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Is Jakarta Value Visiting? (What To Anticipate + Unmissable Ideas)


In case you’re planning a visit to Indonesia, then it’s possible you’ll inevitably find yourself in Jakarta, which is predictably house to its largest airport.

However when you’re questioning if it’s value spending a number of days in Indonesia’s capital, properly, let me be sincere: the general consensus is that it’s not a horny vacationer vacation spot.

There are a number of causes:

  • It’s notoriously congested. Site visitors jams are a particularly widespread prevalence in Jakarta. Public transportation is missing and lots of areas are overflowing with scooters, making them not so pedestrian-friendly. (Nevertheless, transport is getting higher! Extra on this in a minute.)
  • Not a inexperienced metropolis. There are many timber lining the streets in lots of areas, however the air high quality is usually poor and there are only a few (giant) parks.
  • Not many typical ‘vacationer sights’. Whereas there are lots of points of interest in Jakarta, they are going to be primarily of curiosity to locals — suppose purchasing malls, theme parks, golf programs, or aquariums. Cultural sights are comparatively scarce and to really benefit from the metropolis you’ll must be a bit extra artistic (I’ll clarify this later!).
  • Principally trendy. Jakarta is a large sprawling trendy metropolis with few historic or charming areas. Kota Tua, the outdated metropolis, incorporates a cluster of colonial-era buildings, however the space is sort of small.

In case you discover these factors discouraging and already determined to skip Jakarta, truthful sufficient. It may be a troublesome metropolis to like, particularly at first sight.

BUT… there are nonetheless some excellent causes to spend not less than a day or two in Jakarta when you can spare them (and also you’re not, say, on a restricted one week vacation). I can inform you that regardless of all the pieces, I a lot loved my time within the metropolis.

Fortunately, the site visitors state of affairs is bettering, so among the most damaging stuff you’ll examine this are now not true.

And there are some methods in which you’ll be able to flip a keep in Jakarta from an awesome ordeal to one thing much more rewarding.

Curious? Learn on!

What to anticipate of Jakarta

I don’t need to beat across the bush right here: Jakarta is at greatest a bit chewy and at worst overwhelming. Most vacationers would in all probability choose to go someplace a bit much less hectic. (In Java, different cities like Malang and Yogyakarta are much more instantly inviting.)

Nusantara on Borneo could also be poised to grow to be Indonesia’s new official administrative capital, however Jakarta stays very a lot the industrial capital. It’s an enormous honking buzzing blearing metropolis the place 12 million folks dwell and work. To say it’s a loud place is an understatement; there have been undoubtedly a number of occasions when all I needed was to lock myself right into a sensory deprivation chamber!

Making issues worse is that the metro system remains to be rudimentary and the roads are notoriously clogged throughout rush hour.

Locals usually communicate of Jakarta as a metropolis with issues. It’s the fastest-sinking metropolis on the planet, it’s sorely missing in inexperienced areas, the air high quality isn’t nice… and the record goes on.

I’m simply mentioning these items so you recognize what to anticipate. On my most up-to-date Indonesia journey, I met a solo backpacker on a visit by means of Java who had no thought that Jakarta is in any respect like this. She stated she’d been fully shocked and nearly panicked by reserving a flight out the subsequent day. Fortunately she calmed down after which caught to her unique itinerary by means of Java, which she was very glad she did.

Jakarta could be very a lot a enterprise metropolis, not a extremely tourism-focused metropolis or a cultural hotspot. Nevertheless, I nonetheless need to make the case for Jakarta being an important Indonesia expertise.

The easiest way to do that is to truly present you and never simply inform you, so don’t miss my Jakarta vlog wherein I dive headfirst into the energetic and colourful chaos that’s Jakarta:

Why you must nonetheless go to

Jakarta is typically known as The Huge Durian, referencing New York’s The Huge Apple. This was in all probability meant as an insult. Nevertheless, just like the fruit, it could be smelly on the surface, however it might probably nonetheless be slightly fantastic on the within.

I might argue that the actual fact that it’s an enormous sprawling megacity in itself makes Jakarta fascinating. Most individuals in Indonesia do NOT dwell on a seaside in Bali; they dwell in a spot like this. You’ll be experiencing the ‘actual’ Indonesia!

