First-timer’s Guide to Jakarta
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Jakarta
Located on the northwest coast of Java, Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre. Indonesia's huge industrious capital is bursting with history, flavour and colour. Often overlooked in favour of Bali, Jakarta has a unique flavour of its own, worth exploring. Discover a new side to Indonesia with our Jakarta travel guide.
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Places to stay
There are plenty of places to stay in Jakarta. From budget hostels to funky Airbnbs and luxury hotels, Jakarta has a room for every type of traveller. Looking for a five-star experience, complete with 24-hour on-call butler? Dharmawangsa is the hotel for you. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and outrageous fountains, this 100-room hotel oozes luxury.
For those of you travelling on a budget, get your playing cards out at Capsule Hotel Old Batavia, a popular hostel in the Cikini area.
Things to do
Visiting for a day or week? Jakarta has a lot to offer. Tourist attractions, shopping and beaches, a killer nightlife and some of the best food in all of Indonesia. Fall in love with Jakarta, if only for a day.
Menteng is a sub-district within central Jakarta. It’s one of the most popular areas for tourists as most major attractions are located here such as The National Museum, Kunstrung Art Gallery and National Monument. Not to mention a variety of modern bars, restaurants and hotels.
To see the ‘real’ Menteng, stroll down the pedestrian road Pasar Baru, the home of Jakarta’s biggest market. The highlight of the Menteng area is Merdeka Square. Crossed by four diagonal streets which form an "X", the huge open square is the figurative centre of the city.
If you’re in need of a beach, one of the best-kept secrets is the Thousand Islands. Consisting of 128 small islands and located off the coast of the city in the Java Sea, the islands are still considered a part of the Jakarta municipality and are a popular weekend break away from the hustle and bustle the city.
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Food and drink
Jakarta is a city of vibrancy and flavour. Walk through night markets for loaded Nasi Gila (crazy rice) or sit down in one of the local canteen style eateries for a big bowl of Soto Betawi (a beef broth style soup with lemongrass and coconut cream). For a snack, try a local sweet and sour salad called Asinan from Gado-Gado Bon-Bin, a family run restaurant in central Jakarta.
Shopping
You cannot visit Jakarta without experiencing one of the many malls and markets the megacity has to offer.
The Grand Indonesia is so big that it has two wings connected by several bridges with hundreds of stores. In one of the wings, you’ll encounter New York-inspired architecture juxtaposed with Japanese Zen gardens on others.
Mangga Dua translated is Jakarta's hotspot for bargain shopping. Located between the Old and Modern Jakarta, it has been considered the largest shopping areas in Asia.
Getting around
From the airport: Jakarta has two international airports, one is the larger Soekarno-Hatta international airport, located in Tangerang and home to most of Indonesia’s regular domestic airlines. The smaller Halim Perdanakusumah airport is reserved to receive visiting Heads of State. Taxis are the best way to get to the city.
In and around the city: the best way to travel around Jakarta is by hire car, taxi or a tour. However, be prepared to meet traffic jams, especially when travelling during peak hours and into the CBD.
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