The signature food also has bean sprouts, cabbage, and cucumbers mixed with a bit of sweet soy and peanut sauce. On top of the salad are fried onions and krupuk, which is a Javanese cracker.
Nasi Goreng
Nasi Goreng, Indonesia’s version of fried rice, is one of the country’s most famous dishes. It is made with rice that has been mixed with sweet soy sauce and dried shrimp paste. A fried egg is given on the side. Nasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih, which is in the center of Jakarta near the National Monument, is one of the best places to try this dish.
Shops in Jakarta
Pondok Indah Mall
This mall is a shoppers’ dream. It is in the upscale neighborhood of Pondok Indah. Locals call the mall “PIM,” and it is made up of three buildings: the old PIM 1, the PIM 2, and the new Street Gallery. These buildings are linked by walkways for people. The mall also has a shuttle bus service, a room for people with disabilities, a prayer room, a room for nursing mothers, and a valet that drives itself. You can also catch a show at one of the two theaters and go to the supermarket and department store.
Grand Indonesia Mall
The Grand Indonesia Mall is a great place to go shopping, and you should definitely go there. It is in Bundaran, a nice neighborhood in the middle of the city. The mall has two parts: the East Mall, which has eight floors, and the West Mall, which has nine floors. The complex is full of flagship shops, international brands, and boutiques like Cotton On, H&M, Gramedia, Pull & Bear, and Levi’s. The mall has more than 100 food and drink stands, including the only microbrewery in Jakarta, Paulaner Brauhaus.
