Jakarta Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Istiqlal Mosque featuring modern architecture, interior views and heritage architecture

Jakarta Travel Guide Video

The capital city of Indonesia is a bustling metropolis, famous for its colonial-era relics, beautiful mosques, plentiful shopping and family entertainment.

Jakarta is a destination of contrasts and that’s why it’s often referred to as the “Big Durian.” Like the local durian fruit, this city, located on the northwestern corner of the island of Java, has a layer of ruggedness yet is also bursting with rewarding flavour and colour. 

Start your exploration in the picturesque central district of Kota, formerly Batavia, where the cobblestoned square Taman Fatahillah still shows some Dutch influences. Trace the city’s history since the Stone Age at the Jakarta History Museum. Spot work by Indonesian artists at the Balai Seni Rupa gallery and Ceramics Museum.

Head to Jakarta’s historic port, Sunda Kelapa, and watch brightly painted fishing boats arrive from the outer islands. Learn about Indonesia’s naval history at the Maritime Museum, housed in a 17th-century spice warehouse.

Gaze up at the 450-feet (137-metre) tall National Monument (Monas Tower), in the heart of Medan Merdeka public square. Ride the elevator to the tower’s summit for impressive city views. Check out the ethnographic artifacts at the National Museum. Take a tour of the Presidential Palace or visit the sparkling white Istiqlal Mosque, which can host 120,000 devotees. Admire over 2,000 fabrics and materials at the Textile Museum.

Browse the market stalls of Jalan Surabaya for traditional Indonesian wayang puppets and sarongs. Sample the local street food, which mixes Arab, Chinese, European and Indian influences. Shop for high-end brands at Grand Indonesia or go to the out-of-town Living World, a huge retail and entertainment complex.

Ride the waterslides at Ocean Park or the roller coasters at Taman Impian Jaya Ancol (Ancol Dreamland). See replicas of traditional Indonesian houses at the Taman Mini Indonesia cultural park.

Jakarta is hot and smoggy and monsoon showers are frequent from November to March. Avoid the heat and rain by travelling between sights via low-cost taxis or the large bus network.

This fascinating city is the gateway to many of Indonesia’s natural treasures, including pristine coral reefs, volcanoes, surfing beaches and wildlife, such as orangutans and Komodo dragons.

Where to stay in Jakarta

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Central Jakarta

Central Jakarta is popular for its popular shops. Explore top sights like Farmer Statue and Sarinah Mall, and you can get around town on the metro at Bundaran HI MRT Station.

Central Jakarta
Menteng which includes modern architecture

Menteng

Discover Menteng, memorable for its monuments. Popular attractions in Menteng include Bundaran HI and Sarinah Mall, and you can see more of the area by hopping on the metro at Bundaran HI MRT Station.

Menteng
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Kuningan

Kuningan is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Kuningan City Mall and Ambassador Mall while in the area.

Kuningan
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Pantai Indah Kapuk

While visiting Pantai Indah Kapuk, you might make a stop by sights like Waterbom Jakarta and Pantjoran Chinatown PIK.

Pantai Indah Kapuk
Old Jakarta

Old Jakarta

4.5/5(11 area reviews)

Theme parks, shopping and cafes are some highlights of Old Jakarta. Make a stop by Jakarta History Museum or Mangga Dua Square while you're exploring.

Old Jakarta
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Setiabudi

Noted for its shopping and spas, there's plenty to explore in Setiabudi. Top attractions like Kuningan City Mall and Ambassador Mall are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Bendungan Hilir MRT Station or Bendungan Hilir Station to see more of the city.

Setiabudi
Fairfield By Marriott Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport
Fairfield By Marriott Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport
3.5 out of 5
Jl. Husein Sastranegara No.8, RT.004/RW.002, Jakarta, Jakarta
The price is Rp750.000 per night from 30 Mar to 31 Mar
Rp750.000
per night
30 Mar - 31 Mar
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Jakarta. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and breakfast. Popular attractions White Sand Beach PIK 2 and Damai Indah ...
9/10 Wonderful! (51 reviews)
"Typical Marriot group hotel with great staff. Since guest should not walk outside property, would be nicer to have store or shopping area inside hotel. Noise level of outside road and airport was fair even if we stayed 9th floor out of 11. Might affect your sleep at lower level. Buffet breakfast ..."

