Planning a trip to the vibrant Indonesian capital of Jakarta?
Check out this quick snapshot to help make the most of your time on the ground.
Quick Facts
Since its days as the headquarters for the Dutch East Indian Trading Company in the 17th century, the bustling port city of Jakarta has been a cosmopolitan epicentre of commerce and culture. One of the world’s largest – and most diverse – cities, Jakarta is home to more than 10 million residents.
Weather
Situated near the equator, this sultry megacity rarely sees temperatures dip below 74°F (23°C). The average annual temperature hovers around a balmy 79°F (26°C). Highs throughout the year are in the low 90s Fahrenheit (mid 30s Celsius). The rainy season lasts from October to May. August is typically the driest month.
Getting There
Jakarta is serviced by two airports: Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and the smaller Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, for domestic flights. Arriving by sea? Tanjung Priok is the port of call for Jakarta.
Getting Around
Public transportation options for Jakarta include buses, taxis, motorcycle taxis, pedicabs (called becaks), “auto rickshaws” (called bajaj), an electrified rail system, light rail transit, a fledgling mass rapid transit system, and a railway connecting Jakarta with the rest of the country. Despite often standstill traffic, most visitors to Jakarta find taxis to be the most convenient way to get around town with walking and bajaj rides the better option for shorter trips.
Where to Stay
From high-end luxury resorts to backpacker hostels, Jakarta offers a range of accommodations for most budgets. One key consideration for deciding on where to stay for your visit is to think about the places you aim to visit when there and book a hotel that’s nearest to most of them. Five-star Hotel Borobudur Jakarta is one hotel set amid a number of popular sights and only a few minutes walk from Jakarta Cathedral, Istiqlal Mosque, the Monas National Monument and more. The hotel boasts a number amenities such as complimentary WiFi and free breakfast, three restaurants (Japanese, Cantonese and Italian), onsite spa with pool, jogging track, tennis courts and playground and more. Upgraded rooms come with butler service and club lounge access. Check website for more details about Hotel Borobudur Jakarta.
Things to Do
A list of top attractions and things to do in Jakarta includes the following:
- Monas: 132m National Moment in Merdeka Square with observation deck accessible by elevator.
- Jalan Surabaya: A stroll along this street in the Menteng area of central Jakarta is a must for antique lovers, shopaholics and fans of a good bargain.
- Grand Indonesia Mall: For more shopping on an epic scale pay a visit to this 640,000 square metre luxury shopping mall.
- Taman Mini Indonesia (Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park): This popular theme park presents Indonesia’s 13,000 islandsand 27 provinces in miniature and celebrates the country’s distinctive culture.
- Old Town: Kota Tua is the city’s historic heart and a great place to see its beautiful Dutch colonial architecture.
- National Gallery of Indonesia: This museum feature close to 2,000 works from Indonesia’s best artists.
What to Eat
Whether you’re hankering a bite of local Betawi cooking or looking for just about any other world cuisine, you’ll find the Jakarta food scene to be as delicious as it is varied. Indonesian food is a mix of Malay-Chinese, Sundanese, and Javanese cuisines with significant Arab and European influence. Popular local dishes include soto betawi (rich beef stew in coconut broth) and gado-gado (salad with peanut sauce). Street stalls known as warteg across town offer inexpensive opportunities to sample Jakarta’s world famous street food.
Have fun in Jakarta! Thanks for taking a look at this snapshot of the city.
