Top 10 Things To Do and Places to Visit in Jakarta
If you are only in Jakarta for a day or even a week or more, there are bound to be places of interest to you. Jakarta is filled with sightseeing and tourist attractions, lots of shopping malls, and hidden back streets for nightlife, food, and fun.
In Jakarta, you will not find it short of tourist places to visit or tourist attractions to see, and things to do. Here is our list to help you out.
Top Places to Visit in Jakarta
Ancol Dreamland / Dream Park (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol)
If you are looking for a break from the rough and tough, this is as cheesy as it sounds, Ancol Dreamland is could be your dream place. It is open 24 hours with amusement park – Fantasy World (Dunia Fantasi (dufan)), Atlantis Water Adventure, Ocean Dream Samudra (pentas lumba) for animal shows, Seaworld, beaches (pantai), Art Market (pasar seni), golf range, bowling, Ocean Eco Park, gondola, Hailai club, art academy, paintball and wakeboarding.
National Museum
Being two centuries old, National Museum of Indonesia (musium nasional) is an iconic tourist attraction in Jakarta. It is located at Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat in the center of Jakarta city and is an archeological, historical, ethnological, and geographical museum. Jakarta’s national museum is well known as Elephant Building (gedung gajah) because of the elephant statue there. Visit here to get acquainted with Jakarta and Indonesia’s history and culture.
National Monument
In Jakarta’s city center of Merdeka Square stands the National Monument (Monumen Nasional (Monas)) tower. It is a famous tourist attraction in Jakarta as it is a symbol to be beckoned with. It stood to symbolize the fight for Indonesia and was constructed under the direction of President Sukarno. It is open from 800-1500 daily except the last Monday of the month.
National Gallery
National Gallery of Indonesia combines a museum and art gallery in Jakarta, where you can enjoy culture, history, and visual arts. Your visit to Jakarta would be well rounded with a visit to this place to admire the local arts.
Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (Jakarta Arts Theater)
Gedung Kesenian Jakarta is a concert hall built during the Dutch colonial period in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is situated close to the Istiqlal Mosque and the Jakarta Cathedral. Check out the various arts programs lined up, from theater shows to musical performances. This is the place to visit in order to stock up on cultural shows and concerts.
Top Things To Do in Jakarta
Shopping in Jakarta
If shopping is your thing to do, Jakarta offers a lot, from high-end to budget shopping, from malls to markets. You may also want to look at places to stay near Plaza Indonesia * to maximize your shopping spree. Recommended Shopping malls or shopping centers or markets in Jakarta:
Plaza Indonesia of FX Mall – designer goods
Grand Indonesia
Mangga Dua – cheap yet quality imitation goods
Blok M – shoes, clothes, bags
Pasar Ikan – souvenirs and household items
Eat and Drink
Don’t forget to check out our Top 10 Best Indonesian Food to try all the delicious local delicacies and where else, but Jakarta is the best place to hunt for them! One of my favorite restaurants in Jakarta that serves delicious local Sundanese food is Pondok Laguna. This place is popular with locals and travelers alike, so you may find it packed during peak hours like lunch and dinner. Another popular culture here is the coffee culture, many locals go to coffee shops and cafes to hang out and have a good cup of coffee. With so many choices, you may want to check out our recommendation of a local’s favorite coffee place in Jakarta.
Nightlife
Being a large city, Jakarta is definitely not short of things to do at night. For nightlife, you have many choices of clubs and bars. There are places like Kemang for the younger but dynamic crowds in Jakarta clubbing scenes or cafes like Ecobar. It is one of the coolest places to party in Jakarta, and the club is trendier yet affordable. Or you can go to the more famous traveler’s street Jalan Jaksa, for some choices of bars, clubs, and cafes, the better reason to party here is there are more food choices.
Walk around Pasar Baru (Jakarta’s market)
Come here for a nostalgic walk down memory lane in Pasar Baru, one of the rare streets of Jakarta that is pedestrian-friendly. You will find many locals here and family-run businesses selling clothes and watches. There are many vintage fashions here, such as shirts, dresses, belts, and jackets, selling as low as USD1 from second-hand/old to new. Also, catch the best local Indonesian food you can find, for example, bakmi. Start walking from Metro Atom at Jalan H. Samanhudi and then walk towards the rear of the Jakarta Art center ( Gedung Kesenian Jakarta).
Spa and Massage and Beauty
There are many spas, massage, or beauty choices here in Jakarta for self-pampering. You can go for traditional Indonesian massages or soothing spa in the middle of the city, or even go for manicure and pedicure, facial and hair wash, and styling in various malls and establishments, ranging from affordable to splurge. If you have more time in Jakarta, you can go for a weekend getaway at the Javana Spa, only 2 hours drive away from the city.
Best Accommodations in Jakarta
Booking.com is a good choice because most of the bookings can be canceled right up to the trip, allowing flexibility.
Agoda.com is another good one because they have the most extensive hotel listings in Asia.
The best areas to stay in Jakarta would be north and central Jakarta, having most of the tourist attractions here. Here are a few of the best accommodations that we recommend for a stay in Jakarta:
Luxury (from 150 USD)
The Hermitage, by Marriott, Central Jakarta
A charming refurbished colonial house made into an elegant hotel. The location is also strategic, near a train station and quick access to the city center and beyond. With an outdoor pool, a gym, a luxurious lounge area, and a restaurant in a courtyard, this hotel also gives a romantic atmosphere with some rooms opening up to a back garden. Truly a dream.