Reviewed on 16 Mar 2024

Fairfield By Marriott Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport
Anara Airport Hotel
Anara Airport Hotel
3.5 out of 5
Jl.Terminal 3 International Mezzanine Fl, Tangerang, Banten
The price is Rp1.292.565 per night from 2 Apr to 3 Apr
Rp1.292.565
per night
2 Apr - 3 Apr
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Tangerang. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (500 reviews)
"Great hotel a 5 minute walk from the terminal. Definitely staying here again."

Reviewed on 25 Mar 2024

Anara Airport Hotel
Shangri-La Jakarta
Shangri-La Jakarta
5 out of 5
Kota BNI, JL. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 1, Jakarta, Jakarta
The price is Rp1.823.555 per night from 30 Mar to 31 Mar
Rp1.823.555
per night
30 Mar - 31 Mar
Stay at this luxury hotel in Jakarta. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and 4 restaurants. Popular attractions Grand Indonesia Shopping Mall and Thamrin City Shopping ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (562 reviews)
"Nice hotel, clean rooms."

Reviewed on 1 Mar 2024

Shangri-La Jakarta
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Horison Suites & Residences Rasuna Jakarta
Horison Suites & Residences Rasuna Jakarta
3.5 out of 5
Tower A - Lower Ground, Komplek, Apartemen Taman Rasuna, Jakarta, Jakarta
Stay at this 3.5-star spa aparthotel in Jakarta. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the room service in their reviews. Popular ...
6.2/10 (120 reviews)
"Terrible experience. Only 1 lift working waited lift to come for very long and up to take stair case The inside the room does not working at all and we have to move 3 rooms in 1 day"

Reviewed on 19 Dec 2023

Horison Suites & Residences Rasuna Jakarta
Oakwood Premier Cozmo Jakarta
Oakwood Premier Cozmo Jakarta
5 out of 5
Jl. Dr. Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung, Blok E4.2 No. 1, Mega Kuningan, Jakarta, Jakarta
Stay at this 5-star luxury aparthotel in Jakarta. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi and free parking. Popular attractions Kota Kasablanka Mall and Gelora Bung ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (338 reviews)
"Staff amazing. Helpful fast service"

Reviewed on 4 Mar 2024

Oakwood Premier Cozmo Jakarta
Ascott Jakarta
Ascott Jakarta
4.5 out of 5
Jalan Kebon Kacang Raya No 2, Jakarta, Jakarta
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Jakarta. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (476 reviews)
Nice comfortable clean big rooms!
"Comfortable and clean. Good location"

Reviewed on 25 Mar 2024

Ascott Jakarta
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Jakarta

4.1
Top destination
5 - Excellent
29
" "5 - Excellent 31.182795698924732%
4 - Good
47
" "4 - Good 50.53763440860215%
3 - Okay
14
" "3 - Okay 15.053763440860216%
2 - Disappointing
3
" "2 - Disappointing 3.225806451612903%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
6 Feb 2020

Typical metropolis with a surprising number of Western shops and brands available nearby. Friendly people often with good levels of English language. Some terrible pedestrian pavements and few road crossing points. Polluted rivers and traffic fumes.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
31 Jan 2020

MRT

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
28 Jan 2020

Traffic is bad. But if you like to shopping or eat, Jakarta will surprise you and it has plenty to offer.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
2 Dec 2019

Almost perfect! Just the traffic that's quite tiring...

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
18 Nov 2019

Nothing

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
15 Nov 2019

Jakarta has bunch of surprises to reveal along the way. Just brace yourself for some fun here, including the crowded traffic :)

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