Jakarta may be an assault on the senses however in a great way, particularly when visiting huge markets, the road meals hubs, or when merely observing the road life in a busy space.

Don’t miss the road and market meals!

In case you’re curious in regards to the world, it’s value seeing what the capital of the world’s 4th most populous nation is basically like. It’s a dynamic, buzzing metropolis that may inform you numerous about Indonesia as an entire.

The site visitors state of affairs can also be not as dangerous because it was once. A number of new transport connections make getting round quite a bit simpler as a vacationer.

  • From the airport to the middle takes about 45 minutes by Raillink. It’s snug, fast, and the practice doesn’t get caught in site visitors.
  • From Jakarta to the subsequent metropolis Bandung takes about 40 minutes utilizing the model new high-speed rail service with speeds over 350 km/h.
  • Transport inside Jakarta has already improved with the primary MRT metro line which at present operates on half its deliberate route. When absolutely accomplished in 2027, you may simply attain all key sights, resembling the primary sq. and the outdated metropolis.

Don’t fear in regards to the site visitors an excessive amount of!

Southeast Asia’s largest mosque

The right way to higher get pleasure from Jakarta

Okay, time for some Jakarta journey suggestions!

Whereas there isn’t an infinite record of sights in Jakarta, there are a number of I nonetheless extremely advocate.

These are among the necessities you must try:

  • Kota Tua, the outdated a part of the city that was as soon as the center of the Dutch colonial administration, as you may immediately see from the structure right here.
  • Glodok Market, a close-by buzzing Chinese language market that’s nice for some unscripted exploration
  • Nationwide Museum, a small however good museum exhibiting conventional artwork and archaeological finds from Indonesia. After struggling a hearth it was newly reopened in 2025.
  • Istiqlal Mosque, the most important mosque in Southeast Asia. It’s a contemporary constructing however nonetheless very fascinating to see. You possibly can enter (additionally as non-Muslim) accompanied by a information. The cathedral throughout the road can also be value a glance.

Different locations it’s possible you’ll want to discover embody the vintage market on Jalan Surabaya, the outdated port of Sunda Kelapa, or the Candra Naya heritage constructing.

The nice outdated city (Kota Tua)

Apart from a number of cultural sights, I might additionally spotlight that Jakarta is a superb nightlife vacation spot. I need to admit didn’t expertise it a lot myself (I’m an ageing backpacker with little power for clubbing!) however others gave me very favorible assessments of the numerous bars and golf equipment you may go to.

My different important tip is to search for a human connection in Jakarta. This may 100% change your perspective!

In case you go to just for some sightseeing, it’s straightforward to get misplaced within the concrete jungle. However when you’ve got an opportunity to talk to some locals, you may have a extra significant expertise.

In case you’re a backpacker, think about using the Couchsurfing Hangouts app to satisfy locals for lunch or drinks. This tip was given to me by the proprietor of a number of hostels in Indonesia who touted this as the solution to expertise Jakarta correctly. I didn’t strive it out in Jakarta however have used the app in different cities previously, which might actually assist you have got extra of an area expertise. (Observe: CouchSurfing is often used to share lodging, however the app is only for meetups.)

My road meals tour was 100% a game-changer.

One other manner is to e book some guided excursions, which is the method I took on my current go to. With out these excursions, my keep in Jakarta wouldn’t have been half as fascinating!

I like to recommend these two excursions specifically:

  • Jakarta Social & Political Strolling Tour. Led by a political scientist, this was a unbelievable crash course in current Indonesian historical past and what’s taking place within the nation in the present day. Not like different strolling excursions, I liked that this one jumped proper into the deep finish, masking stuff you received’t have already learn in your journey information.
  • Road Meals Tour of Jakarta. It takes you primarily to the celebrated road meals market at Blok M the place you may strive so many tasty dishes and snacks. I might have by no means discovered these alone. I can’t communicate of this tour extra extremely!

In case you’re curious what both of those excursions are literally like, try my video on Jakarta on YouTube the place I present you the way they went for me.

I hope you’ll have an excellent time in Jakarta and revel in it for what it’s — a loopy beast of a megacity that’s the polar reverse of a quiet tropical seaside!


Some hyperlinks could also be affiliate hyperlinks, which means I could earn fee from services or products I like to recommend. For extra, see web site insurance policies.

Posted JAN 30, 2025

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