Best Things to Do in Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta sits on the northwestern coast of Java, a city that has grown from the Dutch colonial port of Batavia into one of the world’s largest urban agglomerations. Note: Indonesia is relocating its capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan; Jakarta will retain its status as the country’s commercial center indefinitely. The things to do in Jakarta include Kota Tua (Old Batavia), the colonial quarter with Fatahillah Square surrounded by Dutch buildings now housing the Jakarta History Museum, the Wayang (puppet) Museum, and the Fine Arts and Ceramics Museum; the National Museum of Indonesia (also called Museum Gajah/Elephant Museum for the elephant statue outside), with Indonesia’s finest collection of antiquities, Majapahit gold, and ethnographic objects from across the archipelago; the Istiqlal Mosque (the largest mosque in Southeast Asia) and neighboring Jakarta Cathedral. The Thousand Islands (Pulau Seribu), a national park of small coral islands in Jakarta Bay, accessible by fast boat (45-90 minutes) is the nearest beach escape. SCBD and Senopati are the city’s trendiest restaurant and bar neighborhoods.

Best time to visit

June through September is the driest period. Jakarta receives significant rainfall throughout the year (annual total around 1,800mm); January-February are the wettest months, often with flooding in low-lying areas. Heat and humidity are constant year-round (28-32°C, 70-80% humidity). The city is best visited as part of a broader Java itinerary rather than as a destination in itself.

Getting around

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is 20 km west of the city; the Railink airport express to central Jakarta takes 40 minutes. Jakarta’s traffic is severe; the TransJakarta BRT and MRT (Metro Rail Transit, partial network) help significantly. Grab and Gojek ride-hailing are essential. The city is spread across a large area; using the MRT (operational from Lebak Bulus to Bundaran HI and extending north) for north-south movement saves significant time.

What to eat

Jakarta is an extraordinary food city, reflecting the diversity of Indonesia’s 17,000 islands. Nasi Padang (a cafeteria-style format where you select from rows of Sumatran curries with rice) is everywhere; Warung Sederhana is the most cited chain. Soto Betawi (Jakarta’s local version of the spiced beef soup) and ketoprak (rice cake with vegetables and peanut sauce) are city specialties. For modern Jakarta, the SCBD and Kemang areas have Indonesia’s most sophisticated restaurant and bar scenes. The night market on Mangga Besar is one of the best street food strips. Tim Ho Wan (Singapore’s Michelin-starred dim sum, now with Jakarta branches) and Union Group restaurants anchor the upscale international dining scene.