Check out the latest prices on Agoda.com *
Check out the latest prices on Booking.com *
Ritz-Carlton Hotel Jakarta Pacific Place, Kuningan, Central Jakarta
For those who want high security and a well-known hotel with world-class services. You will find all the usual luxury here, with an impressive outdoor pool and bar featuring a view of the city skyline. Kuningan area is also well known for its upmarket shopping malls and restaurants with good sidewalks.
Check out the latest prices on Agoda.com *
Check out the latest prices on Booking.com *
Mid-range (50 – 150 USD)
Oakwood Premier Cozmo Apartment Hotel, Kuningan, Central Jakarta
For those looking for luxury and the comfort of a home. This hotel has apartment suites with kitchen, dining, and washing facilities. Breakfasts are also included, and the location is also strategically located in Kuningan. This would also be a good fit for a family or a group.
Check out the latest prices on Agoda.com *
Check out the latest prices on Booking.com *
Harris Vertu Hotel Harmoni, Gambir, Central Jakarta
For those looking for the best value mid-range hotel in the middle of the action. It is situated smack between all the top places to visit in Jakarta. Recommended for savvy travelers who want to cover everything in a short time. Modern clean rooms, an outdoor pool with a view, spa, gym, and restaurant.
Check out the latest prices on Agoda.com *
Check out the latest prices on Booking.com *
Budget (below 50 USD)
Yello Hotel Harmoni, Gambir, Central Jakarta
For those on a budget but who want an alternative to a hostel. This place has private rooms in a hip and stylish budget hotel style. The location is excellent, within walking distance of the National Monument park. There is also a restaurant if you are too lazy to go out and brave the traffic at the end of the day.
Check out the latest prices on Agoda.com *
Check out the latest prices on Booking.com *
Wonderloft hostel, North Jakarta
For those on a budget who still want to be in the city center. This hostel is located in the north, right at the corner of the famous Jakarta’s Old City, Fatahillah Square. It has a charming mix of old colonial style with hipster-inspired interiors. Best value for money!
Check out the latest prices on Agoda.com *
Check out the latest prices on Booking.com *
Nearby Jakarta
Check out our Top 10 Day Trips from Jakarta list or if you are looking for some sun and sea, see our Top 10 Beaches near Jakarta. Popular trips around Jakarta are Bogor and Taman Safari or Bandung for shopping.
Also, read on Jakarta Travel Guide for more information.
Versi Bahasa Indonesia – 10 Tempat Wisata di Jakarta yang Menarik
Hello, Thanks a lot. I got many information about Jakarta. We are around 25 teachers from Papua New Guinea planning to visit Bali and Jakarta. Our stay in Jakarta will be from 17th – 21st Sept ’13. We will visit some of the international schools as well. Can you please give me some information on must see places and city tour and accommodation etc. I will send my travel itinerary latter.
please give me advice I need to visit Bali
hi check out our Bali Travel Guide for more information
Im planning to visit jakarta this year with my husband, i hope to visit the cheapest places to go shopping with :) Is there any cheapest route, we are traveling kuala lumpur malaysia to singapore, and from singapore we will travel to jakarta, though it takes long but im sure its gonna be amazing! i hope to find the cheapest place to buy some goods!
Jakarta is such an amazing mix of colours and cultures, and the shopping is superb. The Ascott Indonesia is a dream of a stay too!
This is very helpful. Thanks for sharing. I will in Indonesia late November and will travel solo. Hope I can cover every item in your list.
Next thing to do on my part now is to check for public transport route/stops.
I will travel in Indonesia (Raja Ampat) and on my way back, I will stop for 2 days and nights in Jakarta. Interested in cultural atractions, history, monuments, museum, dance and local tradition! Please recomand my a cheap, safe and decent place to stay in Jakarta and what I can visit! Were I can change some USD in local currency at a better exchange rate? Thank you very much!
Do you have any reccomandation for a Dive resort in Raja Ampat (basic accomodation but best places to dive and professional dive guide at a resonable-budget price)? I have a reccomandation for Kri Resort but the prices there are high! There is things to do or to see in Sorong?
you may find many decent choices in Agoda.com or Booking.com for your stay in Jakarta. Also, check out our guide for Raja Ampat to get more information and places to stay.
Hi, I visiting Jakarta next week. Could you suggest me good Indian restaurants? Also cheap places for shopping and lodging? :)
Hi Shabbir, If u looking for Indian restaurant in jakarta, then i share you my experience. After lot of hard work and travel in jakarta, i only found one indian restaurant that only in Near Kemang Village.
That one not cheap for eat. One plate Biryani 10$.
Hope, before u visit there must bring lot of money :)
Hati-hati….
Hi! We are going to Jakarta end of July. Any recommendation for drivers/ car rental that can bring us to wonderful places in Jakarta ?
Thank You
Me and my husband are planning to visit Indonesia but unsure as to where to go exactly. We are going on a budget vacation so price is a sort of an issue. What are really looking for is a quiet retreat in the night, tranquil environment maybe a good garden or mountain view to wake up in the morning. During the day we want to be able to go around and experience Indonesia at its best. Like kayaking, white water rafting, rent biking, and visit some tourist destinations like parks and museum. We also want to try the nightlife but not required. We were thinking of Bali particularly in Ubud but seems like the hotel’s are way too far from the airport. Another concern is the safety more than anything else. Please we need help to at least get us a head start as we are planning to go mid January. Thank u for any suggestions that u can give us.
This is a good article about what to do there. It was really helpful. thanks
i believe there will be as pretty as shown in the pictures. i ll be there this dec. meet me there.
Can you suggest one day sight seeing at Jakarta and which points to cover.