Jakarta Indonesia – Your Quick Travel Guide

In a nutshell

The exciting capital city of Jakarta on the island of Java is known for its historical relics mixed with a variety of modern malls, bars and restaurants which makes this one of the most diverse spots in the country that is a great place to use as an entry and exit point to wider Indonesia.

Why go to Jakarta

One of the main reasons to go to Jakarta is that this makes a great spot if you are starting or finishing our journey in Indonesia.

As it is one of the most modern places in the country, you can find a range of eclectic bars and restaurants which means that if you are looking for nightlife then you are sure to find something of interest.

You can also spend time visiting some of the most famous historical sites in Indonesia such as Kota Tua which is the old Dutch section of the city as well as other highlights like the Presidential Palace and the independence monument known as Monas.

As Jakarta is located next to the sea you can also go for day trips to places like the Thousand Islands which allow you to get out of the city centre and experience a less crowded side of this amazing city.

If you are traveling with younger visitors then this is also one of the most child-friendly cities in the country with lots of attractions for children such as theme parks, aquariums, and beaches within easy reach of the city centre. This is also a great place to try the local food which ranges from budget bites to upscale dining options.

When to go to Jakarta

Like all Indonesian cities Jakarta has a wet and a dry season. The rainy season occurs in the autumn and winter and as a rule of thumb you can expect it to be wet from October to April. If you visit at this time you can expect a rather soggy trip and Jakarta also has a problem with widespread flooding which means that some parts of the city can be impassable following a bout of particularly heavy rain.

Where to stay in Jakarta

The good news if you are visiting Jakarta is that you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation. The city is known for its plethora of five star hotels, so if you are looking for a little luxury then you will certainly find it here, and many five star hotel chains have rooms for around USD 100 per night, making them a cheaper option than upscale hotels abroad.

If you are on a budget however then you can stay in one of the several backpacker districts located around the city which should set you back around USD 20 per night. Many of these hotels are simple in set up and may not come with air conditioning or hot water however.

Also note that outside the larger hotels you will probably struggle to find a pool in Jakarta although there are some resorts located at Ancol which offer pools and views over the sea.

Where and what to eat in Jakarta

As you would expect from a capital city, there are a huge number of food options in Jakarta. These range from upscale dining buffets in five star hotels which can cost around IDR 1,000,000 to local street food where you can get a meal for about IDR 20,000.

Jakarta is known for street food snacks such a bakso which is a kind of meatball soup as well as satay which is meat that is threaded onto skewers, and you can buy a portion for around IDR 8,000. Other local favourites to try out include a range of toothsome Indonesian curries as well as ubiquitous Indonesian dishes like nasi goreng which is fried rice.

In short, whatever you want to eat in Jakarta you certainly won’t go hungry and you can also find a huge selection of Western food here.

How to get around Jakarta

Getting around Jakarta can be slow and time consuming as this is one of the most traffic congested cities on earth.

There is a bus system in place here which is quite efficient compared to many other cities in Indonesia although it can be slow and crowded. Tickets start at IDR 2,000 on the Transjakarta Busway for a short trip.

Many people choose however to take taxis around the city and you can choose from a range of companies including the Bluebird Group which is one of the most famous taxi companies in Indonesia and has a base fare of IDR 7,500. In recent years many people have also started to use Gojeks which are motorcycle taxis that you can book through an app and which are often one of the cheapest ways of getting around.

There are also car services like Uber and Grabcar which are cheaper than local taxis and can also be booked through an app service.

How to get in and from Jakarta

There are a huge number of different ways to get in and from Jakarta depending on your destination.

By air

Many people choose to use this as an entry or exit point in Indonesia and you can fly from Jakarta to a wide variety of domestic and international destinations.

If you choose a low cost carrier such as Air Asia then you can get a ticket from Jakarta to a neighbouring country like Malaysia or Singapore for as low as IDR 500,000 in the low season or around IDR 2,000,000 in the high season.

If you are flying domestically from Jakarta to a city like Yogyakarta, Surabaya or Bandung then you can get tickets for around IDR 500,000. Another common air route is to fly from Jakarta to Bali or vice versa and you can get a ticket for around IDR 500,000 rising to IDR 2,000,000 depending on the season and the carrier you use.

By train

You can also take the train overland from Jakarta to other cities on Java like Yogyakarta and tickets cost around IDR 200,000 depending on the class you choose. This can be one of the cheapest and also the best ways to travel into or out of Jakarta as it lets you take in the scenery at the same time.

By bus

Alternatively you can take a bus around Java although these are usually slow and may not be very roadworthy. Common destinations from Jakarta include Bogor, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang, Tasikmalaya, and Garut. Tickets are also around IDR 200,000 depending on the length of the journey meaning that they are one of the cheapest ways of traveling large distances around Jakarta but that you will also need to balance the fact that they could take considerable time out of your holiday.

A good example of the difference in fare and timings is if you want to go from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, one of the most popular bus routes, then you can get a bus for around IDR 100,000 which takes 12 hours, or the train that costs around IDR 300,000 but only takes around 7 hours and is a much more comfortable way to travel.

By ferry

You can also make use of the ferry service from Jakarta which runs to a variety of destinations all over the archipelago and leaves from the docks at Tanjung Priok.

Is Jakarta a safe place to visit?

As Jakarta is a capital city it also has some petty crime such as bag snatching so you need to remain vigilant when you are walking along the street, especially at night.

There have also been reports of some women being approached or cat called in the street and Jakarta has an issue with sexual harassment of both local and foreign women, so you need to make sure that you take the normal safety precautions when you are in town.