Jakarta is known for…

Doing serious business
Lots of shopping malls
Vibrant nightlife
Dutch colonial buildings repurposed into museums, cafés, and galleries
Tasty street food and 5-star cuisines
Metropolis vibes
Multicultural Mix
Heavy Traffic

Why visit Jakarta?

When visiting Jakarta as a tourist, you will find fewer “sightseeing spots” and tourist attractions than you might expect. This is not to say that Jakarta isn’t worth a visit. A city with a population of more than 10 million people will provide you with plenty of WOW impressions.

Most foreign travelers come to Jakarta either for business or use the metropolis as a transit hub to other destinations in Indonesia staying between 1 to 3 nights.

Jakarta is huge. And getting from A to B can be hard due to traffic. Whatever you plan to do or to visit, make sure you take into account how much time you would need to get there.

Hotels in Jakarta

Great value for money.

There is so much to choose from. Best practice is to narrow down the location you want to go, and then filter the list of hotels by price and star ratings.

Booking.com

Many international hotel chains, such as Marriott, have opened their doors in Jakarta, ensuring that you receive the service and quality that you would expect from a star-rated and internationally managed hotel. Finally, there are hotels in Jakarta to suit every traveler’s needs, from those on a tight budget to those with lavish tastes.

HOTELS IN JAKARTA

Jakarta Guide

Once known as Jayakarta before becoming Batavia, the capital of the Dutch East Indies, Jakarta is full of history and mystery. From Javanese culture to traditional Islam; top-notch dining establishments to tasty street food; ultra-luxe spas to traditional massages; and brand-new high-rises to some of the most stunning hotels South-East-Asia has to offer.

One might say, Jakarta is the heartbeat of Indonesia, a country with more than 275m people and a bright future ahead, economically and culturally. Jakarta is a “megatropolis” where the most important business decisions are made, where the established businesses and highly successful and dynamic tech-start-ups pave the road for Indonesia into the next decade.

Home to the central government and a place where millions of Indonesian’s settle to improve their lives and build a future.

Jakarta is the capital and the largest city of Indonesia, the country with the largest muslim population. It is on the northwest coast of Java Island, next to the Java Sea.

Among the world’s most populous cities, Jakarta stands out as a place where the unexpected may be found around every corner.

This city is changing in a very public way, and despite the city’s notorious gridlock, its residents push on with their lives at a fast-paced speed, propelled by an infectious spirit of enterprise and hope.

Good to Know

Safety

The crime rate is quite low compared to other mega-cities in the world. Of course, like in any other place in the world where lots of people mingle, there is always the odd scam going on, and some might try to take advantage to make an extra dollar on you.

Therefore, whenever you travel, to Indonesia or other places, watch your valuables, make use of the safety deposit box in the hotels, don’t cary much cash or expensive watches and jewelry when walking the streets. Keep your bag over your shoulder so it cannot be easily snatched, be careful when taking your expensive phones out etc.

Getting to Jakarta & Getting around

Jakarta is a major hub for travel within the country, with many bus, train, air, and ferry connections.

By Plane

It’s pretty easy to get to Jakarta from abroad by plane, because its airport is one of the biggest and busiest in the area. Flights from all over the world land at Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK).

Budget airlines like Citilink, Super Air Jet, Lion Air, or Airasia make traveling to Jakarta very affordable and convenient from a lot of places in the region, and of course from other cities in Indonesia. You can get a flight to Jakarta from almost anywhere within Indonesia.

Buses

Clean buses with air conditioning can take you from Jakarta to Bandung, Yogyakarta, Solo, Surabaya and beyond in Java.

Getting around in Jakarta

Jakarta is, to put it mildly, impressively large, and it keeps growing. Yet, the government keeps building new roads, expanding the metro-network (MRT), and generally improving the infrastructure at great speed.

Jakarta’s toll roads connect most of the city’s areas from north to south and west to east.

Taxi & Hailing Apps

The Bluebird taxis are the best around. You can get from point A to point B with the help of modern transportation apps like GoJek (GoCar) and Grab, which work like Uber.

If the distance is not too far, you can call for a GoJek or Grab Two-wheeler Taxi.

“TukTuk”

Bajaj, which are similar to Thai tuk-tuks, are a fun way to get around, especially during the morning and evening rush hours between 5 and 7 pm.

Buses

You can hop onto buses in Jakarta that take you across the city. It’s cheap, but it takes some time to get a hang of the different lines and how to use them.

Jakarta has six main districts: South Jakarta, West Jakarta, East Jakarta, North Jakarta, Central Jakarta, and Thousand Islands. Tangerang, to the west of Jakarta, is home to the city’s airport, CGK Soekarno Hatta.

General Vibe - Dynamic

From the hot, deeply fragrant alleyways of Chinatown to the chaotic, extravagant nightlife of North Jakarta, this modern metropolis has it all.

If you think that the capital of the largest Muslim country in the world will be a sober and quiet city, you’re wrong. Bars can be found all over the city, some of them offering the finest spirits, live music and a stylish ambience, like in New York.

There are casual places around JI Jaksa, fancy rooftop lounge bars and beer gardens in the center and south of Jakarta, and every place in between.

For a long time, Jakarta has been one of the best places in Southeast Asia to go clubbing. This is because there are clubs of all sizes and for all tastes and budgets.
And don’t forget to explore the clubs of Glodok’s underground scene, you never know what you might find.
ering the finest spirits, live music and a stylish ambience like in New York. There are casual places around JI Jaksa, fancy rooftop lounge bars and beer gardens in the center and south of Jakarta, and every place in between.
Jakarta has been one of the best places in Southeast Asia to go clubbing for a long time. This is because there are clubs of all sizes and for all tastes and budgets.
Be adventurous to check out the clubs in the underground scene of Glodok, where you will often encounter the unexpected.

Jakarta Weather

Tropical Monsoon Climate

Since it is so close to the equator, it makes sense that Jakarta, Indonesia, would experience a tropical, hot & humid monsoon climate. You can always take a dip in the hotel pool, go shopping at any mall, or sip a mojito at one of the many air-conditioned cafes in the area.

Rainy Season in Jakarta is from November to March.

Prices - Great Value for money

Not everything in Jakarta is incredibly cheap, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the value you get at hotels, bars, clubs, and upscale restaurants.

Attractions - Hidden Treasures

Even though the city of Jakarta’s new highrises, hard concrete, and crowded streets may not seem appealing at first glance, it is actually full of surprises and hidden gems.

Pulauan Seribu

The “Thousand Islands,” located forty or more kilometers north of Jakarta, are one of the world’s lesser-known tropical treasures. There are about a hundred of these islands in the group, and ten of them are available for development into places like hotels and vacation homes. Taking in the sights and sounds of island life amid a backdrop of azure waters and vibrant coral reefs is a wonderful experience. From Marina Ancol, you can hop on a speedboat to the islands in no time.

Booking.com

Surabaya Street (Jalan Surabaya)

Nice street to visit with an open-air antique market(near Menteng residential area).

The Old Town (Kota Tua)

There are many street vendors selling all sorts of goods and foods, as well as many old Dutch colonial buildings housing museums (such as Museum Fatahillah) and cafes. If you have some spare time, you should definitely check out the city and its remaining colonial charm.

Istiqlal Mosque

Located close to Monas Square, Istiqlal is arguably the largest mosque in all of Southeast Asia. It can hold as many as 120,000 worshippers. Christian architect, Frederich Silaban. All people of faith are welcome at the mosque, free tours with English-speaking guides are available.

Book a Free Walking Tour. A great way to explore the city. Join a guided walk from Monas to the shore of Ancol.

Geography & Map